Sounds like a laugh riot...

Elton John writing AIDS musical for Ben Stiller

Elton John writing AIDS musical for Ben Stiller
15/10/2008 8:16:00 PM. | BANG Showbiz

Elton John | AAP
 
Sir Elton John is writing a “film musical” about a man who has AIDS.

The ‘Candle in the Wind’ singer is penning the show with Ben Stiller in mind for the lead role, and despite its seemingly bleak subject matter Elton insists it will be a comedy.

He said: “I’ve got to try and write a film musical for Ben Stiller. It’s about a guy on Broadway who is gay, has HIV and AIDS and has to go back and face his wife and his kids that he left. It’s very funny.

“The premise doesn’t sound funny, but it is.”

However, Elton – who has written the music for shows including ‘Billy Elliot’ and ‘Aida’ – says he generally isn’t a fan of musical theatre.

He is quoted by website MSNBC as saying: “I like some of the classic ones.

“‘West Side Story,’ for me, is the greatest musical ever written.

“But I don’t like forced fun. I’m more drawn to tragedy than, ‘Let’s all have a great time.’ And I’m not keen on the music in musicals sometimes.

“I’m quite fussy about it. I don’t really like them unless I’m involved in them, for some reason.”

Meanwhile, the 61-year-old performer has been enjoying time with friends in the South of France.

Elton reportedly invited 10 of his closest pals for a free two-week break in the exclusive region, before setting up a tab at designer clothing store Dolce and Gabbana where his guests spent a staggering 140,000 Euros.

Elton's Smash Hits benefit money to go to South

Elton John: Money from tennis fund-raiser will target AIDS in South | Peach Buzz

Elton John: Money from tennis fund-raiser will target AIDS in South

By RICHARD L. ELDREDGE | Sunday, October 12, 2008, 05:45 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

For Sir Elton John, hosting his 16th annual Advanta World Team Tennis Smash Hits event back in his U.S. hometown meant a great deal more to him than just the luxury of not having to board a plane to attend the “tennis chic” affair.

“All of the money raised here today will stay here in the Atlanta market and in Georgia,” John told the AJC Sunday morning before picking up his racket at the fund-raiser at Kennesaw State University Sunday morning. “Forty six percent of AIDS cases are now being reported in the South. We are distinctly aware of the problems here and the South will continue to be a priority for the foundation.”

John was joined by his co-host and old friend Billie Jean King and pro tennis pals Anna Kournikova, Andy Roddick and Martina Navratilova, along with rising players and Smash Hits first-timers Jesse Levine and local gal Melanie Oudin.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Benefit on Oct 20

Playbill News: O'Hara, Miranda, Scott and Wilson to Join Elton John for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Benefit Oct. 20

O'Hara, Miranda, Scott and Wilson to Join Elton John for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Benefit Oct. 20

By Adam Hetrick
09 Oct 2008


Elton John

John Cameron Mitchell, Kelli O'Hara, Patrick Wilson and the legendary Elton John are among the latest performers to join the one-night-only benefit concert of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road at the New Amsterdam Theatre Oct. 20.

Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler has been announced to direct and choreograph the 8 PM evening that celebrates the 35th anniversary of the U.S. release of the acclaimed Elton John-Bernie Taupin double album, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." Expect performers from the theatre and music industry to perform the album's songs in the order of the original tracks. Tom Kitt (13) serves as musical director.

Jeffrey Seller (In the Heights, Avenue Q) produces the benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Friends in Deed.

Also newly announced to take part are Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), Sherie Rene Scott (The Little Mermaid), the Broadway Inspirational Voices, Melissa Hough and Larry Keigwin.

Previously announced to perform are Tony winning actress Jane Krakowski (Nine, "30 Rock"), Stew (Passing Strange), Joey Arias (Arias with a Twist), Scissor Sisters front man and Tales of the City composer/lyricist Jake Shears, musicians Rufus Wainwright and Ben Folds, as well as the casts of Hair and The Lion King.

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" features such hits as "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," "Harmony," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" and the title song.

Tickets, ranging $250-$2,500, are currently available by phoning (212) 307-4100 or by visiting Ticketmaster.

Elton news from Hercules

I missed this from Hercules. Some good news, especially dropping the rap collaboration (thank goodness!). I have a suggestion, release the Surround Sound mixes of the remaining classic years albums that Greg Penny completed over 2 years ago!

Elton wants more - 2009 and beyond
Thursday, September 25 2008

Hercules has learned that Elton has no plans to retire as his diary is full for the next five years!

Besides the plans for more "Face to Face" dates with Billy Joel in 2009 (as reported here earlier), Elton is also scheduled to be back in the studio for a new album next year. Meanwhile, Elton has dropped plans to release a rap collaboration album which he began working on.

