Darwin determined to see Elton
March 6, 2008 - 6:44PM
Darwin is determined - Sir Elton John is coming to town.
All it will take is a few banners, 10,000 signatures and a bit of luck, says NT Tourism Minister Kon Vatskalis.
The pop legend's plans to tour regional Australia went public a few weeks ago, when his promoter Michael Chugg revealed Sir Elton was trying to include the Northern Territory and Western Australia as part of his Asian tour.
Both regions missed out on seeing the Rocket Man on his Australian tour last year.
Mr Vatskalis today called on all Territorians to do they bit in getting the entertainer to the Top End.
The government has joined forces with a local company to encourage Territorians to register online in a bid to secure a performance by Sir Elton John in Darwin in May.
Unveiling 10 three metre colour banners urging people to support the push - to be erected at several vantage points around the city - Mr Vatskalis today said it was no time for complacency.
"Sir Elton John has expressed an interest in performing in Darwin not Sydney, not Melbourne, not Brisbane - Darwin," he said.
"And we want him to know how much we want him here.
"To do that, we need a minimum of 10,000 people to get on-line and register their support for a Darwin show."
Mr Chugg said that if the shows went ahead it could prompt other artists to rethink the way they tour Australia and the places they included in their itineraries.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Darwin Wants Elton
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Another Sudbury review
Elton John lives up to the hype
Date Published | Mar. 3, 2008
By Patricia Mills
“Laughing like children, living like lovers, rolling like thunder, under the covers . . .” From the song, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Sudburians were laughing like children, smiling like lovers and they were definitely rolling like thunder at the Sudbury Arena Sunday night when Sir Elton John, Mr. Piano Man himself, sang and played his way into the psyche and hearts of his fans.
What a performance! What a night!
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Elton John started off the evening with Your Song, and I immediately thought of Ralph Grabowski, the winner of the Sudbury24 Elton John contest, who won the contest based on his interpretation of Your Song.
“He must be going out of his mind,” I thought, looking around the arena trying to find his seat.
Grabowski is a huge Elton John fan and he was nearly speechless the day he was presented with tickets to the event. I WAS speechless listening to Elton singing the song in person. It was amazing.
His piano skills were the shock factor in this concert. On a CD, or the radio, or even on television during a concert performance, it is very hard to grasp the incredible skill, talent and undeniable passion that emanates from those short, well-manicured famous fingers. It was totally mesmerizing watching his hands dance over the keys in renditions of his famous songs that we have never heard before.
The three-way cameras that recorded his every move, made it easy for us all to “see” the music as it was being played. Elton John didn’t just belt out his songs; he delivered them in a way that we have never, ever heard before.
And it moved us all.
As I looked around me, I couldn’t help but notice the number of people moved to tears by some of his songs. Candle in the Wind did it for me. Whenever I hear that song, I think of all the women in this world whose light was distinguished before their times, including Princess Diana.
Elton’s version of Rocket Man brought us to our feet a record five times throughout the song. As the intensity and variation escalated, the audience went wild.
He looked fine, too, in his black shiny tailcoat, with his red satin shirt and black pants, with the red stripe down the leg. He wore red shoes, another Elton vintage, and he had a diamond stud in his ear. Elton’s hair was spiked and blonde, and around his neck hung a necklace, that we were sure, was made of diamonds.
He didn’t “look” like the sixty-something performer that he actually is. And although his voice may not have reached the high notes, no one really noticed or really cared. The fact that he played for two- and a half-hours without a break, told us that we were witnessing the depth and strength of a world-class performer who we may never see again.
view more photosThe people of Sudbury are to be applauded, too. Although our venue was small, compared to most of Elton John’s audiences, the thunder in the arena was real when he was applauded. The warmth for Elton was real, and the respect for this amazing entertainer was real. My hands are swollen today from clapping, my throat sore from yelling, and my joints a little stiff, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about last night.
Elton John said he was coming back to Sudbury, and the next time, he’s bringing his band. I can’t wait!!!!
Grabowski “put into words” what many of us felt, on Sunday night.
He sent this email after the concert.
“THANK YOU .... SUDBURY24!!!!
I just got home from the concert ..... AMAZING .... the seats where FANTASTIC .... Elton John is a real showman. This is by far the best concert I have EVER been too . I am very PROUD of the people of Sudbury who turned out tonight ... and they yelled and screamed and cheered and gave Elton the welcome he deserves . Most performers would not even consider Sudbury, but he CAME ..... AND HE CONQUERED. He showed us the side of himself that we all love and that’s why we are fans.
Once again, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. ... RALPH.”
Patricia Mills is the Publisher of Laurentian Magazines and a former reporter with Northern Life.
Monday, March 03, 2008
(Finally) Elton plays Sudbury!
Elton John thrills appreciative fans
Posted By Bob Vaillancourt
Updated 10 mins ago
Elton John has been a composer, songwriter and performer for decades. During those years, he has mastered the art of staging a performance that wows audiences wherever he plays.
He did just that at Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday night, with more than 6,000 fans hanging on his every note - from his opening number, the classic ballad "Your Song," to a stylized version of one his most popular songs, "Rocket Man."
Since it was announced earlier this year, Sudbury's Elton John appearance has been the most anticipated concert in the city's history.
"It was awesome," said Dean and Jennifer Lanteigne.
People started gathering as early as 5 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert, with the area in front of the arena becoming a veritable party scene featuring fans wearing their own versions of Elton John attire.
After standing in line for more than 24 hours to successfully acquire tickets, Gloria Harju then began a search for her Elton John Concert wardrobe.
She started with a broad-rimmed hat complete with feather boa trim and from there completed the outfit with a pair of oversized dark sunglasses.
"I wanted to find a sequin jacket," she said, but met with no success.
She said she became a fan at age 16 and has followed John's career since. "I grew up with that music."
It was the second opportunity she has had to see John live. Her first concert was a few years ago in Washington.
At that concert, a band accompanied John. For the Sudbury show, John chose to take to the stage with just his piano.
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But that was enough to get Sudbury fans out of their seats for virtually every number he played.
At times, it seemed the light coming from cellphone video screens and digital cameras would overpower the strobe and floodlights set up for the concert.
Also taking in their second Elton John concert were Paul and Eileen Leishman of Orillia. Their first was in 1995 when Elton John and Billy Joel performed together on stage. "They were amazing," said Paul Leishman.
But every Elton John concert brings its own sense of excitement, said Lisa Rabski.
"There is just a feeling. He emits that on stage. Everybody feels it. It's just that sense of wow."
There was no question those lucky enough to scoop up tickets for the concert - the 6,000-plus tickets sold out in 45 minutes - knew they were at "an event."
Inside, beer sellers were doing a brisk business up until the claps and applause signalled that Sir Elton John was making his way to the stage.
With a bow to the audience, and dressed in a red shirt, a sequined long-tailed jacket and black trousers with red stripes on the side, John, the prolific musician, sat down at the piano and began playing a string of hits for the next two-and-a-half hours.
The power of the music was so intense that one could feel the floor of the 50-year-old Sudbury arena vibrate at times.
Occasionally, John would comment on the song he was about to play, but on several occasions he would simply stand, acknowledge the audience and move on to his next number.
It seemed to be just what his fans wanted as they roared their approval for every number.
Throughout the crowd you could see neon-glow glasses. On the arena floor, fans were waving neon-glow sticks in the air to the beat of the music.
Fans were taking away more than just memories from the event.
