Elton John

In reading through this captivating biography of Elton John, I find myself profoundly moved and inspired by his extraordinary journey. A man who has transcended the boundaries of music and touched the hearts of millions, Elton’s life story is one that resonates deeply with me.

Elton John doesn’t have a specific street address. Instead, guests visiting his home are provided with three distinct names: one for the house, another for the surrounding hill, and the last being a nearby town that is reminiscent of Windsor, famed for Windsor Castle where King Charles III resides.

Access to this place is through a grand, silent-opening iron gate leading to a gravel driveway, a quaint turreted gatehouse, a pond inhabited by geese, hedgerows, men in silence, pushing wheelbarrows and Wellingtons, followed by a short walk. Upon first glance, it exudes the refined yet modest demeanor often associated with English nobility. One of its most valuable assets is an ancient oak tree.

This version of Elton John that you’re familiar with is quite different from the one I’m referring to. That persona is flamboyant, characterized by his loud demeanor, glasses, vibrant outfits, openness about his sexuality, lavish concerts, extensive shopping, platform heels, quick temper, parties, and a piano always played at full volume. For six decades, John has been a mainstay in the entertainment industry, enjoying an extraordinary level of fame for half of that time. His life, both triumphant and fraught with mistakes, showcases his unique mix of strengths, weaknesses, wigs, and eccentric costumes. His wealth and passions, unlike those typically associated with nobility, are more synonymous with shopping sprees than classical music.

In today’s context, it seems oddly fitting to liken John to a modern-day English noble. He is married with two children who carry on his lineage. His charitable work is widely respected. Some of his prized possessions, such as his extensive photograph collection, are showcased at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London. His library boasts numerous trophies, including an Emmy and various other awards, which sit alongside ancient artifacts. He has been formally recognized with a knighthood. From his garden, the current monarch’s grandmother once commented, one can have a clear view of the British royal family’s ancestral home.

For about half a century, John has been the owner of a house commonly referred to as Woodside. However, prior to the pandemic, he didn’t spend much time there due to his frequent tours and stays in hotel rooms. Similar to many aristocrats, laundry was an unfamiliar chore for him. During our first interview, conducted in a hotel room in New York City in November, John shared this during a conversation while his husband David Furnish rested on the bed. Two publicists were waiting in the bathroom at the time. “It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life when I entered rehab and couldn’t operate a washing machine,” John confided. He added, “I thought to myself, ‘This is pathetic. Here I am, 43 years old, and I can’t even work a washing machine. That speaks volumes about how messed up I am.’

Over three decades past, now at the age of 77, he’s not just standing in front of the top loader; instead, he’s actively managing challenges to his right eye, which was once his good one, that have almost left him blind. Remarkably, this doesn’t show when you meet him. Elton John, like an unquenchable candle, has continued to shine even against strong gusts. Most of his 57 U.S. Top 40 hits were released during his rebellious youth, but he found a new phase in composing songs for animated Disney films, earning two Oscars, and later writing music for Broadway musicals, winning a Tony. There’s a hint of a fourth act in him as he steps into the era of blending his melodies—and sometimes vocals—with a new generation of artists. It’s barely been 16 months since he scored his last hit single, a collaboration with Britney Spears, who had been absent from music recording for five years.

Achieving such longevity in one’s career isn’t only about extraordinary musical skills and incredible good fortune; it also necessitates endurance. Maintaining fame’s intense pace for a prolonged period can strain one’s mental health, physical wellbeing, and relationships with loved ones. As John puts it, “When you’re famous, there’s almost like a court around you.” People are constantly jockeying for position, and those closest to the celebrity often face jealousy from others.

He has bested or evaded the four horsemen that cut down his generation’s boldest names: drug addiction, AIDS, irrelevance, and suicide. Apart from Paul McCartney, who had a Top 10 single with a resurrected Beatles song in 2023, very few of John’s contemporaries are still alive, let alone releasing new hits. The Rolling Stones still tour, but their last No. 1 was 40 years ago. John has also survived deep family dysfunction, tabloid fabrication, early hair loss, bulimia, and in the ’80s, a brief marriage to a woman. And here’s the key part: he has remained prolific. 

