U.S. Army Captain Michael Kelvington, commander of the Battle company, 1-508 Parachute Infantry battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, bows next to remains of Gulam Dostager, a member of Afghan Local Police who was killed in the blast of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during the joint Tor Janda (Black Flag in Pashtu) operation, in Zahri district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan May 25, 2012.  REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov  (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: MILITARY CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly over the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan as part of the 25th annual Fleet Week celebration in New York, May 23, 2012.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY ANNIVERSARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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Elton John aims for return to stage after illness

British singer Elton John performs during his show ''The Red Piano'' at the N.I.A in Birmingham, central England, November 19, 2008. REUTERS/Darren Staples

British singer Elton John performs during his show ''The Red Piano'' at the N.I.A in Birmingham, central England, November 19, 2008.

Credit: Reuters/Darren Staples

LONDON | Mon Nov 2, 2009 5:33am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Elton John is recovering in hospital from a serious case of e-coli bacterial infection and influenza that forced him to cancel a string of concerts, but he hoped to return to the stage soon, a spokesman said on Monday.

British pop star John, 62, postponed five gigs in England and Ireland starting with an October 23 date in Sheffield, and has also pulled out of three U.S. concerts scheduled for November 4, 7 and 10 at which he was to appear with Billy Joel.

His spokesman Gary Farrow confirmed that the singer of hits including "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Rocket Man" was in hospital for his condition but that he was "absolutely fine."

He added that John, one of the most successful recording artists with album sales estimated at more than 200 million, hoped to be back on the road and rejoining Joel on November 14. Joel is due to perform on that date at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

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