While the "Red Piano" shows will end at the Collosseum at Caesar's Palace in early 2009, Elton has signed a new Red Piano deal to play another new venue in Vegas.

As next year will mark Elton's 40th year of recording, Mercury plans to release a box set of special duets, rock versions, and singles to mark that special occasion.

Finally, Mercury is currently also looking to release an enhanced version of "Madman Across the Water" following the success of this year's release of the "Elton John" and "Tumbleweed Connection" albums. There will be new demos on the "Madman Across The Water" release, although no release date has yet been mentioned.

New "Red Piano" set due Oct 28 on multiple formats

New Elton coming in October...

Best Buy Bows Exclusive Elton John’s ‘Red Piano’ | homemediamagazine.com

Best Buy Bows Exclusive Elton John’s ‘Red Piano’

September 22, 2008
Best Buy Oct. 28 will street The Red Piano on DVD, Blu-ray, CD and vinyl — the second exclusive distribution deal between the Minneapolis-based retail chain and pop artist Elton John.
Best Buy Bows Exclusive Elton John’s ‘Red Piano’

By Erik Gruenwedel | Posted: 22 Sep 2008
egruenwedel@questex.com

Best Buy Oct. 28 will street The Red Piano on DVD, Blu-ray, CD and vinyl — the second exclusive distribution deal between the Minneapolis-based retail chain and pop artist Elton John.

Piano features 14 songs (including classics “Candle in the Wind,” “Believe” and “Rocket Man”) culled from John’s long-running show at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. In 2004, Best Buy and the veteran John partnered for the multiple-disc CD and DVD release of Dream Ticket.

The two-disc DVD set ($24.99) and Blu-ray Disc set ($29.99, with two-CD live audio soundtrack) also feature a documentary about the making of Piano, including footage of John discussing his reasoning behind the show.

Other songs on the sets include: “Benny & The Jets,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Daniel,” “Answer In The Sky,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” “Pinball Wizard,” “The Bitch Is Back,” “I'm Still Standing,” “Saturdays Nights Alright For Fighting” and “Your Song.”

Sales of music video DVDs increased 18.6% to 27.5 million units in 2007, generating nearly $485 million in revenue, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Best Buy has cornered the market on DVD/CD/Blu-ray artist exclusives, including the Nov. 11 release The Police’s Live Certifiable, recorded in Buenos Aires last December; the Rolling Stones’ Four Flicks and Tom Petty’s Runnin' Down A Dream, among others.

Much of the art and photography included in Piano comes from David LaChappelle and features neon sculptures, pop art, baubles, balloons and images of John’s band.

The multidisc release is timed to coincide with John’s return engagements at Caesar’s Palace Oct. 22 to Nov. 9, and Feb. 3 to April 22, 2009.

“Our customers showed they were fans of Elton John by the success we had with the Dream Ticket DVD set,” said Gary Arnold, senior entertainment officer with Best Buy.

Elton to record Christmas single with The Killers

Killers And Elton John Plan Holiday Tune | KBS Radio

Killers And Elton John Plan Holiday Tune
Killers And Elton John Plan Holiday Tune

By: Sofia Fernandez

The Killers have laid the groundwork for their third consecutive Christmas single, and this time, they've enlisted Elton John to join in on the holiday cheer. According to NME.com, the Las Vegas outfit and the British "Rocket Man" have agreed to record a Christmas tune with the cheeky title, "Joseph, Better You Than Me."

"Joseph, Better You Than Me," or whatever the song ends up being called, will be the third holiday effort for the Killers, who released "A Great Big Sled" in 2006 and "Don't Shoot Me Santa" in 2007. Proceeds from the first two songs went to charity and the same is expected for the 2008 effort.

The Killers have previously said they'd eventually like to turn out enough Christmas tunes to make an album.

The Killers'newest non-themed album, Day And Age, comes out in November.

The band will fete the new disc with gig at London's Royal Albert Hall on November 3rd

Bill Elliot coming to Broadway

'Billy Elliot,' 'Shrek' Head Broadway's Fall Musicals - Entertainment - redOrbit

John Jorgenson News

John Jorgenson, a pioneer of American Gypsy

You might not immediately recognize the name John Jorgenson, but you've almost certainly heard his work.

The guitarist, who is known as one of the pioneers of American gypsy jazz, was a founding member of the Desert Rose Band, which scored five No. 1 hits, including "He's Back and I'm Blue" and "I Still Believe in You." He was a member of the Hellecasters, with other Nashville session players Will Ray and Jerry Donahue, who released three award-winning records and DVDs

"I think I'm Going To Kill Myself"

Lily Allen feeling ’suicidal’ over Elton John feud claims | Entertainment and Showbiz!

