Jersey-Jack-Pinball has unveiled its new Elton John game . . . designed with the pop star’s assistance, in fact. It’s available in Platinum Edition for $12,000, or Collector’s Edition (with no more than a thousand machines) for $15,000. Both versions contain 16 studio tracks (Pinball Wizard among them, of course) with voice callouts by Elton; an interactive EJ figure; rocket sculpture with LED flames; and Crocodile Rock physical lock toy.
The cabinet artwork on the Platinum Edition is by Christopher Franchi and is printed on what the Pinball News describes as ”sparkle-effect glossy RadCals.” Other artists–John Youssi and Jean-Paul De Win–were involved with the Collector’s Edition. As with the Platinum, the cabinet art is printed on glossy RadCals, but the Collector’s Edition offers more features, including laser-cut gold sparkle side rails, mirrored backglass, and interactive cabinet light show.
On 10 November, an older Elton John pinball machine is going on the auction block. This was designed by Alan Aldridge in 1977 (a year after another Bally‘s Captain Fantastic machine), and is part of Propstore‘s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. Alan was perfect for the job as he had created the cover for the Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy album.
We think a Propstore auction highlight is a Tommy Nutter striped shirt Elton wore in concert. That was back during his 1984 Breaking Hearts tour.
On the 14th of October, Elton performed a dozen songs in Nashville, Tennessee. He was hired by restaurateur Jimmy-Liautaud, as a birthday present for his wife, Leslie. According to The Tennessean, Elton dedicated I’m Still Standing to Leslie. Other attendees at the Twelve Thirty included club owner Justin Timberlake, his wife Jessica Biel, chief Emeril Lagasse, and singer Eric Church.
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On Wednesday night, The Masked Singer TV show hosted a salute to Elton, and one of the contestants was his friend, Billie Jean King. She performed Philadelphia-Freedom, which he’d written for her, wearing a ‘Royal Hen’ mask.
Masked Singer panelist Ken Jeong figured it out; the others went with Rita Moreno, Gloria Steinem, and Dr. Ruth. King’s apparel included a pair of boots with big flowers and Napoleonic hat.
In his 1984 video for Passengers, Elton changed hats and clothes almost constantly.
Well into the video, he has on a blue and white Kansa blazer. It’s to be part of a 16 November evening sale organised by Julien’s Auctions. In addition, the Played, Worn, & Torn sale has a Wurlitzer-jukebox, a Christmas gift from Elton for John Lennon.
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Ragged Glory opens on the second of November at the Chase-Contemporary gallery in New York City. The show, running through 19 November, consists of Bernie Taupin‘s artwork, inspired by patriotism and music. The artist explained his ”flag etiquette” in a press release, pointing out that some might be offended by ”every slash and burn, stain and embellishment.” However, his aim is to portray ”strength and resilience in the face of abject adversity.”
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We’d like to finish up with a few noteworthy announcements. One is from Marmite, who say they are extending their partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The company promises further details next month, and we wonder if more merchandise is planned, since Marmite previously sold a couple of other jars to benefit the EJAF.
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First up was a Rocket-Man limited edition. And as reported by Elton-Blog-30, that was followed by a more limited edition (just four!), in honour of Elton’s appearance at Glastonbury.
Watford-FC has plans, too . . . the installation of an Elton John mosaic at Vicarage Road, to celebrate his long relationship with the Hornets.
Be immortalised at Vicarage Road. ?
We’re installing a new mosaic celebrating Sir Elton John along Occupation Road, made up of iconic images and supporters’ pictures! ?️
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) September 29, 2023
For £40, supporters of Watford and Elton can submit photos of themselves to be included in the Yellow Brick Road Fan mosaic, with the additional option of purchasing a personalised memento to mark their contribution to the project.
And last but not least, the next ej.w podcast will feature a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road contributor!
