elton john tour us

Elton John Announces Final North American Dates for ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Tour

• By Althea Legaspi

Althea Legaspi

Elton John has announced the final North American leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which takes place in 2022.

The new dates kick off at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 15th and culminate with a two-night stint at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 19th and 20th. Tickets go on sale on June 30th, with presale tickets available to American Express card members beginning on Wednesday at noon local time.

“Hello, all you wonderful fans out there. I’m coming to you today with an announcement I’ve been working towards for, well, all my life: The shows that I announce today will be my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe,” John said in a statement. “I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career.”

In September, John announced makeup dates for the tour, which was postponed due to the pandemic. The rescheduled trek runs from January through April. The newly announced final dates include 30 stadium shows, with a run of performances in Europe from May to June before he heads to North America. Tickets to those dates sold out quickly but there are seats available through VividSeats.com .

John launched the  Farewell Yellow Brick Road  tour in September 2018 in  Allentown, Pennsylvania . It was originally slated to run for three years, but the pandemic forced it off the road in March 2020. Two Auckland, New Zealand, shows are also planned for January 27th and 28th, 2023, with the four-year tour concluding sometime in 2023 in Australia with a string of shows to be announced at a later date.

“Whether it’s next summer in Frankfurt or at the legendary Dodger Stadium for the grand finale in the United States, I can’t wait to see you all on the road one last time,” John added. “This has been an incredible tour so far, full of the most amazing highs, and I look forward to making more wonderful memories with you at these final shows. To all my friends down under: We’ll be seeing you, too. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in your town.”

Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour 2022 Final North American Dates July 15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park July 18 –  Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park July 23 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium July 28 – Foxboro, MA @ Gillette Stadium July 30 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field August 5 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field September 7 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre September 10 – Syracuse, NY @ Carrier Dome September 16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park September 18 – Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium September 22 – Atlanta, GA @  Mercedes-Benz Stadium September 24 – Washington, DC @ Nationals Park September 30 – Arlington, TX @ Globe Life Field October 2 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium October 21 –  Vancouver, BC @ BC Place October 29 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome November 4 – Houston, TX @ Minute Maid Park November 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Chase Field November 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium November 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium

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Elton John's Final US Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour Concert in LA to Be Streamed Live on Disney+

The concert special is part of a larger production deal with Disney+, which will also premiere a documentary about John, directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish

If you haven't been able to attend a concert on Elton John 's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour , you'll soon be able to watch his final US concert from the comfort of your couch.

At Disney's D23 Expo over the weekend, the corporation announced that Disney+ will broadcast an exclusive livestream of Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium on Nov. 20 as part of a larger production deal with the "Rocketman" performer.

In May, Deadline reported that a documentary about John, 75, titled Goodbye Yellow Brick Road : The Final Elton John Performances And the Years That Made His Legend will premiere at festivals and in theaters before debuting on Disney+, though no release date has been announced yet.

According to the outlet, the documentary will be directed by R.J. Cutler and John's longtime partner David Furnish and feature never-before-seen concert clips from the past 50 years as well as handwritten journals and modern footage of the "Bennie and the Jets" performer and his family.

"There are no superlatives left to describe Elton John and his impact on music and culture — he's simply unrivaled," Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, told the outlet at the time, noting John's longtime relationship with the company, as he composed music for 1994's The Lion King . "Like a good Disney story, Elton's music has both universal appeal and the ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level.'

Cutler, who recently directed AppleTV+'s Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry , said at the time, "What a thrill and an honor it is that David Furnish and I get to create this intimate and unique look at one of the world's most celebrated artists. As it has for so many others, Elton John's music has had deep meaning for me for decades, and this opportunity is nothing short of a career highlight and privilege."

Furnish, 59, also gave a statement to Deadline about the documentary upon its announcement, writing, "Elton and I could not think of a better collaborator than R.J. Cutler for a film that represents more than just Elton's career — it's his life. From the Troubadour to Dodger Stadium, we knew that R.J. would help guide Elton's story and its many layers in a way that feels authentic and evocative. We're ecstatic to be working together."

Earlier this month, while appearing on the the Hits Radio Breakfast show with Fleur East , John shared that he's going to take a break once his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour wraps for good in Sweden in July 2023.

"After next year when I finish in Stockholm, I'll go on a bit of a hiatus and figure out what I'm going to do next," said John, who also recently announced he'll be part of a theatre adaption of the life of Tammy Faye Messner and her first husband, Jim Bakker. Tammy Faye will premiere in October at the Almeida Theatre in London.

RELATED VIDEO: Britney Spears Makes Her Official Return to Music with Throwback Elton John Duet 'Hold Me Closer'

"I probably won't release anything next year, but who knows?," the five-time Grammy Award winner teased on the radio show. "I might do something on someone else's record, but not on mine."

