"All Things Must Pass"

The Associated Press: Elton John no longer standing on Vegas; ends run

Elton John no longer standing on Vegas; ends run

By OSKAR GARCIA – 8 hours ago

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Rocket Man bid farewell to the Las Vegas Strip Wednesday after five years and 241 shows at Caesars Palace — but said it won't necessarily be a long, long time before he returns.

Wearing a bright red shirt that matched his piano and a coat emblazoned with "Las Vegas Pirates" on its back and "Captain Elton" on its right sleeve, Elton John rolled through his hits and reflected on his time at the Colosseum, a stage he famously shared with Celine Dion, Bette Midler and Cher.

"The ex-home of Celine Dion ... and now it's the ex-home of Elton John as well," the 62-year-old said. John said later in the show that he'd like to see Dion play the venue again.

"Who are you going to get to fill in our shoes now?" he said. "You've got Bette Midler, you've got Cher. It's gonna be the Village People next."

John initially signed on for 75 shows over three years when his run began in February 2004, but casino officials say the deal was expanded because of demand.

"I really have enjoyed every single moment of this engagement," the five-time Grammy winner said after opening the show with "Bennie and the Jets."

This is it!

Elton John's last show is Wednesday

April 21, 2009 11:20 PM

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and performer, Elton John takes final bow at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for his final performance of his hit show "The Red Piano."

"The Red Piano" was originally booked for 75 shows over three years. Responding to overwhelming demand, the resort accelerated the number of shows presented each year, completing the original commitment in only 18 months. During this time Caesars Palace extended the agreement for an additional 166 shows for a final engagement total of 241.

His final show will be Wednesday, April 22.

I didn't know it was a competition

From Reuters...

Billy Joel edges out Elton John in double-header

Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:56pm EDT

By Erik Pedersen

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - On the surface, it always has seemed like a natural pairing: two of the rock era's most successful acts -- piano-based or otherwise -- dispensing hit after hit after hit.

But look a little deeper and the contrasts between Elton John and Billy Joel far outweigh the similarities. And their latest Face 2 Face arena show Saturday at Anaheim's Honda Center again hammered home those differences, even as the packed house cheered the pop feast.

The most obvious is the performing styles. Both men still have a command of their instrument, but their manic stage days are behind them. And that's fine; John turned 62 last Wednesday, and Joel hits 60 in May.

But latter-day John is all about the music, mostly sitting stoically at his piano; Joel's still about the show, his eighty-eight on a rotator so that every in-the-round patron got a good look. John prefers a quiet dignity onstage, only occasionally addressing the audience; Joel is demonstrative, offering some rimshot-worthy shtick.

Basically, John plays to the crowd; Joel feeds off it. So while Sir Elton will never cede the catalog crown, in his stage battle with the kid from Long Island, the latter continues to win the Face 2 Faceoffs.

John's voice for years was one of the most distinctive in rock. He sounded fine Saturday and still can sing with power, but that instantly recognizable bite is gone. He was at his best during the many slow songs, when his pipes weren't forced to keep pace with the music; "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," for example, was a kitten compared to its beastly original.

So John's solo set was heavy with ballads, which certainly isn't a bad thing. Those irresistible sing-along choruses wrap around often moving verses on topics of joy or pain, cryptic or barefaced, while he piles on the marvelous melodies. Highlights included the mournful "Daniel" and a superbly elongated "Rocket Man."

Non-Elton: My favorite headline of the day...

Elvis Crespo Accused Of Mile-High Masturbation

Elvis Crespo was arrested in Miami.

March 26, 2009 11:37 AM ET

Merengue star Elvis Crespo is being investigated after a woman said she saw him performing a sex act on an airplane en route from Houston to Miami, according to Miami-Dade County police.

The Grammy winner was masturbating in view of other passengers Thursday, prompting the plane's captain to radio the Miami International Airport's air traffic control tower, the police report said.

