Sir Elton John has sent a tough message to troubled singer Billy Joel, urging him to be serious about rehabilitation and “do something better” with his life.

The pop superstar makes the comments about his former touring partner in the February 17 edition of Rolling Stone magazine, in which he says the pair cancelled many tours because of Joel’s illnesses and “alcoholism”.

He also says Joel should approach rehab as he did – with patients cleaning floors, not watching television. Sir Elton said he Joel was going to “hate” him for this, but he needed tough love. Joel spent a month in a California rehab centre for alcohol abuse treatment in 2005. He spent about two weeks at a Connecticut centre in 2002.

A representative for Joel did not return a request for comment.