elton john tour again

Elton John Announces Final ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ North American Tour Dates

By Althea Legaspi

Althea Legaspi

Elton John has announced the final shows for the North American leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour , which run through November.

The 11 new tour dates include additional shows in East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Phoenix, Arizona; Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. A third show has also been added to his run at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Tickets for the new slate of concerts go on sale April 6 at 10 a.m. local time via John’s website , with a limited number of VIP packages and American Express card member presale tickets available beginning on March 30 at 10 a.m. local time.

“It’s hard to believe that after tomorrow in St. Louis, I’ll have just a handful of shows left before I wrap up my final arena performances in the United States,” John said in a statement. “This year will see my grand finale in North America, playing stadiums all around the country, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I cherish these memories we’re making together. It has been nothing short of incredible and I look forward to seeing you very soon one last time, on my Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.”

John’s epic farewell tour has experienced some bumps along the way, including the postponement of two Dallas shows in January after the musician was diagnosed with Covid-19. At the time, he had just resumed his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour  after a nearly two-year delay  caused by the pandemic , as well as an  ill-timed hip injury .

Earlier this month, the singer shared a new video for “ Finish Line ,” his collaborative track with Stevie Wonder that appears on John’s all-star 2021 album, The Lockdown Sessions .

Farewell Yellow Brick Road New North American Tour Dates

July 24 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium July 27 – Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium September 8  – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre September 13 – Charleston, SC  @ Credit One Stadium October 8 – Santa Clara, CA  @ Levi’s Stadium October 16 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome October 17 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome October 22 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place November 9 – San Diego, CA @ Petco Park November 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Chase Field November 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium

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Elton John Unveils Final ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Tour Dates

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Three and a half years after Elton John announced his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour,” after an unavoidable pandemic delay, he has finally unveiled the closing stadium dates of that tour. It will make a final lap across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand next year after the conclusion of the arena dates rescheduled from 2020 . The rescheduled 2020 dates begin in Germany on Sept. 1 and cover North America from January to April 2022.

The final stretch will kick off on May 27, 2022 in Germany, then move to North America, beginning in Philadelphia in July, and will wrap in November with a pair of dates at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the site of an iconic Elton performance some 47 years earlier. 2023 kicks off with two shows in Auckland New Zealand on January 27 and 28, followed by soon-to-be-announced dates in Australia before the tour formally concludes there later that year. The tour will end nearly five years after its opening date in Allentown, Pennsylvania on September 8, 2018.

The full list of newly announced dates is below; see the rescheduled 2020 dates here .

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Announcing the final dates, Elton John said, “Hello, all you wonderful fans out there. I’m coming to you today with an announcement I’ve been working towards for, well, all my life: the shows that I announce today will be my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe. I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career. Whether it’s next summer in Frankfurt or at the legendary Dodger Stadium for the grand finale in the United States, I can’t wait to see you all on the road one last time. This has been an incredible tour so far, full of the most amazing highs, and I look forward to making more wonderful memories with you at these final shows. To all my friends down under, We’ll be seeing you too. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in your town.”

The show is a crowd-pleasing tour de force of his biggest hits, designed to tug at the audience’s heartstrings as well as Elton’s own. Variety , reviewing the tour’s 70th show in New York in March of 2019, wrote: “He drops in enough deep cuts to keep the musicians and veteran fans on their toes (the second song he played was the 1973 deep cut “All the Girls Love Alice”), yet the set was so packed with hits that he’d reeled off “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Border Song” and “Philadelphia Freedom” in the first half hour, and he’d barely scraped the surface.”

While this may be his final tour, it seems unlikely that it marks the end of Elton’s career as a performer — an irrepressible showman and die-hard music fan (who manages to host a remarkably contemporary weekly radio show , with an emphasis on new artists, on Apple Music 1), he will probably play spot dates and make television and other appearances for as long as he feels able.

For the US, Canada and UK dates, American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public. Presale details are included in the tour routing below.

Public on-sales begin Tuesday, June 29 in Europe and Wednesday, June 30 in North America.

Ahead of the stadium run, Elton will mark his return to the stage this Fall in Europe on September 1 at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, then later to North America on January 19, 2022 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR– EUROPEAN DATES *For UK dates, Amex Presale begins Thursday, June 24 at 10am BST through Tuesday, June 29 at 10pm BST*

Friday, May 27, 2022               Frankfurt, Germany      Deutsche Bank Park FKA Commerzbank-Arena Sunday, May 29, 2022              Leipzig, Germany         Red Bull Arena Saturday, June 4, 2022              Milan, Italy                  San Siro Stadium Tuesday, June 7, 2022              Horsens, Denmark        CASA Arena Horsens Thursday, June 9, 2022             Arnhem, Netherlands    GelreDome Saturday, June 11, 2022            Paris, France                La Defense Arena Wednesday, June 15, 2022        Norwich, UK               Carrow Road Friday, June 17, 2022               Liverpool, UK              Anfield Sunday, June 19, 2022              Sunderland, UK            Stadium of Light Wednesday, June 22, 2022        Bristol, UK                   Ashton Gate Stadium Wednesday, June 29, 2022        Swansea, UK               Liberty Stadium

ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR– NORTH AMERICAN DATES *For US & Canada, the Amex Presale begins Wednesday, June 23 at noon local time through Tuesday, June 29 at 10pm local time.*

