Pop star George Michael has hit back at comments made by Sir Elton John about Michael and his new album.

Elton was quoted as saying Michael was "in a strange place" with "a deep-rooted unhappiness" that came across on his latest album.

Michael said in an open letter to Heat: "Elton John knows nothing about George Michael... we have rarely spoken in the past 10 years."

He described himself as "content" and said he felt he had to defend himself. Sir Elton had said Michael should "get out more".

But Michael, who duetted with Sir Elton at 1985's Live Aid concert, said the singer's comments were based on tittle-tattle. "Most of what Elton thinks he knows about my life is pretty much limited to the gossip he hears on what you would call the 'gay grapevine' which, as you can imagine, is lovely stuff indeed," wrote Michael.

"Other than that, he knows that I don't like to tour, that I smoke too much pot, and that my albums still have a habit of going to number one. In other words, he knows as much as most of my fans do," the letter continued.

He said he preferred to concentrate on future songs whereas Sir Elton, "makes millions playing those old classics day in day out". Michael signed off with a reference to a recent charity donation he had made.

Sir Elton "seems to have forgotten me calling him a few months back to tell him that my American royalties from Patience would be donated entirely to the Elton John Aids Foundation".

George Michael's latest album Patience debuted at number one - Sir Elton's most recent LP, Peachtree, entered the chart at number 21.

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