Jennifer Revel's souvenir booth was selling everything from $20 Elton John CDs, to $35 T-shirts and $100 fleece hoodies.
But her biggest sale of the night was a $400 Elton John leather jacket that one fan bought to remember the night the Rocket Man rocked the Nickel City.
editorial@thesudburystar.com
However i guess some people can never let go;
Apology is in order - Editorial
The city "would like to bring closure" to the controversy over councillors' access to tickets for the Elton John concert, said Chief Administrator Mark Mieto in a release.
Fair enough. But some issues must be resolved, first.
In the release, Mieto says the city was notified of advance promotional tickets for media outlets, which is standard practice. This appears to be an attempt to explain how he knew The Star had purchased tickets from the promoter. But he offered to show a Sudbury Star reporter receipts of tickets purchased on private credit cards. One purchase was made through a local private business. How did Mieto get these receipts? This is a serious privacy matter that must be explained.
And Mieto still hasn't explained why he warned The Star the concert was in danger due to negative publicity when it clearly wasn't, why he implied that tickets were improperly obtained by The Star when even a cursory examination of the facts shows otherwise, or why he told The Star his job would be in danger if word of an off-the-record meeting with The Star got out, when that later proved not to be the case. Mieto and Mayor John Rodriguez have since admitted the mayor knew about the meeting in advance.
As the city's top bureaucrat, Mieto must be a trusted adviser to - and servant of - council and the public. He has yet to make a public apology for his actions. He should do so.
What do you think? Visit the Sudbury Star's website at www.thesudburystar.com and add your voice to the discussion. Or send us your opinion in a Letter to the Editor at 33 MacKenzie St., Sudbury, P3C 4Y1, or fax it to 674-6834 or e-mail it to letters@thesudburystar.com
Friday, February 29, 2008
More Elton in Canada?
A Captain Fantastic idea
Halifax could be in running for an Elton John indoor concert
By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff Reporter
Thu. Feb 28 - 5:12 AM
The Rocket Man could be touching down in Halifax this year.
Elton John is considering performing three or four concerts in Atlantic Canada, says concert promoter Riley O’Connor of Live Nation.
Mr. O’Connor told CTV News that Mr. John is looking at suitable locations in the Maritimes and Newfoundland.
Live Nation is promoting two shows in Ontario and several in the United States.
Mr. O’Connor says it’s not feasible for the legendary singer to play a single concert in the region. He says Mr. John prefers to play indoor venues.
Mr. O’Connor told CTV he’s interested in playing cities that are not "your typical triple-A five-star attractions." Nothing is finalized, but he says the concerts could happen any time before December.
He told the Sudbury Star a few days ago that September would be the most likely time.
Mr. John will play a sold-out concert this Sunday at a 6,000-seat venue in Sudbury, Ont. Ticket prices there range from $87.50 to $129.50
The 10,000-seat Metro Centre in Halifax is the largest indoor venue in Atlantic Canada. "I’d be happy to see him anywhere as long as it is in Halifax," said Coun. Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown).
Ms. Sloane could not confirm Mr. John’s promoters have been in touch with Halifax, but she’s heard rumours. "I had a call last week," she said. "We’re on the list now."
Ms. Sloane said Halifax can now draw "triple-A" acts and the acts know that fans here will shell out for the tickets.
About two weeks ago, Creative Entertainment Group confirmed it has a contract with Halifax to pursue big-name acts capable of filling the Halifax Commons, which has a capacity of 40,000. Creative Entertainment president Sharon Kim-Dion said only about a half-dozen acts on the planet can fill that kind of venue.
Creative Entertainment, based in Europe with offices in New York, has worked with Mr. John in the past, according to the company’s website.
According to eltonjohn.com, his North American tour begins today in Portland, Maine. So far, there are only two Canadian concert dates, Sudbury on Sunday and Kitchener on Monday.
He will be performing in the United States until June 22. His schedule includes two stints in Las Vegas from March 19 to April 6 and then June 3 to June 22.
From June 28 to July 13, Mr. John has several concerts scheduled in Europe and England. Then his date book appears to be wide open until a performance in France on Dec. 9.
Mayor Peter Kelly, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening, said this month that Halifax lost out in a bidding war for an Elton John show last year.
In November, Celine Dion backed out of a concert for this summer on the Commons, citing mixed public reaction.
"I believe that’s water under the bridge and we’re moving forward," Ms. Sloane said.
Indeed, a month after the Quebec-born singer cancelled her Halifax date, the city snagged Australian superstar Keith Urban, who will headline Country Rocks 2008, an eight-act concert on the Commons on Aug. 30.
( djeffrey@herald.ca)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Review: "Rock Of The Westies"
I know this album isn't liked by many people here, but it remains a standout for me; being Elton's first and only real "rock & roll" album and remains his hardest rocking release to date. But it's not just about the "rock"....
As for Bernie's lyrics on this record, I don't get all the venom as the lyrics are clever, rhythmic and, in some cases, stunningly powerful.
Yet for all intents and purposes, the goal with "Rock Of The Westies" was to showcase Elton and Bernie's new band and to let loose with a rock & roll fervor that was evident on the stage during their debut performance on June 21, 1975 at Wembley (which can be heard on the Deluxe Edition of the "Captain Fantastic" album). The album was recorded in about a week's time following the Wembley show.
As Bernie told me in one of my interviews with him:
"Actually, 'Rock Of The Westies' is one of my favorite albums; I just love that record. I think we really achieved what we wanted to do at the time. We wanted to put a rock & roll band together, and that's what we did. We went to Caribou Studios in the Rockies (Colorado); it was a good place, it was a funky place, and it was basically a +$!%#%-up band [laughs].
"We were all at the high point there of abusing ourselves to the max. It was Jack Daniels and lines on the console, and somehow we got it done. I don't remember anything about the sessions, and I don't think anybody in that band will remember them either, but for some reason with that album, it paid off. Luckily, we're all still alive to tell the tale.
"What was happening at that time, and probably the reason we were flying so high, is that we had done everything. There was no mountain to scale or to conquer anymore. We had filled the biggest stadiums; there weren't any places that were bigger. We had seven consecutive Number One albums, and you can't go to anywhere else, except down. And at that time, Elton John farting would have sold, and that's intense pressure to be under because you suddenly realize that there's no other place to go but down.
"And that pressure and the slow long burnout of all the drink and drugs manifested itself in the next album, "Blue Moves," which was so introspective. But the 'Rock Of The Westies' period was a great time and, like I said, that's still one of my favorite albums."
There also seems to be people who just don't seem to get Bernie's lyrics on "Rock Of The Westies," that they're somehow not of any quality of all. I have to disagree as I think there's some very strong lyrical content; especially when realizing that they went into the album to write a rock & roll record.
Medley [Yell Help, Wednesday Night, Ugly]
Always hated the use of "Medley" in the title of the song, rather than the three separate lyrical concepts that Elton pulled together as an homage to his then-favorite band, Little Feat, who created a similar musical mosaic on "Tripe Face Boogie" from 1974's "Feats Don't Fail Me Now." Lyrically, it's also an interesting word-painting created by the bringing together of different songs; not unlike what the Beatles did with Lennon's medley on "Abbey Road" or what Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings did with the tying together of two separate songs on the Guess Who's major hit, "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" from 1970.
