Elton John has revealed what he describes as the "most embarrassing thing" of his stint in rehab.
The Cold Heart singer admitted he struggled with one particular ordinary activity during his time in a detox centre, in his interview for Time magazine's Icon of the Year.
"It was the most embarrassing thing in my life when I went into treatment," John told the publication, "that I couldn't work a washing machine."
He added that the fact he was in his forties when he began his stay at a recovery centre for substance and alcohol addiction in 1990, compounded his sense of shame.
"I thought, 'F**k. Here you are at 43 years of age, and you can't work a washing machine," Elton said. "That shows you how you're f**ked up'."
The singer, now 77, also recalled that it was only after he was able to face his demons that he could consider going into treatment for his addiction to drugs, predominantly cocaine.
"It's tough to tell someone that they're being an a**hole, and it's tough to hear," Elton explained. "Eventually I made the choice to admit that I'm being an a**hole."
Elton also said that as a recovering addict, he was not in support of legalising the use of marijuana, as a number of American states, and Canada, have done.
"I maintain that it's addictive. It leads to other drugs. And when you're stoned - and I've been stoned - you don't think normally," he said. "Legalising marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time."
