REVIEW - Elton John & Leon Russell – The Union – Decca Records
October 27, 2010 – This project started after Elton John just happened to mention his chief influences on “Spectacle,” a TV program hosted by Elvis Costello and produced by him and partner David Furnish. “I talked about three singer/songwriters that I thought had been forgotten; says John, “Leon Russell was one of them. The other two were Laura Nyro and David Ackles, who have both passed away.” This was 2008, flash forward one year later, by then Furnish had downloaded the music of this special group of legends. While on safari in South Africa, of all places, Elton was completely taken off-guard yet pleasantly surprised to hear Russell’s “Retrospective” coming from Furnish’s ipod and he cried. In fact, Elton cried uncontrollably. I call these “musical JFK moments” – we always remember where we were when they happened and they change us. The moment certainly rejigged Elton John and this album served as a diary for that muse.

Elton was heavily influenced by Russell, the pair knew each other after sharing gigs in the early seventies, but their relationship had been severed by 37 years of different roads and decisions. Long story short, Elton decided to call Russell followed by producer T Bone Burnett?’ Elton’s long-awaited thank you to Russell was going to finally happen.

Before I start foaming at the mush over “The Union” I'd be remiss not to mention that this project is like fine wine so the young ones probably won’t get it. You can’t jump to the last scene of “Gone with the Wind” and expect to feel a damn thing. Having an appreciation for the history and the music makes a difference. READ MORE

Don’t Let Elton John Cook You Dinner
May 27, 2010 - File this under “You can’t be good at everything.”  Elton John was arguably the biggest solo musician in the world in the seventies and he was easily in the top 10 in the eighties but it seems he was too busy conquering the world to learn to cook. Turns out the guy can’t boil water without having a panic attack.

Elton’s partner David Furnish says, “I’m probably the chef of the two of us, though I don’t really get chance anymore as I’m always travelling.”

“Elton doesn’t cook. Don’t ask him questions about cooking, he won’t know what to say.”

 Furnish says the couple eat out regularly but told BANG showbiz that even in a restaurant Elton can go postal, “There was one funny incident recently - we went to a Japanese restaurant in January and we both ordered dishes you had to cook yourself, but Elton didn’t realise, so he just sat there panic stricken.”

Elton John Frustrated with HIV/AIDS Awareness
May 20, 2009 – Yesterday Elton John was a keynote speaker at the Bio International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. The singer was there to call for a renewed and aggressive push to rid the world of HIV/AIDS. “I’ve watched 60 close friends die,” he told the crowd explaining some of those were as famous as Queen singer Freddie Mercury and as everyday as Indiana teen Ryan White who all but became the poster child for AIDS awareness in the eighties.

Elton explained in clear fact that the world has put AIDS awareness in the back seat. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation report the number of Americans who thought HIV/AIDS was the nation’s most urgent health problem dropped from 44 percent in 1995 to 17 percent in 2006 and to 6 percent today. The singer said that statistic has become an even bigger problem with fighting the disease. He pleaded for more education especially with young people.

Elton said he felt “ashamed” that he didn’t fight this aggressively in the eighties when AIDS and HIV first became public saying he, “should have been on front the lines, I should have spoken out, I should have done more, but I didn’t. … I’m ashamed.”

In 1992 he founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the United States and later it’s sister organization in the UK. Together they have raised 150 million to fight the disease.

Elton John Ends Successful ‘Red Piano’ Las Vegas Run    
April 24, 2009 – Elton John has a reputation for going big but now he’s going home. After 5 years and 241 shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Elton is saying goodbye. At least, for a little while, Elton hinted on his last show, this past Wednesday, that he may return. "The ex-home of Celine Dion ... and now it's the ex-home of Elton John as well," said Captain Fantastic to the crowd hinting he and Celine may both be back.

The 62-year-old rocker added that he looked at Vegas as a second home.

Elton, who is 62, said, "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."

His stay in Vegas was originally for 75 shows over three years that started in February 2004 but he, like many performers before him, enjoyed the comfort of staying in the same city, so it was extended.

After kicking off Wednesday night with ‘Bennie and the Jets, Elton said, "I really have enjoyed every single moment of this engagement.”

Needless to say, Elton received multiple standing ovations. Good on ya Elton! – by John Beaudin

Elton John Feeling Euphoric Over New TV Show ‘Spectacle’
April 5, 2009 – It’s been an interesting ride for Elton John. After becoming one of the biggest Rock stars in the history of music in the seventies, he wrestled with substance abuse and reinvented himself in the eighties, producing more of an AC brand and kicked his demons to the curb. Sure, critics, including myself, thought most of his hits after 1977 wouldn’t stand the test of time but the “Sixty Million Dollar Man” prevailed in the end. Elton’s eighties tunes have faired well and so has he.

For all the bad publicity Elton has managed to redirect his professional and personal life with a few tantrums but mostly with class and a musical discography that continues to get richer. His Aids Foundation has also been his anthem for giving back.

He met Canadian, David Furnish, at a dinner party in 1993 and the pair have had a stabling effect on each other ever since.