Friday, July 15, 2022                Philadelphia, PA           Citizens Bank Park Monday, July 18, 2022             Detroit, MI                   Comerica Park Saturday, July 23, 2022             East Rutherford, NJ      MetLife Stadium Thursday, July 28, 2022            Foxboro, MA               Gillette Stadium Saturday, July 30, 2022             Cleveland, OH             Progressive Field Friday, August 5, 2022             Chicago, IL                  Soldier Field Wednesday, September 7, 2022 Toronto, ON                Rogers Centre Saturday, September 10, 2022   Syracuse, NY               Carrier Dome Friday, September 16, 2022       Pittsburgh, PA              PNC Park Sunday, September 18, 2022     Charlotte, NC               Bank of America Stadium Thursday, September 22, 2022  Atlanta, GA                  Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday, September 24, 2022   Washington, DC           Nationals Park Friday, September 30, 2022       Arlington, TX               Globe Life Field Sunday, October 2, 2022           Nashville, TN               Nissan Stadium Friday, October 21, 2022          Vancouver, BC             BC Place Saturday, October 29, 2022       San Antonio, TX          Alamodome Friday, November 4, 2022         Houston, TX                Minute Maid Park Saturday, November 12, 2022   Phoenix, AZ                 Chase Field Saturday, November 19, 2022   Los Angeles, CA          Dodgers Stadium Sunday, November 20, 2022     Los Angeles, CA          Dodgers Stadium

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Elton John bids farewell to the road with the last show on his goodbye tour

Juliana Kim

Elton John preformed to over 6 million fans across 330 shows in his farewell tour. Leon Neal/Getty Images hide caption

Elton John preformed to over 6 million fans across 330 shows in his farewell tour.

With glitz, glam and golden confetti, Elton John performed on tour for the last time on Saturday.

The final concert was set in Stockholm, Sweden. It wrapped up the British singer's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, which spanned over five years, 330 shows and 16 Gucci suits. The tour is considered the highest-grossing in Billboard Boxscore history. Last month, it became the first tour ever to make more than $900 million.

Elton John was moved to tears by a surprise award from President Biden

"What a journey this tour has been and now we find ourselves at the end of it," John wrote on Instagram before the show.

The show included several of John's signature songs, including Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind.

In heart-shaped pink sunglasses, he thanked his fans for their support throughout the decades.

"You have no idea what it means to me, your kindness. I've had the most wonderful career," he said. "How lucky am I to play music. But I wouldn't be sitting here and talking to you if it wasn't for you."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)

The worldwide, farewell tour kicked off in 2018, but was forced to pause in 2020 for nearly two-years due to the pandemic. Last month, the 76-year-old gave his final U.K. performance while headlining the Glastonbury Festival.

In 2021, the international pop star told NPR that he looked forward to retiring from tour so that he could spend more time with his children.

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In 'me,' elton john pulls back the curtain on a storied life.

"Ten years ago, I was going to just tour and make records. And I had nothing planned for the rest of my life except making music and touring," John said. "And then we had two fabulous little boys. And then David, my husband, said, well, what do you want out of life now? Do you still want to tour? I said, no, I don't."

He later said, "As much as I love playing, I want to be with my boys now. I want to be there for them."

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Elton John bids an emotional farewell as he ends his final tour: ‘I’m trying to process it’

After 50 years on the road, Elton John has officially bid farewell to his touring career. 

On July 8, the 76-year-old music icon completed his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour after performing hits like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Your Song” throughout his 23-song set. 

The tour, which began on September 10, 2018 — but was halted in 2020 for nearly two-years due to the pandemic — has traveled across North America, Europe and Australia, concluding in Stockholm, Sweden at the Tele2 Arena in front of thousands of fans. 

John’s goodbye, a moment fans have been anticipating for almost five years, finally arrived when he closed the show with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” during his encore. 

The legendary musician shared some of his tour's special moments on social media, including a photo him and his band taking their bows for the last time as the confetti trickled down and covered the audience and the stage. 

“The Final Farewell, 8 July 2023,” he simply captioned the emotional moment in an Instagram post on July 9. 

Famous friends and fans celebrated the Grammy-winning artist and his impressive, decades-long career. 

Donatella Versace wrote, “I love you so much @eltonjohn. I will forever be proud of your exceptional achievements- you are a true genius.” 

Singer Brandi Carlile said, “You did it Captain! incredible work ethic and stamina.”

She added, “Proud to know you everyday.”

Coldplay, who was playing a concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on July 8, sent a live video message that was displayed on stage for John to see. 

In the sweet clip, frontman Chris Martin told John and the crowd, “Elton, from all of us here (in Gothenburg), from all the bands and artists you’ve helped and inspired, we love you so much. We are so grateful for everything you’ve done for the AIDS Foundation, anytime you’ve been kind to anybody.” 

Martin also mentioned John’s work with the LGBTQ+ community and his influence on fashion, eyewear and the music industry. 

Numerous fans shared how John’s music has personally impacted them on his Instagram . 

“Saying thank you seems completely inadequate!” one person commented. “But thank you, your music has kept me going on some of my darkest days. The world is a better place with you in it!”

Another wrote, “Thank you so much for everything, Elton. I love you! I crossed the world to fulfill this great dream, I came directly from Belém do Pará, northern Brazil, to see my great idol!”

Meanwhile, some longtime fans hoped that singer wasn’t bidding farewell to performing in general, just the life of being on tour.

“I hope it’s not the final curtain but if it is, happy retirement, Elton! #legend,” one Instagram user wrote. 

Another joked, “Wish you a happy retirement. Don’t forget to record new albums though.” 

John also had a message for his fans. He reflected on his lasting bond with them in a statement shared in a press release. 

“When we set off on my final tour in 2018, I couldn’t have foreseen in my wildest dreams the twists and turns and the highs and lows this tour — and the whole world — would have experienced in the next 5 years,” he said. “When we set off on my final tour in 2018, I couldn’t have foreseen in my wildest dreams the twists and turns and the highs and lows this tour — and the whole world — would have experienced in the next 5 years.” 

He described his farewell show in Sweden as “magical.” 

“I’m trying to process it, and I don’t think it will sink in for a while yet that I’m finally finished touring,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the fans and how much their support has humbled me — it will stay with me forever.”

Ariana Brockington is a trending news reporter at TODAY digital. She is based in Los Angeles.

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Elton John Celebrates One More Time With the People He Has Found at Stellar Final New York-Area Show

The Rocket Man visited MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday night for the second time as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road goodbye tour.

