Elton John's still standing
Elton John's still standing
Posted: 05 Oct 2009
In a glittering four-decade career Elton John has sold more than 250 million albums making him one of the most successful artists of all time.
Words by Michael Hamilton
Elton John is pop’s ultimate survivor.
With the release of Rocket Man – The Definitive Hits on March 25 two years ago he celebrated his 60th birthday and broke his own record with an unmatched 60th concert at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York. And his rocking rendition of I’m Still Standing said it all.
Because it’s been a long road with its fair share of ups and downs since Reginald Kenneth Dwight from Pinner left school and formed his first band Bluesology in 1961.
In a rock 'n' roll world dominated by guitars his distinctive piano sound set him apart from the start.
He was an unlikely rock idol to begin with – short and gradually losing his hair. But he made up for it with impassioned performances and his over-the-top wacky fashion sense.
His Seventies trademark glasses that spelled his name in lights and stage gimmicks –such as dressing up like Mozart – may have symbolised his flamboyance but his carefully crafted, soulful ballads quickly won him an adoring fan base.
He met writing partner Bernie Taupin in 1967, and by the time of Your Song three years later they had honed their skills to such a degree that Bernie could turn out a lyric in half an hour and Elton could compose to it within the hour.
The 1991 film documentary Two Rooms described the pair’s unusual writing style, with the two never in the same room during the process.
It didn’t seem to matter. Between 1970 and 1976 they made an astonishing 14 hit albums including: Elton John; Tumbleweed Connection; Madman Across The Water; Honky Chateau; Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; Caribou and Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy – which was the first album ever to enter the American Billboard Chart at number one.
The Eighties were years of personal upheaval for Elton. In 1984 he surprised many by marrying sound engineer Renate Blauel. In 1986 he lost his voice while touring Australia and shortly afterwards underwent throat surgery. He continued recording prolifically, but years of cocaine and alcohol abuse were beginning to take their toll.
In 1985 he was one of the many performers at the legendary Live Aid concert playing the Wembley Stadium leg of the marathon show. He entertained the global audience with hits including Bennie and the Jets and Rocket Man, performed Don't Go Breaking My Heart with pal Kiki Dee for the first time in years, and introduced his friend George Michael – still then with Wham – to sing his classic Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
The Nineties saw him rise to new heights as he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, his pioneering charity dedicated to breakthrough work on behalf of those around the world suffering from HIV and related illnesses. It’s one of his personal passions.
But 1997 brought extreme highs and lows for him. Early in the year vestiges of his flamboyant self resurfaced as he threw a 50th birthday party – costumed as
Louis XIV – for 500 friends. He also performed with the surviving members of Queen in Paris.
But he also lost two dear friends that year – fashion designer Gianni Versace and the Princess of Wales.
In early September Bernie altered the lyrics of Candle in the Wind for a special version mourning the death of Diana, and Elton performed it at her funeral in
Westminster Abbey.
A recorded version then became the fastest and biggest-selling single of all time, eventually going on to sell 33 million worldwide.
In 1998 Elton received a knighthood from the Queen for ‘services to music and charitable services.’
And the new millennium has seen Elton still at the top of his game as he continues to play frequent, sell-out concerts all over the world along with his band: Guy Babylon on keyboards, Bob Birch on bass, Davey Johnstone on guitar, John Mahon on percussion and Nigel Olsson on drums.
Since 2004 he has also undertaken a residency with The Red Piano show at the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum in Las Vegas – now he’s bringing it to the North East.
Elton met his Canadian-born partner David Furnish, a former advertising
executive in 1993 and in 2005 they entered into a civil partnership. It was held at Guildhall Windsor followed by a lavish party at their Berkshire mansion.
Although Elton doesn’t have any children he does have ten godchildren including John Lennon’s son Sean, Elizabeth Hurley’s son Damian Charles and David and Victoria Beckham’s son Brooklyn.
Within the music industry Elton is sometimes known as Sharon, a nickname originally given to him by his old pal Rod Stewart. In return Elton calls Rod ‘Phyllis’.
I guess that's why they call it the blues
In 1976 Elton became involved in Watford football club and fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming its chairman and director. He invested large sums of money and got the club rose into the old First Divison.
He sold to Jack Petchey in 1987, but remained life-long president. Ten years later he re-purchased the club from Petchey and once again became chairman. In 2002 he stepped down when the club needed a full-time chairman although he continues as president of the club.
In June 2005 he held a concert at the Vicarage Road ground donating the funds to the club.
An ardent tennis fan, he wrote the song Philadelphia Freedom as a tribute to his friend and legendary ladies star Billie Jean King. They still co-host an annual pro-am event to raise cash for AIDS charities.
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