Elton
John is suffering from appendicitis and will postpone all concerts
until he has fully recovered from surgery, it was announced Tuesday.
Turns
out the "Tiny Dancer" singer has an abscess on his appendix, a
condition discovered when tests were run after he fell ill during his
current tour. He is expected to undergo surgery soon, once toxins from
the abscess are reduced, according to a rep.
"Elton is incredibly disappointed to postpone these tour dates," the spokesman said on John's official website.
"To know that he made such super-human efforts and continued to perform
to thousands through his illness only confirms his dedication to his
European fans.
"He is eager to be back on top form and return to play the remaining shows starting in early September 2013."
The 66-year-old was to have headlined a show in London's Hyde Park this Friday, and toured Europe through July. His website's tour page currently lists no shows before early September, but he's down to play 14 dates in Las Vegas from Sept. 18 through Oct. 12.
"Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," the wide-screen epic that opens Elton John's
magnum opus, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973), would suggest an
elaborate production effort, extensive overdubs and endless tinkering in
the studio. But a live version of the mini-suite from London's
Hammersmith Odeon -- included in the expanded box-set reissue of "Yellow
Brick Road" that was released Tuesday -- suggests a band in which the
sum was equal to the whole, without any doctoring.
That core unit
-- John on vocals and piano, Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on
bass and Nigel Olsson on drums -- had been playing together since
recording John's 1971 LP "Madman Across the Water," but its incredible
musicianship and range, from grand ballads to all-out rockers, would
become evident to concert-goers as John was rolling out material from
his new album, beginning in September at the Hollywood Bowl. Pound for
pound, these guys could play as tight, and with as much depth, as
anybody at a time when pop/rock giants ruled the earth.
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" isn't John's most thematically cohesive
record, that would be "Tumbleweed Connection" (1970), nor his most
elaborately orchestrated, such as the string-intensive works associated
with arranger Paul Buckmaster ("Elton John," 1970; "Madman" 1971). But
it was his most ambitious effort at a time when the double album marked
the peak trajectory of many of the era's superstars, from the Stones to
Zeppelin to Stevie Wonder. John would continue to record admirable
works, including "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1975),
but "Yellow Brick Road" might be considered his last masterpiece.
It also marked a turning point in his public image, going from the
studious-looking virtuoso with seemingly classical leanings to the
poster boy for glitter rock, with his outrageous eye wear, platform
boots and ambiguous sexuality.
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would mark the eighth album that John would
churn out in under four years, a flowering of creativity unimaginable
today, and yet he was only 23 at the time. His partnership with his
bandmates, lyricist Bernie Taupin and producer Gus Dudgeon
had much to do with the quality of his output, but still, he and Taupin
were much more advanced at this stage in their careers than such
songwriter teams as Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards and even
Bacharach/David were in theirs.
As far as the deluxe box set goes
-- which includes the remastered double album, the aforementioned
100-page illustrated book, a DVD of Bryan Forbes' 1973 film "Elton John
and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean and Other Things," and a
disc of mostly negligible covers by the likes of Fall Out Boy and The
Band Perry along with more valuable demos, including an early version of
"Grey Seal" that dates back to 1970 -- the two live Hammersmith discs
are worth the purchase price alone.
Those sets include many of
the hits that made "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" such a sensation,
including "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets" and "Saturday
Night's Alright for Fighting."
But there's also evidence of John and
Taupin's ability to craft majestic compositions out of cinematic imagery
("I've Seen That Movie Too") along with rollicking rockers that allowed
the band to stretch out ("Elderberry Wine," "Hercules").
John's
voice never sounded more youthful, elastic or vital, or his piano
playing more propulsive and fleet-fingered. Forty years on, this is one
anniversary package that truly deserves to be celebrated.
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The singer-songwriter returns after a three-year absence for November show, part of his All The Hits Tour
Elton John performs in Hong Kong in 2012. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Elton John is returning to Hong Kong after a three-year absence, with a show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on November 24 - part of his All The Hits Tour.
