Rufus Wainwright: 'I was a hater, but now I'm obsessed with Lana Del Rey'

Rufus Wainwright has spoken out in praise of Lana Del Rey - admitting that he used to hate her but is now 'obsessed'. 

The 'Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk' singer-songwriter confessed to being one of Del Rey's many early critics in a new interview with Vulture - adding that he 'pounced' upon the chance to criticise her for her controversial performance on Saturday Night Live back in 2012. 

"I have to say, I've become quite obsessed with Lana Del Rey," he said. "I only say that now because I was really kind of, one of the haters initially. When I saw her on Saturday Night Live I was like 'yeah, what a jerk - I'm so happy she's going down in flames!' The fangs came out, because I've never been on Saturday Night Live - that was the main reason."

He continued: "But then later, I listened to her albums and I saw her in concert and I met her and I find her really brilliant and fascinating."

When it was put to Wainwright that she could hypnotise a chicken, he added: "I'll be your chicken, bitch"

Meanwhile, Lana Del Rey has just released further details and the release date of her upcoming album, Ultraviolence - which will drop on 16 June, before she plays Glastonbury festival 2014. See the full Ultraviolence tracklist below.

'Cruel World’
‘Ultraviolence’
‘Shades Of Cool’
‘Brooklyn Baby’
‘West Coast’
‘Sad Girl’
‘Pretty When You Cry’
‘Money Power Glory’
‘Fucked My Way Up To The Top’
‘Old Money’
‘The Other Woman’
‘Black Beauty’ (Bonus track)
‘Guns And Roses’ (Bonus track)
‘Florida Kilos’ (Bonus track)