Elton's wig like candle in wind

LONDON - Sir Elton John has revealed he got lost en route to his 50th birthday party after the giant wig he was wearing filled his chauffeur-driven van with smoke.

The rock legend said the famous Regency-style wig proved so bouffant he had to be transported in a furniture van. But things turned from bad to worse when the model ship on top started pumping out so much smoke it prevented his driver from seeing the road ahead.

"What with all the smoke coming from the wig, the driver lost his way and we were driving around for an hour and a half, with me screaming in pain because the wig was held on with knitting needles and glue, which hurt like hell," he said. "When we finally arrived at the party, I looked like Joan Crawford on a bad day."

Sir Elton, now 53, said the incident finally convinced him that dressing up in outrageous costumes had become a burden.

- NZPA