No kidding...

American Idol Won't Let This Elton John Thing Go | Movieline

Elton John/Leon Russell - If It Wasn't For Bad

The first single from "The Union" is track with Leon on lead vocals and Elton on backgrounds. A catchy tune that begs to be heard again and again. A huge improvement over the first leaked track "I Should Have Sent Roses."

Elton John/Leon Russell - If It Wasn't For Bad by MMMusic

Time for another Elton to be on Idol rumor

The rumor that just won't die...so will it happen?

Jessica SimpsonJustin Timberlake, Elton John to grill contestants on American Idol | Entertainment Biz!

A new wild rumour concerning American Idol is currently circulating in buzz. It is too radical to be credible. But it may be worthwhile to have a look on it.

Apparently they haven’t yet found a replacement for Simon Cowell (or, if they have, they haven’t cared to disclose it yet), but rumours have it that Idol is going for a complete judges overhaul and Justin Timberlake, Elton John and Jessica Simpson are set to replace Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres.

More info "The Union"

From Bernie Taupin's site:

The Union Release Date

After several hugely successful private media playbacks “The Union” is scheduled for release October 19th in the US and October 25 in the UK, with a track being released to radio sometime in August.

As an exclusive to this web-site the track listing is as follows:

1. If It Wasn’t For Bad
2. Eight Hundred Dollar Shoes
3. Hey Ahab
4. Gone To Shiloh
5. Jimmie Rodger’s Dream
6. There’s No Tomorrow
7. Monkey Suit
8. The Best Part Of The Day
9. A Dream Come True
10. When Love Is Dying
11. I Should Have Sent Roses
12. Hearts Have Turned To Stone
13. Never To Old (To Hold Somebody)
14. The Hands Of Angels

Two bonus tracks “Mandalay Again” & “My Kind Of Hell” will be included on
both the vinyl and extended deluxe CD edition of the album.

Elton's people deny Idol rumors, again...

Squashed again!

I think this would be a disaster if he agreed to become a judge on American Idol. So good news the rumors are being denied again.  I don't know how he could do it anyway since AI is a long term commitment and it would most certainly impact on his touring schedule.

Justin Timberlake, Elton John Reps Deny 'American Idol' Talks - MTV News

By Gil Kaufman

It sounded a bit too good to be true — and it sounds like it was. News broke on Tuesday that season 10 of "American Idol" might bring the return of former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, as well as some major changes to the show's judging panel.

Along with the possibility of a wholesale replacement of current judges Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, the Hollywood Reporter suggested that pop icons Elton John and Justin Timberlake were high on the list of candidates to fill the seat left empty following the departure last season of lead musical adjudicator, Simon Cowell.

But later on Tuesday, Deadline Hollywood reported that representatives for both John and Timberlake threw cold water on the rumors, denying that there's any possibility that either would consider the gig. An unnamed source close to Timberlake reportedly told the site that the story was "just silly" because the former 'NSYNC singer has no time for that kind of job.

Elton John: Rightwing Conservative!

Well not quite but its nice to see some common sense from Elton. The law prohibits racial-profiling and is more restrictive than the federal law that it is modeled after. But facts just don't matter to some people.

Welcome to the VRWC Elton!!

Elton John slams musicians who boycott Arizona over immigration law, report says



Never one to back out of a performance to make a statement, music icon Elton John offered some choice words for his fellow musicians who choose to boycott Arizona over the SB 1070 immigration law.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, while performing at his sold-out concert at the Tucson Arena, he said:

"We are all very pleased to be playing in Arizona. I have read that some of the artists won't come here. They are f***wits! Let's face it: I still play in California, and as a gay man I have no legal rights whatsoever. So what's the (expletive) with these people?"

Animal Farm the musical? This should be interesting!

Elton John writing musical adaptation of Animal Farm - Monsters and Critics

By Daniela Elser Jul 23, 2010, 12:30 GMT

Elton John is said to be working on a stage show based on George Orwell’s classic political novel Animal Farm.

The 63-year-old Piano Man is said to have teamed up with Lee Hall, who penned the musical Billy Elliot. Hall picked up an Oscar nomination as well as Tony and Olivier awards for his work on the hit production.

