elton john tour reviews 2022 uk

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Elton John at the O2 review: the Rocketman is bowing out in a blaze of glory

Elton John didn’t need to prove his status as a legend but his extensive Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, billed as his last, is doing that repeatedly.

As he took to the stage for the first of 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena, John thanked the crowd for their patience following years of delays caused by Covid and a hip operation. “The only way we can repay you is by giving you a really good show and here we are,” he said, confident as always.

For the next 150-minutes, John refused to wallow in the past. From the opening piano blast of Bennie and the Jets to the smirking grand finale that saw him disappear into the heavens via a sparkling chairlift, John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road gig was deliberately and positively joyful.

Timeless anthems of defiance like Border Song and I’m Still Standing were fiercely pertinent as the star performed them to a multi-generational audience that featured everyone from long-term fans to newcomers who were watching their very first gig.

Further proving he’s still got it, 2021’s poptastic No 1 single Cold Heart received one of the biggest reactions of the night, even if Dua Lipa didn’t make a surprise appearance, before his first hit, Your Song, showcased a perfect declaration of love.

Despite being 286 shows into a tour that originally began in 2018, things never felt rigid or tired. John and his “kick ass” band comfortably switched between freewheeling rock and roll (Levon) and unruly karaoke (Crocodile Rock) with a mischievous flair.

After almost every song, the showman triumphantly stood up from behind the piano with a beaming smile and his arms outstretched like he couldn’t believe he was still getting away with it. Later this summer, John will play his final UK show ever as a first time Glastonbury headliner, breaking new ground to the last.

Sure, there were moments of heart-wrenching reflection throughout the night as John paid tribute to friends who had passed away over the years while Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me and Rocket Man took on another jagged meaning against the backdrop of a farewell tour.

“I won’t ever forget you but I want to spend the rest of my life with my family,” John told the crowd, direct as ever. It was hard for things to get too melancholy though, especially when a chunk of the audience wore garish light-up glasses and John was hellbent on getting everyone dancing.

The show was sprinkled with countless nods to John’s impressive career highlights while clips from The Simpsons, Rocketman and a John Lewis Christmas ad drove home his wider cultural impact. Archive footage may have played out alongside the flawless greatest hits set but the audience were never left longing for the glory days. They were too busy watching them unfold.

The O2, to April 17 and May 30; theo2.co.uk

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Elton John at BST Hyde Park review: A dazzling farewell from pop music’s greatest showman

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It doesn’t take a genius to work out that an Elton John live show is going to be magnificent.

After a career spanning more than 50 years, it’s outrageous to assume otherwise, even taking his age of 75 into account, as well as recent hip difficulties and his own admissions of being knackered and ready to hang up his jazzy jackets and tuck that piano stool away for good. Reports of him being ‘frail’ are completely unfounded.

Sir Elton is a showman of another level, a real virtuoso, and it’s evident he still adores it, despite making the decision to wind down the touring part of his life to spend more time with sons Zachary and Elijah and husband David Furnish (who were all in attendance on Friday night and got a special shout-out from dad/the other half). He admitted on stage he was elated to be back at it, despite fearing he’d hate it – and thank goodness.

Sir Elton’s headline set on the opening day of London ’s BST Hyde Park festival was a love letter from himself to his fans of the highest degree, his elation radiating out of him.

The weather was surprisingly steady, despite the constant threat of rain, and the vibes in Hyde Park were perfect, thousands of fans quite frankly buzzing to be back out at a proper outdoor music event again after two years of pandemic misery.

Sir Elton was a joyous star of his own show, part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which he started in 2018 but which has been beset by pandemic and health-related delays following an operation on his hip .