Officers interviewed Crespo upon his arrival but did not arrest him. No charges have been filed.

When asked by police at the airport about the accusation, the 37-year-old Puerto Rican singer said: "I don't recall doing that."

EJ the DJ....

A term first coined when Elton would guest DJ at WNEW-FM 102.7 in New York City, Elton did a pseudo guest DJ stint for the Atlanta Journal Constitution in which he talked about the music he is currently listing to;

Celebrating Sir Elton’s 62nd With Fresh Spins | Peach Buzz

4:58 pm March 25, 2009, by Richard Eldredge

In honor of Sir Elton John’s 62nd birthday Wednesday, we opted to celebrate by assembling a new edition of EJ the DJ for Buzz readers.

So what exactly is EJ the DJ?

Well, whenever we have a conversation with the Peachtree Road resident, we ask John, arguably the world’s biggest music fan, to let us in on what he’s currently listening to.

We essentially snatched the idea from the pop star’s decades-long tradition of popping by radio stations here and across the pond to spin his favorite new artists.

As usual, John delivered a diverse batch of tunes and artists, a few of which can’t be instantly obtained in the U.S., even if a multitude of record shops still existed.

First up, Sir Elton is hooked on the single “Walking on a Dream” from Australia duo Empire of the Sun. The MGMT-esque pop pairing is a collaboration between The Sleepy Jackson’s Luke Steele and Pnau frontman Nick Littlemore. The single and remixes can currently be downloaded off iTunes. Empire’s full debut album is due stateside April 21.

“They’ve got a terrific sense of melody,” John told us. “I was just listening to it again this morning.”

Happy Birthday Elton!

Elton beats the Beatles...

Well...in this Harris Interactive poll for VisitBritain;

According to a recent survey by Harris Interactive for VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, one in three U.S. adults listens to British music regularly over any other non-U.S. musical artists. And which British musical artists do they listen to? Forty-eight percent said the Beatles, 49 percent said Elton John, and 41 percent said the Rolling Stones. Hard to believe that Elton John ranked ahead of the Beatles.

Akon: Chris Brown is my man!

A guy who "allegedly" simulates rape on stage says he'd work with a guy who "allegedly" beat the crap out of Rihanna...

AP - Akon who has gone through legal woes and bad publicity himself says he'd be willing to work with pop's latest problem child, Chris Brown.

Elton and Billy not playing NYC until 2010?

That's the word from Newsday;

Sorry, Billy Joel and Elton John fans. You will have to wait until next year to come face to face with the "Face to Face" tour in the New York area

As opposed to some new old songs?

Elton John, Billy Joel play same old songs - Reuters

Elton John, Billy Joel play same old songs
Tue Mar 3, 2009 9:51pm EST

By Jeff Vrabel

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Billboard) - Elton John and Billy Joel's latest tour kicked off to a packed house in Jacksonville, Fla., on Monday, operating under the simple business model: maximized reward, exceedingly minimized risk.

The three-plus-hour event was steeped in hits and nostalgia. The youngest song was the title track from Joel's last pop album, 1993's "River of Dreams."

After a timely spin through "Allentown," Joel's 1982 ballad of economic gloom, Joel said: "Speaking of unemployment, we're just happy you're keeping us in business. We're happy to have a job."

Joel's words rang true, but there wasn't much worry about that: They last toured together in 2003, when they grossed $45.8 million from just 24 shows, all sellouts. Top tickets prices for this tour are similar to those of the 2003 dates: around $175.

"Our ticket prices are the same as you'd see anyone else, but there's two of us," John said in a November 2008 appearance on "The View." "In this day and age, we hope to be getting people value for their money."

Many of the dates on the tour are configured in 360 degrees, significantly boosting capacity in those arenas.

As on previous treks, the two men performed together at the top of the show, with their individual bands for hour-long sets, and then reunited for encores that included John's "The Bitch Is Back," a Beatles medley, and Joel's "Piano Man."