Elton John with Ai Weiwei at John's concert at Beijing's Wukesong Stadium in 2012, which he dedicated to the dissident Chinese artist, to the anger of the Chinese authorities. Photo: AFP/Ai Weiwei
The prolific singer-songwriter, 68, whose career spans five decades, is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with album sales of more than 300 million worldwide. His single Candle in the Wind 1997 sold over 33 million copies alone and is the best-selling single of all time. He has wrote the music for stage and screen hits Billy Elliot: The Musicaland The Lion King.
A regular visitor to Hong Kong, John's last performance in the city was in 2012 as part of a tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of breakthrough single Rocket Man. It was on that tour John stunned an audience in Beijing by dedicating his show there to dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's stance on democracy. He was questioned by Chinese authorities after the concert regarding his remarks. His All The Hits Tour tour will not include appearances in mainland China.
The People's Daily said in an editorial: "John's unexpected action was disrespectful to the audience and the contract that he signed with the Chinese side. He forcibly added political content to the concert, which should have been nothing more than an entertaining performance. John's action will also make the relevant agencies further hesitate in the future when they invite foreign artists."
Elton John performs at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 1993. Photo: Robert Ng
While John was not the first visiting artist to make comments that displeased the Chinese authorities, it emerged that, as a result of what he said, they were considering tightening rules for concerts by visiting artists.
Tickets for the All The Hits Tour go on sale July 27, at prices from HK$488 to HK$1,888, via hkticketing.com
Pensacola, FL – Elton John and his band will play at the Pensacola Bay Center on Sunday, March 16. The concert will feature iconic hits and classic album tracks from throughout his incredible five-decade career, as well as a selection of new songs from his highly-anticipated album, The Diving Board, which was released by Capitol Records on September 24. Elton John’s band includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.“What an honor to have Elton John back after 6 years,” stated Cyndee Pennington, General Manager, Pensacola Bay Center. “We are thrilled that he will be bringing his state-of-the-art, new million-dollar stage production to Pensacola, along with all of his classic hits. It will be an incredible evening.”
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, January 24th at 10 a.m.
The Diving Board, which is produced by T Bone Burnett, features 12 new songs written by Elton and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. The new album returns Elton to the piano, bass and drums lineup that marked the artist’s introduction to worldwide audiences more than 40 years ago. As he explains, “I’m incredibly excited about every aspect of this album: The performances, T Bone’s production, Bernie’s lyrics and the songs we’ve created. The Diving Board is the album I’ve been waiting to make for decades.” The Diving Board, now available everywhere CD’s are sold, including elton john.com.
Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. Elton holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind ’97,” which sold 37 million copies. He also holds the record for most appearances on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, with his newest single, "Home Again" marking his 69th entry. Since his career began in 1969 he has played almost 3,000 concerts worldwide. John has recently been named the first recipient of the BRITs Icon Award, which recognizes the very highest level of British music achievement, presented only to iconic artists whose writing, recording and performances set them apart as having made a lasting impact on the nation’s culture.
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH @ 10 AM
Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, Pensacola Bay Center Box office or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000. A service charge is added to each ticket. There is an 8 ticket limit per customer .
The Rocket Man singer will arrive in style by helicopter on Saturday when his new European tour heads to the Black Country.
Excited fans can look forward to hearing him roll out the hits on the UK tour that has so far made stops from Maidstone to Gloucester.
Some 14,000 fans are expected to be on their feet at the summer concert that will see the hit maker perform in the town for the very first time.
They will hear him belt out his best known songs including That’s Why They Call It The Blues and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.
Tour manager DC Parmet, of Rocket Records, said Elton and his five-man band were very much looking forward to entertaining the crowds on the night.
“He will want hear the audience make some noise at the concert, to have a good time and enjoy the concert,” DC said. “He has had a music career of more than 40 years and he wants people to have fun.
“That is what we do. We sell fun and it’s good for people to get away from their troubles for a couple of hours.
“It’s just a good activity for the weekend. Hopefully we will get some splendid weather too.
“One thing about Elton is that he likes to do shows off the beaten track because a lot of the folks who turn up the do not get an opportunity to go to the concerts in the major cities.
“So with this tour it’s a case of Elton is coming to them instead of the other way round. He also likes to plan everything and it doesn’t matter if it’s in a green field site or a sports ground.
“He is a working musician and he wants people to enjoy themselves wherever he is putting on a show.”