Following sets from his support acts including Rina Sawayama , Gabriels, Let’s Eat Grandma, Berwyn and Thomas Headon, he and his long-time backing band (including Davey Johnstone on guitar and Nigel Olsson on drums) kicked off his lavish two-hour-long set with Bennie and the Jets and Philadelphia Freedom. From then on, the die was cast for an outstanding few hours in his world of megahits. Those aforementioned jazzy jackets were on point, his white coat-tails a particular highlight, with his fabulously flamboyant style finished off with several pairs of his iconic sparkly specs.

The setlist was long and winding, taking us through ballads including I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Candle In The Wind, Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word, and his uptempo classics Crocodile Rock, The Bitch Is Back, I’m Still Standing and Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.

It was an absolute party and a reminder he really is one of the greatest to ever do it.

The high point for this reviewer was Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, an emotional rendition following a tribute to the late,= George Michael, who famously collaborated with Sir Elton on the track in the early 1990s. Did I cry a bit? Quite possibly.

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The show ended with Cold Heart, his recent number one hit with Dua Lipa, a reworking of some of his biggest hits including Rocket Man and Sacrifice. His first chart-topping single was a poignant addition to the encore, coming before he launched into his first-ever hit from more than 50 years ago, Your Song.

The night ended with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, of course, his big farewell that had the thousands of revellers in the middle of London swept off their feet, nobody ready for the night to end.

Sir Elton still has a long way to go on his farewell tour, with dozens and dozens of shows left to play across the UK, Ireland, North America and Europe until it comes to an end next summer. But his energy is still there and, based on his Hyde Park show, he’s got a lot left to give.

I think we’ll be seeing Sir Elton playing live concerts of this magnitude for longer than he originally thought – he loves it too much, as do we.

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Elton John, BST Hyde Park, London live review

Where do we begin to talk about the legend that is Sir Elton John? In his 50-year career he's racked up a total of 31 albums, sold over 300 million records around the world, and had more than fifty UK top 40 singles – including nine number ones. That's as well as releasing an autobiography, writing music for stage and screen, raising money to fight HIV/AIDS and having his life and career dramatised in 2019 film ‘Rocketman'. Now he's out on his final tour, ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road', which began in 2018 and is finally hitting the UK this week, including a stop off last night at BST Hyde Park in London.

John arrived on stage just before 8pm to the strains of ‘Pinball Wizard', dressed in a white tail coat with flower embroidery and black and rhinestone trim, along with black trousers, shiny silver trainers and a sparkly green pair of his trademark glasses. He opened his two-and-a-half-hour set with Bennie And The Jets, highlighting the honky-tonk-style piano as well as the depth and richness of his voice (along with the song's trademark hisses and vocal riffs). The crowd burst into thunderous applause as he finished and he saluted them from his piano stool in a gesture of thanks.

What followed was a whistle-stop tour through half a century of hits. With the background video screens featuring clips from across John's career, along with some of his music videos and shots of Taron Egerton (who portrayed him in ‘Rocketman'), he took the crowd on a fantastic journey both musically and visually. Throughout the show John could frequently be seen standing up from his piano stool, raising his hands to encourage the crowd to cheer even louder and bowing down to them in adoration. It's clear he loves his fans and based on the number of T-shirts and the range of classic Elton costumes in the audience – which John singled out in his thank you speech – the feeling was very much mutual.

Early highlights included the soaring ‘Philadelphia Freedom', as well as the first singalongs of the night on ‘I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues', ‘Tiny Dancer' and ‘Rocket Man', which saw the crowd chanting John's name at the end of the song. Meanwhile, ‘Take Me To The Pilot' had plenty of punchy swagger, and there were also slower, moving moments in the section with ‘Candle In The Wind' and ‘Levon', showing John's musical diversity.

That said, there were still a couple of surprises thrown in there too. ‘Border Song', which John introduced by telling the story of how the song was originally recorded by Aretha Franklin before dedicating it to her, was full of soul and accompanied by a powerful video on racial equality and unity. Elsewhere, ‘Have Mercy On The Criminal' provided an atmospheric moment early on, whilst the dramatic ‘Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding' and ‘Burn Down The Mission' gave John the chance to show off his piano-playing skills as well as the musicianship of his incredibly talented bandmates.

