‘ELTON’ TO ROCK ON AT CASINO
KIM Hoffmann could be considered one of Sir Elton John’s most avif fans, having dedicated most of his life to perfecting his music.
When he was just 15 he started performing in piano bars around Australia, which ultimately led the now 44-year-old to performing around the world.
“I listened to so many of Elton’s songs when I was learning piano as a child. Naturally I started singing, and I couldn’t help but sing how he does,” Mr Hoffmann said.
“When I was 15, I started performing in piano bars in Perth and Western Australia and people kept coming up to me and saying I sounded just like Elton John. One day halfway through a song, a woman put a baseball hat on me and some sunglasses and said ‘now you look the part too’.”
It was the mid-1990s and tribute bands were becoming a trend, often paid more for gigs than regular bands. It was then when Mr Hoffmann decided he would make a living out of it.
In the past 25 years, he has performed at almost every location around Australia and has toured in Asia, Europe, Scandinavia and NZ.
On July 24, Mr Hoffmann and his band Beyond The Yellow Brick Road – A Tribute to Elton John will play at The Star Gold Coast in Broadbeach.
They will perform the icon’s biggest hits, from Bennie and The Jets to I’m Still Standing, Tiny Dancer and Crocodile Rock in a two-hour musical extravaganza.
“A lot of tribute shows seem like they are kind of parodies, or taking the mickey. We pride ourselves on not only sounding authentic but also looking the part and putting on a hell of a show.”