The producers had faced challenges acquiring the rights to the book. Hall explained, “It's taken about two years. We almost gave up, but there was always that one last licence to go after.”

Discussing the appeal of the text, Hall said, “The line ‘all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’ lend themselves to lyrics.”

“I'm deep into it, writing songs for pigs and other four-legged friends,” he told the Daily Mail.

Audiences can expect to wait about two years before the curtains are raised, says Hall.

Listening party at the LA Times for "The Union"

First listen: Elton John, Leon Russell and T Bone Burnett unveil 'The Union' in Santa Monica | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times

First listen: Elton John, Leon Russell and T Bone Burnett unveil 'The Union' in Santa Monica
July 22, 2010 | 3:19 pm




Elton John has always been passionate about his musical taste, always ready to throw his support behind new acts that capture his imagination, whether it’s the Scissor Sisters or Lady Gaga.

But in recent years he’s also been on a special mission to turn the spotlight on veteran artists who never got the attention he and other pop stars received, a key reason he dreamed up the Sundance Channel music interview and performance series “Spectacle,” and persuaded his friend Elvis Costello to take on the job as host.

That mission is front and center with “The Union,” his forthcoming duet album with fellow piano-pounding rocker Leon Russell, to whom John doffed his cap during the first episode of “Spectacle.”

Food poisoning postpones Elton John's Ariz concert

TUCSON, Ariz. – A bout of food poisoning has caused the postponement of Elton John's scheduled concert at Tucson Arena.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that Wednesday night's show was nearly sold out with about 8,800 tickets purchased. Organizers say the British rocker will perform Thursday night instead.

A spokeswoman for the Tucson concert venue says John apologizes for the inconvenience caused by his illness, but doctors say he will be fine to take the stage Thursday.

"The Union" cover art

And my reaction?


The Union by Elton John and Leon Russell. Photo: Annie Leibovitz, copyright: eltonjohn.com

So lets see, lets take two piano players, sit them down in front of their pianos in a room and take a picture.  Brilliant!  Sheer Annie Leibovitz genius.  I would never have thought of that!

Billboard: 16 tracks on the new record...

From Billboard magazine:

Elton John says his forthcoming collaboration with legendary singer, songwriter and sideman Leon Russell marks a new chapter in his recording career, saying: "I don't have to make pop records any more." Speaking at the launch of the album at the Electric Cinema in West London last night (July 5), John said: "I thought, 'The world isn't screaming for another Elton John record and I'm not screaming for it either unless it's going to be different. In the '70s, '80s and '90s, the record companies always said we had to have a single and I think I fulfilled my brief. But at 63, the singles chart isn't one I'm going to be in very often. To me now, it's all about writing albums and trying to be mature." John recruited Russell for the album, aptly entitled "The Union," after rediscovering Russell's music 40 years after they toured the United States together. Russell was a big name in the 1960s and 1970s, playing keyboards for the likes of Phil Spector and the Beach Boys, making solo records and writing songs including "A Song for You," "This Masquerade" and "Delta Lady." But he largely fell off the radar in the late 1970s and has suffered from poor health in recent years, although he kept touring. John described Russell as his "idol" and working with him as a "humbling and moving experience." He hopes the exposure from the album will bring new attention to Russell's solo output. "There's no point doing this record if it doesn't bring his work to light," said John. "I want him to be comfortable financially. I want his life to improve a little." John and Russell worked with John's long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin and producer T Bone Burnett on the collaborative project, which also features guest appearances from the likes of Neil Young and Brian Wilson. Journalists at the launch also heard a playback of the 16-track album, which has a rootsy, almost gospel sound, and was recorded live, with most tracks done "in one or two takes." In an entertaining Q&A session hosted by U.K.-based broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, John also held forth on Christmas albums ("My record company in America asked me to do a Christmas record and I just told them to fuck off"), videos ("I fucking hate videos") and even which of his songs would be the best introduction to his music for a 6-year-old ("Just show him 'The Lion King'"). John said he plans to tour with Russell next year and hopes to make another record with him if "The Union" is a success. He also plans to do a solo covers album in the near future. "The Union" will be released Oct. 19 in the United States on Decca Records, and Oct. 25 in the United Kingdom on Mercury.

