at 18:35 on September 15, 2006, EST.

LONDON (AP) - Elton John appears to have ended his public feud with George Michael. Two years ago, John said the former Wham! star was miserable and needed to get out more. Michael responded with a furious open letter saying John was no friend of his.

In an interview Friday on ITV, John said with a laugh: "George and I are fine. He came and stayed down (at) my house last year."

"It's up to him what he does with his life, and I don't really want to get into that anymore," the 59-year-old rock legend said.

John provoked the pair's fallout when he said of Michael: "He's quite happy just being at home all the time, and I think that's a waste of talent. There seems to be a deep-rooted unhappiness in his life and it shows on his latest album."

The rocker hit back by saying: "Elton John knows nothing about George Michael. We have spoken rarely in the last 10 years, and what would probably surprise most people is that we have never discussed my private life. Ever."

Earlier this year, Michael, 43, said the comment by John had made him "really vulnerable to the press."

Michael first gained fame as one-half of '80s duo Wham! His 1987 solo album, "Faith," sold more than 10 million copies.

He is scheduled to begin a European tour in Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 23, according to his Web site. He hasn't toured since 1991.

In 1998, Michael was arrested for lewd conduct in a public toilet in Los Angeles after being spotted by an undercover police officer. Soon after, he said publicly for the first time that he's gay.

He later released a single and video "Outside" that poked fun at his arrest.


©The Canadian Press, 2006

in other news, elton johns new album sounds terrible...


geez... what the F happened..

Sdldawn said:

Elton's been crap for over thirty years. Where you been?

Dont see whats wrong with Eltons Statement, the fact that George dropped out of music is a tragic waste of one of the greatest talents ever. Though i may disagree with his View of the "PAtience" album slightly, it does seem that George isnt in a good place at the moment and is struggling with things personally. I mean Elton would know about any addiction, and can see the signs, since he lived through it all. And George acted in the typical way "Denial" when presented with Eltons statement. Well maybe one day George will come around

Shapeshifter said:

been denyin those very words.

Sorry but im loving the Elton record, especially after a miserable year in music and after that Lionle Richie record was such a letdown. Following "Songs from the west Coast and Peachtree Road" Elton seems to be on a very consistent roll, with back to basics of Piano/Vocal and some band involvement, very similar to his Tumbleweed,Rock of the westies time period.

Sdldawn said:

I just took a dump and it sounded identical to his new album....

Elton John is always "feuding" with other artists this is getting really tired by now.Why doesn't he worry about his own life and career and stop bashing other artists?

I think Elton is kind of tame consider the following who have bashed other artists.

Madonna,Christina Aguilera,Mariah Carey,Whitney,Gladys Knight and the list goes on. I dont think what Elton said about George was bashing, especially since it was the truth, George still doesnt admit he has substance problems?? I mean thats like Billy Joel saying hes a good driver!

lastdecember said:

George is a great driver too.

I mean Madonna said she would rather be dead than to be like Mariah, never heard anyone complain about that being harsh. Gladys Knight said Mariah shouldnt be listed in RB categories cause shes not black, never heard anyone complain that she was racist. The Elton/Madonna feud reminds me alot of the whole JLO/MAriah thing that went on a few years ago. It seemed that both of their fans made more of it than it was, JLO fans hated Mariah fans and vice versa. The same thing happend with Elton/Madonna, madonna fans bashed elton for his statements about her not being a Live act, and yet they recently partied together, so it seems we make more of what they say than they do.

lastdecember said:

Jlo stole the samples MC was going to use more than once for her songs.One was Loverboy and can't think of the other one.