Elton plays charity gig for free

Elton John agreed to perform for free at a charity benefit party held at The Osbournes' Beverly Hills mansion at the weekend, after hearing that two of his peers were charging to play.

Elton helped raise over $1m (€816,300) at the event, a joint benefit for his own AIDS Foundation and Sharon Osbourne's Colon Cancer Foundation, and admits he was disgusted that other stars insisted on payment.

He says: "Sharon asked two major stars to do it and they wanted at least $500,000 (€408,200) for the privilege and I think that's completely disgusting. I said to Sharon: 'No way are you paying that money.'"