LONDON — Elton John's spokesman says the singer is recovering in the hospital after illness forced him to cancel three concerts in the United States.

Gary Farrow said Monday that the pop star hopes to be released soon. John intends to rejoin the "Face2Face" tour later in the month when he and Billy Joel play concerts in northern California.

Farrow said 62-year-old John is suffering from a "bad case of the flu and a minor case of e-coli." His Web site says he was advised by his doctor to postpone dates in Seattle and Portland.

The Daily Mail's Web site quoted John's partner, David Furnish, as saying "He's OK -- he's fine," after Furnish left a London hospital.

Farrow says the singer has rescheduled previously cancelled dates during the European leg of his world tour.