One thing that particularly struck me during the set was how easily John can switch between his more uptempo numbers and his ballads. The second half of the show in particular (which saw his piano moving across the stage and a costume change into a sparkly harlequin jacket and pink shades) was a great example of this. He easily transitioned from the likes of ‘Sad Songs (Say So Much)' – complete with crowd clapalong – to the emotional ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' and ‘Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', which he dedicated to George Michael and performed in a raw, emotional fashion that almost had me believing George might emerge from the wings. Then it was back into a raucous runthrough of upbeat tracks including ‘The Bitch Is Back', ‘I'm Still Standing' – including a huge crowd singalong on the chorus – and ‘Crocodile Rock', which he dedicated to the fans, before closing with ‘Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting'. It's a huge challenge to condense such an extensive back catalogue down in a way that covers all bases, and he pulled it off with aplomb.

For his encore, John reappeared alone on stage dressed in a black and pink robe and a heart-shaped pair of glasses, and performed ‘Cold Heart', his recent number one collaboration with Dua Lipa (who appeared via video screen to perform her part of the song) He then took us back to the beginning – from his most recent hit to his first – with a touching rendition of ‘Your Song' before closing with ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'. As he thanked the crowd at the end of the song, telling them ‘I will take you with me in my heart and soul [and] you'll be part of so many beautiful memories', he removed the robe to reveal an Elton John tracksuit before disappearing up the stairs at the back of the stage, whilst a projection showed him walking away into the distance. The audience were sent on their way to the strains of ‘Don't Go Breaking My Heart', and from the chatter in the crowd everyone was absolutely buzzing.

Overall there was a wonderful, celebratory feel to ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road' that highlighted just what an amazing talent Elton John is, not only as a singer but also as a songwriter and musician. At the start of the show, John promised to ‘play some lovely songs for you and hopefully you'll like them' – and that's exactly what we got. This may be his farewell tour, but he's still at the top of his game in terms of showmanship, vocals and sheer musical talent. It made for an absolutely incredible evening and a real privilege to see such an icon and the huge legacy he's given to popular music. He'll be back in the UK next spring and whatever you have to do to get a ticket, it is absolutely worth it for a fantastic night of music.

Set list: 1. Bennie And The Jets 2. Philadelphia Freedom 3. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues 4. Border Song 5. Tiny Dancer 6. Have Mercy On The Criminal 7. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) 8. Take Me To The Pilot 9. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 10. Levon 11. Candle In The Wind 12. Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding 13. Burn Down The Mission 14. Sad Songs (Say So Much) 15. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 16. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 17. The Bitch Is Back 18. I'm Still Standing 19. Crocodile Rock 20. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting Encore: 21. Cold Heart 22. Your Song 23. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Performance date: 24th June 2022

[rwp-reviewer-rating-stars id=”0″]

See Elton John on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in the UK:

Sunday 26 June 2022 – Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium Wednesday 29 June 2022 – Swansea, Swansea.com Stadium Sunday 3 July 2022 – Watford, Vicarage Road Stadium Monday 4 July 2022 – Watford, Vicarage Road Stadium Friday 31 March 2023 – Belfast, SSE Arena Sunday 2 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Tuesday 4 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Wednesday 5 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Saturday 8 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Sunday 9 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Wednesday 12 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Thursday 13 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Sunday 16 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Monday 17 April 2023 – London, O2 Arena Wednesday 19 April 2023 – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena Saturday 22 April 2023 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena Sunday 23 April 2023 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena Wednesday 31 May 2023 – Manchester, AO Arena Friday 2 June 2023 – Manchester, AO Arena Saturday 3 June 2023 – Manchester, AO Arena Tuesday 6 June 2023 – Leeds, First Direct Arena Saturday 10 June 2023 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena Sunday 11 June 2023 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena Tuesday 13 June 2023 – Aberdeen, P&J Live Thursday 15 June 2023 – Aberdeen, P&J Live Saturday 17 June 2023 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro Sunday 18 June 2023 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro

