Never one to keep his mouth shut, Elton John has spoken out about his pop peers, taking a swipe at pals George Michael and Kylie Minogue along the way.

Speaking to a magazine, the flamboyant rock legend said that, even though he thinks George is an amazing talent, he was disappointed by the former Wham! singer’s recent single Freeek!: “I just don’t think it was very good. And I love George. I honestly think he’s the most talented writer to come out of Britain in the last ten or 15 years, but I think he finds it hard to write and be productive. I just don’tthink Freeek! was his best song, but that’s OK – we’ve all made those kind of records.”

Turning to Kylie, whose album Fever pipped Elton’s Songs From The West Coast to the No. 1 spot last September, the Rocket Man said that, while he thought Can’t Get You Out Of My Head was great, he wasn’t too impressed by her album: “I love Kylie’s single, but I didn’t think the album was very good. I think she’s brilliant at what she does and she’s every man’s dream. Even I think she’s a gorgeous girl.”