Elton John has revealed his regret over his past drug abuse and thanked music for "saving" him.
The 78-year-old music legend discussed his turbulent past, prolific career and current album Who Believes in Angels? in a new interview with Smooth Radio. During the chat with host Kate Garraway, Elton shared the advice he wished he could have given to his younger self.
"Never take drugs," he urged. "I took drugs, it took me down, and then when I recovered, I had to go through that journey to become the person that I am."
Following years of substance and alcohol abuse, the star has been clean and sober since 1990.
Although the Rocket Man singer is relieved to have eventually found the right path and cleaned up his life, Elton "wouldn't want" to revisit his darkest moments again.
Reflecting on his decades of success, the musician also wished he could have realised how "lucky" he was to have embarked on such a rewarding career.
"Music has been in my entire life," he explained, adding that even at his lowest points he remained focused on work. "I still went out there and made music. I recorded, I toured, and it saved me. It nearly destroyed me, but it saved me."
Although Elton has retired from his legendary touring shows, he has remained busy composing the music for the West End theatre adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, and he's also been in the recording studio.
His latest release, Who Believes in Angels?, is a collaboration with Brandi Carlile, and despite his reputation for releasing pop anthems, Elton admitted he felt "a lot of angst" and "pressure" to impress with the new material.
"This marks a new beginning for me. It's very fresh, it's probably the freshest album I've done since the 70s," he explained. "You have to be challenged. I wanted a challenge, and it was challenging!"
The 78-year-old music legend discussed his turbulent past, prolific career and current album Who Believes in Angels? in a new interview with Smooth Radio. During the chat with host Kate Garraway, Elton shared the advice he wished he could have given to his younger self.
"Never take drugs," he urged. "I took drugs, it took me down, and then when I recovered, I had to go through that journey to become the person that I am."
Following years of substance and alcohol abuse, the star has been clean and sober since 1990.
Although the Rocket Man singer is relieved to have eventually found the right path and cleaned up his life, Elton "wouldn't want" to revisit his darkest moments again.
Reflecting on his decades of success, the musician also wished he could have realised how "lucky" he was to have embarked on such a rewarding career.
"Music has been in my entire life," he explained, adding that even at his lowest points he remained focused on work. "I still went out there and made music. I recorded, I toured, and it saved me. It nearly destroyed me, but it saved me."
Although Elton has retired from his legendary touring shows, he has remained busy composing the music for the West End theatre adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, and he's also been in the recording studio.
His latest release, Who Believes in Angels?, is a collaboration with Brandi Carlile, and despite his reputation for releasing pop anthems, Elton admitted he felt "a lot of angst" and "pressure" to impress with the new material.
"This marks a new beginning for me. It's very fresh, it's probably the freshest album I've done since the 70s," he explained. "You have to be challenged. I wanted a challenge, and it was challenging!"