After playing approximately 4,500 concerts throughout five decades, Elton John decided to step away from touring as of the end of 2023 but continues to contribute to the cultural landscape. The latest documentary about his life, titled “Elton John: Never Too Late“, will be available on Disney+ on Dec. 13. He has been involved in composing and co-producing two new musicals – “Tammy Faye” and “The Devil Wears Prada“. An auction of some of his possessions in February generated over $20 million, surpassing the initial estimate by a factor of two. He hosts a podcast/radio show named “Rocket Hour“, which supports emerging artists. This year alone, “Rocket Man”, a 52-year-old song, reached one billion streams on Spotify, while his collaboration with Dua Lipa on the track “Cold Heart” attracted over a million listeners daily. According to Lipa, the reason for their collaboration was strengthened by their friendship and the opportunity to perform alongside one of her musical idols.

John’s outrageous string of hits is now a list of global standards. “Do you know how many requests I get a day for the use of our songs on things like America’s Got Talent, The Voice, or the silly show where they dress up as poodles?” says Bernie Taupin, John’s longtime writing partner, who has provided the lyrics to most of his hits. “I don’t think Bob Dylan gets a lot of requests for The Masked Singer.”

In person the glam-rock superstar is gentle, a little shy, and eager to please, and especially eager to make people laugh. While some frailties are apparent, he still has plenty of bounce. He favors comfy designer tracksuits and sneakers. He doesn’t hear too well or walk with confidence. Corrective surgery a few years back made the glasses a mostly cosmetic choice, but a recent eye infection damaged the optic nerve in his right eye and it’s taking a while to heal. His husband is determined to be optimistic about it. “I just think it’s just gonna take time, right?” Furnish says.

Following the premiere of the $22 million Broadway musical, “Tammy Faye,” which tells the story of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker and her relationship with the gay community, reviews have been less than favorable. The show’s creator, John, has taken a philosophical approach to the situation, expressing sympathy for everyone who invested their efforts into the production. He believes that the failure is a result of taking risks, as it often is. John and Furnish attribute the show’s poor reception to the political climate following Donald Trump’s election. They suggest that the musical, being politically charged, may have triggered negative responses from critics due to pressing buttons that were not well-received.

If John appears optimistic, it might be due to his long-standing preference for focusing on the future rather than dwelling on past setbacks. His 2019 memoir “Me” and Furnish’s 1995 documentary “Tantrums & Tiaras” offer glimpses into a more vulnerable side of Elton John. As Furnish explains, “It was a bit like video therapy in a way. It provided me an opportunity to go in with a camera, almost like a protective shield, and bring to light aspects of his life that I found intriguing.

The documentary (as per George Michael’s suggestion) portrays him in a state of complete breakdown, asserting at times that he would never create another music video due to someone leaving a bag in a car, and on other instances demanding his private jet to depart from the South of France immediately and never return, as a woman had waved at him during a tennis lesson. (He ultimately decides to keep it.)

John often finds it challenging to maintain patience, as evident by his own words, “My fuse is quite short, and the more rational explanations I receive, the angrier I become.” When John first encountered Furnish at a friend’s dinner party in 1993, he was immediately struck by John’s warmth and humility. However, as their relationship deepened, Furnish noticed that John had low self-esteem and a strong need to please others due to a difficult childhood marked by a distant father and an irascible mother. As Furnish puts it, “John was very closed off when it came to accepting love. No one had ever asked him to do simple, joyful things together before.

John was among the first famous personalities to publicly acknowledge his sexuality back in 1976, initially identifying as bisexual at a time when such openness could significantly impact one’s career. After spending 31 years together, John and Furnish, who previously worked in advertising, have embraced their role as gay icons. They entered into a civil partnership in December 2005, just weeks after it became legal to do so, and were married nine years later once the U.K.’s same-sex marriage laws were passed.

Unlike many celebrity parents, they have chosen to send their sons Zachary (age 13) and Elijah (age 11) to local schools instead of homeschooling them. According to Furnish, husband, partner, and manager, this decision was made so that the boys can develop into unique individuals and shape their own lives. As CEO of Rocket Entertainment, Furnish is involved in various projects including musicals, where he serves as an executive producer, and a new documentary for which he collaborated with director R.J. Cutler, who has also worked on documentaries about Martha Stewart and Billie Eilish.

