ELTON JOHN: SIXTY YEARS ON
The singer's most memorable momentsPublished on: 03/23/2007
Madison Square Garden concert
Associated Press/File | |||
| John Lennon, circa 1969, at an unknown location. | |||
|
Elton John's birthday concert Sunday night at Madison Square Garden will be a lavish affair, complete with a gospel choir and selections from "Madman Across the Water." But it still likely won't compare with his Thanksgiving 1974 concert there, when John Lennon shared the stage in his last live concert appearance.
After their single "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" hit No. 1, John talked Lennon into doing three songs with him on stage that night.
The ex-Beatle, estranged from wife Yoko Ono at the time and having spent years away from the stage, was so nervous he was sick backstage, John says. Ono had sent a note and a gardenia to his dressing room; John didn't alert Lennon that Ono was in the audience.
"It was an amazing night," John recalls. "It was an incredible compliment for me. The Beatles single-handedly changed the face of music. When John came out, it was just the most noise for anyone at a concert that I've ever heard in my life. I don't think he could believe it.
"Later, we went out to the Pierre Hotel and sat there with [paranormalist] Uri Geller bending forks and spoons in front of us. Yoko and John got back together that night. John became complete again."
Eleven months later, Sean Ono Lennon was born. Elton John became his godfather.
Atlanta's human rights museum
Like many Atlantans, Elton John applauded the city's acquisition last year of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s papers (Coretta Scott King was briefly a neighbor) and its plans for a human rights museum.
One of pop music's first stars to publicly come out as gay, John is also aware of the resistance from some to including stories of gays and lesbians in the struggle for human rights in the proposed museum.
"The [King] papers are a fantastic thing for this city to have," he says. "It saddens me, though, when I see African-American religious leaders coming out against gay people. That's not what Martin Luther King Jr. was about. He was speaking about civil rights for everybody. ... It's essential that everyone be represented in the museum.
"Atlanta is a progressive city with a huge gay and lesbian population and history. It's where people gravitate to from all over the South, because they feel welcomed here."
— Richard Eldredge
Inside AJC.COM
Holiday shopping
Realtime shopping updates for gift bargains in Metro Atlanta. See a deal? Tell everyone!
Weekend Best Bets
International Cat Show, Chante Moore, Magical Night of Lights, chef cook-offs and more!
Obama Inauguration
Travelling to D.C. on Jan. 20? Here's everything you need to know for your planning.
Cheap Travel
No need to drop big bucks. Here are 25 offerings for cruise, hotel and fall travel packages.
Top 5 in Atlanta
Skip those drive-thrus. Here are five of best places in Atlanta for a juicy hamburger.
Christmas House
The 2008 edition, with its garlands and wreaths, benefits Alliance Children's Theater.
From the Blogs
-
Radio & TV Talk
-
Movie Talk
-
Atlanta Music Scene
-
ATL Arts
Table Talk
-
American Idol Buzz
11/21: Phil Stacey loses label deal, Kristy Lee Cook begging for recognition
-
Chatter
Best Bets: Indie Folk, Unusual Gifts and the Return of the "Santaland" Elf
-
Misadventures in Atlanta
-
Peach Buzz
-
Social Butterfly
-
Best of the Big A
-
The Newcomer
Best of the Big A
-
Current nominations
-
Current voting
-
Latest winner

MOST POPULAR STORIES