The lyrics effectively serve up a landscape of dispair and isolation--feelings that almost always lead to misguided acceptance of superstitions-and then the tying together of superstitious voodoo and New Orleans makes for an interesting travelogue of a fateful journey in search of the perfect ideal (in this case, the comfort of a mundane Wednesday Night).
Needless to say, the inventive music, band performance, and aggressive vocals from Elton makes for one of the most interesting (and definitely most original) songs in the entire Taupin/John catalog.
Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)
Bernie's tribute to Britain's famous 1950s comic book hero, Dan Dare. Pretty much unheard of in America-Dan Dare is the equivalent to America's Buck Rogers-there was a bit of confusion about this song at the time of its release in the States, but the stuttering bassline and another fine performance from the band (especially the excellent vocal interplay) has stood the test of time.
Lyrically, Bernie's words definitely appeal more to the English audience as he does an excellent job of painting a musical portrait of Dan Dare's cartoon universe. He also pulls a surprising climax by noting at the very end of the song that he in fact "liked The Mekon" (who is the equally famous alien creature who was Dan Dare's lifelong arch enemy). A nice Taupin-like twist.
Island Girl
A very clever lyric of a New York streetwalker from Jamaica wrapped around the poppiest melody Elton brought to the album. Some have mistakenly dubbed this lyric misogynistic or racist, when the lyrics only detail a black john who wants to save the "big girl, she's standing six foot three" from her white pimp ("the racket boss"), but ultimately the "cause is lost."
Bernie's touched on the ladies of the night before, such as with the classic and brilliant "Sweet Painted Lady" from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."
Grow Some Funk Of Your Own
A witty rock & roll tale of a guy who gets into a scuffle over a girl in a border town. Elton's vocal is the perfect mix of humor ("oh, it hurt so much") and aggression that the lyrics call for; as the character finds himself alone in the battle as his friends leave him behind to deal with the situation on his own. Fortunately, for the protagonist, it was nothing more than dream.
I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)
Another one of Bernie's ode to America's Old West that he first did so well back on "Tumbleweed Connection." And while mapping the entire song to the little-known character of "Robert Ford" (the coward who shot his friend the outlaw Jesse James in the back) left some people a little mystified, those familiar with Ford's legacy could best feel the emotional impact that Taupin's lyrics bring to bare.
It's always difficult to put one's own shame and blame behind the destruction of a relationship into song, Bernie does it brilliantly on this album centerpiece.
Street Kids
Lyrically, Bernie talks of his teenage years, hanging out and seeing the juvenile delinquent gangs in those same "East End nights" he wrote about an album earlier in "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", and includes some outstanding cinematic lines-"I've been bottled and been brained" and "If you think you've seen gasoline burning in my eyes".
He also notes the insidious nature of street gang involvement, "I'd like to break away from the rut I'm in," only to fall back into the comfort of the only thing you know ("but beggars can't be choosers and I was born to sin").
The only real problem for me on this tank-blazing guitar rocker is that it just goes on too long. I've done a simple edit that brings it down to a much-more-compact four-and-a-half minutes, without losing any of Bernie's lyrics or Elton's muscular swagger.
Hard Luck Story
Written under Bernie and Elton's pseudonym Carte Blanche and Ann Orson (the same credit they used for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart")-and then recorded first by Kiki Dee as a single in 1974 (which Elton co-produced)-this tale of domestic turmoil in a blue-collar household is one of Taupin's most powerful lyrics about ups-and-downs of marriage. When temporary bitterness over one's lot in life comes screaming to the forefront of a troubled relationship. Bernie's lyrics really paint an amazing portrait of what goes on in those little houses down the street. Brilliant.
Feed Me
It's truly amazing that this incredibly powerful lyric was written a year before Bernie would climb out of the "Crazy Water" that was engulfing himself, Elton and the band at the end of the "Blue Moves" recording sessions. It was only then that Bernie split from Elton and took off to Mexico to "dry out, because I think we were all killing ourselves."
Interestingly enough, "Feed Me" gives some hints of where Bernie's head was a full year before. One of rock's most powerful lyrical examples of drug abuse written DURING that timeframe; not through hindsight, but when one finds himself in the midst of the insanity itself.
In the lyrics, Bernie feels the pull of addiction (needing to be fed), but was also well-aware of where their "life in the fast lane" was heading. Still, he wasn't ready or yet capable of walking away. Paranoia, sleeplessness, encroaching madness and hallucinations are all very much a part of a body and mind embroiled in a steady over-indulgence of drink and drugs, and no rock lyric has ever spelled out the pain, fear and isolation as well as Bernie does here.
Billy Bones & The White Bird
Bernie's love of characters comes through again with this song about Billy Bones, the fictional pirate in the literary classic, "Treasure Island." The mysterious seaman who happens upon a seaside village with a mysterious sea chest. While no one truly knows his real story, his drunken exploits and less-than-amicable antics actually turn him into a bit of a local legend. His equally mysterious death within a year only adds to his legend.
Bernie's lyrics push beyond the legend (in admittedly obscure fashion) and Billy Bones rides again on the "sea" (which Bernie beautifully describes as "the field these old jack tars have sown")….incidentally, for those without any knowledge of seamanship or ancient voyages, "jack tars" is an old british slang term for seaman or sailors.
While these are the most oblique lyrics on the album, they are engaging, fun wordplay that Bernie has always engaged in and Elton's melody is uplifted by the "kitchen sink" instrumentation and production. Hardly the album's highpoint, it's once again a thousand miles away from what went before.
Historical Overview
Overall, Bernie's use of literary, fictitious and historical characters throughout "Rock Of The Westies" is something that Bernie has done time and time again throughout his career. Whether through the characters in "Tumbleweed Connection" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," for some reason, it hasn't been recognized on this much under-valued and overlooked album.
If nothing else, "Rock Of The Westies" shows Elton and Bernie pulling out all the stops and not trying to copy any of their work that went before. It was a bold album then, and it remains within their illustrious catalog as their most adventureous and definitely their most straight-ahead rock & roll collection. It's almost their "White Album," where anything went and they followed their creative muse wherever it took them, relying on inspiration instead of stagnation and opening doors that most felt were closed to them. A marvelous mutt of an album that deserves far more praise than it gets around these parts.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
He made the right choice...
Did Elton John Drop His Pants for Charity?
Sharon Stone sure knows how to get people to pay up.
She was a guest auctioneer at Elton John and David Furnish's Oscar gala benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. And while coaxing one fella to bid $1 million for a 1971 Stingray Corvette donated by her family, Stone sneered, "Don't be a p--sy!"
Sir Elton joined Stone onstage to try to get even more money for it. "Elton and I will sing a duet," Stone joked.
Better yet, John announced, "I'll take my trousers off."
Also up for bid was a rare black-and-white print by the late photographer Helmut Newton. X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner bid first with $150,000. When bidding hit a high of $900,000, the auctioneer pleaded with Ratner to go for a million. "You have the money," the auctioneer said.
Ratner didn't bite.
Around 9:50, John started the night's performance with "The Bitch Is Back." Here's what else went down...
A maybe pregnant Minnie Driver moved closer to the stage, swaying back and forth with a male pal. If she's expecting, her Empire-waisted gown hid her bump well. (My gossip cohort Hollywood Party Girl reported earlier that when Driver was asked on the press line if she was going to be a mommy, she simply answered, "No comment.")
At about the same time, I saw conservative media baron Rupert Murdoch and his wife, Wendi Deng, checking out the Chopard jewels on display. One of the many gays at the bash told me, "God, I was so tempted to trip him."
