by: Undercover.com.au

Sir Elton John has admitted that his marriage to sound engineer Renate Blauel in the 80s was a mistake and says he is truly sorry for the heartache he caused his wife.

In an interview for a VH1 documentary, a very candid John said of Renate, "She is the classiest woman I have ever met and I do love her desperately, but it wasn't to be. I was living a lie. I'm not exactly proud of that, to say the least."

Elton and Renate married in Sydney in 1984 but divorced in 1988.

There were no children.

Renate was the sound engineer for Human League's 'Hysteria' album. She now lives the life of a recluse in Surrey, UK.