Elton John shocked fans with a foul-mouthed outburst at an arena show - stamping out retirement rumours once and for all. The flamboyant star burst into the rant in front of an 11,000-strong crowd. After introducing his band, he dispelled rumours that he's throwing in the towel after 50 years in the music business, telling concertgoers: "I'm not retiring." It came the evening after the Daily Mail reported that John was planning to retire next year to spend time with his family. They said the veteran musician had "seen and done it all, and has nothing to prove" - as well as writing that he has three chefs. Addressing the crowd at Newcastle's Metro Arena, Elton hit back in an extraordinary tirade, caught on camera by a fan. The Rocketman singer said: "I never read the tabloids because I'm an intelligent person. "And there was a story about me that just spread on the internet that I'm retiring. "And the journalist who spread this rumour is an absolute plank. "I know because she has interviewed me before and it is like talking to a dead newt. "Anyway, I'm not retiring.