John's performance continued with surprise duets, including Jack Shears of the Scissor Sisters and Mary J. Blige.
Sitting at the head table with Stone, designer Donna Karan was suddenly but playfully accosted by a man in a gold shirt and tight black pants. He jumped on a chair behind her and started dancing, and he ended up gyrating against the back of her head!
More stars, like Tom Wilkinson and Jeremy Piven, arrived around 10:30. And then came Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. They were escorted to a spot not far from the stage, where they danced arm in arm to John and Blige singing "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues."
Heidi Klum was a late arrival, along with hubby Seal. She'd changed from the red John Galliano dress she wore to the show into a metallic minidress.
Then Prince made his entrance—with three women. They immediately took a seat on the couch, surrounded by four security guards.
The very last celeb I saw make it in was Best Actress winner Marion Cotillard. She and her friends were taken to the couch where Prince had been sitting and toasted with champagne. She had to have been in heaven, don't you think?
—Filed by Marc Malkin
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Elton raises $5 million with a little help from his friends
16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Party Celebrating The Academy Awards Raises $5.1 Million
LOS ANGELES, Feb 25, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Sir Elton John and David Furnish hosted the 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) Academy Awards(R: 58.88, -2.21, -3.61%) Viewing party. The event was held on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the Pacific Design Center and was co-sponsored by Chopard and VH1. EJAF's party to celebrate the Academy Awards(R: 58.88, -2.21, -3.61%) was one of the night's most attended parties and raised a record breaking $5.1 million.
The annual gala continues to be the leading fundraising event in Hollywood on Oscar night. This year's gala brought some exciting moments including a live performance by Sir Elton John with his entire band. Special guests Mary J. Blige and Jack Shears of Scissor Sisters added excitement to an important fundraising evening.
This year's guests included Hollywood luminaries such as: "Best Actress" Winner Marion Cotillard, "Best Supporting Actor" Nominee Tom Wilkinson, "Best Supporting Actress" Nominee Amy Adams, Ellen DeGegneres & Portia De Rossi, Sean Penn, Patricia Clarkson, Calista Flockhart & Harrison Ford, Josh Groban, Faye Dunaway, Sean Combs, Seal & Heidi Klum, Prince, Kate Beckinsale, Billy Joel, Courtney Love, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Petra Nemcova, Jeremy Piven, Roberto Cavalli, Minnie Driver, Simon Cowell, Herbie Hancock, Natasha Henstridge, Larry King, Erick McCormack, Jason Lewis, Johnny Lee Miller, Brett Ratner, Jason Retiman, Rupert Murdoch, Jennifer Coolidge, Russell Simmons, Cheryl Tiegs, John Waters and Ziyi Zhang among others.
As is tradition immediately following dinner, auctioneer Jamie Niven led the evening's live auction with some of the best items to date with proceeds benefiting the Elton John Aids Foundation. Items included, Chopard sunglasses custom-designed by Julianne Moore, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Brooke Shields; George Condo's "The Laughing Comedian" 2007; 1974 vintage Corvette from Sharon Stone's personal collection; and the vacation package of a lifetime -- "Around the World in 80 Ways" -- to celebrate the 80th year of the Oscars.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Elton's Oscar Party
Elton John is the belle of the Academy Awards parties
By SOLVEJ SCHOU Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES—With Vanity Fair sitting one out this year, the belle of the Oscars balls was a piano playing, "Rocket Man" singing, silver tie wearing Elton John.
The singer's 16th annual viewing dinner and after-party benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation topped other bashes on Sunday with 750 guests and a bevy of A-list stars who sipped on cocktails and feasted on a four-course meal under the Pacific Design Center's red-draped tent before John himself took to the stage.
Vanity Fair's lavish, celebrity-drenched annual shindig, typically the peak party of Academy Awards night, was canceled weeks earlier before the end of the 100-day Hollywood writers strike.
Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, after greeting every table, John pounded out the first of 11 tunes, his first time in several years playing a full set with an entire band at his own party.
Wearing an ornate Yohji Yamamoto black suit and black-framed glasses, he pointed at the crowd, banged on his piano and even had the likes of Sean Penn moving along.
The crowd howled and clapped in approval when John broke out hits like "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer."
One-time Oscar nominee Patricia Clarkson, in a fitted cocktail dress, mouthed the words, her arms in the air. Calista Flockhart swayed next to her beau, Harrison Ford. Supermodel Petra Nemcova jumped on a few chairs and shimmied with joy. Faye Dunaway bopped her head. Stevie Wonder grinned, weaving his neck to the music.
Mary
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J. Blige dueted with John on one number, as did Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, who wore a bright neon yellow-green suit, jumped on John's piano and did the twist.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Grounds for Thought - John Jorgenson Quintet
John Jorgenson and quintet heats up Grounds for Thought
By: Laura Lee Caracciolo
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Pulse
Most coffee houses limit themselves to espresso and the occasional donut. Some might add chess and CDs to the mix. Grounds For Thought offers all of this and much more.
The popular coffee shop and bookstore, located at 174 S Main St, has been putting on free live shows once a month for the past several years.
Grounds owner Kelly Wicks came up with the idea nearly 18 years ago but it wasn't until recently that he decided to bring free live music to the Bowling Green community on a regular basis.
Past shows have drawn in an average of 150 people, but last Friday the John Jorgenson Quintet played to an audience of over 200, according to Wicks.
"It was the biggest crowd we've had to date," Wicks said. "In December we had a crowd of 170, so people seem to be responding really well to what's going on."
The Quintet performed two one-hour sets of lively gypsy jazz to an all-ages crowd which included many regulars.
Wicks rearranged the book cases to accommodate around a hundred seats, but the venue was so packed that many enthusiastic audience members stood in the aisles and the back of the room.
The mostly instrumental music was fast-paced, animated and created a comfortable atmosphere. The result was a very involved crowd - shouting, cheering and clapping during songs and after.
Between numbers, Jorgenson, who has recorded and toured with artists such as Elton John, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, would explain his inspirations and reasons for writing certain songs.
Fans lingered when the show was over to speak to the band and support them by purchasing merchandise. The energy of the music continued even after the band stopped playing which is a good sign of a successful show.
Each month Wicks hopes to appeal to a variety of audiences by bringing in bands of different musical genres.
The next show at Grounds is on March 19 and features the Chicago-based jazz ensemble, Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang.
For more information on upcoming shows check out the Grounds For Thought Web site at www.groundsforthought.com.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Didn't I suggest Elton release an EP?
That's "Extended Player" for those of you scratching your heads...From Billboard;
Mraz Rolling Out New Album With EPs
Jason Mraz
February 21, 2008, 1:25 PM ET
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Jason Mraz isn't so much releasing his upcoming effort as he is rolling it out. "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things." will be available as trio of EPs, with each to hit shelves on different dates.
"We Sing" and "We Dance" will be released March 18 and April 15, respectively, while the third EP is merely bundled with the other two when the full-length debuts May 20. Purchased separately, the individual sets will come packaged with bonus alternate versions of the songs.
"We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things." features Mraz' new single "I'm Yours," which appeared originally as a demo on an EP that accompanied his last album, "Mr. A-Z." The track resonated with fans and bred more than 300 user-generated music videos online. Mraz also tapped fellow songwriters James Morrison and Colbie Caillat to contribute to the album.
