ELTON: ‘WE’RE LIKE BROTHERS’

‘Without Bernie, there would be nothing whatsoever, because it all starts with the lyrics,’ says Elton John. ‘That’s why our relationship is so unique.

‘From the very word go, he’s always given me the lyrics. Well, I took an envelope of his lyrics in London [in 1967, when they were brought together] and

read through them. That’s how we got together, and I started writing songs with him. From that day onwards, it’s always been lyrics first and the melody second. He gives me the lyrics, I go away and I write the song and then I come back and play it to him. ‘We’re like brothers. He was like my first big friend. I mean, my first friend was at school but he emigrated, so Bernie was the first person that I did everything with, you know, like go to the cinema and pub, concerts, buy records and listen to them together. He was the missing link in my life, really. The more I sing Bernie’s songs, the better I like the lyrics. I’ve been singing them for 50 years and they seem to get better.’