Elton’s £65m... from tour that was axed

HE MAY have been forced to cancel concerts because of the pandemic, but it didn’t stop Elton John raking in £65 million on tour this year – making him the highest- ranked live performer on the planet.

The 73- year- old musician was forced to abandon his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in early March but still earned £14 million more than his closest rival, Celine Dion. Figures published on Friday by Pollstar magazine – the ‘bible’ of live concerts – showed many performers still made millions despite the Covid-19 crisis. Among the other top five acts, U2 and Queen earned £ 40 million and £34 million respectively. American rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra came in third with £44 million.

Even comedian Jack Whitehall earned £ 4 million from his tour before it was cancelled, putting him above music giants such as Bob Dylan. Other British acts who scored big before Covid sent the world into lockdown were Rod Stewart (£ 13 million) and Lewis Capaldi (£2.7 million).

Pollstar put the ‘catastrophic’ cost of the pandemic at £22.6 billion in lost ticket sales. Marketing expert Brodie Cooper said Sir Elton, who hopes to resume his tour in January 2022, would have taken home £ 200 million t his year without the pandemic. A source close to the star said: ‘He is in great shape, has been enjoying time with his family and can’t wait to get back out on the road when it is safe.’

Ray Waddell, of Pollstar, said: ‘ The ripple effect of a massive touring machine grinding to a worldwide halt was astounding.’