The itinerary, which includes two summer performances at Chicago's Wrigley Field, is still under construction, and will be for some time yet. During his set, John said he was looking forward to "a couple of years" of dates. The tour next visits Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday.

(Editing by Dean Goodman at Reuters)

Second Spin: Live In Australia

A second look from the River Front Times...

Maybe it's just because this is my favorite Elton John song anyway, but it was one of the only tracks that didn't seem completely bloated and overblown with the 88-piece orchestra booming behind it.

Bennie is a crowning achievement?

I guess they meant Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...and I agree;

It’s Elton John’s crowning achievement, the very peak of his career. It’s also one of the best double albums ever released, and should no doubt be held at the same level of prestige as other LPs that utilize four sides of vinyl such as Blonde on Blonde from Bob Dylan.

Oh joy!

Elton John For Emenim album?

It’s claimed the wig haired star will appear on Relapse when it’s released this year…

Sir Elton John could feature on the new album by rapper Eminem- according to reports.

The Independent newspaper says the pair were spotted together in a Detroit studio late last year and may have recorded together. A source told them: “He stayed half a week… No one realised the significance, though the Detroit Free Press did mention that Elton had been in town.

“He and Em worked together before, when they did that duet at the Grammys, and had always said that they'd record something original together. Em has huge respect for Elton, and the feeling is mutual.”
Elton John is a long time fan of Shady despite accusations of homophobia leveled at the rapper.

The unlikely friends performed Stan at the Grammys way back in 2001.
The witness told the paper: “Elton really gets his music. Anything they produce will be total dope.

“Some of Em's biggest records have been collaborations with mainstream pop stars – Dido on Stan, for example – and they really don't come much bigger, or more mainstream, than the man with the red piano."

50 Cent and Dr Dre are already confirmed to appear on Relapse when it’s released this Spring.

Sen Coburn is no William Shatner

Senator Settles BCS Bet by Singing 'Rocket Man'

By BEN EVANS – 1 day ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Forget all those inaugural concerts. The most pressing musical issue in the nation's capital is whether a stone-face senator from Oklahoma will hit the high notes in "Rocket Man" to pay off a college football bet.
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn is slated to serenade Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida with his very own rendition of Elton John's 1970s classic Wednesday afternoon.
Coburn owes Nelson because the Florida Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 in last week's BCS title game. Nelson chose "Rocket Man" because he is a former astronaut who flew on the space shuttle Columbia in the 1980s.
If Oklahoma had won, Nelson would have had to sing the title song from the musical "Oklahoma!" It also happens to be the official state song.
Coburn spokesman John Hart said his boss won't wear a leisure suit for the performance but would be ready. He acknowledged the vocal range for "Rocket Man" is a "bit more expansive" than for the song Nelson would've had to sing.
Coburn's singing talents may be untested, but he does have a family pedigree. His daughter, Sarah Coburn, is a nationally acclaimed opera singer who has performed alongside the likes of Placido Domingo.
Coburn, a physician, is best known as a budget hawk who has given Senate Democrats headaches for years by using procedural tactics to block new spending measures.
Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said the senator "is looking forward to settling the wager in good spirit and with a sense of humor."
It's not the first time Nelson has won an unusual football bet with a Senate colleague. Two years ago, he perched on one knee over Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and counted as Brown tried to do 55 push-ups. The number equaled the total score of that season's BCS title game in which Florida beat Ohio State 44-14.
Brown only made it to 43, and Nelson finished the rest.

More EJ & BJ Dates...

Billy Joel and Elton John to play Conseco - News- msnbc.com

Indianapolis - In a big announcement, two music legends are coming to Conseco Fieldhouse together.

Elton John and Billy Joel are extending their concert tour and coming to Indianapolis in May. According to promoters, they'll open on twin pianos and trade vocals on a series of duets. A headlining set by each artist with his own band will follow. The shows will end with an encore featuring both headliners and their backing bands.

