ELTON JOHN - ELTON SLAMS ASHANTI, STEFANI AND MCFADDEN

Flamboyant rocker SIR ELTON JOHN has slammed Irish star BRIAN McFADDEN's new single IRISH SON, claiming he had to stop listening to the track "in case I committed suicide".

The ROCKET MAN star commented on new releases as part of his role as guest editor of London magazine TIME OUT, and gave McFadden, ASHANTI and even celebrity pal GWEN STEFANI scathing reviews.

John complains, "Brian is probably a nice man, but I nearly died when I listened to Irish Son. I absolutely hated it. It's the worst lyric on a record I've ever heard. I had to take it off in case I committed suicide. It's just horrible. No, no, no."

When asked about Ashanti's ONLY U track, John fumes, "I hate this. Absolutely hate it. It sounds so dated, it's just painting by numbers. Awful. And that horrible cover. How will this ever sell? Ugh."

Despite admitting he "loves" NO DOUBT singer Stefani, John is unimpressed with her debut solo single WHAT YOU WAITING FOR?

John laments, "Very disappointing. I love her, but I just don't think the song is very good."

The bespectacled singer also took the opportunity to mock BUSTED's new track SHE WANTS TO BE ME, claiming the boyband trio "are trying too hard to get established" in America, by trying to sound "quite SUM 41-ish".