Elton has learned some hard lessons through the years on who his friends really are. You don’t get this big without some leaching hanger-on’s, he doesn’t suffer fools and he has learned to be discerning with his company. Case in point Elvis Costello and Diana Krall. "Me and Diana got on like a house on fire," he told the Canadian Press. In fact it was Elton who convinced Krall to have babies at 39. He says, "I'd known her for quite a long time and I'd known her through a succession of boyfriends where she had been unhappy.” So it wasn’t long after Krall met Costello that Elton and Elvis became friends.

Elton says this friendship and some inspiration from old heroes gave him the idea for the TV music show ‘Spectacle.’ He started listening to Leon Russell again, became hugely inspired by the underrated genius and also connected with T-Bone Burnett. In fact the trio plan to release an album together next year.

This is an interesting time for Elton John, he has found his muse, he is excited about his music, the roots and feels an urgency to give credit where it’s due. ‘Spectacle’ is hosted by Costello and will feature Russell, Burnett and highlight the music of other unsung heroes like Laura Nyro and David Ackles.  Also expect more mainstream acts like the Police, Tony Bennett, Smokey Robinson and even former U.S. president Bill Clinton.

Captain Fantastic’s new found energy coupled with Costello’s musical knowledge hopefully will give the show a distinctive voice apart from the fabricated talking head, ass- kissing circus that represents the genre now. "There's a gaping hole here.” says Elton, “(for a) intelligent program to be made about musicians - what they're passionate about, their background, who they loved.”

Elton will begin recording his new album with Russell and Burnett in January. – by John Beaudin

17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Party Celebrating the Academy Awards Raises Nearly $4 Million    
Feb. 23, 2009 – It was another triumphant year for Elton John and partner David Furnish as they raised over $ 4 million at the 17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party. The huge event was hosted right after the Oscar show.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation has been a constant in raising awareness and funds for the cause.

The guest list this year included:  Victoria Beckham and John Walters in addition to Hollywood luminaries such as Sir Ben Kingsley, Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy, Gerard Butler, Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor, Quincy Jones, Keifer Sutherland, Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Stone, Eva Longoria Parker, Kate Beckinsale, Carrie Underwood, Natasha Bedingfield, Chace Crawford, Olivia Wilde, Rosanna Arquette, Josh Groban, Elle Macpherson, Gordon Ramsey, Eric McCormack, Tim Allen, Rashida Jones, Molly Sims, Russell Simmons, Dita Von Teese, Zac Posen, Natasha Henstridge, Terrell Owens, Chris O'Donnell, Paz Vega, Chris Noth, Taye Diggs and Ricki Lake.

As in previous years the gala featured a huge auction including an opportunity to dance with Ellen DeGeneras on her talk show, that went for $20,000 and two jewel encrusted 10th Anniversary Elton John AIDS Foundation collection watches designed by Chopard went for $250,000 each.

The Elton John Aids Foundation was founded in 1992. So far they have raised over $150 million. – by Kari Graham

Billy Joel Itching to Tour Again With Elton John
Oct. 29, 2008 – Billy Joel had this great idea for special shows, ‘Master Classes’ a few years ago. He would talk as much as sing. The concert series which are widely available via bootlegs had Joel answering any question the audience threw at him. He did his first Master Class show in years last night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. At the charity event he talked about the differences between Beethoven and Mozart, did impressions of Robert Plant, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and even Chris Rock. He also said that he and Elton John would soon tour again. The duos famous ‘Face to Face” tours were hugely successful. Imagine both on one stage plus the pair performing each others songs. We saw them in Vancouver years ago – amazing.

Billy Joel confirms rumours he'll tour with Elton John again. Though the pair has not toured together since 2002, Joel says the live spectacle will come back in 2009. No specific dates have been released. – by John Beaudin

Elton John Say’s Sorry to His Ex-Wife
June 28, 2008 – Oh, this was the stuff made for movies. Elton John, who most people in the industry knew was gay, marries a woman. It was only a matter of time before everyone knew the whole thing was a sham. Elton hooked up with sound engineer Renate Blauel in Sydney in 1984 and he now says he’s really sorry for putting his wife through that whole thing. He told VH1, "She is the classiest woman I have ever met and I do love her desperately, but it wasn't to be. I was living a lie. I'm not exactly proud of that, to say the least." Blauel is now a recluse in Surrey, UK but no one knows if she’s in hiding because of the failed relationship. She was the sound engineer on Human League’s album ‘Hysteria.’ The couple had no children. – By John Beaudin

Elton John Wants to Help Lily Allen
June 9, 2008 – They don’t call him Captain Fantastic for nothing! Elton John likes to help people. Like many recovered substance abusers he hasn’t forgotten how to give back and that’s exactly what he and his Canadian life-partner David Furnish want to do with singer Lily Allen. Furnish met up with Allen at a Royal Academy of Arts VIP private view on Wednesday and then she was carried out of the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. The pair believes that Allen just needs to clean up and first she needs to stay out of the public eye so they’ve invited her to stay at their house.

Allen has woken up in some peculiar situation not remembering how she got there or where her purse is. Rumour now has it that she will take them up on their offer.
Elton has a reputation of also helping celebrities even when they might not ask for it. A few years ago Elton kidnapped Robbie Williams and threw him in rehab. He has also been trying to help two singers who really need it, Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse. – by John Beaudin