After wrapping the US leg of his "final tour" in November, John will play shows in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

It's already been a busy summer for John, who released " Hold Me Closer ," a collaboration with Britney Spears, last month. The dance-pop track was an instant hit, and debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Spears her first top-10 single in nearly a decade.

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Elton John Unveils Final ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Tour Dates

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Three and a half years after Elton John announced his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour,” after an unavoidable pandemic delay, he has finally unveiled the closing stadium dates of that tour. It will make a final lap across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand next year after the conclusion of the arena dates rescheduled from 2020 . The rescheduled 2020 dates begin in Germany on Sept. 1 and cover North America from January to April 2022.

The final stretch will kick off on May 27, 2022 in Germany, then move to North America, beginning in Philadelphia in July, and will wrap in November with a pair of dates at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the site of an iconic Elton performance some 47 years earlier. 2023 kicks off with two shows in Auckland New Zealand on January 27 and 28, followed by soon-to-be-announced dates in Australia before the tour formally concludes there later that year. The tour will end nearly five years after its opening date in Allentown, Pennsylvania on September 8, 2018.

The full list of newly announced dates is below; see the rescheduled 2020 dates here .

Popular on Variety

Announcing the final dates, Elton John said, “Hello, all you wonderful fans out there. I’m coming to you today with an announcement I’ve been working towards for, well, all my life: the shows that I announce today will be my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe. I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career. Whether it’s next summer in Frankfurt or at the legendary Dodger Stadium for the grand finale in the United States, I can’t wait to see you all on the road one last time. This has been an incredible tour so far, full of the most amazing highs, and I look forward to making more wonderful memories with you at these final shows. To all my friends down under, We’ll be seeing you too. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in your town.”

The show is a crowd-pleasing tour de force of his biggest hits, designed to tug at the audience’s heartstrings as well as Elton’s own. Variety , reviewing the tour’s 70th show in New York in March of 2019, wrote: “He drops in enough deep cuts to keep the musicians and veteran fans on their toes (the second song he played was the 1973 deep cut “All the Girls Love Alice”), yet the set was so packed with hits that he’d reeled off “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Border Song” and “Philadelphia Freedom” in the first half hour, and he’d barely scraped the surface.”

While this may be his final tour, it seems unlikely that it marks the end of Elton’s career as a performer — an irrepressible showman and die-hard music fan (who manages to host a remarkably contemporary weekly radio show , with an emphasis on new artists, on Apple Music 1), he will probably play spot dates and make television and other appearances for as long as he feels able.

For the US, Canada and UK dates, American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public. Presale details are included in the tour routing below.

Public on-sales begin Tuesday, June 29 in Europe and Wednesday, June 30 in North America.

Ahead of the stadium run, Elton will mark his return to the stage this Fall in Europe on September 1 at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, then later to North America on January 19, 2022 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR– EUROPEAN DATES *For UK dates, Amex Presale begins Thursday, June 24 at 10am BST through Tuesday, June 29 at 10pm BST*

Friday, May 27, 2022               Frankfurt, Germany      Deutsche Bank Park FKA Commerzbank-Arena Sunday, May 29, 2022              Leipzig, Germany         Red Bull Arena Saturday, June 4, 2022              Milan, Italy                  San Siro Stadium Tuesday, June 7, 2022              Horsens, Denmark        CASA Arena Horsens Thursday, June 9, 2022             Arnhem, Netherlands    GelreDome Saturday, June 11, 2022            Paris, France                La Defense Arena Wednesday, June 15, 2022        Norwich, UK               Carrow Road Friday, June 17, 2022               Liverpool, UK              Anfield Sunday, June 19, 2022              Sunderland, UK            Stadium of Light Wednesday, June 22, 2022        Bristol, UK                   Ashton Gate Stadium Wednesday, June 29, 2022        Swansea, UK               Liberty Stadium

ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR– NORTH AMERICAN DATES *For US & Canada, the Amex Presale begins Wednesday, June 23 at noon local time through Tuesday, June 29 at 10pm local time.*

Friday, July 15, 2022                Philadelphia, PA           Citizens Bank Park Monday, July 18, 2022             Detroit, MI                   Comerica Park Saturday, July 23, 2022             East Rutherford, NJ      MetLife Stadium Thursday, July 28, 2022            Foxboro, MA               Gillette Stadium Saturday, July 30, 2022             Cleveland, OH             Progressive Field Friday, August 5, 2022             Chicago, IL                  Soldier Field Wednesday, September 7, 2022 Toronto, ON                Rogers Centre Saturday, September 10, 2022   Syracuse, NY               Carrier Dome Friday, September 16, 2022       Pittsburgh, PA              PNC Park Sunday, September 18, 2022     Charlotte, NC               Bank of America Stadium Thursday, September 22, 2022  Atlanta, GA                  Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday, September 24, 2022   Washington, DC           Nationals Park Friday, September 30, 2022       Arlington, TX               Globe Life Field Sunday, October 2, 2022           Nashville, TN               Nissan Stadium Friday, October 21, 2022          Vancouver, BC             BC Place Saturday, October 29, 2022       San Antonio, TX          Alamodome Friday, November 4, 2022         Houston, TX                Minute Maid Park Saturday, November 12, 2022   Phoenix, AZ                 Chase Field Saturday, November 19, 2022   Los Angeles, CA          Dodgers Stadium Sunday, November 20, 2022     Los Angeles, CA          Dodgers Stadium

