Sir Elton John has never been happier since he became a father.

The 66-year-old singer says starting a family and becoming a father to sons Zachary, two, and eight-month-old Elijah with his husband David Furnish has been better than all his hit records put together.

He enthused: ''I have never been happier than now, with David and our two wonderful sons.''

Asked about the best phone call of his life, Elton replied: ''The call that told David and me our surrogate was pregnant with Zachary.''

The 'Your Song' hitmaker went on to say that having children - who were both born via the same surrogate mother - has been the most poignant experience of his life.

Quizzed about what every man should do before he dies, Elton said: ''Witnessing the birth of a child.''

The pop icon has overhauled his party lifestyle since settling down with David - who he wed in 2005 - but is finding it hard to curb his spending.

Elton told Britain's GQ magazine: ''Nowadays it's just spending - I've given everything else up. [My biggest extravagance is] buying beautiful things.''