By Andrew Unterberger

Andrew Unterberger

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Sir Elton John took time during his second performance in as many nights at MetLife Stadium this Sunday (July 24) to share some counting numbers he’d amassed: 247 performances so far on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, 13 career appearances at the East Rutherford venue (formerly known as Giants Stadium), nearly 30 total lifetime performances in the state of New Jersey. But of course, the most important number on the night was zero: the number of times he’d be returning to the tri-state area following that night’s gig, with the legendary road warrior moving on to other legs of his tour before ultimately retiring from live performance altogether.

The 75 Best Elton John Songs: Staff List

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“So let’s make it a good one, eh?” John suggested, to roaring crowd agreement.

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A good one was indeed made on Sunday, as John’s 23-song set satisfied exactly as a final engagement should, right from the opening piano pounds of “Bennie and the Jets” — repeatedly bringing the entire stadium crowd to their feet, despite the sweltering 90-plus degree July heat. John’s catalogue of smash hits and fan favorites is so vast that he can afford to leave as many as four of his nine Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits completely off his set list (and another couple No. 2s to boot) and have their absence barely be noticeable; by the time he got to the evening’s one true deep cut (a thunderous “Have Mercy on the Criminal,” from 1973’s Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player ) it almost felt shocking to hear a song without a chorus that was already intimately familiar. (It was flanked on both sides by timeless classic rock standards “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man,” just to be on the safe side.)

And even after over a half a century of touring and 247 dates on this trek alone, Sir Elton still sounds and feels very much like Sir Elton. At age 75, he’s certainly aware of his vocal limits — six-minute mega-ballad “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” was pitched down to a less trying key, and he let the audience fill in the falsetto’d “ laaaaa la-la-la-la-laaaa… ” refrain to “Crocodile Rock” — and he’s obviously dialed back the physicality and performative gaudiness that once made a live signature, with only some sparkly jackets and a go-to move of picking up and slamming down his piano lid really nodding to the ostentatiousness of his early years. But his unmistakable baritone sounds as mighty and resonant as ever, and his energy at the ivories remains positively infectious — even if, after a workout like a gospel double-time finish to Madman Across the Water staple “Levon,” he collapsed on his piano in exaggerated exhaustion while taking his bows.

Those bows came nearly after every song, from first to last — in a way that not only allowed the tens of thousands of generations-spanning fans in attendance to express proper appreciation for both his superlative performance that night and the lifetime’s worth of entertainment the Rocket Man had provided for them, but also allowed him to return the favor. As John paced the stage to huge ovations between songs, he pointed each time at various pockets of the stadium crowd, either encouraging them with an inaudible “ all right! ” or “ come on! ” or thanking them for their support, tonight and through the decades.

Perhaps the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s most touching display of gratitude for his tri-state fanbase came with his performance of “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” his  Honky Chateau  highlight inspired by New York City. “This is the last time I’m ever going to play this song,” John vowed to the East Rutherford crowd. “I wanted to play it for you.” The song, which would be a career-defining signature number for nearly any other performer, hasn’t lost a bit of its wide-eyed, platonically romantic wonder over half a century — and the idea of getting to hear its words of finding one’s place in the big city (“I thank the lord for the people I have found”) live for the final time after no doubt thousands of lifetime performances was incredibly moving. (This writer probably won’t be the only one checking John’s future FYBR setlists to see if he makes good on his promise.)

It was just one highlight of many across a night that hewed to the crowd-pleasers without making them feel stale. “Rocket Man” was stretched out to prog-rock lengths by an extended outro of Sir Elton and longtime sideman David Johnstone seemingly talking to each other, Close Encounters of the Third Kind -style, via piano, warped vocals and slide guitar transmissions. Given a long intro of thunderstorms — which sounded worryingly plausible on the humid July night — FM favorite “Funeral For a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding” made for both an appropriate mid-set costume-change break and then an absolutely riotous second act opener, starting a run of classics that proved stunningly sustainable for John, right up to the three-song encore.

You wouldn’t have called it a career-spanning set, exactly — only one song performed on the night came from after 1984, a somewhat surprising dismissal of a long portion of his career where John continually proved more relevant than 99% of his ’70s  and early ’80s peers, with dozens of hit singles and even one RIAA Diamond-certified soundtrack album. But the one hit from that period he did perform was his most recent, the 2021 Dua Lipa and PNAU collab “Cold Heart,” and it was quite a testament to the 75-year-old’s career longevity that he could save a song for his encore that was still subsiding in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, making some of the teenagers in attendance screech with recognition from its opening bass thumps.

Lipa herself did not appear to perform her vocals on the track — she did her half of the duet over video, with the crowd of course providing able assistance — and indeed, the NJ/NYC farewell came and went without any surprise special guests, local or otherwise. But one of the most impressive things about John’s live show is that it still has the muscle, excitement and chemistry of a real live band, some of which have been with Sir Elton on and off since the Nixon administration. They’re currently touring stadiums, of course, but it feels like an act tight enough to be scaled back to a tour of 500-cap venues — assuming they could find room for the three separate percussionists — without losing any of its power. It’s the reason why John’s set list can veer from chart-topping pop ballads to ramshackle southern soul rave-ups to 10-plus-minute art-rock symphonies without ever jarring, and the reason why any big-name guests for the evening might’ve felt more like an outsider intrusion than anything.

Towards the end of his encore, John took time to thank the  New York Post for their positive review of his concert at MetLife the previous night, but also to share his incredulity at the number of comments underneath the article expressing disbelief that the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was still going, and doubting that this would in fact be his final trek. (“We lost two years because of COVID… we should be done by now!” John exclaimed.) But there certainly was an air of finality to his majestic ending performance of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” particularly as his seat started rising at song’s close — carrying him off the stage and up to that great yellow brick road in the sky, as displayed on the closing video projection.

