Elton John –
I’m Still Standing
The enduring star has spent over 50 years at the top of the charts, bringing us hits such as I’m StillStanding and Candle In the Wind, and next month we’ll see the legend take to the road as he embarks on a world tour which will see him visit five continents over three years.
It’s his biggest tour to date, yet for the star and his fans it is bittersweet as he has announced this will be his last ever tour.
“I’m possibly the most excited I’ve ever been for a tour because I’m planning on visiting every country in the world that has welcomed me and given me tremendous support. This is my thank you to each and every fan.”
Like every Elton John concert, fans can expect a real wow factor.
“It’s going to be very elaborate, memorable, and the perfect send-off for the music that changed my life. It’s going to be a huge celebration, exploding with colour and vibrancy. I want to go out with the biggest bang no one will ever forget.”
This may be his farewell tour but make no mistake – Elton has absolutely no plans to fade off into retirement.
“Retirement could not be further from my mind, I’ll never retire. It sounds so boring to me. I’m simply stopping all the travel. My boys are at an age now where it’s no longer practical to travel so much because of their schooling and schedules.
“But I’m still going to record albums. I’m still going to write music. And I’m still going to produce movies and write musicals.
“I just look back at the whole thing and can’t help but feel overwhelmingly grateful for every piece of good fortune in my life. I’ve been so lucky.”
Elton admits that he won’t be sad to say goodbye to life on the road.
“I’ve been doing it since I was 16. Every year I would do a couple of hundred flights and as time has gone on and I’ve gotten older, it’s starting to take it out of me.
“I had a health scare last year. I’m not going to sugar coat it, it was quite serious. I’m fine now, I have a clean bill of health, but yes, it played into the decision. My body isn’t invincible, I have to respect it and treat it kinder, and chopping out all those air miles can’t hurt.
“It was a wake-up call. It changed my perspective – and I’m glad it did.”
One of Elton’s main reasons for his decision to give up touring is family. Married to David Furnish, the couple have two boys, Zachary, 7, and Elijah, 5.
“I’ll go out with the biggest bang no one will forget – but I’ll never retire!”
Admitting that nothing is more important than his boys, Elton is looking forward to spending more time with them.
Both fans of Daddy’s music, Elton says that nevertheless, he does not have superstar status when at home.
“They do like Daddy’s music – certain ones more than others. They love I’m StillStanding!” he laughs.
“They love coming to the shows, they get very excited, but then once we get home, it’s all forgotten about. I’m no one special in my own home. If I was a footballer, I’d be God to them. But what I do… it doesn’t rank so highly!”
The boys will be accompanying Elton on some legs of his tour.
“They will be with us for some of the way, most likely Australia, Japan and Asia, because I want them to experience those cultures. We will be taking them out of school and having a tutor with us, but those travel experiences in themselves are invaluably educational. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Worlds apart from Elton’s own upbringing, he is determined that his sons will nevertheless grow up with the same values that were instilled in him as a child.
“They are already living a very different life to the one I was brought up with. I think that is going to come with its own set of built in difficulties. They come from a well off background which will afford its own advantages. But I came from a very working class background where I had to work for everything I got, and I want to instil those same values in them that I grew up with.
“They’re fantastic young boys, they have good hearts and compassionate, kind personalities. We just want to be there for them and to guide them as best we can. It’s all you can do, really, as a parent.”