Elton ditched Mercury in Christmas album row

Elton John has revealed the real reason he split from his last record company Mercury - executives wanted him to record an album of Motown Christmas hits.

John was outraged by the suggestion he record a series of soulful festive favourites after his critically acclaimed 2004 album Peachtree Road flopped - and decided it was time to move on.

He tells Rolling Stone magazine: "Over my dead body will I ever do a Christmas album. Why would I do that when I work with someone who comes up with such great lyrics as (songwriting partner) Bernie Taupin?"

Elton signed to Interscope and he and Taupin set about writing and recording a sequel to hit 1975 LP Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy - and his next project will be a hip-hop album featuring collaborations with Dr Dre and Eminem.