The set’s most awe-inspiring (and unexpectedly touching) moment came earlier, however, in a performance of his career-revitalizing 1983 hit “I’m Still Standing.” The song was matched with a rapid-fire video montage of John’s life in pop culture, spanning from ’70s appearances on Soul Train and  The Muppets through clips from his MTV peak of the early ’80s, through animated cameos at the turn of the century on era-defining TV shows like  South Park  and  The Simpsons , right up to his promotion of his  Me autobiography and the “Cold Heart” music video from recent years. It was overwhelming to see a lifetime’s worth of Elton memories evoked in three and a half minutes, demonstrating how he’s been as much of a consistent fixture in our lives as any other entertainer of the past half-century. The implication was clear: After all of that, Elton is in fact still standing — and he’s more than earned the right to finally take a seat.

Bennie and the Jets Philadelphia Freedom I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues Border Song Tiny Dancer Have Mercy on the Criminal Rocket Man Take Me to the Pilot Someone Saved My Life Tonight Levon Candle in the Wind Funeral For a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding Burn Down the Mission Sad Songs (Say So Much) Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me The Bitch Is Back I’m Still Standing Crocodile Rock Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Cold Heart Your Song Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

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Elton John begins final US dates of farewell tour with set list surprises and singalongs

PHILADELPHIA – Goodbyes can be brutal. But Elton John continues to usher out his extraordinary career  with grace and enthusiasm while ensuring fans savor a spate of highlights from his colossal catalog.

At Citizens Bank Park on Friday, a beaming John and his legendary band emerged before the sunset, and more than two hours and 23 songs later, the first date of the final U.S. leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was a footnote in history.

The show also marked the launch of the stadium portion of the tour, which will wrap in Los Angeles in November before bouncing back to Europe for the concluding run. It feels like another lifetime ago that John embarked on his long and winding goodbye ; indeed, the world looked much different in 2018 when the show made its debut in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

But he’s still enticing baby boomer devotees and millennial newcomers alike, a refreshing span of ages evident among the sold-out crowd of more than 40,000.

During the encore, John noted – with a bit of humble disbelief – that he was playing a recent hit , “Cold Cold Heart,” his mashup with Dua Lipa (who appeared on video), in tandem with his first top 10 single from 1971, the truly timeless “Your Song.”

It’s a feat both admirable and exceedingly unlikely to be duplicated.

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Throughout the night, John, in a bejeweled white tux jacket, black pants and lavender-framed glasses, appeared refreshed and happy behind his black Yamaha grand piano. The hit parade began with the familiar plinking notes of “Bennie and the Jets” followed by “Philadelphia Freedom,” with guitarist Davey Johnstone casually unfurling the song’s jangly riff.

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John, 75, was delightfully hammy between songs, popping up from his piano bench to point and grin at the crowd while mouthing thanks and leading a concert that felt brisk but never rote.

While some songs (“I’m Still Standing,” “Tiny Dancer”) contained noticeably lower keys to suit John’s range, he mostly sounded robust, adding vocal embellishments to the end of an easy-swinging “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” and injecting “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” with emphatic emotion.

The highlights along this trip down sentimental street were numerous. The hazy effects on the video accompanying the ever-ethereal “Rocket Man” added a gauzy coating as the dreamy chorus segued into an elongated piano coda. “Levon,” one of the underrated beauties in John’s cache of creativity with lyricist Bernie Taupin , escalated into a gospel throwdown before weaving back into the melody. And the epic instrumental “Funeral for a Friend,” a sonic eruption that melts into “Love Lies Bleeding,” remains a master class in musicianship.

Though John’s teammates never earned a moniker a la the E Street Band, these exceptional players have been an integral part of his live shows. Many, such as dapper drummer Nigel Olsson (sporting his trademark gloves, headphones and a pink pocket square in his suit), the treasure that is percussionist Ray Cooper and the distinctive Johnstone have shared stages with the maestro since the earliest gigs.

Percussionist John Mahon, keyboardist Kim Bullard and bassist Matt Bissonette also add musical flair that prompted John to comment on how much he has relished playing with this group.

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While their tautness was expected given the volume of shows they’ve played, the band also leaned into a couple of surprises in the set list.

The rollicking “All the Girls Love Alice,” from 1973’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album, arrived for the first time this year (John did unearth the album track during many pre-pandemic farewell dates). But more unexpected was the tour debut of “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” John’s swoony 1972 ode to New York City that he hasn’t performed live since his 2018 Las Vegas run. It was, as always, enchanting.

As the concert crept toward its conclusion – with fans realizing the wind down of their time in John’s orbit – the musician offered sincere thanks and told the audience to “love each other” while wishing them “health, happiness and success.”

Then, as he has throughout the tour, John unwrapped “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” his delicate rumination of life in transition and the ideal summary of a career that will be forever celebrated.

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Elton John Says He'll 'Go on a Bit of a Hiatus' After Tour to 'Figure Out' What's Next

Elton John has been on his farewell tour for months and will continue to travel the world performing well into next year

Alexandra Schonfeld is a features writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since April 2022. Her work previously appeared in Newsweek .

Upon wrapping his globe-spanning farewell tour , Elton John is ready to take a step back.

While appearing on the the Hits Radio Breakfast show with Fleur East on Thursday, the "Rocket Man" singer, 75, shared that he's going to take a break once his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour wraps for good in Sweden in July 2023.

"After next year when I finish in Stockholm, I'll go on a bit of a hiatus and figure out what I'm going to do next," he said.

Though John may still be working out what's next, he already has some idea of how 2023 is shaping up: a documentary titled Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend will hit Disney+, and the star also announced that he'll be part of a theatre adaption of the life of Tammy Faye Messner and her first husband, Jim Bakker. Tammy Faye will premiere in October at the Almeida Theatre in London.

"I probably won't release anything next year, but who knows?," the five-time Grammy Award winner teased. "I might do something on someone else's record, but not on mine."

John's candor comes as he continues to tour the world on what he is calling his "final tour." The star will spend the next few months performing stadium shows in the U.S. before he heads to Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

It's already been a busy summer for John, who last month released " Hold Me Closer ," a collaboration with Britney Spears. The dance-pop track was an instant hit, and debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Spears her first Top 10 single in nearly a decade.