The experience of fatherhood, marriage, sobriety, and self-awareness have softened the demeanor of the celebrity. As he himself puts it, “I can become irritable when I’m tired, exhausted, or overloaded,” says John. “I don’t appreciate this aspect of myself, but it usually blows over within five to ten minutes.” Yet, his impulsiveness seems to be a part of his inherent talent. He enjoys composing quickly—if he can’t create a tune for the given lyrics within an hour or so, he shifts to new ones. “People might think, ‘Oh, he doesn’t work hard enough,'” says John. “But it feels effortless. If I get a lyric and look at it, the song just flows out.

Elton John’s hit song “Your Song,” their most popular track commercially, was penned by Taupin when he was 19 and staying with John’s family. He slept in bunk beds in John’s room. Taupin estimates it took his roommate about half an hour to compose the music for the song. John describes their creative connection as “telepathic.” In a new documentary, there are old clips of John explaining how he scored a tune written by Taupin. According to John, when he saw the word “ballerina,” he knew the song wouldn’t be fast; it needed to be gentle. This song is known as “Tiny Dancer.

During the pivotal years of rock ‘n’ roll, from 1970 to 1975, John put out a total of thirteen albums, with seven reaching platinum status. This trailblazing artist was the first to debut an album at No. 1 on the American charts and is the sole individual who has managed a Top 10 single in every decade since the 1960s. Today, you can’t escape his music—it’s playing at parties, restaurants, airports, on hold for agents, at karaoke nights. Before their duet brought her unexpected success, Spears named him as her favorite artist. Elton John’s songs are universally loved because they are flawlessly and brilliantly written, a fact that resonates with countless people, as Chappell Roan, whom John admires greatly, can attest. Roan’s swift rise to fame mirrors John’s early career trajectory.

I shared with her the wisdom I learned: let the melodies find you when they’re ready,” I say. I explained to her that after my debut album skyrocketed, I was worried about running out of songs. “But I soon realized that the ideas were always there, waiting for me to let them surface. That’s a valuable lesson.” Apart from mentoring budding artists, John has been instrumental in rejuvenating the careers of veterans who had lost hope. His collaboration with John Lennon resulted in a No. 1 hit for the Beatles icon. Moreover, he breathed new life into one of my heroes, Leon Russell, by creating an album together in 2011 that brought him out of obscurity.

During Rocket Hour, it’s primarily him playing music and expressing his deep affection for the emerging artists. The artists he interviews seem taken aback by the recognition, much like receiving a call about their school project from Albert Einstein. As Allison Ponthier, one of the artists he has showcased, posted on social media, “Elton’s influence is immense, and his ongoing dedication to fostering a brighter future for young LGBTQ+ musicians is palpable.

For Taupin, John’s enduring relevance is a validation. “What people didn’t realize in the ’70s and ’80s and ’90s, but I think they realize now, is that he’s one of the best f-cking piano players on the planet,” he says. “There are a lot of people that have great catalogs and great songs, but I don’t think anybody of our peers has songs that are so varied.” Cutler, the documentary’s other co-director, calls him “Mozartian in his prodigious gifts.” In his youth, Cutler forged multiple record vouchers to win a ticket to John’s 1974 concert at Madison Square Garden. “It comes out of him,” says Cutler, trying to describe John’s artistry. “It emanates from him, like it’s a gift from the heavens.” 

Music flowed effortlessly through John’s life, but words and relationships were not as straightforward. As a budding music producer at Liberty Records, an older colleague found little appeal in Elton John’s (then Reginald Dwight) tunes during an audition, even going so far as to give him a stack of lyrics penned by a 17-year-old chicken farmer from Lincolnshire before showing him the door. This tale is one of the most iconic origin stories in rock music history. The improbable pairing of John and Taupin produced hit after hit, much like chickens laying eggs, with minimal fuss. However, these ‘eggs’ often resulted in platinum records instead.

During his first tour in the U.S. in 1970, American critics were captivated not just by John’s songs but also by his unique performance style at the piano. His playing technique was a blend of Winifred Atwell’s cheerfulness, Jerry Lee Lewis’ intensity, and Little Richard’s showmanship, all set to a rock rhythm. His flamboyant costumes and keyboard gestures were bold, yet the tales the songs told and harmonies they used were largely soft and tender. As Taupin puts it, “I think there’s always a new generation that resonates with what they hear.