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Elton John begins final US dates of farewell tour with set list surprises and singalongs

PHILADELPHIA – Goodbyes can be brutal. But Elton John continues to usher out his extraordinary career  with grace and enthusiasm while ensuring fans savor a spate of highlights from his colossal catalog.

At Citizens Bank Park on Friday, a beaming John and his legendary band emerged before the sunset, and more than two hours and 23 songs later, the first date of the final U.S. leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was a footnote in history.

The show also marked the launch of the stadium portion of the tour, which will wrap in Los Angeles in November before bouncing back to Europe for the concluding run. It feels like another lifetime ago that John embarked on his long and winding goodbye ; indeed, the world looked much different in 2018 when the show made its debut in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

But he’s still enticing baby boomer devotees and millennial newcomers alike, a refreshing span of ages evident among the sold-out crowd of more than 40,000.

During the encore, John noted – with a bit of humble disbelief – that he was playing a recent hit , “Cold Cold Heart,” his mashup with Dua Lipa (who appeared on video), in tandem with his first top 10 single from 1971, the truly timeless “Your Song.”

It’s a feat both admirable and exceedingly unlikely to be duplicated.

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Throughout the night, John, in a bejeweled white tux jacket, black pants and lavender-framed glasses, appeared refreshed and happy behind his black Yamaha grand piano. The hit parade began with the familiar plinking notes of “Bennie and the Jets” followed by “Philadelphia Freedom,” with guitarist Davey Johnstone casually unfurling the song’s jangly riff.

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John, 75, was delightfully hammy between songs, popping up from his piano bench to point and grin at the crowd while mouthing thanks and leading a concert that felt brisk but never rote.

While some songs (“I’m Still Standing,” “Tiny Dancer”) contained noticeably lower keys to suit John’s range, he mostly sounded robust, adding vocal embellishments to the end of an easy-swinging “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” and injecting “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” with emphatic emotion.

The highlights along this trip down sentimental street were numerous. The hazy effects on the video accompanying the ever-ethereal “Rocket Man” added a gauzy coating as the dreamy chorus segued into an elongated piano coda. “Levon,” one of the underrated beauties in John’s cache of creativity with lyricist Bernie Taupin , escalated into a gospel throwdown before weaving back into the melody. And the epic instrumental “Funeral for a Friend,” a sonic eruption that melts into “Love Lies Bleeding,” remains a master class in musicianship.

Though John’s teammates never earned a moniker a la the E Street Band, these exceptional players have been an integral part of his live shows. Many, such as dapper drummer Nigel Olsson (sporting his trademark gloves, headphones and a pink pocket square in his suit), the treasure that is percussionist Ray Cooper and the distinctive Johnstone have shared stages with the maestro since the earliest gigs.

Percussionist John Mahon, keyboardist Kim Bullard and bassist Matt Bissonette also add musical flair that prompted John to comment on how much he has relished playing with this group.

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While their tautness was expected given the volume of shows they’ve played, the band also leaned into a couple of surprises in the set list.

The rollicking “All the Girls Love Alice,” from 1973’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album, arrived for the first time this year (John did unearth the album track during many pre-pandemic farewell dates). But more unexpected was the tour debut of “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” John’s swoony 1972 ode to New York City that he hasn’t performed live since his 2018 Las Vegas run. It was, as always, enchanting.

As the concert crept toward its conclusion – with fans realizing the wind down of their time in John’s orbit – the musician offered sincere thanks and told the audience to “love each other” while wishing them “health, happiness and success.”

Then, as he has throughout the tour, John unwrapped “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” his delicate rumination of life in transition and the ideal summary of a career that will be forever celebrated.

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Elton John Is Wrapping Up the U.S. Leg of His Farewell Tour: Where to Buy Tickets Online

The Rocketman will play Phoenix before ending the U.S. edition of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles next week.

By Latifah Muhammad

Latifah Muhammad

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The “Hold Me Closer” singer is slated to perform three nights at Dodger Stadium beginning next Thursday (Nov. 17). Tickets are reasonably priced at approximately $63-$69 for the dates. Fans can get passes at Ticketmaster , Vivid Seats , Seat Geek , Stub Hub , etc.

Looking for tickets to the Phoenix show? You’re in luck! Tickets start at around $73 on Seat Geek and approximately $90 at Ticketmaster , Vivid Seats , and Stub Hub .