In an interview with The Guardian, John opened up about how he helped Spears make her highly anticipated return to music.

He said that when producer Andrew Watt initially finished the song's remix, they were unsure who should join him on the track. That's when John's husband David Furnish suggested Spears, 40, serve as a feature.

"He said it would be wonderful for Britney Spears to do it," John told the outlet. "I said, that's a pretty amazing idea. She hadn't done anything for so long. I'd been following what's been happening to her for a long time."

In May, Deadline reported that Disney Original Documentary and Disney+ had obtained the rights to a documentary titled Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend , which is said to include unseen concert footage from the past 50 years as well recent footage of John and his family.

Meanwhile, John's upcoming Tammy Faye will follow on the heels of his latest foray into the world of theatre: The Devil Wears Prada, The Musical , which opened on Aug. 8 in Chicago .

His most recent album, a collaborative record called The Lockdown Sessions , came out last October.

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Elton John’s farewell tour came to Utah 4 years ago. Now, he’s (probably) played his last show

After 5 years, more than 300 shows across 5 continents, and several gucci suits, elton john’s massive farewell tour has reached the end.

By Lottie Elizabeth Johnson

He played his last U.S. show at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium eight months ago, and his final U.K. show at the Glastonbury Festival in June. Now, after five years, more than 300 shows across five continents, and several Gucci suits, Elton John ’s massive farewell tour has reached the end.

Elton John concludes ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour

The legendary performer concluded his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour — which caps a 50-plus year career — in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8. And despite a nearly two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the tour found remarkable success and recently became the first to make more than $900 million, NPR reported.

“When we set off on my final tour in 2018, I couldn’t have foreseen in my wildest dreams the twists and turns and the highs and lows this tour — and the whole world — would have experienced in the next five years,” the 76-year-old artist said in a statement shared by Entertainment Weekly . “And every step of the way, my fans have been there. They have stuck with me, they have supported me, they have been patient, and they have kept turning out for every single last show.”

During his final show — which included hits like “Philadelphia Freedom” and “Your Song” — John thanked his fans for their ongoing support and confirmed that he is done touring, The Guardian reported. But that doesn’t mean the Rocket Man is done performing live — he told fans at his final show that he may do a “one-off thing” in the future, although it would be “miles away,” per The Guardian .

Revisiting Elton John’s Utah show

John’s farewell show — a nearly three-hour production — came through Salt Lake City in all of its glittery glory on Sept. 4, 2019.

It took only the first chord of “Bennie and the Jets” for the bespectacled, bedazzled John to hook his crowd, the Deseret News reported. And as the high-energy night went on, with John’s voice in great shape, many fans were likely wondering if he was really nearing the end of the yellow brick road.

Like his final show — and probably every show in between — John was very aware of, and grateful for, his fans at the Salt Lake concert. Between songs, the performer would briefly rise from his piano bench to egg on his fans, emphatically pointing and gesturing to them throughout the night. Many times he bowed, mouthed the words “thank you” and let the deafening cheers wash over him. 

“I’ve seen amazing places, I’ve met amazing people and I’ve been lucky enough to play music all that time,” John told thousands of fans at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, per Deseret News . “Without you, I mean diddly-squat. You buy the records, you bought the 8-tracks, the cassettes, the CDs, the DVDs, the merchandise, but most of all, you bought the tickets to the shows.”

John put on a nonstop, sweat-inducing spectacle in Salt Lake City, but after more than two hours, he spoke with his fans about his decision to bring his touring life to an end.

“The greatest thrill for me is to play to another human being and get a response. And I deem it fairly accurate to say that you have responded so brilliantly. And I will never, ever forget you. You’re in my soul, you’re embedded in me,” he told his fans, per Deseret News . “I have another life to live now. I never thought in my life I’d have a family of my own, but I do now. And that family needs me, so this is why I’m doing this final tour, to say goodbye and thank you. … Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have given me.” 

A standing ovation followed, and for 40 seconds, the crowd cheered as John removed his glittery green glasses to wipe away tears.

“‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ somehow took on greater meaning — a poignant reminder to fans that although John is saying farewell, it doesn’t mean his music has to fade away,” I wrote in a review for <a href="https://www.deseret.com/2019/9/5/20851166/elton-john-farewell-yellow-brick-road-tour-2019-rocketman-salt-lake-city-utah">Deseret News</a>. “But even still, as photos of a young John at the piano and highlights from his career flashed across the screen while he sang ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ there was a sense of finality. As well-deserved as his retirement may be, John’s Salt Lake show was proof that the world is losing a masterful live performer, although there’s always hope he’ll one day join the ranks of performers who have reclaimed the stage following a farewell tour.  “But I think it’s going to be a long, long time before that happens.”

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The pop legend will now play extra shows at The O2 Arena in London and the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.

Published on

Elton John has added two more dates to the 2023 UK final leg of his global ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour.

The pop legend will now play new dates at The O2 Arena in London on May 30, 2023 and the Utilita Arena, Birmingham on June 8, 2023.

Shop the best of Elton John’s discography on vinyl and more .

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His tour restarts in Europe at the 3Arena in Dublin on March 28, 2023 following the completion of his stadium tour dates in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Earlier this summer he kicked off some UK dates in Norwich.

Tickets for the new shows go on sale this Friday (October 7) at 10am. Fans can join the Rocket Club here and get access to an exclusive pre-sale.

John’s tour shows “take his audience on a magical journey through his incredible 50-year career with never-before-seen-photos and videos, all set to the tune of some of Elton’s most beloved songs from his legendary catalogue”, a press release states.

Meanwhile, John and Britney Spears have shared the music video for their recent collaborative single , “Hold Me Closer”, and revealed the details for three CD single releases.