He said Elton will travel by helicopter from his Windsor mansion to the Black Country, where arrangements will be in place for him to land near the stadium ahead of him playing the set – that is expected to finish at around 10.30pm.
His husband David Furnish and their sons Zachary, four, and Elijah, two, who sometimes accompany him on the road, are not expected to travel with him this time.
DC said: “Everything about the stage is exciting to the children, the lighting and the sound equipment. The kind of experiences they have, I’m not sure if they realise how famous their dads are.
“You can expect to hear all the hits, along with some deep album tracks that perhaps the casual Elton fan will not perhaps be familiar with. But it will be a musical buffet to feast on and enjoy.
A crane next to the Banks’s Stadium pitch helping to build the stage Sir Elton John will be performing on during the show
“As for his stage costumes, he has a personal wardrobe assistant who helps with the suits for the tour that are brightly-coloured and crystal encrusted designs. He’s actually not doing any costume changes. It is be all about the music first and foremost. And to play his set in a great setting.”
The set will not include dancers, but Elton will have his trusted musical director Davey Johnstone, drummer Nigel Olsson and Kim Bullard on guitar. While John Mahon on percussion and Matt Bissonette on base will both provide backing vocals.
A protective floor is put down to stop the pitch getting damaged by concert-goers
Support act is Bright Light Bright Light, who Elton asked to open for him for the show, which has also been at Cardiff. After Walsall he will head to Westmorland, Kendal, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
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Preparations are well under way at the football ground with just two days to go. The backstage crew and production teams are busy building the temporary 66-metre-wide stage on a section of the pitch.
The stage materials and sound equipment have been arriving in nine tour trucks, the crew alone have travelled in three buses.
The stage is put together by workmen on the stadium pitch
More than 200 crew members will be involved in putting on the concert. The production catering team will be dishing up more than 750 meals in that time for the hard-working crew.
In addition, 375 metres of power cable – enough to run round the perimeter of the pitch 32 times – will be laid, while 10,776 pieces of plastic flooring will be used to completely cover the pitch to prevent damage to the turf.
The stadium’s normal 11,300 capacity is being ramped up to around 17,000 to cope with expected demand.
Concert promotion company Marshall Arts said sales were buoyant and were given a boost by the recent warm weather spell. Bookings are available from Ticket Master and from the Walsall Football Club ticket office at the Bescot Crescent ground.
Fans will be able to purchase them on-site at the start of the show right up until the star takes the stage.
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said: “It is a great event for the town and an event that puts the borough on the map.
“I am very proud and pleased that he decided to come here. I have spoken to the football club’s chairman Jeff Bonser about it and what it means not just for the stadium, but for Walsall to be known as an accessible and strategic venue for events with our close proximity to the motorway network and good public transport links.
“I would advise people travelling up from the south on the M6 to come off at junction seven and make their way along Broadway.”
In a jobs boost for residents, Walsall Football Club has taken on more than 30 extra staff for the show to work in the food village, which will be set up around the stadium. Including live entertainment and a range of food and drinks – gourmet burgers to coffee and cakes, deluxe hot dogs to fish and chips – the food village will be open from 4pm on the day of the concert.
Stadium conference and events manager Vicki Chambers said: “The atmosphere at the club right now is amazing. We are briefing our new and existing staff to expect a tremendous occasion – Elton’s fans are high energy and love to have a good time – and we are here to make sure that they do.
“In addition to taking on extra local people, we are sourcing local suppliers such as florists, butchers and wine merchants for our hospitality menu and decoration.”
The club said it was also working with neighbouring businesses to ensure that there is sufficient parking and public transport facilities.
Its chief executive Stefan Gamble said: “We are obviously keen to minimise impact upon the local area during the day of the concert and beforehand.
“To this end we have identified more than 700 car parking spaces for concert goers despite losing a third of our car park to the event infrastructure.
“We have sourced and hired two additional car parks locally – Barhale and Joseph Leckie School; and have all disabled parking spaces directly on-site.”
He added: “The club is also actively encouraging through social media and website stories, that concert goers utilise the excellent public transport system we have supporting Walsall.
“We also post messages daily on different aspects of the journey to Walsall, parking and public transport.
“All feedback has been resolutely positive and we have had people from all over the country pre-book spaces through our ticket office.”