In approximately 1974, during the height of his creative period, John was introduced to cocaine by his former lover and manager, John Reid. He embraced it with the same enthusiasm he typically shows in his endeavors. Initially, he perceived it as a means to alleviate his debilitating shyness; however, over time, it became his master instead. “Making poor decisions while under the influence of drugs” is something he acknowledges. “Desperate for love,” he admits, “I’d take hostages. I’d spend extended periods with people I admired, only to find they resented me because their lives were devoid of anything else but me. It saddens me to recall the number of people I may have inadvertently hurt.

As John’s reliance on drugs intensified, the quality of his music deteriorated significantly. This is a concern that Taupin openly expresses, stating, “It was truly distressing.” Despite some successes, such as “I’m Still Standing,” which emerged during this period, they became less frequent. “Much of the work we produced during John’s darkest times wasn’t our best,” says Taupin, who admits that witnessing John’s downfall prompted him to curb his own drug habit. “I couldn’t devote creative energy to writing songs about him until he had found his footing, and then it became easier for me to draw inspiration from the experience.

John distinguishes his life into phases before and after becoming sober. He has assisted numerous individuals in quitting drugs and stands ready to help many more. He serves as Eminem’s sponsor, facilitated English pop star Robbie Williams’ initial rehab stay, but was unsuccessful in helping George Michael. He acknowledges the challenges of confronting someone about their behavior, stating, “It’s hard to tell someone they’re being a jerk, and it’s tough to hear.” Eventually, he admitted that he too could be an a-hole. His personal struggles have led him to question the prudence of legalizing marijuana. He argues that it is addictive, leads to other substances, and impairs one’s ability to think clearly. Therefore, he believes that the legalization of marijuana in America and Canada is a significant mistake.

Inquired about his views on alcohol, he momentarily pauses, takes a deep breath, and seeks advice from Furnish. His partner, who is also abstinent and had previously stopped the star from disclosing too much during the interview, perks up on the bed and provides a well-balanced response. He points out that although alcohol is deeply ingrained in society, there are numerous studies indicating it’s significantly less healthy than many people assume.

In the words of poet Christian Wiman, endurance is an art form. It takes time to leave a lasting impact on society. John, who has attempted suicide three times without full commitment, believes there were three factors that kept him from sharing the fate of many of his peers: his devotion to Watford FC, a soccer club deeply rooted in his hometown which he elevated to the Premier League; Alcoholics Anonymous, which provided him with tools to manage his various addictions; and Ryan White, a teenager with hemophilia from Indiana who contracted HIV from a contaminated blood transfusion during the early AIDS crisis. At the club, John encountered individuals whose love for soccer surpassed his celebrity status, AA’s methods helped him navigate his addictive behaviors, and White, who was ostracized by his school and community due to HIV, demonstrated to John the self-centered nature of his own life.

John became aware of Ryan White when the young man was invited to an AIDS benefit and expressed his excitement about meeting a famous rock star on a news program. Upon seeing this interview, John reached out to the family. Diagnosed with only six months to live, Ryan defied expectations and lived for five years, using much of that time to educate people about AIDS. John maintained contact with the family, offering assistance whenever they required it. Eventually, he arranged a trip for them to attend a concert in California. “Elton was not fearful of being around us and brought so much happiness,” recalls Jeanne White Ginder, Ryan’s mother. “He helped lift us out of the negativity we were experiencing at home.

On April 8, 1990, White passed away at the age of 18. John was with him during this time. In his own words, “The events leading up to Ryan White’s funeral in Indianapolis were incredibly sad and emotional. Upon returning to the hotel afterwards, I realized how wrong I had been acting. It was a profound shock to me, seeing how much I had slipped on the human scale.” Six months after this incident, he sought help in rehabilitation. Two years later, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), with Furnish now serving as its chairman. As Furnish states, “If everyone knew their HIV status and had access to treatment, we could eradicate AIDS today.

