The rapper has revealed that he relied on Elton John’s support while battling an addiction to painkillers

Eminem, while struggling with drug addiction and celebrity, found solace in an unexpected confidant, he revealed this week. The controversial rapper is "friends", it seems, with Sir Elton John.

"Me and him have had similar lives and stuff," Eminem explained in an interview with the Detroit Metro Times. "We became friends and I talk to him about things, career-wise."

Em and El didn't always seem so sympathetic, however. The artists' first meeting, at the 2001 Grammy awards, was spoiled by allegations of Eminem's homophobia. But flash forward eight years and Eminem calls Elton the musician he most looks to for support. "I talk to Elton a lot."

The friendship became particularly important after the release of Eminem's last album, Encore, and the rapper's subsequent battle with drugs. Addicted to painkillers and after a near-fatal methadone overdose, Eminem rang up the man with the silly glasses – who had himself attended rehab in 1990.

"When I first wanted to get sober, I called [Elton] and spoke to him about it," Eminem said. "He's somebody who's in the business and can identify and relate to the lifestyle and how hectic things can be. He understands ... the pressure and any other reasons that you want to come up with for doing drugs."

"I reached out to him and told him, 'Look, I'm going through a problem and I need your advice.'"

Elton's advice seems to have worked as Eminem now says he has been clean for a year.