Elton John says Internet bad for music

LONDON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The Internet is getting in the way of people creating good music, says British music icon Elton John, so maybe it should be shut down.

In a commentary appearing in The Sun newspaper on Wednesday, John said the Internet has led people to "sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn't bode well for long-term artistic vision."

He said an "incredible experiment" would be shutting down the Internet for five yeas and "see what sort of art is produced over that span."

"I'm sure, as far as music goes, it would be much more interesting than it is today," John said, adding. "I am such a Luddite when it comes to making music. All I can do is write at the piano."

John, 60, has admitted previously he is a bit behind the times technologically speaking. Once the Grammy Award-winner was quoted as saying, "I am the biggest technophobe of all time."

He has used the Web. His 60th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in New York was streamed live over the Internet. John also said his entire back catalog of albums would be made available for digital download.