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour will head overseas to Australia and New Zealand in January, followed by dates in the U.K., including London’s O2 Arena , and other parts of Europe.

Click below to buy tickets.

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Elton John performs at Dodger Stadium to wrap U.S. leg of farewell tour

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It was a night to remember for Elton John fans as the singer-songwriter performed a lively and emotional set at Dodger Stadium to wrap up the U.S. leg of what is expected to be his final tour.

Los Angeles holds a special place in John's heart, as his 1975 performances at the ballpark - in a sequined Dodgers uniform - were considered one of the most iconic shows of his early career.

Sunday he performed in a glittering Dodger-themed robe that was a callback to that original outfit.

John, 75, has said he plans to retire from performing at the end of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. After wrapping up in Los Angeles, he'll perform in Australia and New Zealand early next year to conclude the tour.

The crowd - and the stage itself - were filled with celebrities. John called Dua Lipa and Brandi Carlile to perform with him.

Carlile says Elton John has been an inspiration to her since childhood.

"It's so amazing," Carlile said. "It's a first time for me and a last time, of sorts, for him and it feels mystical."

Elton John has a long list of hits and has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. Some of his most memorable songs include "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Candle in the Wind" and many, many others.

He's a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1988 in recognition not only of his artistic contributions but his charitable work.

The Dodger Stadium performance will be available to stream on Disney+.

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Elton John  

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Sir Elton John, is a singer, composer, pianist and all round British national treasure who has been blessing the world with his talents for decades.

Born in 1947 as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, Elton experienced a fairly restrictive childhood growing up in Middlesex. His musical talents were clear from an early age, taking up the piano aged 3 and getting a scholarship to the Royal Academy of music at 11.

After a turbulent relationship with Elton’s father, who expressed very little interest in the young musician, Elton’s mother divorced and remarried. The new couple helped Elton secure a job as a pub pianist where he worked until he formed a now legendary partnership with Bernie Taupin in 1967, following an advert in the NME,.

With Bernie writing the lyrics and Elton the music (a tried and tested method that still works today), the duo began writing popular works for other artists such as ‘LuLu’ before beginning on Elton’s solo material. The release of Elton’s self-titled second album saw him take the first leap towards stardom. It spawned the hit single ‘Your Song’ and landed the album at number 4 and 5 on the US charts respectively.

1972’s ‘Honky Chateau’ became Elton’s first number one album and would be followed by 6 more consecutively, most famously ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ which stayed at the top spot for two months.

Outside of music, Elton has been a important figure for LGBT rights around the world. He publicly came out in 1988 and has since been a vocal figure for important social causes such as the AIDS crisis and gay marriage in the UK.

Live reviews

Elton John is an amazing singer but lastnight at Cardiff City Stadium was such a disappointment. The sound quality was absolutely dreadful. The sound Tech staff should hang their heads in shame. Our night was ruined from the minute the music started.

The speakers in the centre of the stadium were about 1-2 seconds delayed so there was a constant echo. If you didn’t know the words to the songs then you wouldn’t know what the hell he was singing because of the poor quality. I don’t expect to pay the money we did to see a mega star on his Farewell tour to listen to it like we had to. Everyone we spoke to was disappointed.

Then there was the security....or should I say lack of...? We entered via gate 9, I had a tag put on my bag saying it had been checked. The guy never even looked inside. No personal searches were done & no one was scanned either. DISGUSTING. In this day and age where terrorism & knife crime is at its worst in the Uk, I would expect more....ALOT more. May I remind the event organisers/security team of The Manchester Arena bombing....seriously. People were entering with rucksacks, large shopping bags, golf umbrellas that could be used as weapons had there been fights etc. Then we witnessed the stewards on the pitch chatting to each other, texting, filming Elton John & basically doing everything BUT supervise the crowds. An Absolute shambles from start to end.

I will certainly remember this concert but NOT for the right reasons.

Everyone who stepped into that stadium lastnight was FAILED & LET DOWN.

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There aren’t many artists who have sold more then 300 million records worldwide, but Elton John is one of these superstar legends. His single ‘Candle in the Wind’ selling 33 million copies alone, there are few who could even dream of topping that. The scope of his work is remarkable, from singer-songwriter music through to songs for feature films. And a knighthood from the Queen? Goodness me Elton!

Part of the magic of his performances is seeing him sit alone at his piano, accompanying himself and improvising to his own score. Over the years of course, his voice has grown weaker, but the magic remains and his performances do not lose their power, as he is backed up by a stellar band. One man holding the attention of an arena audience seems like an incredible feat, but Elton John at home on the stage, has this down to a tee. Aiming to please the audience, he always provides a selection of his great hits as well as some of the lesser known tracks from his older albums for some variation, something that usually pleases the hungry crowd.

