He may have officially retired from touring after his Glasto swansong. But Sir Elton John has refused to call time on making music, or playing the odd one-off musical extravaganza. And he was true to his word as he performed a rip-roaring set front of a star-studded audience at the London Palladium on Wednesday to celebrate his new album with Brandi Carlile.
Yet before the show, the pop legend told the crowd – who included musicians Ronnie Wood and Sam Fender, actor Jason Mamoa and DJ Zoe Ball – that he does not consider his musical achievements to be his greatest legacy. Speaking movingly about sons Zachary, 14, and 12-year-old Elijah, who he has with husband David Furnish, he said: “On my tombstone, I want nothing to do with Crocodile f***ing Rock. I just want it to say: ‘He was a great dad’.”
At a Q&A, he also revealed that music had been the last thing on his mind recently, as he had grown so disillusioned with the world that he almost quit recording his new album, He said: “Brandi came down to the breakfast table and I was reading about Israel and Gaza and I was really down anyway, and I was like ‘why am I making a record when this is going on?’ It doesn’t seem right.’”
Brandi, who joined him in the Q&A with the audience, added: “We had these mornings together hanging around in our pyjamas.“On this particular morning, I went around to Elton’s, and there were newspapers, and crumbs everywhere, and he was in an awful state about the goings on. He said: ‘I don’t think now is the right time to make an album.’ Tracks from the album Who Believes in Angels? were played at the concert – billed An Evening With Elton John And Brandi Carlile.
Elton, who celebrated his 78th birthday on Tuesday, told the host of the evening, Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy, that the first few days of recording were “tumultuous”. He said: “I was getting really wound up. I wasn’t feeling very well,
“I was shattered after the tour, but I couldn’t walk away from three other people that were committed to this. My main thing was me stepping up to the mark and once I got the song down that I really thought was great and I got the lyrics – the lyrics were always great – I settled down.” The pair played new songs from the album including Swing For The Fences and You Without Me.
Elton also treated fans to hits like Tiny Dancer, Bennie and the Jets, and Your Song, ending the night with a rousing rendition of I’m Still Standing. Wearing his trademark sunglasses he also revealed that he owns “at least 15,000 pairs”, laughing: “We keep all of them in storage.”
And asked about the recent pushback against LGBTQ+rights, Elton said: “It’s tough out there, but these things will pass.” Elton’s last performance in the UK had been his headline set at Glastonbury in 2023 as part of his 330-date Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. Last November, he revealed that limited vision caused by an infection had impacted his ability to record music and left him feeling stuck.
Reflecting on why he created the new album, Elton said: “She (Carlile) is very well known in America. She’s not that well known in the UK or around the world. I wanted to make this album to be with the most fantastic artist, musician and songwriter, but I also wanted her to have the publicity and a chance for the rest of the world to see how great she is.”
Brandi, 43, who has collaborated with artists including Hozier, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys, also performed her hit song, The Story. Their album, which will be released on April 4, has been co-written by Elton’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin and produced by Grammy winner Andrew Watt, who played guitar at the sold out show. They were joined by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and their former guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.
At 78-years-old, he may walk a little gingerly over to the piano these days… but once behind it Elton is like a man possessed. In fact, there were moments during this extra-special show when you had to pinch yourself with what you were seeing.
There is no doubt this particular partnership with seriously good American star Brandi Carlile has breathed new life into the rock ’n’ roller. He lights up when playing their new joint material, which is some of his strongest work for years.
Yes, all the wonderful old classics are played like Bennie and the Jets and Tiny Dancer. But it’s the new tracks such as Swing for the Fences that have Elton spinning around on his stool, urging the audience to get on their feet (which they duly do time and time again). Retirement? It clearly suits Elton…
*****
An Evening With Elton John And Brandi Carlile will air on Saturday April 19 on ITV1 and ITVX.
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