British pop star Elton John held back on Tuesday from apologising for his recent foul-mouthed attack on Madonna, whom he accused of miming during live performances, saying she is an ”artist of the video age”.
”I do regret hurting her feelings because she’s a major artist,” John told Television New Zealand from Las Vegas where he is performing.
However, he appeared to qualify his regret by adding: ”But she’s a major artist of the video age and she’s not the same kind of artist as U2 or Springsteen or Prince or Sting, or someone like that.”
Picking up a songwriting award from Q music magazine in London earlier this month, John publicly attacked Madonna when he heard she had been nominated for best live act.
”Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay, like, 75 quid to see them should be shot,” he said, referring to London ticket prices for her Reinvention tour.
”Madonna, best fucking live act? Fuck off,” John said loudly.
Asked by the TV New Zealand interviewer if Madonna is still speaking to him, John said: ”Well, she’s probably not actually, which is a shame, but I’m going to have to rectify that.”
He said he does not regret saying it ”because I have a bee in my bonnet about live shows”.
Her show isn’t totally live, he said.
”Madonna is a great artist — I hate to hurt her. I don’t like slagging people off.”
The pop star added: ”It was in the context of a very rowdy lunch. Sometimes when you say something and then it’s written down on paper, it looks totally different.
”But I do think she’s a good person and I will try to rectify that.”
The American pop superstar rejected John’s charge at the time, saying she does not lip-synch or criticise other artists. — Sapa-DPA