The concert is set for Conseco Fieldhouse on May 19th. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10:00 am.

Elton requests a helicopter

Sir Elton John 'Requests Helicopter Pad For New Years Eve Gig' - GIGWISE

At the O2 Arena...

* by Jason Gregory
* Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sir Elton John has requested a helicopter pad for his New Years Eve concert at London’s O2 Arena.

The singer is apparently keen to arrive at the venue “in style” from his country home.

“Elton hasn't requested anything outrageous, all he's asked for is a helipad - he simply wasn't up for getting the Tube,” a source told the Mirror newspaper.

New Elton: "The Drover's Ballad"

From the movie "Australia" come a new Elton track called "The Drover's Ballad" which is available for purchase on iTunes...

Elton and Billy tix selling very well...

Joel, John Tour Tickets Selling Briskly


December 19, 2008 11:44 AM ET

In a positive sign for the 2009 touring season, sales for the upcoming Billy Joel/Elton John co-headlining tour are "through the roof," according to Wilson Howard, president, Live Nation Music Southeast, who calls the tour "a smash."

The configuration for the upcoming tour, which begins March 2 in Jacksonville, Fla., is 360 degrees, significantly boosting capacity in the arenas. Tickets range from $49.50-$175.

In addition to Jacksonville, the tour will play Tampa (March 5), Charlotte (7), Cincinnati (10), Atlanta (14), Tulsa, Okla. (17), Houston (19), San Antonio (21), Phoenix 26, and Anaheim (28, 30).

Live Nation is promoting most of the shows on the tour, and AEG Live will promote in Anaheim, which has almost sold out the second show.

Before the trek, Joel is set for a six-show run at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., spread out between Jan. 2 and Feb. 8. John has international shows on tap through late January, to be followed by a two-week engagement with his Red Piano show at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace.

We've heard this before...I'll believe it when I see it

Elton John and Billy Joel may record together before tour

02:53 PM PT, Dec 16 2008

Elton John is looking to whip up a little something special for his upcoming Face 2 Face tour with fellow '70s piano man Billy Joel to make it more than just a greatest-hits outing. Returning to the
concert trail next spring for the first time in six years, John and Joel want to inject some new music into the mix.

"We're thinking about recording three songs together," John told Pop & Hiss on Tuesday. "Definitely not our own songs, or oldies, but we're interested in getting some people to write new songs for us. I've got Raphael Saadiq and Nile Rodgers working on something, so we're booking some time to go into the studio and record."

On their previous joint road trips in 1995, 2001-2002 and 2003, the Face 2 Face tour turned into one of the top 10 grossing tours of those years. The 2009 tour is scheduled to open March 2 in Jacksonville, Fla., and will include two Southland performances March 28 and 30 at
the Honda Center in Anaheim.

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: John and Joel in 2001. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Elton loses libel case

A victory for irony as Elton John loses Guardian libel case | Media | The Guardian

 
Sir Elton John is well known for his quick temper and outrageous behaviour. A documentary of his life said it all - it was called, knowingly, Tantrums and Tiaras.

But a high court judge ruled yesterday that the singer's sense of humour failure over a satirical piece by a Guardian columnist was a tantrum too far.

In a groundbreaking libel decision, the judge said that "irony" and "teasing" do not amount to defamation. The ruling offers protection to writers of satirical articles clearly not meant to be taken seriously and was welcomed last night by media lawyers and journalists.

The Guardian was awarded costs and the singer, who brought the action, was refused leave to appeal by Mr Justice Tugendhat. John's legal team indicated that he might now seek leave to appeal.

John brought the action following the publication in Guardian Weekend magazine, in July this year, of a spoof diary written by Marina Hyde. "A peek at the diary of Sir Elton John" recorded his fictional thoughts about his annual White Tie and Tiara ball, which raises millions of pounds for the Elton John Aids Foundation.