50 years of performances, and Elton John’s stamina remains incredibly impressive, and if you are lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket, you can expect to watch a performance of anything up to 2 hours, and I promise, it will fly by!

I have been an Elton John fan since the 70s and this concert in Roanoke was the first chance I have had to see him and The Elton John Band perform live. It exceeded any possible expectations!! The sound live is so all encompassing, the piano so mesmerizing and so many of my favorite EJ songs! To hear 'Your Song' done in concert is just the most beautiful experience! Other numbers especially noteworthy in this concert were 'Philadelphia Freedom', 'I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' and one of his newest songs 'Good Heart'. The encore finale number of 'Crocodile Rock' just blows away any recording of it I have ever heard, phenomenal concert!! No other performer I have ever seen went the whole concert the way Elton John did, just amazing, I am so thankful I went and I would see him again if he tours anywhere I can reasonably get to. AMAZING, you will regret it if you miss the opportunity to hear this iconic performer and his band! Nigel Olsson on Drums with EJ since 1969, Scottish guitarist Davey Johnstone since 1972 (crazy talented, must see live to fully appreciate!) Thanks for coming to Roanoke, VA, Elton!! <3 A fan forever here <3

The concert was AWESOME! It was the first time I saw Elton in Concert. I have every album he has made and grew up with his music. The concert was one I will never forget. Even though I enjoy all the instruments and artists in his band I could listen to just him alone playing his piano. He puts his heart and soul in his music and I find myself remembering my life and feeling all the feelings I have over the last 45 years. He thanked his fans and was so gracious but I felt like I needed to thank him. He is blessed with his music and I felt I was Thankful to have him share his gift with me. He did something I have never seen in a concert before which warmed my heart. He not only went from side to side thanking his fans and shaking their hands. He also bent down and signed autographs. He was amazing. He took his time with his fans. So few times have I seen other artists take a second of their time to do the same. But Elton with his magnitude of success did far more than I have ever seen. I felt lucky and blessed to finally see the one concert I wanted to see for the last 45 years. Thank you Sir Elton John for sharing your heavenly talent! I am in Awe!

The SHOW was great, as a whole--I think. Video productions, etc. were awesome. Musicians looked to be performing well. The sound SUCKED! The sound in the Dallas American Airlines Center was so loud--especially the lower frequencies--that the mix was unintelligible. It was literally too loud to understand. We could distinguish not one word that was sung by Elton John--NOT ONE! Of course, we knew most of the words to the songs, but the only place we could distinguish those words was in our memories. If we EVER go to another rock/pop concert at AAC, it will be with earplugs, although even those probably wouldn't have helped at this concert. Covering my ears with my hands failed to significantly reduce the bass. I feel as though I paid $500 for two tickets to a video with an undecipherable soundtrack. While the SHOW was great, in general it was a disappointment. I have seen/heard Eric Clapton three previous times at AAC, and, while the sound was loud at those concerts, it was nothing like the Elton John concert. I suspect the fault lies with Elton John's engineers, so maybe this will be a problem elsewhere too.

This show was completely misrepresented by ALL promoters! The vast majority of concert goers thought we were going to witness a live concert with Elton backed by the Orchestra. What we received was a grossly overpriced movie showing of “Rocketman” with the Orchestra playing in the background during certain scenes.

A piano was brought out on stage during the movie intermission. At the tail end the film director introduced Elton, Bernie & the Actors. One song was performed with Elton on piano & Taron singing. That was a 5 minute nicety after a 3 hour let down.

I met two nice ladies who flew in from Canada dressed up and super excited only to be completely disappointed.

They gave out free concert posters at the end of show as we were exiting, that didn’t even represent what was real. I contemplate if I even want to hang on my wall as I do not wish to remember this experience because it was not a true representation of the night or what the poster implies.

We should ALL be refunded!!!!

Elton, were you aware of this advertising scam?

The production was first class by Baby Boomer standards; however, I would grade the performance as a B. Elton doesn't have the voice anymore, so he doesn't try for the real high notes and resorts to screaming some of the lyrics. The music was pretty tight, though he took liberties with the melody sometimes. Overall, it was a great show but it wasn't the best. I understand he will be performing over 300 concerts throughout this farewell tour, lasting into the Fall of 2021. That's a lot. He's not getting any younger and, in fact, he's seems to have some difficulty with mobility.

You can Google his play list but it doesn't include some of his bigger hits (Honky Cat or Harmony). He did go for nearly 2 hours straight and came back for a 2-song encore. I had comp tickets, but probably wouldn't pay the $300+ if I had to buy them. Glad I went, though. He is a legend!