In 2022, President Joe Biden awarded John the National Humanities Medal, acknowledging him as a resilient symbol and champion who fearlessly challenged norms, broke down barriers, and fought for the universally accepted truth that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. John and Furnish take immense pride in the EJAF-funded initiative enabling individuals to undergo HIV tests at Walmart without requiring a doctor’s visit. They remain optimistic that the U.N.’s objective of eliminating new AIDS cases by 2030 can be accomplished, despite the forthcoming U.S. Administration whose proposed health czar has disputed scientific evidence regarding the cause of AIDS.

Reflecting on the news broadcast that initially introduced John to them, White Ginder recalls her shock when she realized her son had neglected to endorse Elizabeth Taylor, the event’s sponsor. “I asked Ryan, ‘Why did you mention Elton John?'” she recounted. “To which he replied, ‘Because he isn’t afraid to be unique.’

In a cozy setting with floral sofas near a fireplace in Woodside, Furnish and Elton John discuss the pros and cons of being a famous musician. While Elton once expressed his desire to die onstage, giving up touring was not an easy decision for him (as Furnish notes). However, what Elton has now is what he’s always yearned for – a home. This house may feature art by Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol, as well as a mannequin adorned with jelly bean-like objects, but it also showcases family photos. Much like many who became parents later in life, Elton embraces his role as a father wholeheartedly. In our New York interview, he shared that he wants his gravestone to simply say, “He was a great dad.

In his pursuit of creating a new life, there were significant losses, most notably the strain on his relationship with his mother, who he held dear. As he explains, “She played a major role in my life, but my success altered her feelings towards me.” Despite continuing to provide financial support, they found themselves at odds over John’s partner, Furnish. “I can honestly say she was one of the most deceitful individuals I’ve ever encountered,” John admits. “However, I came to realize that it was due to her being a sociopath.” Their disagreements spilled into the public arena; on her 90th birthday, she hired an Elton John impersonator instead of inviting John and his spouse. Reporters were present, but they were not. In a touching gesture, John called her the following day to express his birthday wishes. “I asked how it went, and she replied, ‘It was wonderful. He’s just as good as you are,'” he reminisces.

It seems like age or his bond with Furnish (or perhaps the absence of his mother who passed away in 2017) has made Elton a bit more at ease with himself, albeit just slightly. This easement, however, doesn’t seem to have diminished his dislike for being on video. As he puts it, “Music videos should be made by good-looking people like Harry Styles.” He admits, “I’m not very fond of looking at myself. I don’t think you ever really lose that self-consciousness about your body. It just stays with you forever. But I am improving.” He particularly detests television and has declined offers to judge TV talent shows that frequently solicit his music. As he puts it, “Being on TV all the time can destroy your career, drain your energy, and completely eliminate your charisma.

He would prefer to spend his time discovering. “I’ve never lost the excitement of buying a new record, a new book, a new photograph,” he says, noting that if he had to choose between never playing music again and never listening to it again, he’d opt to keep listening. “I just think that’s kept me going,” he says. But he is beginning to think a bit about what lies beyond. “I don’t really believe in the biblical God too much, but I have faith,” says John. “My higher power has been looking after me all my life; he’s got me through drugs, he’s got me through depression, he’s got me through loneliness, and he got me sober. He’s been there all the time, I think. I just didn’t acknowledge him.” 

Like many megastars, John feels that he was somehow chosen to be as famous as he is, because he could withstand the burdens it brings. Asked if he’d wish his talent on his sons, if it also came with the drawbacks of stardom, he offers an emphatic no. “I’ve lived an incredible life, but it’s been a hell of a life, and it’s been a slog,” he says. “I wouldn’t want that amount of pressure on them.” Icon status is great, but as he learned over his many decades in the spotlight, there’s more to life than rock ’n’ roll. “If people remember that we tried to change the world a little bit, we were kind, we tried to help people,” that would be enough of a legacy for him, says John. “And then, apart from that, there was the music.”

—With reporting by Leslie Dickstein

Design credits for the set by Trish Stephenson, styling by Jo Hambro, hair and makeup by Jamie Madison, and production managed by 2b Management.

In the initial account, there was an error regarding the title and premiere date of John’s recent documentary on Disney+. The correct information is that it’s titled “Elton John: Never Too Late” and will air on December 13th.

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2024-12-11 17:09