A day in Elton John's life - Buy Rolls, write hit song, dine with Ringo

[rooster59]

A day in Elton John's life - Buy Rolls, write hit song, dine with Ringo

 

FILE PHOTO: Elton John arrives to attend a Midsummer Party for the Elton John Aids Foundation in Antibes, France, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

 

LONDON (Reuters) - When Elton John was working on his new autobiography, the legendary singer, songwriter and performer pulled out diaries he had been encouraged to write during a stint in rehab.

 

One entry read like this: "Got up, tidied the house, bought a Rolls Royce, had dinner, wrote 'Candle in the Wind,' had dinner with Ringo Starr," the musician said. "That was one day."

 

John, 72, spoke in a video interview provided to Reuters by his publisher, Henry Holt & Co., to promote the release of his book, which is titled simply "Me."

 

The diary entries helped jog John's memories from his 50-year career filled with hit records, Grammy awards and royal friendships but also addiction and a suicide attempt two days before a show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

 

"I wanted to show the tough ride of being a successful artist, and how I went through tough times, and how I came out at the end and got my life together," John said. "It's the story of my life up to the present day, warts and all."

 

In the book, the "Crocodile Rock" singer revealed recent health scares including a near-fatal infection and a serious bout with appendicitis. "I did like 10 or 11 shows, 24 flights, with a burst appendix," he said.

 

John is currently in the middle of a lengthy "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" world tour that will bring his touring career to an end. In the interview, he said performing on stage "just never gets old."

 

"I never go on stage late," he said. "I just love to get out there and I'm raring to go."

 

"Even when I was doing a lot of drugs, I still carried on playing music," he added. "It's been my touchstone of my whole life."

 

A highlight, John said, came in 1975 when John Lennon joined him to perform three songs at Madison Square Garden. It was Lennon's first appearance on stage in New York since the Beatles played Shea Stadium.

 

Lennon was so nervous that he vomited before the performance, John said. "He came out to probably the most touching ovation I've ever heard," John said. "We all shed a tear on stage."

 

John said he is not sure what his future holds but he is still writing songs.

 

"I don't know what's next and I don't want to know what's next," he said. "I'm just ready for the next chapter."

 

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-20

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[Pilotman]

Love his music, can't stand the man. Way too self absorbed and weird for me. 

[klauskunkel]

On 10/20/2019 at 8:47 AM, rooster59 said:

"Got up, tidied the house, bought a Rolls Royce, had dinner, wrote 'Candle in the Wind,' had dinner with Ringo Starr," the musician said. "That was one day."

Two dinners in a day

[Moti24]

On 10/20/2019 at 9:12 AM, Pilotman said:

Way too self absorbed and weird for me. 

Maybe!  But, a born musician and entertainer, the same as Freddy Mercury.

[Jane Dough]

I could have done without the bit about "warts and all".

 

Especially as I was contemplating one of the best newspaper headlines of all time on the occasion of the legendary singer's marriage. 

 

"Elton takes David up the aisle"

 

Rooster

[NoshowJones]

26 minutes ago, Moti24 said:

Maybe!  But, a born musician and entertainer, the same as Freddy Mercury.

Sorry, I just don't like his singing or music, I don't like Freddie Mercuries either, but he does have an excellent voice range which not many other singers have.

[Pilotman]

46 minutes ago, Moti24 said:

Maybe!  But, a born musician and entertainer, the same as Freddy Mercury.

Indeed so, but Freddie was also a likeable character, Elton is just weird. 

[giddyup]

I saw him in a doco once, they should have a picture him next to the words "drama queen" in the dictionary.

[Pilotman]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

Two dinners in a day

That's why he has been a tubs most of his life.