It is not only car spaces which are flying out, all of the hospitality boxes have sold out comprising the executive boxes, the Bonser Suite packages and directors and the 1888 lounges. In addition, the club has sold more than 80 per cent of its general ticket allocation.
After taking centre stage in Walsall the international superstar is also due to perform across the UK and Europe during the rest of the summer.
This will then be followed by shows in the likes of America, Brazil and Australia later in the year.
Alongside his band he will be at Westmorland County Showground in Kendal on Sunday and Eden Project in Cornwall next Tuesday and Wednesday.
He will also be in Glasgow on June 19 and Aberdeen on June 20. Other gigs are planned across Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Italy and Spain throughout July.
Sir Elton will then be performing in the USA including San Francisco in August and Rio De Janeiro in Brazil in September.
There are nine further dates including at The Colosseum, Caesers Palace, Las Vegas in October. It finishes in Sydney, Australia, in December.
Bay Area music festival, Outside Lands 2015 announced its line-up this morning. Headliners include Elton John, Mumford & Sons and The Black Keys with other big hitters such as the recent Grammy-award winning, Sam Smith; the Grammy-snubbed but much-loved Kendrick Lamar; and ever-indie favorites, St Vincent and Tame Impala. Tickets will go on sale in two days, March 26 at 10am - so plant yourself in front of that screen on Thursday as you can be sure those general admission 3-day tickets will be sold out in a heartbeat.
Outside Lands 2015 will be held from Aug 7 to 9 at Golden Gate Park. A music festival that serves up gourmet food instead of the overpriced, greasy plates as well as fine Napa Valley wine instead of watered-down beer has become a Bay Area tradition that fans travel from all over the country to experience. Presented by Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly and Star Hill in a partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, it has been growing in attendee numbers each year while organizers continue to finesse the event with green initiatives, art, culture, comedy and a curated bill that includes local bands, up-and-coming international names as well as legacy acts.
This year's surprises include Elton John as rumors pit Bruce Springsteen for the heritage act headlining slot. Those who missed out on D'Angelo in 2013 when the R&B artiste pulled out at the last minute (making way for Chic featuring Nile Rodgers who was on the ascendant thanks to his collaboration with Daft Punk and has not stopped since) will be pleased that D'Angelo will return this year. Another surprise is Billy Idol! Everybody's favorite '80s punk-buccaneer, Idol is back with a new memoir, album and tour, but it's those old hits and that sneer, the crowds will be hankering for.
The rest of the bill is heft with electronica that San Francisco appreciates from Hot Chip to Dan Deacon, Caribou to Chet Faker, Giraffage to Toro Y Moi. Bay area's own winner of the first-ever NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert winner, Fantastic Negrito will fittingly grace one of the Golden Gate Park stages too.
Other buzz acts include Mac DeMarco, Laura Marling, James Bay, Sky Ferreira, Ryn Weaver, George Ezra, Leon Bridges and Allah Lahs. These are all the names that insiders have been banging on about and now here's your chance to catch them on your own turf. Many more acts will be announced in the lead up to Summer.
To purchase tickets on Thursday, please click here or visit the festival website - SFOutsideLands.com
All the travel and general information for the Elton John concert on Saturday, June 13th...
WE ARE delighted to welcome Elton John and his Band to Banks's Stadium on Saturday, June 13th for what promises to be a fantastic live, outdoor concert.
Tickets are still available from the Banks's Stadium Ticket Office (open weekdays 9.00am until 4.30pm) or by calling 01922-651 414/416.
In the meantime, here is all the transport and general information that you will need:
GETTING TO THE CONCERT
BY CAR
Banks’s Stadium is in Walsall, West Midlands and right next to the M6 motorway in the heart of the Black Country. Walsall is located 8 miles north-west of the City of Birmingham and 6 miles east of the City of Wolverhampton. Walsall is served by the A34, the A454, the A461, the A4148 and the M6 for road travel. There are three nearby junctions on the M6 motorway: J7, J9 and J10.
EVENT DAY PARKING
Please note there is no public parking on Banks’s Stadium for the Elton John concert other than for accredited guests and hospitality customers. Parking in close proximity to the Stadium is outlined below and will be on a strictly first come first served basis, and will be limited. We have identified over 700 parking spaces at different locations at walking distance from the ground. Patrons attending the stadium by car are also asked to note that Bescot Crescent from the entrance to Bescot Retail Park to the junction at Brockhurst Crescent will be closed from 6.00pm on the day of the concert.
