Sir Rod Stewart says Sir Elton John 'snubbed' his efforts to heal their rift

Sir Rod Stewart has opened up about the rift between him and Sir Elton John. Photo / Getty Images

Sir Rod Stewart claims Sir Elton John has snubbed his efforts to heal their rift.

The 75-year-old music icon says he invited Elton, 73, to his Essex home for a game of soccer on his own pitch - but the singer apparently snubbed him.

Speaking about their relationship, Rod said: "We don't talk to each other anymore. Big falling out."

Rod claimed that Elton - who has sons Zachary, 9, and Elijah, 7, with husband David Furnish - "had the hump" after he said that his retirement tour was "not rock 'n' roll".

But Rod subsequently reached out to the chart-topping star to offer an olive branch.

He told Chris Evans' "How To Wow" podcast: "Last time I emailed him I said, 'I've got this football pitch, would you like the boys to come up?' You know, cos they both love football."

Rod claimed Elton never replied to his invite, adding that he feels very sad about the situation because they used to be good friends.

Rod and Elton first met around 50 years ago, and they were even neighbours in London back in the Seventies.

Despite their feud, they've admitted to sharing a similar sense of humour.

Rod previously explained: "I loved the fact that he was the kind of bloke who could see the comedy value in driving 30 times around the roundabout that surrounds the Marble Arch monument in the middle of London."

Similarly, Elton has also admitted they're "cut from the same cloth".

He said: "We try and publicise the fact that we always have a go at each other in the papers, but in fact we do that for reasons only known to us, really. We're actually very good friends."

However, the celebrity duo have also exchanged jibes over various issues, including their music.

Rod previously shared: "Elton sent me an email saying, 'I never have a headache but yesterday morning I had the biggest f****** banger I've ever had. It was because you were on the f****** radio!'"