Great concert. I was six rolls up from the Floor. There was two screens one on each side of the stage over the seats. Started at 8/7c. I live in Al. so I like the hour time difference. It was a sold out concert. Everybody was standing up dancing by their seats. Elton left the stage after just guessing 20 songs. After he left the stage. Everybody was hooping and hollowing, clapping like crazy. He came back and sang one more song before the show ending at around 10:40/9:40c. This was the 3rd E.J. concert. 1st was in 1999 in Chattanooga Tn. He was there alone. Then Sept. 12, 2012 in Huntsville, Al. with the band. And this time with the band. I didn't go to the 2013 Chattanooga concert because it hasn't been that long since I saw him in Huntsville. Now I'm waiting for Rod Stewart to come to Chattanooga. I saw him in Tampa Fl. when I lived near by for a short time.

The concert was fantastic. This was my 6th Elton John concert that I have been to and he never fails to please the crowd. Sadly the wind effected the sound though. Elton's tribute to Jonah Lomu was really heartfelt and beautiful. It was so lovely to see the whole audience swaying and holding up their cel phones and singing along with Elton to Don't let the sun go down on me. The same thing was done to one of my favourite songs, Candle in the wind which was written about Marilyn Monroe and later changed for Princess Diana it to was really emotional I will never forget that. The thing about Elton John is that you could tell that he really wanted to be there and that he truly loves what he does. He is a proffesional polished act. The other thing that was so good was that there were people of all ages at the concert. Elton John's music is timeless and ageless.

Well Elton has the sense to understand that his won't hit all the high notes he used to do. So he has adapted the songs to sung writhing his band, and he sings them comfortably. But they are not exactly as you may remember hearing them. After all you are listening to the original artist, but a different variant of the song. Some of them worked really well, like Bennie and the Jets, Saturday nights alright for fighting, others not so, like Tiny Dancer. Overall a credit to a master performer, plays for over 2 and a half hours. The thank you towards the fans of Australia was quite emotional, for him and us. All unscripted, he went deep into all the years of support and encouragement he received from Aus.

Possibly one of the best entertainers of his era, certainly the most flamboyant. We thank you and Bernie for your contribution of classic songs. Leon

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5 Great Americana-Influenced Elton John Songs in Honor of His 77th Birthday

H appy Birthday to Elton John, who turned 77 on March 25, 2024. John has had an incredibly successful music career that’s seen him explore a variety of genres, including baroque pop, pop rock, hard rock, disco, show tunes, and more.

An interesting aspect about the British singer/songwriter’s music, particularly during his career’s early years, was the strong influence of Americana on his music, including blues, gospel, country, and folk. John was a huge fan of Leon Russell, while his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, had a fascination with the Old West, cowboy movies, and Southern U.S. culture. In addition, both John and Taupin were enamored with the mostly Canadian roots-rock group The Band.

[RELATED: Metallica Honors Elton John with Special Performance at the 2024 Gershwin Prize]

These influences led John and Taupin to create quite a few memorable Americana-inspired songs that were featured on his first several albums. In honor of John’s birthday, here’s a look at 5 great Americana-influenced songs from his early heyday:

“Take Me to the Pilot” (1970)

“Take Me to the Pilot” was a song from John’s self-titled second album, which was released in 1970. The dramatic, gospel-infused song features John soulfully belting out enigmatic lyrics like a preacher possessed with the Holy Spirit.

Both Taupin and John have said that they have no idea what the lyrics to “Take Me to the Pilot” mean.

Interestingly, the song originally was released in the U.S. as a single, with “Your Song” as its B-side. However, radio stations embraced the latter tune, which became John’s breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Border Song” (1970)

“Border Song” also was featured on the Elton John album. The uplifting gospel-inspired song features lyrics that call for unity between people of different races.

John said in a 1975 book that he wrote the third verse of “Border Song,” making it among his only tunes to which he’s contributed lyrics.

“Border Song” was the first single released from Elton John; it peaked at No. 92 on the Hot 100. Aretha Franklin covered the song in 1970, and her version reached No. 37 on the same chart.

“Country Comfort” (1971)

“Country Comfort” was lead track of John’s third studio album, Tumbleweed Connection , which probably was the Elton record most influenced by American music.

Offering up his best attempt at a Southern drawl, John sings about the pleasures of rural life in the American South. Fiddle, steel guitar, and acoustic guitar add to the down-home, country feel of the song.

Rod Stewart recorded a cover of “Country Comfort” that was released in June 1970, several months before John’s own version was issued.

“Burn Down the Mission” (1971)

“Burn Down the Mission” is the final track on Tumbleweed Connection . The song is a cinematic country-gospel ballad that’s apparently about members of an impoverished community who try to take action against a wealthy man who’s oppressing them.

John regularly played “Burn Down the Mission” in concert during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in 2022 and 2023. It was one of the only non-hits included in John’s set on the trek.

Phil Collins covered “Burn Down the Mission” for the 1991 John/Taupin tribute album Two Rooms . Toto recorded their own version for their 2002 covers album Through the Looking Glass .

