Sir Elton John has advised Ed Sheeran to hire a band.

Elton John

Elton John

The 'Tiny Dancer' hitmaker has been a longtime supporter and friend of Ed's but he thinks if he wants his music to get even more popular he needs to add backing musicians to his trademark solo set-up.

Elton told The Sun newspaper: "Putting on my management hat, that has to change. I'm doing it to make sure his [Ed's] career goes the right way. I'm very good at that."

The 68-year-old musician - who owns Rocket Music Entertainment Group, the management company that is responsible for Ed - has a good track record when it comes to giving the 'Thinking Out Loud' songwriter advice.

It was Elton who suggested he tour with Taylor Swift in the US rather than work on a follow up to his smash hit debut LP '+' because it was a "no-brainer" that touring with the multi-award-winning pop star would expand his audience.

Elton previously said: "I've been advising him, and own the company that manages him. He asks me for advice. For example, a couple of years ago, he told me that the record company wanted a follow up to '+', but he was also offered a tour with Taylor Swift, 88 shows in America.

"He said to me. 'What should I do?' I said to him, 'It's a no-brainer. You do the 88 shows with Taylor Swift. She'll be on top of the bill. You'll be coming on when people are coming in. It's not your audience.' It'll give you so much backbone, and you can't buy that experience. And you know Taylor. You like her. Do that - there's plenty of time for a second record.' "

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