Instant Live CDs from Elton's 2009 European Tour

Finally Elton is taking advantage of currently available technology and the internet to offer live recordings of his current tour as quickly as possible...

Official 'instant' live recordings of all dates on the forthcoming European tour!



Elton John and his full band are back on the road this June rocking 14 dates across the UK and Europe.

If that's not exciting enough in itself, to celebrate Elton's ongoing success on the road he is teaming up with instant live recording specialists, Concert Live www.concertlive.co.uk to create instant live CDs of all the dates of the tour!

Each concert will be recorded and mixed in real time and deluxe 3 CD souvenir sets will be produced, available for fans to take home within minutes of the final note being played! The 3rd disc of the set will feature exclusive high quality photos taken from the tour.

The CDs are limited edition and are the ultimate souvenir for any Elton John fan, whether you have been lucky enough to get a ticket to the gigs or not!

This is an incredibly exciting production and you can pre-order your live CD now, either for collection after the concert or home delivery. Simply visit the Concert Live website www.concertlive.co.uk and get your order in early to avoid missing out on this exclusive offer.

Pre-orders are live now, click here to get your hands on yours: www.concertlive.co.uk/tour.php?id=77

Billy wins big...Elton loses best score

`Billy Elliot' wins 10 Tonys; `Carnage' best play - Yahoo! News

By MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Writer Michael Kuchwara, Ap Drama Writer – 1 hr 43 mins ago

NEW YORK – Broadway's Tonys seemed a family affair this year, with an outpouring of generosity from winners to losers despite the domination of the evening by "Billy Eliot," which won 10 awards, and one actor bringing his wife to the stage to stand by him while he accepted his prize.

"I'd like to congratulate the writers of 'Next to Normal,'" said a gracious Elton John, standing in the middle of cast members and producers after his show, "Billy Eliot," won the best musical prize. "Thank you for accepting us on Broadway. ... We came here at a hard time economically. You opened your hearts and you opened your wallets."

In one of the evening's rare upsets, John lost the award for score to "Next to Normal."

So how will Elton's "Billy Elliot" do at the Tonys ?

Lets see, a musical about a young boy living in a coal mining town who is a member of a boxing club and secretly wants to be a ballet dancer? Hmmm.... It's a lock!

Elton will be on hand and performing as well...

Los Angeles Times, CA
Also set to appear is Elton John, who will perform with the ensemble from "Billy Elliot: The Musical," for which the singer is nominated for his score.

Elton flips on Prop 8

Probably not wanting to be the poster boy for the Prop 8 supporters, Elton now has a much different position on Prop 8 then he did at the end of last year;

"That's just awful," Elton John said in an interview on AccessHollywood.com. "When you see places like Iowa saying yes, there's now five states in America (where same-sex marriage is legal). California is supposed to be a progressive state. It defies logic to me. I'm very disappointed."

After all it was just November 2008 that USA Today had this from Elton;

NEW YORK — Elton John, accompanied by his longtime partner, David Furnish, had some choice words about California's Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marriage that passed on Nov. 4.

In December 2005, John and Furnish tied the knot in a civil partnership ceremony in Windsor, England. But, clarified the singer, "We're not married. Let's get that right. We have a civil partnership. What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage."

John and Furnish, and their two cocker spaniels, Marilyn and Arthur, were in town for Tuesday's annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

"I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership," John says. "The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off.

"You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

And the name of the flavor is?

Ben & Jerry’s relaunches limited Elton John flavor

21 May 2009

BURLINGTON, Vt. — After launching a one-week, limited edition flavor to recognize Elton John’s first trip to Vermont, and to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), Ben & Jerry’s has relaunched its Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ice cream flavor.

Fans of Elton John’s music and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sent hundreds of e-mails and many more phone calls to Ben & Jerry’s Vermont headquarters calling for the return of the popular flavor, which features chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road will go to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

I believe it was called Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road...

Elton scores with 15 Tony nominations...

Elton's latest success scores 15 Tony nominations...

Broadway Billy Leads With 15 Tony Nominations

Date: 5 May 2009

Any lingering worries that Americans might not “get” the quintessentially English working-class screen-to-stage hit Billy Elliot are banished once and for all today as the Broadway transfer of the musical dominates the race for the 63rd annual Tony Awards. In the shortlists, announced this morning in New York, Billy Elliot has earned a whopping 15 nominations, more than any other production – its next closest rival, US suburban musical Next to Normal, clocks in with 11 nominations.

Oh Lord!

"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.