Whats really alarming is that the writer of this article uses "Sacrifice" as an Elton-historical reference point.

Elton decide not to duet with Lily Allen, GOOD!

Music - News - Elton John dismisses Allen duet - Digital Spy

She needs him far more than he needs her...

Lily Allen, obnoxious and ignorant gnat!

Lily Allen And Elton John Fight At London Awards Ceremony

Lily Allen And Elton John Get Into Catfight At London's GQ Men Of The Year Awards

Pop icon reportedly called out his young co-host for drinking too much during the show.

By Jocelyn Vena

Lily Allen and Elton John got into a verbal scuffle while co-hosting Tuesday's GQ Men of the Year Awards at London's Royal Opera House, The Times of London reports.

The music veteran called out the 23-year-old pop singer for swearing and slurring her way through her dialogue as she drank champagne, according to the Times. "What, you are going to have another drink?" John asked.

That's when the real catfight got under way. "F--- off, Elton," Allen responded, while celebs like TV chef Gordon Ramsay, producer Mark Ronson, actress Thandie Newton and model Elle MacPherson looked on. "I'm 40 years younger than you. I have my whole life ahead of me."

John, 61, quipped, "I could still snort you under the table."

Allen then tried to play it off, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."

She continued to steal the spotlight when Tony Bennett took the stage to accept the Inspiration Award. As John introduced the 82-year-old crooner, Allen announced, "I'll still f--- him."

Later in the night, Allen had some good news for the press. She revealed that her younger brother, actor Alfie Owen-Allen, is engaged to actress Jaime Winstone, introducing her as "my very soon-to-be sister-in-law."

At the magazine's annual ceremony, Led Zeppelin took home an Achievement Award for their comeback concert, Ronson received the Maverick Award, and Primal Scream were named Band of the Year.

Hey there!

News on Gnomeo & Juliet and some new music

Finally a nugget on some new music included in the animated "Gnomeo & Juliet" which I thought had died some time ago....apparently not;

McAvoy and Blunt Join Elton John for Gnomeo and Juliet

by BuzzSugar


"Gnomeo!" It makes me giggle.

The big news in the animation world today has to do with Shakespeare, Elton John and a star-crossed garden gnome couple voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt. It sounds so cute my teeth are starting to ache.

Apparently Gnomeo and Juliet has been in the works for several years, with various other talent involved (Kate Winslet, Tim Rice). Now, the CGI-animated movie will blend Elton John's well-known songs (and some new ones) with a story based on one of Shakespeare's most well-known works. The Hollywood Reporter has more details:

In the loose and edgy adaptation of Shakespeare's play, McAvoy (Atonement) and Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) would play lovers from rival gardens. John, who is producing alongside his offscreen partner David Furnish, Baker Bloodworth and Steve Hamilton Shaw, is said to be pursuing big-name talent to voice supporting roles.

I'm not the biggest fan of Elton John, but this sounds like it could be just so adorable. I mean, the Romeo and Juliet story's been played. . .but not by garden gnomes!

Tumbleweed Connection - Review from Rolling Stone

An odd review of "Tumbleweed Connection" from Rolling Stone that spends more time slamming "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" than discussing the topic of the review.

Elton John was a lot of things — sideman, session man and flop, with a long tail of failed solo releases, including the 1969 LP Empty Sky — before 1970's Elton John made him an overnight star. He wasn't afraid to admit it. John packed a bonus scrapbook in the original lavish packaging of 1975's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy with bad-hair photos, comic music-press ads ("You've been warned! Elton John is 1968's great new talent") and other ample proof of his time, with lifelong lyricist Bernie Taupin, in Sixties-pop boot camp. That book is miniaturized for this reissue. Everything else here has ballooned; each album now has a second CD of demos, stray singles and, in the case of Captain Fantastic, a complete 1975 live premiere of the record. On Elton John, the extras actually trump the baroque strings and hippie-gospel chorales that crowded "Sixty Years On" and "Take Me to the Pilot." Stripped-bare demos of nearly every song on the record highlight the '68 Beatles and '58 Jerry Lee Lewis in John's voice and piano. With its flinty guitars and the natural gunslinger's gait of "Country Comfort" and "Burn Down the Mission," 1971's Tumbleweed Connection needs no improvement; it is one of the best country-rock albums ever written by London cowboys. But an early epic take of "Madman Across the Water," cut at the sessions with glam-blues guitar by Mick Ronson, is reason enough to buy this edition. An instant Number One hit, Captain Fantastic was, ironically, a great concept — a look back at John and Taupin's pre-fame labors — short on songs as great as the ones that made them famous, except for the opulent ballad "Someone Saved My Life Tonight." The concert version is the same flawed album but with muted applause — until the encores.

