A rocket up his rivals

Not all of Elton’s relationships with his fellow rock stars were harmonious. He and David Bowie, for instance, maintained a slightly sour rivalry – and Bowie was livid when his re-released Space Oddity failed to match the US chart performance of Elton’s Rocket Man single. Bowie’s wife, Angie, tried to cool his fury, telling him: ‘Other people can sing about space travel too.’

A guest spot at a Rolling Stones show in 1975 turned unpleasant when, due to a misunderstanding, Elton came out onstage for a second time. The Stones made it clear he really wasn’t welcome, with Jagger mockingly introducing him as ‘Reg from Watford’.

When Elton released the single Ego he pulled no punches in exposing who the song was directed at. ‘It’s dedicated to the Jaggers and Bowies of this world – and especially to McCartney, left. Bowie is a pseudo-intellectual; I can’t bear pseudo-intellectuals. And McCartney’s music has gone so far down the tubes, I can’t believe it. They all annoy me.’