Philip Norman

unflatteringly called Elton, only stopped shouting at people when he was performing.

With all this personal baggage, perhaps it makes sense that the best remedy for an unhappy childhood is to give a happy one to others. Just as he is with his boys.

Responsibility for two little people has transformed him from the man-child he’s been most of his life.

Until Elton became a father, he could never truly grow up himself. He was stuck.

Superstars don’t grow up – they are allowed to have tantrums, they have everything done for them.

Even David allowed Elton his outbursts. But his kids won’t.

His decision to be there for his boys by retiring from touring says it all.

After Zachary’s birth he said: “Everything is about him now.” And it is. He’s putting them first, and wants to be there for them, their first days at school and other landmark moments. He said: “They know what their daddy does but I never bring Elton home.”

Nor, importantly, does he want to be the distant dad he recalls his own father was to him.

He’s chosen to be hands on, to pick them up at the school gate where he’s not a global music icon but just another dad discussing lessons, packed lunches and school uniforms.

“My children need to be with me and I need to be with them,” he said.

As a godparent to Sean Lennon, he saw how his friend John was absent for much of his young life.

When I wrote my biography of Lennon, Yoko Ono told me that making Elton the boy’s godfather had a touch of the mercenary.

“John said that because Elton was gay, he wouldn’t have any kids of his own to leave his money to.”

How wrong that has turned out to be.

Sir Elton: The Definitive Biography, by Philip Norman, is published by Pan and priced at £9.99.