Quotes from Elton John

No drugs, except maybe poppers.

when she was pregnant, so Nan was born in a workhouse. She never talked about it, but it seemed to have left her as someone nothing could faze,

I grew up conservative because my mum was a conservative, and when I finally realized what conservatives were, I changed my mind immediately.

Well, I was making a record, and I had to choose a name, because they said, you know, you can't make a record under the name of Reg Dwight, because it's never going to - you know, it's not attractive enough.

I'm so proud to be on a Kate Bush record; she's always marched to the beat of her own drum.

My mum always used to buy a record every Friday.

Once I'd heard 'Modern Times' by Bob Dylan, it really changed the way I wanted to make records.

I grew up at my grandmother's house, and she had a beautiful garden. I used to hate mowing the lawn and weeding, which is what you do when you're a kid. I loathe gardening, but I love gardens, and I have two beautiful gardens.

There's a lot of hate in the world.

I guess that's why they call it the blues, time on my hands could be time spent with you.

When people go to rehab and come out, they go through a difficult period, but I never had that.

The worst thing you can do to a child, and I've seen it happen so many times, is the silver spoon.

There's no pressure for me to go out there and say, I've got to have a top 40 hit because it's not going to happen.

That's just a part of being an artist: you can't write great stuff all the time, because if you did, then you'd be inhuman. The human side of people is that sometimes they fail.

Drunk all the time, feeling fine on elderberry wine.

Don't you know I"m still standing better than I ever did. Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid. I'm still standing after all this time.

I've never had a writer's block, but still I think: Is it going to happen this time? You never know what you're going to get; you just put your fingers on the keys and hope.

For me music is so passionate. I have to give it my all every time I go onstage.

The thing about Vegas is, I don't have to fly anywhere, and that really helps. It means I stay in one place for three weeks at a time instead of flying backwards and forwards.

I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life, I love the food, I love the people, I love the attitudes of Italians.

I love the way the American trade magazines never give anybody a bad review because they're afraid the advertising will be taken out. It's so hysterical.

I love every minute of fatherhood, staying up all night, changing nappies, kids crying, I find it really funny and inspiring. It connects you to the world in a new way.

I really appreciate my performing so much better, as I get older. I don't take it for granted anymore. I really relish it and love it.

And the danger is - and it's happening - is we're seeing an incredibly big rise amongst young gay people, young heterosexual people as far as catching HIV, which is, you know, in an educated country like this or in Britain, it's frightening.