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Elton John wows Hyde Park as his long goodbye reaches London — review

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For nearly every “final tour” from a music industry star, there’s a high-profile comeback or reunion. Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour is a characteristically grand affair, with a schedule of more than 300 shows; these dates began in autumn 2018, and keep rolling until summer 2023. It’s not the first time that Elton, now 75, has announced his retirement (his 2015 US tour was called The Final Curtain), but that didn’t diminish the sense of occasion at his sold-out Hyde Park show.

This tour’s title gives a clear nod to the Pinner-born singer/songwriter’s legendary seventh studio album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), and the buoyant anthem “Bennie and the Jets” opened a set that featured highlights from that multi-platinum record, alongside a catalogue spanning several decades. Elton’s razzle-dazzle dress sense was on reliable form; he arrived at his piano in cream-and-black tails, sparkly specs and comfy trainers, regularly rising between riffs to salute the crowd. His stiff gait indicated the hip surgery he’d had last year; his stamina over a two-and-a-half-hour set belied it.

Tonight’s show emphasised his genuine charm and pleasure in performance

Despite the “wristband hierarchy” (part of Hyde Park’s heavily branded BST summer festival, where only premium ticket-holders could get close to the stage), there was no denying the breadth or fervour of his audience: twentysomethings to senior citizens, with kids in tow. You didn’t need to be a hardcore devotee to be wowed by Elton’s musical dexterity, or the range of his hit repertoire with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, spanning glam and soft rock to Philly soul-inspired stompers such as “Philadelphia Freedom”, blues, balladry (including “Candle in the Wind”). He might not have hit the high notes on “Tiny Dancer”, but his vocals were still powerful. His seasoned backing band (including irrepressible percussionist Ray Cooper, and Elton’s drummer since 1969, Nigel Olsson) sounded immaculate and exhilarating, particularly on extended tracks such as a gorgeously spaced-out “Rocket Man” .

While the music breezed through many genres, the big-screen visuals were more of a hotchpotch that occasionally clicked: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” featured Martin Parr’s photos of affection and alienation; “I’m Still Standing” had a rollicking montage of Elton’s guises (at Live Aid; as a Disney hitmaker; as a Simpsons cartoon; on The Muppet Show ). Elton has earned (and flaunted) his rock diva rep over the years, but tonight’s show also emphasised his genuine charm and pleasure in performance. He paid moving testimony to late friends and musical innovators who had also memorably covered his songs: Aretha Franklin (“Border Song”) and George Michael (“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”), and expressed gratitude for the support of his fans (“You make such an effort for me, and I really, really appreciate it”) and his family (waving at husband David Furnish and their sons in the crowd).

An enjoyably raucous singalong of “Crocodile Rock” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” was swiftly followed by an encore that took us from the house mash-up of 2021 chart-topper “Cold Heart” (his career has been studded with all kinds of collaborations — though here, co-vocalist Dua Lipa only appeared onscreen) right back to the Yellow Brick Road . The setlist packed in masses of showstoppers; his catalogue still had plenty left over — but, as the star pointed out, there are still around 100 tour dates to go. This might be Elton’s long goodbye, but his songbook never fades.

eltonjohn.com/tours

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Elton John's final Farewell Yellow Brick Road UK tour dates - full ticket details

4 October 2022, 10:09 | Updated: 4 October 2022, 14:30

Elton John performs 'Benny And The Jets' on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

Elton John is on the home stretch of the UK leg for his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road The Final Tour.

Listen to this article

Elton John has announced two additional shows on the UK arena leg of his last ever tour.

The legendary performer previously announced his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, but has had to reschedule a number of arena shows in UK and Ireland, first because of the COVID-19 pandemic and later after suffering a fall.