Car Park A - Barhale Car Park (WS1 4NN) – Approx. 95 car parking spaces. Passes for this car park can be purchased in advance from the Ticket Office on 01922 651416 at a cost of £5.
Car Park B - Joseph Leckie CTC School (WS5 4PG) – Approx. 200 car parking spaces. Approx. 5 minute walk from the Stadium. Access after 6pm from A4031 and Walstead Road East. Passes for this car park can be purchased in advance from the Ticket Office on 01922 651 416 at a cost of £5.
Car Parks C - Banks’s Stadium (WS1 4SA) Approx. 430 general car park spaces marked as Red Zone (100 spaces for Hospitality customers only with permit), Green Zone (280 spaces) and Yellow Zone (130 spaces) on the map. Passes for these on-site car parks can be purchased in advance from the Ticket Office on 01922 651 416 at a cost of £10. Please note that the Green and Yellow Zone car parks have uneven tarmac and gravel surfacing. These may be unsuitable for people with mobility issues.
Coach and minibuses enquiries, please call 01922 651416.
PARKING FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY & SPECIAL NEEDS
There are 35 designated car parking spaces on the Banks’s Stadium Red Zone Car Park for Blue Badge holders and pre-booking of these spaces will be required by calling 01922 651 416.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Walsall Football Club is keen to promote alternatives to travelling to the concert by car in order to minimise the impact on the environment, on local residents and on the highway network. The concert will finish at 22.30 and we advise patrons to check times with the rail and bus providers before travel.
TRAIN
Bescot Station serves Banks’s Stadium on the Walsall Line between Birmingham New Street and Walsall. It is situated just 0.1 mile away from the Away Stand of Banks’s Stadium and less than two minutes walk away. Please check with National Rail and the Trainline to check the train times to Bescot Station. The concert is due to finish at 22.30 and we have been advised that extra trains have been instructed to stop at Bescot Station to coincide with that timing:
To Birmingham: 22.43 23.13 23.43
To Walsall: 23.00 23.41
BUS
Most local bus services arrive into Walsall bus station, situated 2.6 miles north of Banks’s Stadium, with routes from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley, West Bromwich and the outskirts of Walsall. Banks’s Stadium is served by the 401E and 45 routes.
GENERAL INFORMATION
DO’S
Do keep your ticket with you at all times.
Do be in your seat by the start of the show.
Do allow ample time to take advantage of the toilet facilities.
Do bring waterproof clothing.
Do put any rubbish in the bins provided for you.
Do look out for official vendors and concession stalls.
Do avoid unlicensed traders outside of the venue offering inferior goods.
Do tune in to local radio stations for the latest travel updates.
DON'TS
Do not bring food or drink of any sort into the venue.
Do not arrive with any form of audio or visual recording equipment. There will be security checks in place and items may be confiscated if necessary.
Do not put up umbrellas during the concert performance.
Do not leave valuables on display in your vehicle.
ACCESS
Access to the food village will commence at 4.00pm.
Access to the venue will commence at 5.00pm.
Please enter by the gates indicated by signage and stewards. From here follow the signage around the venue to find the area, block, row and seat indicated on your ticket.
YOUR SEATS
This is an outdoor concert. The seating on the pitch is all flat floor, not raised.
Seats within the venue may be covered or uncovered.
The concert will not be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.
Please bring clothing appropriate to the expected weather conditions.
Please note that there will not be a left luggage or cloakroom facility at the venue.
ON ARRIVAL
The concert will commence at approximately 7.00pm. Please allow plenty of time for your journey and for parking and transfer, as well as getting to your seat.
REFRESHMENTS
A full range of hot & cold food and drink will be available to purchase at Banks’s Stadium.
Please note there will be limited access to credit/debit card machines.
Cash machines will NOT be available within the Stadium but there is one located at the
hotel on-site
NO CAMERAS OR AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT
Please do not bring cameras, video recorders or tape recorders, as these will not be permitted within the venue.
FIRST AID
First Aid points are situated within the venue and are clearly signposted.
2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