Mraz will perform Feb. 28 for iTunes Live: London Sessions in England in support of the album. Additionally, he's in the midst of planning a North American tour and already has dates slated for Europe, Australia and Asia.
"We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things." is the follow-up to 2005's "Mr. A-Z," which debuted at No. 5 in 2005.
Elton and Mary J. Blige to duet at his Oscar party...
Mary J. Blige will join Elton John onstage for a duet at John's AIDS Foundation party Sunday after the Oscars.
John's annual Oscar party has raised more than $15 million over the past 15 years. Blige's AIDS-awareness efforts date to 2000, when she worked with MAC Cosmetics on its Viva Glam fund-raising campaign.
The "queen of hip-hop soul" has worked with John previously. He played piano on her single "Deep Inside." No word yet on what song the two will perform at the Oscar party.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
SeeqPod - Sugar On The Floor
Pretty cool new music search engine called SeeqPod.com which finds and plays just about anything. Here is one of the best "B-sides" ever;
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sudbury scandal goes on...
That's why they call it the blues in Sudbury: Elton ticket flap angers some fans
18 minutes ago
SUDBURY, Ont. - Sorry seems to be the hardest word, after an Elton John ticket flap in Sudbury.
Local hoopla over an upcoming concert by the pop music legend turned to scandal when it was revealed that city councillors got first crack at buying tickets, resulting in an apology from the mayor. Local media coverage prompted accusations of unfairness, with some citizens vowing revenge at the polls.
"They raise our taxes, do almost half of the meetings in camera," one anonymous poster griped on the Sudbury Star website.
"These people have been voted in with our trust and when that trust is broken it's time to go. Where would you draw the line?"
John's hotly anticipated March 2 show - one of just two Canadian stops on a greatest hits tour - saw 6,000 seats sell out in less than an hour in the city of roughly 85,000.
But disappointment turned to anger for some empty-handed fans when the Sudbury Star reported that 100 advance tickets were made available to city councillors.
The ruckus forced Mayor John Rodriguez to issue an apology last week before a city council meeting.
"My decision to offer so many advance purchase tickets to council was rushed and not given sufficient consideration. For that I apologize," Rodriguez said in his address, adding that the practice was not so unusual.
"These tickets are not free: the cost is paid in full by the councillor. This same practice occurs in the City of Kitchener, where Elton John is also playing next month."
Rodriguez did not immediately return calls for comment Tuesday.
A spokesman for concert promoter Live Nation says it's common practice among most venues to let city officials have first dibs at tickets.
"Their practices are no different from all the other arenas I deal with in this country, whether it's privately owned or city owned," Riley O'Connor, chairman of Live Nation Canada, said from his Toronto office.
"I don't even know what the big deal is."
O'Connor said the Sudbury arena has sold an extra 1,200 seats for the pop star's show, including those located behind the stage and at the extreme sides. A typical front-of-stage set-up offers only 4,800 seats, he said.
"In fact there was more tickets available for this concert than any concert in the history of that arena, probably since 1978, April Wine," he said.
The manager of the Kitchener Auditorium says 61 advance tickets were sold to councillors in that city, plus another 382 advance tickets were made available to other city staff, venue suppliers, concert sponsors, and arena tenants like the minor hockey team.
"When somebody doesn't get access to something, I'm sure they're upset," manager Kim Kugler said from Kitchener.
"It does limit people's access but we try to make it as open and as available to people via (sales on the) Internet, phone, and in person."
Just over 6,500 tickets were sold in Kitchener, but Kugler said ongoing renovations to the auditorium could make more seats available for the March 3 concert.
John, whose hits include "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Bennie and the Jets," "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" and "Rocket Man," follows up the Ontario shows with a string of dates in Las Vegas.
-By Cassandra Szklarski in Toronto
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Could Sudbury be cancelled?
Maybe...
Elton John concert in jeopardy over ticket grab
Posted By Denis St. Pierre
The raging controversy over city council's self-awarded "perk" of scores of Elton John concert tickets is now jeopardizing the concert's fate, according to city officials.
The Star has learned that city officials fear the public uproar over the ticket fiasco is causing so much concern for the event promoter, the March 2 Elton John concert could be cancelled.
Furthermore, city management also fears the controversy will damage Sudbury's chances at securing major acts in the future, The Star has learned.
Thousands of Elton John fans came away empty-handed earlier this month when tickets available to the public sold out within 45 minutes. The city's website received one million hits during that brief period from would-be ticket buyers.
One week later, The Star reported city council had jumped the queue and given itself first crack at more than 100 tickets, which prompted a deluge of public protest and anger. While councillors took an average of eight tickets, the actual numbers ranged from as few as two tickets to a whopping 22 purchased by one councillor, sources have told The Star.
The public furore has continued virtually unabated over the last week as several city councillors refuse to disclose how many concert tickets they obtained, while the municipal administration steadfastly refuses to divulge precisely how many tickets were available to the public.
All city council members were contacted Friday with regard to the latest startling revelation uncovered by The Star - that the controversy may be jeopardizing the Elton John concert as well as other major events in the future.
In an e-mail message sent to the mayor and councillors, the politicians were asked if they shared the concern that the ticket controversy is jeopardizing the Elton John concert and future events.
They also were asked if the disconcerting news might compel them to disclose how many concert tickets they purchased and what they have done with those tickets.
As of press time Friday night, none of the councillors responded to The Star's invitation for comment. There was one response sent from the city, indicating Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan is away and not available for comment.
To date, the following council members have disclosed how many tickets they purchased: Mayor John Rodriguez (10), Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac (13), Ward 7 Coun. Russ Thompson (eight), Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan (eight), Ward 3 Coun. Claude Berthiaume (seven), Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann (three), Ward 6 Coun. Andr‚ Rivest (two).
Friday, February 15, 2008
How about "Keyboard Hero: Elton John"
New Guitar Hero gives sweet emotion to Aerosmith fans
By Scott Hillis 30 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Activision Inc on Friday unveiled a new "Guitar Hero" video game focusing on the rock band Aerosmith, taking the billion-dollar franchise in a new direction.
ADVERTISEMENT
Called "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith," the new game will arrive in stores this summer, a surprise to many analysts and fans who had expected the next title to come out closer to the year-end holiday shopping season.
Aerosmith, known for hits such as "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion," is the top-selling American rock band of all time, with sales of 66.5 million albums in the United States alone.
The game will feature about 30 Aerosmith songs as well as others from various acts that have opened for the band. The price has not yet been set.
"The premise is that it's going to cover the 30-plus years of the band, from high school all the way through the rock superstardom of today," Kai Huang, head of Activision's RedOctane unit, which guides development of the franchise, told Reuters in an interview.
In the "Guitar Hero" games, players try to press colored buttons on a guitar-shaped controller in time with notes cascading down the screen. If the notes are hit, the song plays properly, and the player earns points.
Since the original "Guitar Hero" was released in late 2005, the series has gone on to sell more than $1 billion. Depending on the version, a bundle including the game and a controller costs from $80-$100, while the stand-alone game costs $40-$60.
When Activision reported quarterly earnings last week, analysts grilled the company on its plans for the franchise, expressing concern that sales would slow this year because many players who bought earlier versions with guitars would opt to buy the lower-price stand-alone game disks.
Huang said Activision had not yet decided whether it would offer a special controller with the Aerosmith game.
NEW DIRECTION
The focus on a single band marks a new twist for the franchise, whose three main titles featured dozens of artists spanning classic rock, grunge, metal, punk and other rock subgenres. Last year, Activision also released "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s" with songs from that decade.