“Holiday Inn” (1971)

“Holiday Inn” was featured on John’s fourth studio album, Madman Across the Water . The tune is a celebratory country-rock song about being in a band on tour in the U.S.

The song is enhanced by Davey Johnstone’s fluid mandolin playing throughout, and ends with an infectious, jangly, bluegrass-inspired solo.

The post 5 Great Americana-Influenced Elton John Songs in Honor of His 77th Birthday appeared first on American Songwriter .

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Elton John’s Health: Updates on the Legendary Singer’s Well-Being and Recent Surgeries

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

In March 2024, Elton John celebrated his 77th birthday, but now that the music icon is approaching his 80s, he has been in and out of the hospital for various surgeries regarding his health .

Despite the procedures, the "Rocket Man" singer has said that he began to prioritize his health and wellness during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, admitting that he's always struggled with extra weight.

"A lot of my shame comes from the way I've put on weight . It's been with me all my life. I go up and down like a bloody yo-yo!" the singer-songwriter said on a 2021 episode of the " Deeney Talks " podcast. "But I've really concentrated on that during lockdown and I've had a lot of help from people in the house."

It appears that the singer is down an impressive 40 lbs in recent months, and he's keeping busy with various musical projects. In Touch takes a look at Elton's health.

September 2021: Elton John Announces a Fall and Plans for Hip Surgery

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter ) on September 16, 2021, Elton announced that he would need to undergo hip surgery after he "fell awkwardly on a hard surface," leaving him with "considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since." The Grammy Award winner postponed some dates of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour and explained, "I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications. I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and turn to full mobility without pain."

January 2022: COVID Scare

After Elton finally got back on stage for the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, he was forced to again postpone two shows in Dallas after testing positive for COVID-19. "Fortunately, Elton is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is experiencing only mild symptoms...Elton and the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour look forward to returning to the stage shortly," a statement from the singer said at the time, per ABC News . On his Instagram Story, he added, "It's always a massive disappointment to have to move shows and I'm sorry to anyone who's been inconvenienced by this but I want to keep myself and my team safe."

June 2022: Elton John Addresses Being Spotted Out in a Wheelchair

After reports circulated that Elton was using a wheelchair in 2022, the singer gave fans on Instagram an update on his health. "I want to thank all my fans for reaching out to ask about my health, after the tabloids ran a silly story about my 'looking frail' in a wheelchair," he wrote at the time . "The true story is that I’m in top health, loving my shows and playing and singing at my very best. I give 100% every night and never want to disappoint, especially after everyone has waited so long to get back to seeing shows. Your response to every show has been phenomenal and I’m loving every minute of it. After another rousing 2.5 hour show, we arrived at Leipzig airport just before curfew, to find part of the airport had closed. It was an extremely long walk to get to the plane, so my team kindly laid on a wheelchair so I could rest my hip after doing the show. That's all folks."

August 2023: Another Fall

In August 2023, Elton was released from the hospital after being treated for a fall at his villa in Nice, France. "Following a slip yesterday at his home in the south of France, Elton visited the local hospital as a precautionary measure," a statement from his representative said, according to Today . "Following checkups, he was immediately discharged this morning and (he is) now back at home and in good health."

January 2024: Knee Surgery

The singer underwent knee replacement surgery in January. At the 32nd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party, his husband David Furnish gave an update on Elton's health. "He's doing amazing," he told The Sun . "He's having another knee done in a couple of weeks and by the time the summer rolls around, he'll have two brand new spanking knees. I think you'll see him breakdancing down the carpet next year."

David also said that his husband was very busy these days, despite retiring from touring. "He's not going to tour anymore. He's done that for 50 years and he's enjoying being at home with his family," he said. "We are launching two stage musicals this year, a documentary on Disney+, opening a photo exhibition at the V&A in May, so it's still very busy. It hasn't exactly slowed down in the Furnish-John household."

March 2024: Health Update

Last month, David also gave an update on Elton's health when speaking with Variety . "He's walking brilliantly," he said of his husband. "Both his knees were bent so badly, but his left knee is now perfectly straight. His right knee is still bent so he's going to have another surgery in April."

As for his career, "He's been working away," said David, who is also his manager. "I don't think you're going to have to wait too long [for new music]. I can't say when but he's making real progress. It was important for him when he came off the road to have a little bit of a breather and a break. But he's always said he’s retiring from touring, but he's not retiring from working."

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Record Store Day 2024

50th Anniversary Release of Caribou

Whilst the end of one chapter, it is the beginning of the next.

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

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April 20, 2024

‘Caribou’ – Bonus Tracks and More

April 17, 2024

‘Caribou’ – Inside the Studio and On the Charts

March 27, 2024

Tammy Faye is coming to Broadway

Diamonds: Exclusive Picture Disc Vinyl LP

Diamonds 3CD

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February 5, 2024

Elton John’s New York City: a Guide

April 21, 2023

‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’ – Inside the Studio and On the Charts

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Tim McGraw Set List for 2024's 'Standing Room Only Tour' Revealed

Tim McGraw is currently on the road with his Standing Room Only Tour and he’ll be entertaining fans through June!

