Print

Mail

wiki links

'Sir John Elton' coming in to land

By Jules Quartly
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004, Page 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF KUANG HONG ARTS

One of the most successful singer-songwriters of the last 35 years, a diva and a tabloid legend who was knighted for his charity work, Elton John will be coming to Taiwan for the first time next month, tour promoters confirmed yesterday.

The "Liberace of Pop" and one of the most prolific artists to have lasted three decades in the business, John will be playing a one-off concert at the 17,000 capacity Taipei Zhongshan Soccer Stadium on Sept. 23, with tickets available priced from NT$1,200 to NT$6,000.

It will be the singer's first visit to the country, on an Asian tour that will also take in Hong Kong, Shanghai and South Korea. John has recently played gigs in Europe and Las Vegas.

Tour director Colleen Ironside said yesterday at a press conference held at the Formosa Regent, Taipei -- where John will stay -- that the artist would be bringing his long-time band and lighting team for the show, which would be "a minimum of two hours long."

At three-and-a-half minutes per hit song, that's enough time for up to 34 tunes. John has more than enough in his back catalogue to choose from, but at 57 and with a pacemaker he may be forgiven for taking it a little easier than he used to.

The man who was mistakenly knighted "Sir John Elton" in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II has been performing since winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music 46 years ago, as an 11-year old.

Though he still has a passion for classical music, John's yellow-brick road to success began with early groups like The Corvettes and Bluesology. "I was in a band at the age of 17 and was going up in the M1 [highway] in a little van relentlessly. It paved the way for all the touring to come," John said, in an interview.

He emerged as a songwriter when he teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin to craft classics ranging from the upbeat Crocodile Rock, Rocket Man and Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting), to the classic ballads Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Nikita, Candle in the Wind, Sacrifice and many more. From 1970 to 1976 the couple released songs for 13 albums, sometimes writing up to 10 tunes a day.

The 1970s was John's most successful period, though he has had number one hits in the US and around the world every decade since. It was at this time that his name became synonymous with rock star excess. He became known for his trademark exuberant glasses, hair extensions, wardrobe, fine art, fast cars, women and men.

He also got hooked on cocaine, married, divorced, broke down, recovered, admitted he was bisexual and became a part of the establishment through his friendship with Princess Diana and the setting up of the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992. He has raised tens of millions of dollars in the fight against the disease.

A man who evidently lives life to the full, John is the honorary president of Watford Football Club. He was the Pinball Wizard in Who's rock opera film Tommy and has acted in other films as well as being featured in several documentaries -- Tantrums and Tiaras was filmed by his long-term lover David Furnish.

He has also been successful as a songwriter for the silver screen. He wrote original songs for the movie Friends, and in 1994 linked up with Tim Rice to win a Best Original Song Oscar for Can You Feel The Love Tonight from the film The Lion King. He wrote music for The Road to El Dorado.

He is currently working on a score for the musical version of the film Billy Elliot -- about a talented young boy from a working class background who wants to be a dancer.

Worried journalists at the press conference asked promoters how they should address the living legend. "Well, he's a very relaxed guy and you can call him Elton," said the promoter, Ironsides.

And how can we make him happy? asked another.

"He's a sophisticated, funny, intelligent man who enjoys a lot of flowers."

Tickets for the show are available from ERA Ticket (www.ticket.com.tw).
This story has been viewed 3017 times.