Elton John’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ UK and Ireland 2023 tour dates are as follows:

APRIL Sunday 02 – The O2, London Tuesday 04 – The O2, London Wednesday 05 – The O2, London Saturday 08 – The O2, London Sunday 09 – The O2, London Wednesday 12 – The O2, London Thursday 13 – The O2, London Sunday 16 – The O2, London Monday 17 – The O2, London Wednesday 19 – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham Saturday 22 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Sunday 23 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

MAY Tuesday 30 – The O2, London – NEW SHOW Wednesday 31 – AO Arena, Manchester

JUNE Friday 02 – AO Arena, Manchester Saturday 03 – AO Arena, Manchester Tuesday 06 – First Direct Arena, Leeds Thursday 08 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham – NEW SHOW Saturday 10 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham Sunday 11 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham Tuesday 13 – P&J Live, Aberdeen Thursday 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen Saturday 17 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow Sunday 18 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow.

Listen to the best of Elton John on Apple Music and Spotify .

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Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road The Final Tour

Elton john returns to las vegas for "farewell yellow brick road the final tour" on 11/1, at allegiant stadium.

• Date November 1 , 2022
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On the heels of Elton John’s 75th birthday and his triumphant return to the stage this year, the iconic superstar has announced the addition of a Las Vegas date of "FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR" (presented by Alliance for Lifetime Income) on November 1, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium.

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Elton John’s Health: Updates on the Legendary Singer’s Well-Being and Recent Surgeries

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

In March 2024, Elton John celebrated his 77th birthday, but now that the music icon is approaching his 80s, he has been in and out of the hospital for various surgeries regarding his health .

Despite the procedures, the "Rocket Man" singer has said that he began to prioritize his health and wellness during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, admitting that he's always struggled with extra weight.

"A lot of my shame comes from the way I've put on weight . It's been with me all my life. I go up and down like a bloody yo-yo!" the singer-songwriter said on a 2021 episode of the " Deeney Talks " podcast. "But I've really concentrated on that during lockdown and I've had a lot of help from people in the house."

It appears that the singer is down an impressive 40 lbs in recent months, and he's keeping busy with various musical projects. In Touch takes a look at Elton's health.

September 2021: Elton John Announces a Fall and Plans for Hip Surgery

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter ) on September 16, 2021, Elton announced that he would need to undergo hip surgery after he "fell awkwardly on a hard surface," leaving him with "considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since." The Grammy Award winner postponed some dates of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour and explained, "I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications. I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and turn to full mobility without pain."

January 2022: COVID Scare

After Elton finally got back on stage for the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, he was forced to again postpone two shows in Dallas after testing positive for COVID-19. "Fortunately, Elton is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is experiencing only mild symptoms...Elton and the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour look forward to returning to the stage shortly," a statement from the singer said at the time, per ABC News . On his Instagram Story, he added, "It's always a massive disappointment to have to move shows and I'm sorry to anyone who's been inconvenienced by this but I want to keep myself and my team safe."

June 2022: Elton John Addresses Being Spotted Out in a Wheelchair

After reports circulated that Elton was using a wheelchair in 2022, the singer gave fans on Instagram an update on his health. "I want to thank all my fans for reaching out to ask about my health, after the tabloids ran a silly story about my 'looking frail' in a wheelchair," he wrote at the time . "The true story is that I’m in top health, loving my shows and playing and singing at my very best. I give 100% every night and never want to disappoint, especially after everyone has waited so long to get back to seeing shows. Your response to every show has been phenomenal and I’m loving every minute of it. After another rousing 2.5 hour show, we arrived at Leipzig airport just before curfew, to find part of the airport had closed. It was an extremely long walk to get to the plane, so my team kindly laid on a wheelchair so I could rest my hip after doing the show. That's all folks."

August 2023: Another Fall

In August 2023, Elton was released from the hospital after being treated for a fall at his villa in Nice, France. "Following a slip yesterday at his home in the south of France, Elton visited the local hospital as a precautionary measure," a statement from his representative said, according to Today . "Following checkups, he was immediately discharged this morning and (he is) now back at home and in good health."

January 2024: Knee Surgery

The singer underwent knee replacement surgery in January. At the 32nd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party, his husband David Furnish gave an update on Elton's health. "He's doing amazing," he told The Sun . "He's having another knee done in a couple of weeks and by the time the summer rolls around, he'll have two brand new spanking knees. I think you'll see him breakdancing down the carpet next year."

David also said that his husband was very busy these days, despite retiring from touring. "He's not going to tour anymore. He's done that for 50 years and he's enjoying being at home with his family," he said. "We are launching two stage musicals this year, a documentary on Disney+, opening a photo exhibition at the V&A in May, so it's still very busy. It hasn't exactly slowed down in the Furnish-John household."

March 2024: Health Update

Last month, David also gave an update on Elton's health when speaking with Variety . "He's walking brilliantly," he said of his husband. "Both his knees were bent so badly, but his left knee is now perfectly straight. His right knee is still bent so he's going to have another surgery in April."

As for his career, "He's been working away," said David, who is also his manager. "I don't think you're going to have to wait too long [for new music]. I can't say when but he's making real progress. It was important for him when he came off the road to have a little bit of a breather and a break. But he's always said he’s retiring from touring, but he's not retiring from working."

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5 Great Americana-Influenced Elton John Songs in Honor of His 77th Birthday

H appy Birthday to Elton John, who turned 77 on March 25, 2024. John has had an incredibly successful music career that’s seen him explore a variety of genres, including baroque pop, pop rock, hard rock, disco, show tunes, and more.

An interesting aspect about the British singer/songwriter’s music, particularly during his career’s early years, was the strong influence of Americana on his music, including blues, gospel, country, and folk. John was a huge fan of Leon Russell, while his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, had a fascination with the Old West, cowboy movies, and Southern U.S. culture. In addition, both John and Taupin were enamored with the mostly Canadian roots-rock group The Band.