"It's just a completely new way to interact with this music and with Aerosmith, and we think there's more opportunity to do that in the future," Huang said.
By spotlighting a single band, the company has also come up with a way to counter rival music game "Rock Band" from Viacom Inc unit MTV and Electronic Arts Inc, Activision's top competitor.
"Rock Band," which includes drums and a microphone as well as a guitar, each week has offered new songs that can be downloaded to consoles like Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 and Sony Corp's PlayStation 3.
The music industry is eyeing "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" as a way to revive flagging sales. "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero 3," both launched last fall, have together sold millions of songs at about $2 each via download.
Speaking of Aerosmith's willingness to work on the project, Huang said: "They recognize that it can deliver their music in an innovative and new way. It's a new distribution platform for them."
To recreate the sense of attending an Aerosmith concert, developers held motion-capture sessions with band members, including energetic frontman Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry.
"As you play," Huang said, "you're going to be seeing Joe and Steven doing their moves onstage."
(Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
Elton adds second show at Beasley
Elton John announces second WSU show
The Daily Evergreen
Beasley Coliseum announced today that Elton John will be performing a second show for Mom's Weekend. John was originally slated to perform on Saturday, April 12, but a second performance was added for April 13, after an enormous volume of phone calls and e-mails were sent to Beasley, according to the news release.
In contrast to the first time tickets were sold, a certain number for the second show have been reserved for students, according to an e-mail from Beasley Coliseum director Leo Udy. Students will be allowed to line up starting Sunday at 6 a.m. in front of the Beasley Coliseum ticket office. Randomly numbered wristbands will be distributed to the students in line from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale on Monday at 10 a.m., in the order of the numbers on the wristband. Tickets will be limited to four per student.
EJ ticket controversy continues...
Councillor bought up to 22 Elton John tickets
Posted By Denis St. Pierre
Greater Sudbury Ward 11 Coun. Janet Gasparini purchased between 16 and 22 tickets to next month's Elton John concert, making her the largest buyer in city council's Ticket Gate controversy.
Sources say Gasparini reserved 22 tickets for the once-in-a-lifetime concert, but may have ended up with as few as 16 tickets after providing as many as six to council colleagues.
Before the concert tickets went on sale to the public, councillors were allowed to jump the queue and buy eight tickets each. After some councillors opted not to purchase eight tickets, the leftovers were offered to the remaining politicians and Gasparini was the biggest buyer, sources say.
Gasparini, one of six councillors who have refused to disclose how many tickets they purchased, could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Meanwhile, Mayor John Rodriguez says city council's ticket grab for the March 2 concert did not violate council's code of conduct. Nor does the raging controversy signal a need for a stricter rules, adds Rodriguez.
Several angry citizens have contacted The Star to suggest the ticket grab by the mayor and councillors does indeed violate the code of conduct, which is entrenched in a municipal bylaw. As a result, these critics say, the politicians should be forced to return the tickets.
Furthermore, some outraged citizens suggest council should adopt a stricter code of conduct - similar to what is in place in other cities - that would unequivocally prohibit the preferred ticket access council has given itself.
Council's code of conduct includes a section titled "acceptance of gifts," which dictates that the mayor and councillors "shall ... not accept a fee, gift or other benefit that is connected directly or indirectly with the performance of the duties of his/her office."
The mayor and councillors have emphasized that, although they were given first crack at scores of Elton John concert tickets, they had to buy the tickets, therefore they were not gifts.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Sorry!
This is quite the controversy up in Canada;
Mayor sorry for handling of Elton John concert tickets
Posted By Denis St. Pierre
Mayor John Rodriguez has taken responsibility for allowing city councillors to buy "so many" tickets for next month's Elton John concert.
"My decision to offer so many advance purchase tickets to council was rushed and not given sufficient consideration. For that I apologize," the mayor said at the outset of Wednesday night's city council meeting.
In a rare departure from normal procedure, the mayor read a prepared statement before beginning regular council business Wednesday.
The 365-word statement was a response to the public furore over the preferential treatment that allowed council first dibs on more than 100 tickets for the March 2 Elton John concert.
"I want to speak directly to the people of Greater Sudbury," Rodriguez said.
While he stated that council must learn from its "mistakes," the mayor also reiterated some of his positions on the controversy that have offended many city residents.
In particular, Rodriguez emphasized that councillors did not get any freebies, nor is council the only such group in the province to get first choice on tickets to exclusive events at municipal facilities. "These tickets are not free: the cost is paid in full by the councillor. This same practice occurs in the City of Kitchener, where Elton John is also playing next month," he said.
The mayor also maintained that "the practice of making tickets available to councillors and staff is a longstanding one" at the city. That assertion, particularly with regard to the actions taken by council with Elton John tickets, has been disputed by a former councillor, by a current councillor (in an off-the-record admission) and by a former advisor in the mayor's office.
In fact, Rodriguez noted last week that the opportunity provided to council for Elton John tickets was not offered to the politicians for the two recent, sold-out performances of Michael Buble.
The mayor also said in his statement Wednesday that he has directed city staff to prepare "an open and transparent policy to ensure that this type of debacle never happens again."
The Elton John concert should be a "very positive event for our city and our citizens," Rodriguez said.
Elton John Tour Dates from LiveDaily
February 2008
28 - Portland, ME - Cumberland County Civic Center
March 2008
2 - Sudbury, Ontario - Sudbury Arena
3 - Kitchener, Ontario - Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex
6 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena
10 - Newark, DE - Bob Carpenter Center
12 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Civic Center
14 - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Civic Center
15 - Tallahassee, FL - Tallahassee Civic Center
16 - Gainesville, FL - Stephen O’Connell Center
19 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
21-22 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
24-26 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
28-29 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
31 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
April 2008
1-2 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
4-6 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
11 - Missoula, MT - Adams Center
12 - Pullman, WA - Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum
June 2008
3-4 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
6-7 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
9-11 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
13-14 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
16-18 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
20-22 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Aretha Franklin is not happy!
Franklin slams Beyonce Grammy intro
Tue Feb 12, 11:52 PM ET
LOS ANGELES - When Aretha Franklin is unhappy, she does not mince words. On Tuesday, the longtime Queen of Soul slammed Beyonce Knowles' intro to Tina Turner at Sunday's Grammy Awards, in which Knowles called Turner, not Franklin, "the queen."
`
"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce," Franklin said in a statement issued by her publicist. "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."
E-mails to Knowles' publicist Yvette Noel-Schure and calls and e-mails to Recording Academy spokeswomen Jaime Sarachit and Barb Deghan were not immediately returned.
In the first few seconds of Knowles' intro to Turner's performance, she name-dropped Franklin and a long list of famed female singers. Then the "Crazy in Love" chanteuse focused on Turner.
"There is one legend who has the essence of all of those things: the glamour, the soul, the passion, the strength, the talent," said Knowles, strutting in hot pants. "Ladies and gentlemen. Stand on your feet and give it up for the queen."
At a party later that night, Knowles called Turner her "ultimate icon."
Still, Franklin ended her brief criticism on a gracious note, thanking the Grammys and the voting academy and saying, "love to Beyonce anyway."
Known for such hits as "Respect" and "Chain of Fools," Franklin tied with the Clark Sisters for best gospel performance trophy for her duet "Never Gonna Break My Faith" with Mary J. Blige.
