9:07pm UK, Saturday March 01, 2003

Singer George Michael has been saluted as "standing up for life and sanity" by the original performer of the anti-war track he has recorded.

Michael has performed a cover of The Grave, a song by Don McLean originally penned as a commentary on the horrors of the Vietnam war.

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McLean, famed for writing smash hit American Pie, said he was proud of the former Wham frontman.

In a statement, he said: "I am proud of George Michael for standing up for life and sanity. I am delighted that he chose a song of mine to express these feelings.

"We must remember that the Wizard is really a cowardly old man hiding behind a curtain with a loud microphone. It takes courage and a song to pull the curtain open and expose him. Good luck George."

The Grave was recorded for McLean's 1971 album, American Pie, which stayed in the UK charts for over a year.

McLean said he was very opposed to the possible Iraq war.

The track has been recorded for MTV UK & Ireland and will be played by the station's network across Europe.

Michael has left the hard-hitting lyrics largely unchanged for his version, which will be aired from Monday.

Brent Hansen, chief executive of MTV Networks Europe, previously said: "MTV Europe is free from political standpoint and prides itself in offering its audience a number of perspectives on a variety of issues that are important to them."

Yesterday, Michael apologised for saying young chart stars should drop plans for their own anti-war musical effort.