[RELATED: Metallica Honors Elton John with Special Performance at the 2024 Gershwin Prize]

These influences led John and Taupin to create quite a few memorable Americana-inspired songs that were featured on his first several albums. In honor of John’s birthday, here’s a look at 5 great Americana-influenced songs from his early heyday:

“Take Me to the Pilot” (1970)

“Take Me to the Pilot” was a song from John’s self-titled second album, which was released in 1970. The dramatic, gospel-infused song features John soulfully belting out enigmatic lyrics like a preacher possessed with the Holy Spirit.

Both Taupin and John have said that they have no idea what the lyrics to “Take Me to the Pilot” mean.

Interestingly, the song originally was released in the U.S. as a single, with “Your Song” as its B-side. However, radio stations embraced the latter tune, which became John’s breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Border Song” (1970)

“Border Song” also was featured on the Elton John album. The uplifting gospel-inspired song features lyrics that call for unity between people of different races.

John said in a 1975 book that he wrote the third verse of “Border Song,” making it among his only tunes to which he’s contributed lyrics.

“Border Song” was the first single released from Elton John; it peaked at No. 92 on the Hot 100. Aretha Franklin covered the song in 1970, and her version reached No. 37 on the same chart.

“Country Comfort” (1971)

“Country Comfort” was lead track of John’s third studio album, Tumbleweed Connection , which probably was the Elton record most influenced by American music.

Offering up his best attempt at a Southern drawl, John sings about the pleasures of rural life in the American South. Fiddle, steel guitar, and acoustic guitar add to the down-home, country feel of the song.

Rod Stewart recorded a cover of “Country Comfort” that was released in June 1970, several months before John’s own version was issued.

“Burn Down the Mission” (1971)

“Burn Down the Mission” is the final track on Tumbleweed Connection . The song is a cinematic country-gospel ballad that’s apparently about members of an impoverished community who try to take action against a wealthy man who’s oppressing them.

John regularly played “Burn Down the Mission” in concert during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in 2022 and 2023. It was one of the only non-hits included in John’s set on the trek.

Phil Collins covered “Burn Down the Mission” for the 1991 John/Taupin tribute album Two Rooms . Toto recorded their own version for their 2002 covers album Through the Looking Glass .

“Holiday Inn” (1971)

“Holiday Inn” was featured on John’s fourth studio album, Madman Across the Water . The tune is a celebratory country-rock song about being in a band on tour in the U.S.

The song is enhanced by Davey Johnstone’s fluid mandolin playing throughout, and ends with an infectious, jangly, bluegrass-inspired solo.

The post 5 Great Americana-Influenced Elton John Songs in Honor of His 77th Birthday appeared first on American Songwriter .

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‘Caribou’ – Bonus Tracks and More

To celebrate today’s record store day release of elton john’s eighth studio album, caribou , 2lp special 50th anniversary edition, we are very happy to provide details on its bonus tracks….

…followed by an exclusive interview with Caribou Ranch Recording Studio Manager John Carsello, who spoke with EltonJohn.com in February 2024, on the making of the album.

Find your local participating record store for the limited edition sky blue Caribou 2LP vinyl .

By John F. Higgins

“CARIBOU” ANNIVERSARY EDITION BONUS TRACKS DETAILS

★ PINBALL WIZARD Recording April 19, 1974 at Ramport Studios, London, England Full day First appearance ‘Tommy’ Original Soundtrack Recording Musicians Elton John: piano, vocals / Nigel Olsson: drums, backing vocals / Dee Murray: bass, backing vocals / Davey Johnstone: electric guitars, acoustic guitars, backing vocals / Ray Cooper: tambourine, congas Listener’s notes Astute listeners will notice the backing vocalists singing some of I Can’t Explain during the first guitar solo. This in-joke is because Elton and the band were covering one of The Who’s songs, with its composer Pete Townshend in attendance, in that band’s studio in Battersea.

★ THE BITCH IS BACK (New Radio Mix) See here for recording details Listener’s notes This compressed version of the hit single starts with a longer count-in on the hi-hat before the main guitars kick in and ends with a longer jam before the fade-out (we are now taken to the very end of the song, an instant before the band stops playing). It also runs a little faster than the 1974 version and dramatically lowers the horns, except for Lenny Pickett’s tenor saxophone solo, in the mix, leaving more room for the piano to be heard – especially in the outro section. Some overdubs that are lower in the original mix are more front and center: Dee Murray’s phased Pignose bass and a pair of out-of-phase guitars from Davey Johnstone that were plugged directly into the console, as opposed to the traditional mic’ing off the amplifier. The New Radio Mix feels, as a whole, more gritty and dirty than the album or original single version.

★ DUCKTAIL JIVER See here for recording details First appearance Caribou 2LP Anniversary Edition (Record Store Day 2024) Listener’s notes Here we have the debut release of the only true out-take from the Caribou sessions in January 1974. Long sought after by avid Elton collectors, the song is notable as being one of the few in Elton’s catalog on which he does not play any keyboard instrument. It is also unique in that it does not have an actual solo, as the song development was halted before an instrument could be chosen and recorded, leaving Davey’s acoustic guitars to carry that section, which begins at 2:25.

★ SICK CITY See here for recording/release details Listener’s notes Album producer Gus Dudgeon (1993): We tried doing the backing vocals backwards. We spent a hell of a long time on it and it was a complete waste of time. They had to learn what “sick city” sounds like backwards. We recorded it forwards, then we turned it around and listened to it. And it was coming out, “ahyiscus … ahyiscus …” So they were trying to sing “ahyiscus” all together. It’s difficult enough to get three people to start and end at exactly the same point in any one phrase in the best of times. But when it goes [slurring] “ahyuh”? When it has to fade in? Nightmare. We were trying to get it to sound like it was some kind of, you know, “sick city” weirdness. That was an experiment that didn’t work.

A cabin at Caribou (photo: Ron Bostwick)

(l-r) Davey, Nigel, Dee, Ray, Bernie, and Elton at Caribou in January 1974. (photo: Sam Emerson)

★ COLD HIGHWAY See here for recording/release details Listener’s notes This b-side to The Bitch Is Back was the first song written at Caribou but the last song recorded for the album.

