At The Movies With Elton John
Sir Elton makes an appearance in the sequel to This is Spinal Tap. The director, Rob Reiner, told Deadline that he expects it to be out next year–late spring or early summer.
The singer has made other cameos. Perhaps you caught him in . . .
• Tommy, 1975.
Elton was the Pinball Wizard in the motion picture, and reprised the role (albeit without the tall boots or suspenders) during The Who‘s live rendition of Tommy in Los Angeles, California, in 1989.
• Spice World, 1997. Featuring the Spice Girls.
• Kingsman: The Golden Circle, 2017. Elton regretted turning down an earlier ”Kingsman” opportunity, and was glad to be asked again. The director, Matthew Vaughn, used Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) in the movie, and the far more obscure Jack Rabbit over the closing credits.
In addition, Elton has been a commentator in various documentaries.
Here’s a sampling:
• Troubadours, 2011.
• Super Duper Alice Cooper, 2014. Also with Bernie, a longtime friend.
• Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, 2021. Elton says that Brian ”threw away the rule book and took you to another place.”
• Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T-Rex, 2022. A couple of years earlier, Elton contributed to a Marc Bolan tribute album, also called Angelheaded Hipster.
• Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres, 2022. This was about the Rolling Stone journalist who later became a DJ. Elton was among his subjects at RS, and in November 1974, Ben wrote that with others around, Elton was difficult to talk to. By himself, though, the performer opened up.
• If These Walls Could Sing, 2022. A celebration of Abbey Road Studios, directed to Paul McCartney‘s daughter, Mary. Elton said with its history (over 90 years old now), the place was ”kind of sacred.” And it could instill fear, with musicians wondering if they’d ”mess up” while recording there.
• Of course, Elton has been the star, too. Who can forget Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, a 2002 DisneyPlus smash?
• And how about Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye to Norma Jean And Other Things, directed by Bryan Forbes in 1973? It featured a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road recording session and concert footage.
Fans also got to see Hercules, which was Elton and John Reid‘s home in Virginia Water, Surrey.