A live album is coming too?

According to Hercules;

Elton John is set to release two new albums with the first being a double live CD called 'At The Verona Arena' which will be released on August 2, 2010. At The Verona Arena is a recording of a performance in Italy last summer.

Tracklisting from "The Union" Facebook page?

Says it was provided by "Freaks" which could mean the "Freaks In Love" website?

1. If It Wasn't for Bad
2. Gone to Shiloh
3. A Dream Come True
4. I Should Have Sent Roses
5. Monkey Suit
6. The Hand of Angels
7. Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody)
8. Hey Ahab
9. Mandalay Again
10. When Love is Dying

More on "Union"

Elton John, Leon Russell, & T Bone Burnett unite for collaborative album « Consequence of Sound



By Alex Young on June 23rd, 2010 in News

40 years after they embarked on a tour together, legendary musicians Elton John and Leon Russell have again united, this time for the release of a collaborative studio album. Direct Current reports the pair recently wrapped up recording the aptly titled Union, which was produced by the equally legendary producer T Bone Burnett and written by John and longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin.

More on the Rush wedding...

I thought  the guest list was mildly interesting, here is a small sample from People magazine;

Amid dozens of giant bouquets of white roses (and very tight security), reports the Palm Beach Post, guests at the wedding included former Bush adviser Karl Rove; actor-politician Fred Thompson; former Kansas City Royals slugger George Brett; Fox News commentator Sean Hannity; former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft; former Clinton adviser James Carville and his wife, GOP analyst Mary Matalin; and golfer Tom Watson. A wedding guest also tells PEOPLE that among the others was Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. 

Also kinda curious as to what Elton played and if it was a requested setlist or if Elton just surprised them?

Another cool thing mentioned is that Rush's new bride is a direct descendant of President John Adams.

Elton John performs at Rush Limbaugh's wedding....yes that's what I said!

Rush Limbaugh to wed gal pal Kathryn Rogers today in lavish Palm Beach ceremony

It's wedding bells for Rush Limbaugh – for the fourth time.

The conservative firebrand, 59, will exchange vows Saturday in Florida with Kathryn Rogers – a blond bombshell half his age – in a lavish Hawaiian-themed wedding bash headlined by none-other-than Sir Elton John.

"The Union" is the new album's title...

I like it...

From Pro Sound News:

Tentatively entitled The Union, the new CD is scheduled for release later this year. The duo is also planning a project for Elvis Costello, with whom they last worked in 2008. The new CD will be tracked in Nashville and overdubbed/remixed at The Village using their AML2 monitors.

Elton is afraid of Sarah Palin

Elton John snubs Sarah Palin at TIME 100 gala

Thursday, May 06, 2010
Posted by Janet Kinnaman at 01:35:55 PM

Sir Elton John lost sight of his British etiquette when he snubbed former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin at the TIME 100 gala Wednesday night.

"It's nice to be at an event where you meet some unusual people, like Sarah Palin," said the Brit, immediately following his remark with an eyebrow raise.

When asked who he wanted to meet most at the gala, Elton followed with another jab saying, "Not Sarah Palin but anybody else would be fine."

Elton on Idol....

Here he is singing, wait for it, "Your Song" on Idol Gives back last night.  He sounds good, not much roughness, and he looks thinner...plus no "dahs" except for three I noticed (while you're in the worl-dah and "anyway the things is what I really nee-dah!) but that may be a result of the lyrics not presenting the opportunity;

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Elton: "the best record I've made in years"

The obligatory "it's the best thing I've done in years" quote finally emerges about the upcoming Elton/Leon album due out October 19.  It may be just that but, come on, you all knew it had to be coming soon;

He also saluted another of his inspirations, Leon Russell, who he called one of Americas greatest artists and added that hes been forgotten for too many years. Mentioning an upcoming album, due out Oct. 19, that he recorded with Russell and producer T Bone Burnett, Elton previewed the track Never Too Old and called it the best record Ive made in years.

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