Elton is being dishonest about farewell tour … it stinks of selling tickets, says Rod
THEIR five decades of pop rivalry have always been good natured.
Indeed, Sir Rod Stewart and Sir Elton John even have jokey nicknames for each other – Phyllis and Sharon.
But that hasn’t stopped Sir Rod from criticising his friend’s forthcoming retirement concerts.
The 73-year-old described Sir Elton’s three-year, 300date Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour as just a money-making ploy, saying it ‘stinks of selling tickets’ and is ‘not rock and roll’.
Sir Rod was appearing on a US television chat show when he was asked what he thought of his 70-year-old friend’s planned retirement.
‘I did email her [Elton] and said, “What, again dear?”. And I didn’t hear anything back,’ he said. ‘I’ve never spoken about retirement, and if I do retire, I won’t make an announcement. I’ll just fade away.’ In a mocking voice he added: ‘ “I’m going to retire” – it stinks of selling tickets.’
Cyndi Lauper, who is touring with Sir Rod this summer, was also on the show.
She joked that it ‘wasn’t a bad idea’ because they could milk it for more money, adding: ‘We could say, “For the last time, we’re retiring... Well, maybe the second to last time”.’ Sir Rod said: ‘It’s dishonest. It’s not rock and roll.’
He has admitted scaling back on touring but in 2015 insisted there was ‘no way’ he would retire because ‘this body still has the moves’.
However, he also said ‘nothing lasts for ever’ and in 2104 spoke of ‘at least three or four more years’ as a singer.
Sir Elton says he is quitting touring because he wants to spend time with husband David Furnish, 55, and their children, Zachary, seven, and Elijah, five.