Is this worthy of devastation?
An Elton John fan in Canada is devastated that she could not get tickets to see Elton on March 2 in Subury;
Elton John fan 'devastated'
Posted -59 sec ago
The entire sequence of events involving the Elton John ticket sales has become an atrocity of colossal proportions, frustrating many of his life long fans in the Northern Ontario area. The manner in which the tickets were sold was questionable to say the least and now, to learn that there were tickets sold to the mayor and city councillors before the website opened ... well, I shouldn't be surprised, but I am dismayed, as I'm sure many other fans are with this miscarriage.
I am a huge, life-long fan who stood in line at nine years old (1973) to buy an Elton John album on the day it was released. I have to wonder if these politicians knew as children that they would be politicians, and that they would never have to stand in line for anything. Ever. If they did think that, I guess they would have been right.
Not that being a huge fan for my entire life makes me any more privileged than anybody else to purchase tickets, but what is the reason behind the councillors and mayor buying tickets before they went on sale? There should be an even playing field for all of us, whether we are politicians or just the common voting public.
I am sure Sir Elton would be truly disappointed to learn exactly what happened here with the ticket sales. I have found tickets being scalped by so many people that had no intention of attending the concert, they only bought them to make a profit. If Elton John wanted anybody to make money off of his concerts, it would most certainly be a charity that helps children with AIDS, not scalpers' blatant profiteering for whatever personal expenses they may have. This is just one more thing about Elton John that any fan would know.
This entire ticket fiasco has been devastating to me and to think I will be sitting at home the night that Elton is playing the Sudbury arena is absolutely incomprehensible to me. Oh, yes, I could buy tickets for upwards of $600 apiece, but some of us cannot afford that. I am a single mom and I could never justify such an expense.
I have a feeling that when our mayor and city councillors are down at the Sudbury Arena on March 2 doing the Crocodile Rock, they really won't give a damn about those of us who aren't.
Janet Derks
Sudbury
Thursday, February 07, 2008
What's next: Some ideas from me...
It's now been over a year since The Captain and the Kid
I wish I knew. If I find out anything I will be sure to post the info.
However I do have a few ideas for projects I personally would like to see Elton undertake. So for whatever it's worth here they are.
An All-Star Instrumental Rock-n-Roll Album
One project I've always thought would be interesting is Elton putting together an all-star line-up of rock-n-roll veterans as well as his current band and recording an album of instrumental rock songs, covers and originals. Sort of like the tune Rockestra as performed by Paul McCartney on his album Back To The Egg
Release an EP of new material recorded before a live audience
This one would either be a brilliant idea or it would crash-n-burn. I think the trick to making this work would be to record it before a small studio audience similar to how 11-17-70 was recorded. Make it an intimate setting with Elton talking to the audience about the tracks before performing them and perhaps answering questions. Sort of like the VH1 Storytellers series. And since it would be an EP (that means Extended Play as opposed to LP) it would only have to be five or six new songs and sold at a reduced price.
Record a Smooth Jazz album
The only style of jazz I like is called Smooth Jazz. I've always liked the breezy feel of smooth jazz and think that Elton could easily pull off a smooth jazz album. It really fits his style of music and could be quite a enjoyable listen. Some tracks could be instrumental and other he can add vocals too.
Of course Elton could always go back in the studio and record another "Elton John" album that will receive critical acclaim from critics and fans. It will then tank on the charts and all of us fans will be furious.
Then there is that rap album idea.....just kidding.
Slash: one of the major guitar players I was attracted to was definitely Davey.
Slash lists Davey Johnstone as one his musical favorites;
Artist: Davey Johnstone
Backstory: The longtime lead guitarist in Elton John's band, Johnstone plays with equal taste and fire. He has also worked with Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Joan Armatrading and others. Some of his most memorable playing with Elton John includes the riff-happy “Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting” and the epic ballad “Candle in the Wind.”
Slash: “This will probably be the first time I've been prompted to say this in an interview, but when I think of '70s rock guitar – which I was hugely influenced by – one of the major guitar players I was attracted to was definitely Davey. His playing is very melodic and always appropriate for the song.”
Elton's Oscar party still on
Elton John's annual post-Oscar party plans still moving forward
The Associated Press
02/06/2008 05:02:54 PM PST
LOS ANGELES—Vanity Fair's post-Oscar party is off, but Elton John's is on.
The singer and AIDS activist is moving forward with plans for his 16th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party, the foundation announced Wednesday.
"This event is our most important fundraiser of the year," it said in a statement. "Last year, we raised over $4.3 million and we expect to exceed that record this year."
John will also play a special concert set at the party, backed by his full band.
Vanity Fair canceled its party in support of striking Hollywood writers and others affected by the labor action.
John's viewing party, held at the Pacific Design Center, is always lavish and star-studded, boasting past guests such as Denzel Washington, Sting, Sharon Stone, Ben Kingsley, Kevin Spacey and Halle Berry. Among the expected guests at the Feb. 24 soiree are Victoria and David Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Donatella Versace and Elizabeth Taylor.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
What happened: "The Captain and The Kid"
The Captain and the Kid is the third album in a career-resurrecting run that began in 2001, when Elton John took the novel approach of sitting down at a piano and writing songs that sound a lot like Elton John. The album is a sequel to 1975's chart-topping Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, and it has moments that rival the original: The songs are precision instruments, from the honky-tonk pop of "Just Like Noah's Ark" to pristine ballads like the title track. With lyricist Bernie Taupin in tow, The Kid traces thirty-odd years' worth of ups and downs that befall the duo. The story line gets a little murky and the album cheeses out on songs like "The Bridge." But more than just a gift to fans, it shows Elton's gifts haven't deserted him. And that's more than good enough.
And then Universal stepped in.
Of all the wonderful songs on "The Captain and The Kid" the absolute worst choice was made as the lead single. Instead of going with any of the terrific mid-tempo songs from the album such as "Just Like Noah's Ark" or "Tinderbox" or even the self-promoting title cut Universal made the safe choice and released to radio-only (another mistake) "The Bridge." A piano only track with up-front vocals from Elton and a beautiful vocal bridge, nonetheless it was not radio-friendly nor was it memorable. Quite frankly it was a boring track and did not fairly represent the overall outstanding quality of the rest of the album. It did reasonably well at AC radio where Elton has become a staple. However it did not generate much buzz for the album and Universal decided not to release a second track to radio effectively killing the album. Curiously a wonderful video was produced for "Tinderbox" reminiscent of the Beatles "Free As A Bird" video which interspersed archival footage of Elton, Bernie and the boys into colorful nostalgic scenes of Elton in the 1970s. And another odd note was that one of the promotional placements for this video was on MLB.com, the Major League Baseball official website.
As a result of the poor choice for the lead single and no then follow-up the album tanked on the charts and Universal essentially abandoned it. Elton was not happy. He publicly ridiculed Universal and begged them to drop him from their label.“Nobody would know the album has been out since September.
“My record label isn’t doing anything to help. F— Universal. Please drop me. I’m 58 and I don’t care anymore.”
Quite frankly I think Elton is exactly correct. He needs to get away from the traditional record labels like Universal and go in a new direction in regards to promoting his new music. He has nothing left to prove and can probably do a much better job of getting his music out in front of a new audience as well as his core fan base. He has several options available to him in my opinion;
One option is to take the Paul McCartney route and sign with a label like Starbucks "Hear Music" which will enthusiastically and aggressively promote his new material. They have their own XM Radio channel which can feature the music as well as selling the CDs in the coffee shops.
