Saturday, February 02, 2008

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

Never saw this before...and after watching it once I can see why. And how is this still available on YouTube? You'll know what I mean after watching it...

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Elton sells out in Washington state in 3 hours

Elton John sellout on the front page of the The Daily Evergreen

Elton John tickets sell out in record breaking time


Offering ticket sales to the public helped all 10,885 tickets sell in less than four hours.

By Mike Feigen
The Daily Evergreen Published: 01/28/2008 00:00:00

This Mom's Weekend, thousands of students and their parents will have to find something else to do with their Saturday night. The April 12 Elton John concert sold out in a Beasley Coliseum-record 3 hours and 40 minutes, with students experiencing long lines, computer server crashes and busy signals at TicketsWest call centers. When it was all said and done 10,885 tickets were sold, with 700 distributed to students at Beasley. With lines wrapping more than halfway around the concourse and frustrations mounting, the scene was more reminiscent of the lead-up to a Saturday night basketball game than a lazy Friday morning on the WSU campus. The difference between this and Cougar basketball, however, was that in the end the majority of the people left dissatisfied. Chris Concienne, a senior turf management major, was one of those turned away just feet from the ticket window after waiting in line for more than three hours. "My mom was really looking forward to this," he said. "It's not fair for moms to get shut out." In the words of Elton John, sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

More tour dates

That's the first I heard of the tour being referred to as the "Rocket Man - Number Ones" tour...

Elton John in CanadaIt's true! Elton John to perform

Posted By Rachel Punch

Sir Elton John's "Rocket Man - Number Ones" tour will touch down in Sudbury on March 2, the city's arenas manager confirmed Monday.

"Everyone is in awe," said Ray Mensour.

"This is probably the biggest concert in Sudbury's history, so everyone is excited ... It's quite the accomplishment and it's a great attribute for the city."

Those who want tickets to see the five-time Grammy award winner should not plan on camping out before tickets go on sale at the arena box office on Friday at 10 a.m.

"The best way to get tickets is at www.greatersudbury.ca at 10 a.m.," Mensour said.

He expects the 6,386 tickets could be sold out in a matter of minutes, and those waiting in a line up will be turned away.

"Unfortunately, not everyone is going to get tickets," Mensour said. "We don't want to turn back a lot of people so we're encouraging people to go online. That's your best odds of getting tickets."

He said seating will be set up in a bowl shape around the stage. Tickets will be sold in two-tiers. Those with an obstructed view will pay $98 and those without will pay $140. Mensour said the arena has been working on getting this show since December.

The pop legend is set to perform in Sudbury on March 2 and Kitchener on March 3. Live Nation said there are no plans to announce additional Canadian dates.

John has sold more than 200 million records and continues to add to his personal repertoire of 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, 35 gold and 25 platinum albums.

He is known for hits such as "Rocket Man," "Bennie and the Jets," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," and "Candle in the Wind."

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Riley O'Connor, chairman of promoter Live Nation Canada, said John likes to play markets he has never played before.

"Elton John has a touring history of playing markets that are non-traditional," O'Connor said in an e-mail response.

The reason Sudbury was able to secure the music giant is threefold, Mensour said.

First off, the artist has to want to play the venue.

"Elton John loves to play venues he's never played before, so obviously Sudbury was prime for that," Mensour said.

Second on the list in securing a big act is the relationship with the promoter.

"Over the last few years, we've developed an excellent relationship with Live Nation, which is formally House of Blues," Mensour said. "They've been bringing us the big shows, like the Nickelback, Hilary Duff, Michael Buble, Def Leppard and Three Days Grace."

The third key to lining up a major act is providing the venue.

"You have to be able to deliver the service and we've been doing that because of the staff here at the Sudbury arena," Mensour said. rpunch@thesudburystar.com

SIR ELTON

What: Elton John concert

Where: Sudbury Community Arena

When: March 2, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.

Tickets: On sale Friday at 10 a.m., available online at www.greatersudbury.ca, at Sudbury Arena Box Office or charge by phone at 671-3000

Cost: $98 and $140

Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Legend of Caribou

Elton John and John Lennon and the only known photo of Lennon at the Caribou RanchExcellent article in the Rocky Muntain News about the legendary studio Caribou Ranch where Elton recorded several of his 70s classics including 1974's "Caribou" album.

Bassist Kenny Passarelli, who recorded with Elton John and Joe Walsh, credits Guercio with turning Caribou Ranch into the first 'destination recording spot.'

A space heater ended an astonishing era at Caribou Ranch outside Nederland.

The 1985 fire caused by the overheated appliance closed a studio that was home to many of the biggest pop music recordings of the '70s and early '80s. From Elton John to Joe Walsh, Chicago to Earth, Wind & Fire, U2 to John Lennon, the ranch hosted and recorded a who's who that generated sales well in excess of 100 million albums. Along the way, everyone had a lot of fun.

Now owner James Guercio has swung the ranch’s gates open for the first time since the fire to tell the story of the legendary studio that got its start after a missed flight. Pop music writer Mark Brown, videographer Laressa Bachelor and photographer Javier Manzano created this report.