The 56-year-old country singer, who is touring with Carly Pearce , is performing a ton of hits every night and we have the set list available for you to peruse.

Before the tour started, Tim promised to perform his biggest hits along with songs from his latest album Standing Room Only and he’s definitely delivering the goods.

Tim will soon be visiting cities like Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Make sure to check the concert listings to see if he’ll be in a town near you!

Head inside to check out the set list…

Keep scrolling to check out the full set list… **This set list is representative of previous shows on the tour and might not be completely accurate for every show.

1. Truck Yeah 2. Southern Voice 3. All I Want Is a Life 4. Tiny Dancer (Elton John cover) 5. Just to See You Smile 6. Over and Over 7. Shotgun Rider 8. One Bad Habit 9. Watch the Wind Blow By 10. Something Like That 11. Where the Green Grass Grows 12. Standing Room Only 13. Red Ragtop 14. Highway Don’t Care 15. I Like It, I Love It 16. Felt Good on My Lips 17. Real Good Man 18. ENCORE: The Cowboy in Me 19. ENCORE: Humble and Kind 20. ENCORE: Live Like You Were Dying

Check out the set lists for more artists on tour right now!

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John Lennon’s Recently Rediscovered Guitar Is Poised to Smash Records at Auction

Julien's auctions believes the historic instrument could possibly become the most valuable guitar ever sold at auction..

In the 1960s, a 12-string acoustic guitar was the instrument of choice for John Lennon as he recorded and performed hits like Help! Despite its historic importance, the guitar was missing for decades until it was recently discovered in an attic in the rural British countryside. Now Lennon’s 1965 Fenton Hootenanny is expected to set a record for the most valuable Beatles guitar when it is sold next month with the Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions .

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In addition to being used by Lennon on the recording of the Beatles’ 1965 Help! album and film, the acoustic guitar can be heard on tracks like  It’s Only Love and I’ve Just Seen a Face and was even played by George Harrison on Norwegian Wood . “Finding this remarkable instrument is like finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso, and it still looks and plays like a dream after having been preserved for more than 50 years,” said Darren Julien , co-founder and executive founder of Julien’s Auctions, in a statement.

SEE ALSO: UBS Makes a Major Gift of American Landscape Photography to the National Gallery of Art

The guitar is being offered with a conservative estimate of between $600,000 and $800,000. But Julien’s Auctions expects it to surpass the Beatles guitar auction record established in 2015 with the $2.41 million sale of Lennon’s J-160E Gibson. It could even become the most valuable guitar ever sold at auction; a title currently bestowed upon a Martin D-18E owned by Kurt Cobain that sold for more than $6 million at Julien’s Auctions in 2020. “ If there’s a guitar that will ever rival that, it’s this guitar ,” said Julien during a press event for the upcoming auction. “This guitar could be the guitar that sets a new world record—it’s so important, so historic,” added fellow founder and director   Martin Nolan .

Rediscovering a piece of music history

By the late 1960s, Lennon had gifted the Hootenanny to Gordon Waller of the pop duo Gordon & Waller, who subsequently gave the instrument to their road manager. The current owners, however, long believed it to have been misplaced—until they discovered the guitar in their attic while preparing for a move and contacted Julien’s Auctions. After confirming its authenticity, Julien and Nolan also rescued its tattered Australian-made Maton guitar case from a trash bin used by the homeowners.

“To awaken this sleeping beauty is a sacred honor,” said Julien, adding that the find is the greatest recovery of a Beatles guitar since the return of Paul McCartney’s 1961 Höfner bass , which was stolen from the musician in 1971. Julien’s Auctions has a storied history of selling Beatles memorabilia, having previously auctioned off record-breaking lots like Ringo Starr ’s $2.2 million Ludwig drum kit and the $2.1 million drumhead used by the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Its upcoming auction also comes on the heels of several major musician-related sales. Christie's earlier this year sold 900 lots of artwork, clothing and jewelry from the collection of Elton John for a total of $20.5 million, while Sotheby's in September auctioned off the personal possessions of Freddie Mercury for a staggering $50.4 million.

Lennon’s rediscovered guitar is set to headline the auctioneer’s Music Icons sale, which will offer more than 1,000 pieces of music memorabilia ranging from a Fender bass guitar used by Adam Clayton of U2 and a 1984 “Billie Jean” jacket donned by Michael Jackson on tour. Auction highlights will be exhibited in London and New York ahead of sales on May 29 and May 30.

• SEE ALSO : Leonora Carrington’s Surrealist Masterpiece Expected to Sell for a Record $18M

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