Another option is to strike a deal similar to what Madonna did when she signed with Live Nation. The Madonna deal includes "new studio efforts, tours, merchandise, DVD releases, sponsorships, licensing agreements, fan club, Web site, and TV and film projects." The problem here is Elton has never shown the least bit of interest in the internet, in fact he hates the internet and wishes it were non-existent. This is a foolish position to take. The internet can open up Elton to an unlimited number of new fans if he would embrace it and use it to his advantage.
Elton could also just market his new music on his own website eltonjohn.com along with other exclusive merchandise. But that hating-the-internet problem gets in the way again.
As I said, Elton has nothing to prove to anyone and could easily not release another album ever again. His position as a rock legend is well established. But his creative juices are still flowing and I don't see him just disappearing off the music scene. He loves to write music, tour and perform so while he is still has the desire he will continue to record new music. However, Elton clearly needs took go in a new direction getting his new music out in front of the new music fans in order to avoid the disaster of "The Captain and The Kid" from happening again.
OT: Writer Strike Finally Almost Over
Thanks goodness....now get those Lost writers back to working on the best show on TV!
Hollywood on verge of deal to end writers strike
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Negotiators for Hollywood studios and striking writers have agreed to terms of a new contract that could be presented to union leaders in days and, if approved, end their three-month-old labor clash later this week, two sources told Reuters on Monday.
While the outlines of an accord were reached over the weekend, the two sides still need to hammer out contract language before a deal is submitted for approval to the governing boards the East and West Coast branches of the Writers Guild of America, they said.
Those sources, who were briefed on the status of talks but were not authorized to speak publicly about them under a media blackout, said negotiators hoped action by the WGA boards on a deal could come as early as Friday.
An endorsement by WGA leaders presumably would be accompanied by a decision to call off the strike, but if the WGA boards were divided, the walkout might continue pending a ratification vote by rank-and-file members.
One source said the big breakthrough in the latest round of talks, which began Jan. 23, came on the key sticking point of how much writers should be paid for advertising-supported Internet "streaming" of television shows.
Elton adds North American dates
Elton John expands North American run
February 5, 2008 06:02 AM
By Kym Kilgore
Elton John [ tickets ] has squeezed several more secondary-market appearances in between his "Red Piano" dates in Las Vegas.
The superstar will start back up in North America Feb. 28 with shows in Portland, ME; Manchester, NH; and Sudbury and Kitchener, Ontario. After his next run of Vegas gigs from mid-March to early April, he'll play Missoula, MT, and Pullman, WA. Then it's back to Vegas in June and off to Europe for a two-week stint that wraps in mid-July. North American shows are listed below and those overseas can be found at John's website.
The Grammy-winning singer signed on to keep his "Red Piano" residency at Sin City's Colosseum at Caesars Palace through this year. He's put in about 50 annual performances at the venue since 2004.
John, who is celebrating his fourth decade of touring, launched 2008 with a short trek through South Africa, during which he visited projects funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation and oversaw the opening of three more "cluster homes," which offer a safe refuge and care for children.
Last year, John played his record-breaking 60th show at New York City's Madison Square Garden to celebrate his 60th birthday. He marked the occasion in March with the release of "Rocket Man - Number Ones," an 18-song hits collection covering the first 35 years of his career. The concert itself was captured on a two-disc DVD, "Elton John 60: Live at Madison Square Garden," which also includes rare footage from a variety of television shows and concert segments.
"The Captain & the Kid," John's latest set of new material with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, surfaced in 2006 and peaked at No. 18 on The Billboard 200. The album is billed as a sequel to 1975's "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy."
Monday, February 04, 2008
"Elton" voted off of The One and Only
MUSIC teacher Ed Hintze has returned home to Weymouth after being voted off reality show The One and Only.
He ventured out from behind the piano to perform Elton John's I'm Still Standing, but lost out after a sing-off with the show's Cher impersonator.
Mr Hintze, 34, had survived the initial vote on the BBC1 show on Saturday night, when the Kylie Minogue tribute act was sent home.
Although two other acts wanted to keep him in the contest, four supported Cher in the 'superstar' vote after the sing-off.
Mr Hintze is a music shop boss and music teacher at All Saints' School in Weymouth.
Lilies in the room and tulips in the hall...
Sounds like a good title for a song..."Lilies in the Room"
Sir Elton John is still the Queen of Divas!
February 4th, 2008 - 5:50 pm
London , Feb 4 (ANI): When it comes to luxurious and wayward demands made by the stars, no one can be Sir Elton John.
The legendary singer, known for his lavish ways, still rules the roost when it comes to spending on luxurious essentials.
The Candle in the wind singer dished out a whopping 1,475 pounds on just a night at the Dorchester in London and fired off an impressive list of demands.
The 60-year-old veteran stars demands included fat-free and sugar-free cookies, a tray of raw veg, lilies in the room and tulips in the hall.
He even made it a point that the temperature didnt exceed 68C and his tissues had to be normal, and that too without balm.
Sir John also specified furniture he required, that included two buckets. (ANI)
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 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...
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
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.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Elton John's Red Piano On Display
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
The Music Connection in Forest Lake will be among only a handful of piano dealers nationwide to offer a performance by Elton John like you’ve never seen or heard before—with the limited edition Elton John Signature Series Red Piano. At the touch of a button, the high-tech Yamaha Disklavier player piano’s keys and pedals come to life, recreating note-for-note performances recorded earlier by Elton himself, as he “sings” such classics as “Tiny Dancer,” “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” “Candle in the Wind” and “Take Me to the Pilot.” Embodying the spirit of the legendary performer, the piano’s striking “Chinese Red” color represents the same distinctive hue chosen by Elton for his Yamaha instrument featured in his Las Vegas show.
This marks the first time Yamaha has honored an artist by naming a piano after him. No more than 20 of this new edition of the Elton John Signature Series Red Piano, featuring the newest leading-edge technology, will be made, all of which will be signed by the artist. The piano will be on display at the store, 77 SW 8th Ave. from Thursday, Jan. 24 through Wednesday, Jan. 30. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 to 7 on Friday and 10 to 5 on Saturday. The store is closed Sunday.
(Photo Courtesy of The Music Connection)
Monday, January 21, 2008
Elton donates 120 motorbikes to doctors and nurses in Africa
Elton John rides to rescue for Lesotho doctors
MASERU (AFP) — Veteran British pop star Elton John has donated 120 motorbikes to help doctors and nurses do their rounds in the mountainous southern African kingdom of Lesotho.
John, accompanied by his partner David Furnish, took time out on Saturday from a tour of South Africa to visit Lesotho for the handover ceremony just outside the capital Maseru.
The donation forms part of the Riders for Health Programme funded by the singer's own AIDS foundation.
"We want to improve the transport system by bringing health care to millions of people living in the most rural areas and thus making a difference in their lives," said John in comments reported by local media.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Buy Elton's platinum album for "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
A post on another Elton John news blog has info on purchasing the platinum record award for Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Musicares to honor Aretha Franklin, Elton to attend
Music Luminaries Gather To Honor Aretha Franklin As 2008 Musicares Person Of The Year
GRAMMY-winning recording artist Aretha Franklin will be honored as the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year at a special event celebrating her extraordinary musical achievements and her philanthropic commitments to children's and healthcare organizations and various churches and food banks in the Detroit metropolitan area.
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