A cover of "Talking Old Soldiers"

From the Detroit Free Press;

LaVette gets a rave

Bettye LaVette, the Detroit veteran of American soul music, has filmed a new video for her Grammy-nominated "The Scene of the Crime" album, a reinterpretation of Elton John's "Talking Old Soldiers." It was filmed by Lex Halaby in Detroit's the Locker Room bar in early June.

In his Pick of the Week at USA Today, critic Ken Barnes wrote: "The 61-year-old Detroit soul survivor transforms Elton John's 'Tumbleweed Connection' obscurity into a tour de force about outliving the people one loves the most. ... LaVette's chill-inducing performance is without question one of the finest you'll hear all year."

Her "The Old Soldiers Tour" has seen LaVette at the Telluride Jazz Celebration, the Monterey Bay Blues Festival and the inaugural Rothbury Festival. The tour continues up until the holiday season.

Elton on "Star Stories"

Television - News - Elton John to get 'Star Stories' treatment - Digital Spy

Star Stories actor Steve
Edge has revealed that Elton John and David Furnish will be among the
celebrities lampooned on the new series of the show.

Edge, who stars alongside Kevin Bishop on the Channel 4 programme, confirmed that the newest scripts are the funniest yet.

"I'm sure we're doing Elton John and David Furnish," Edge told The Mirror.
"We read a new Britpop sketch of Oasis and Blur going to see Blair,
which sounds good. Jarvis Cocker is the narrator, like an Austin Powers
figure.

Review

RARITIES AND REISSUES

Elton John, "Elton John -- Deluxe Edition" (Mercury/UMe) 5 stars

Contrary to what a lot of his American fans still think, 1970's "Elton John" album was not the songwriter's first release.

It had been preceded by "Empty Sky" in the U.K. in 1969, but that album failed to generate much heat and wasn't even released in the U.S. until John became a star.

That stardom was initially triggered by this eponymous breakthrough disc, which has now been expanded from 40 minutes to nearly two hours, thanks to this double-CD "Deluxe Edition."

It's a beautiful recording, heartfelt and soulful, one that set a mood that John never quite duplicated in his many subsequent offerings. Tracks like "Your Song," "Take Me to the Pilot," "I Need You To Turn To" and the touching "The Greatest Discovery," tapped into early 1970's singer/songwriter sensibilities with a new passion, a new approach and a new style that was as fresh as it was distinct.

The edition features a 20-song bonus disc, mostly filled with piano demos, as well as rarities like "Grey Seal," which was initially the B-side to a single before being re-recorded several years later for "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

While fascinating from a historical perspective, the demos are far from the definitive versions of the songs, with several like "Your Song," lacking the power and presence of the final recording, while others like the BBC session version of "Take Me to the Pilot," played too fast and lacking a groove.

Several major rarities are featured however, including "Thank You Mama," "All the Way Down to El Paso," and "I'm Going Home," which are all previously unreleased in any form.

The "Deluxe Edition" is being reissued simultaneously with a similar double-disc look back at another one of John's early great albums, "Tumbleweed Connection."

A worthy cause...

RVL S.C.O.R.E. Proudly
Presents

Robbie Vierra-Lambert Spinal Cord
Organization for Regaining Excellence

Direction/Musical Direction by
Mike Walker

Choreography by Marie Madera
Gleerup

TICKETS

Adults $15

Kids 18 & Under
$10

You may order tickets from cast members or reserve your tickets
by calling

(310) 377-3706

rob@rvlscore.org

Reserved seating based on a 1^st come 1^st
served basis

Please make your donation payable to

RVL S.C.O.R.E.

PERFORMANCE
DATES

August 7, 8, 9, at 7:00
p.m.

Matinee Performance - August 9 & 10 at 2:00
pm

At

Miraleste
Intermediate School

29323 Palos Verdes Drive East


Rancho Palos Verdes California 90275

For More Information Please Call (310) 377-3706 or
rob@rvlscore.org

Cool!

Elton's White Tie and Tiara Ball

Stars sparkle at Sir Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball
By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director
Last Updated: 6:26PM BST 27/06/2008
Sir Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball: The theme was 'Surfin USA', circa the sun-drenched 60's of California, set to the music of the Beach Boys, star act of the night.

Sadly the barometer was set to a gloomy British summer, with temperatures chilly enough to make the pecs on the honed and toned 'Muscle Beach' models quiver in the stiff breeze.

There were certainly no takers for the pristine white diving board in the middle of the lake which dominates the gardens of Sir Elton John and David Furnish's £20 million Woodside home at Old Windsor.

But nothing could dampen the spirits of the 630 party-goers at £3,000 a head for the 10th annual White Tie & Tiara Ball, nor dull the sparkle of the amazing jewels which glittered in the cavalcade of bronzed cleavage, shimmering in the candle-lit setting