”It’s Elton, baby!”
That is what Jacob Lusk heard early one morning when he picked up his phone. Elton was calling to invite the Gabriels‘ performer to join him at Glastonbury.
Prior to last summer’s festival, Elton rented out Wembley Arena in London, England, for rehearsals, Jacob revealed to Rolling Stone UK.
Jacob was the musical guest at last night’s Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party.
Other performers at the EJAF Oscar bash over the years (the first being held in 1993) have included Taron Egerton, who had the title role in the Rocketman biopic, Sam Fender, John Mayer, Joss Stone, and The Killers.
sam fender and elton john – we will talk (at the elton john aids foundation academy awards viewing party 2020) pic.twitter.com/cNKR0z79DD
— sam fender files (@samfenderfiles) November 10, 2021
David Furnish says they are saving lives, while having fun at the same time. For a chance to nab a pair of Chopard watches, for instance, guests could try to predict the Oscar winners. He told Los Angeles magazine that since last year’s party, the EJAF has reached over 280,000 people in 42 countries, and tested over 113,000 individuals for HIV.
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David shared further observations with Variety magazine, noting that it shouldn’t be too long before fans get to hear new music from Elton.
He wasn’t able to pinpoint a specific date, but in April Elton will have a knee replacement. His left one is straight now, explained David, but the right knee is still bent.
As for old music, you may be aware that Elton enjoyed seven number one consecutive albums from 1972-1975, starting with Honky Chateau.
Another chart-topper was Caribou, which turns 50 in June. Far Out magazine considers The Bitch is Back to be bright and brilliant. The album itself though, is ”strange” because there’s ”no thread” to pull the different pieces together.
Tower of Power played on The Bitch is Back, You’re So Static, and Stinker. Bandleader Emilio Castillo told the Elton Blog they weren’t in the studio with Elton, recording instead with Gus Dudgeon in California. It was Gus who had the idea of bringing them on, having seen them perform at the Roxy in L.A. We think it would have been a nice idea to have TOP come onstage for a live version of a Caribou song with Elton.
Emilio says he first got to chat with Elton at the Warner Brothers Music Festival in Europe in January 1975. The series of concerts featured Warner acts like TOP, Little Feat, Montrose, and the Doobie Brothers. At one of the gigs in Manchester, England, Elton and Davey Johnstone joined the Doobie Brothers onstage.
The first time Davey met Elton was during the Madman Across The Water sessions. Right away, he started ”hitting” Elton with ideas. Someone else might have been too timid, but they would not have gotten the gig, Davey believes. Of course, he stressed to Guitar Player, it is also important to ”have the goods.”
In a 2022 interview with Guitar Player, Davey remembered that Elton wouldn’t tell his bandmates how to play. However, for Candle in the Wind, the piano player ”came up with a great guitar riff.” Elton had the idea that every time he’d sing the ”candle in the wind” line, Davey would play the guitar riff underneath. Although Davey had his doubts, he soon agreed that it sounded good.
Kacey Musgraves shared an Elton John memory with The Times. What stood out for her were the cardboard cut-outs of Elton’s husband and children in his dressing room. It was a way to feel close to his family while on tour.
Kacey, who visited Rocket Hour a few years ago, opined to Cody Alan that Elton is ”a fireball of energy” who has his finger ”on the pulse” of what’s happening in music.
A future Rocket Hour guest is likely to be Raye, the recipient of six BRIT Awards. She told Jonathan Ross that Elton sent her flowers, along with a note about how much her music means to him.
And if you’re looking for a way to express your admiration for Elton, Happy Socks has a solution. The designs are inspired by Elton’s songs (one featuring the opening lines of Tiny Dancer, ”Blue Jean Baby”), as well as eyewear, platform boots, and piano keys. Also referenced is Elton’s Dodger Stadium outfit . . . not his Farewell Yellow Brick Road appearance, but his two gigs in 1975.
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