★ STINKER (Extended Version) See here for recording details First appearance Caribou 2LP Anniversary Edition (Record Store Day 2024) Listener’s notes This mix extends the original release by 1:20, revealing a dynamic jam that shows Elton and the band at their best. It should be noted that producer Gus Dudgeon had the Tower of Power horn section add their parts, which were recorded in Los Angeles after the Colorado sessions were done, to the entire track so that he could determine later when the song would fade out.

★ SNOOKEROO (Demo) Recording June 6, 1974 at Brother Studios, Los Angeles, CA Morning session First appearance Caribou 2LP Anniversary Edition (Record Store Day 2024) Musician Elton: piano, vocals Listener’s notes This is the first demo release of a song that Elton and Bernie wrote expressly for Ringo Starr and was subsequently re-recorded with a full band, including Elton on piano (and count-in!), for his 1974 album, Goodnight Vienna .

Caribou Studio Manager John Carsello “We had some huge acts up at Caribou: Chicago, which was ‘our’ band [Studio founder James Guercio managed and produced them], Rick Derringer, Edgar and Johnny Winter, Dan Fogelberg. But having Elton up there was really great! He was such a star at the time.

“I’ve seen Elton in concert probably 20 times. We went to an Elton show and I remember the promoter saying, ‘Well, you know, no one’s [allowed] backstage.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but I’m with Caribou.’ ‘Oh, okay. The only people that are allowed backstage are people from the Caribou Ranch.’ And Elton shook everyone’s hand that had worked at the ranch. This was sometime in the 2010s; a long time after [Elton recorded at Caribou].

“They helicoptered in to see the studio some months before. Elton’s managers contacted our management company in LA. Then he called Jimmy Guercio and me up at Caribou. And he goes, ‘Yeah, Elton John wants to come in. They’re going to play Denver but they have a day off to go down there and meet them and bring them up to Caribou and show them the studio.’ So, I had to sell them the studio once they were up there!

“I played them Rick Derringer’s Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo . I’ll never forget it. We had it blasting in the control room, and I remember Elton saying, ‘Was this whole song done up here?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it was.’ And he goes, ‘That’s the sound I want!’ And he came out with a very rock-and-roll album. The first song I heard was The Bitch Is Back . And it was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is incredible, man.’

“I remember Elton talking about the altitude and how he couldn’t get his breath. Elton was doing vocals and he comes into the control room, and I said, ‘How’s it going?’ He goes, ‘Well, everything’s great…but Jesus I’ve got to get [the vocal] on the first or second take because I’m out of breath!’ I said, ‘Yeah, the altitude, man.’ When Jimmy bought the ranch, we didn’t even realize that altitude meant something like that. We were learning to being up there ourselves. We didn’t know what the thinner air would do. It was after [Elton’s sessions] that we had oxygen tanks available.

“Just walking from the studio to the mess hall, you were actually walking uphill. And your breath was like, ‘Oh, Jesus.’ Your heart’s pumping. Just from walking at that altitude. And the wind would be blowing 100 miles an hour. I said, ‘What did you do, Jimmy? Buy the ranch when it was spring?’ We didn’t know that in the winter that we’d have 100 mile an hour winds with three feet of snow on the ground…and then you’re driving into a snow drift. It was nuts! So, we bought 30 or 40 parkas. We had to give Elton and everyone parkas, snowmobiles, snowmobile boots, snowmobile pants, ski pants, hats, gloves…

“My office was in Elton’s guest house. There was a laundry room in between where he lived and my office. So, I would close both doors…or I would open my door, but his door was closed. I could stand in there and listen to him rehearsing. I could hear him in there, just singing at the top of his lungs, writing and rehearsing. And my secretary and I would be going, ‘Can you believe this??’

“Elton worked a lot. He wrote songs so fast. I swear to God, I could hear him in there and he would write the music for a song in15 or 20 minutes. That’s how fast he was. An incredible musician. Oh my God. I could hear him pounding on that piano. You know, it was, it was just so incredible to hear something like that.

“I remember Bernie would leave Elton the lyrics, on like notebook paper. And sometimes when they weren’t in Elton’s cabin I’d go in and pick up the notebook paper. Here’s, you know, The Bitch Is Back , or whatever. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me . I mean, I’m reading these lyrics on notebook paper that Elton would just leave on the coffee table. It was so wild!

The Steinway Grand that Elton recorded on at Caribou Studio

“We had three pianos. A Bösendorfer that we used for classical and some jazz albums; Elton didn’t use that at all.

One Steinway grand was used for all the rock and roll songs; it was from CBS Studio B, in New York. It was used in the Benny Goodwin Orchestra and belonged to Bessie Smith and was used at CBS by lots of big acts: Bob Dylan, Carole King, Barbra Streisand…you name it.

Then we had another Steinway (made of maple…or rosewood) that we used for Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me and other ballads. We called it the “ Bridge Over Troubled Water ” piano, ‘cos that Simon & Garfunkel song was recorded with it!”

Gus Dudgeon (1993): By the time we got to Caribou, we had the piano mic holder down to a fine art. In Caribou, which was the third one we built, we actually had a thing with magnets. So the piano tuner could get at it (because otherwise normally the piano tuner would have to take the whole thing off and move the mikes, which was no good). You pulled out the front, in front of where you sat, and it had a strip light in it so you could put the music up at an angle. They actually had a built-in music stand in this frame, and you’d just clip this out and you could put your hand in and tune the piano and then clip it back in again. The mics stayed exactly where they were. I remember, after Jimmy Guercio saw this, he said, “That’s brilliant. I’m going to keep that. That’s a real relic.”

John Carsello: “It was really cool that Elton booked our studio, not just for Caribou , but for two more albums. And naming the album Caribou was like, ‘Are you kidding me??’ Man, that really put us on the map!”

Out-takes from album photo session (photos: Ed Caraeff).

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