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Elton John 's extra shows are at The O2 in London on May 30, 2023 and the Utilita Arena Birmingham on June 8, 2023.

Tickets for the tour dates are available via Ticketmaster , with the new dates going on sale this Friday (October 7) at 10am, with earlier availability for Rocket Club members.

The full UK and Ireland arena tour dates are:

• Tuesday, March 28 – 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
• Wednesday, March 29 – 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
• Friday, March 31 – The SSE Arena, Belfast
• Sunday, April 2 – The O2, London
• Tuesday, April 4 – The O2, London
• Wednesday, April 5 – The O2, London
• Saturday, April 8 – The O2, London
• Sunday, April 9 – The O2, London
• Wednesday, April 12 – The O2, London
• Thursday, April 13 – The O2, London
• Sunday, April 16 – The O2, London
• Monday, April 17 – The O2, London
• Wednesday, April 19 – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
• Saturday, April 22 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
• Sunday, April 23 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
• Tuesday, May 30 – The O2, London – NEW SHOW
• Wednesday,, May 31 – AO Arena, Manchester
• Friday, June 2 – AO Arena, Manchester
• Saturday, June 3 – AO Arena, Manchester
• Tuesday, June 6 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
• Thursday, June 8 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham - NEW SHOW
• Saturday, June 10 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
• Sunday, June 11 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
• Tuesday, June 13 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
• Thursday, June 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
• Saturday, June 17 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
• Sunday, June 18 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow

As part of his goodbye tour, Elton played a number of outdoor and stadium shows in Summer 2022, including memorable dates at London's Hyde Park and at Watford FC's football stadium Vicarage Road.

“I simply had to play Vicarage Road a final time as part of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. My relationship with the club, with the fans, the players and the staff over the years have meant the world to me," Elton said.

"Through the good times and the bad, Watford have been a huge part of my life. I love the club so dearly, and have had some of the best days of my life in those stands – these shows are going to be so incredibly emotional, and to spend them surrounded by my fellow Watford fans will be wonderful.

"We’ve been on quite the journey together. Come on you ‘Orns!”

On the tour, Elton is playing a long list of his greatest ever hits, from 'Your Song' to 'Candle in the Wind' to 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting'.

The tour has already had rave reviews from fans and critics, and Sir Elton will carry on where he left off before the coronavirus pandemic, in 2021.

Back in January 2018, Elton John revealed that he will retire from live performance after this epic last tour

Elton previously announced the tour at an event in New York’s Gotham Hall, saying: "My life has changed, my priorities have changed and my priority now is my family."

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Elton John at BST Hyde Park: Almost exactly what you expect – and all the better for it

The veteran pop-rocker returns to hyde park for a farewell concert that delighted the many die-hard fans in attendance, article bookmarked.

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Midway through his last ever Hyde Park show, Elton John croons the track that first made him an icon. It’s a testament to his decades-long legacy that when he delves into the chorus of “Your Song”, many of the crowd raise real-life lighters; not, as it has become custom, phone torches.

This show – on the last leg of his epic, globe-spanning Yellow Brick Road tour – has been a long time coming, delayed by two years and a pandemic. Perhaps that’s why tonight, he takes the stage bang on time. The unmistakable first keys of “Bennie and the Jets” ring out at 7.50pm, catching revellers off-guard as they abandon all hope for a last-minute beer and flock to the stage. Dancing, of course, as they go. The song, about a pop star who is famous for her eccentric look – “electric boots, a mohair suit” – is an appropriate introduction for John, who sits by his piano dressed in a white tuxedo and his signature bedazzled frames. It’s the tamest outfit he’ll wear tonight.

Earlier this month, the 75-year-old disputed “silly stories” in the tabloids reporting on his allegedly declining health. He said he was in top shape – and the proof is in the pudding. Across the show’s nearly three-hour duration, he never wavers. The entertainer continues to leave it all on stage as he tears through several powerful piano solos. Although the days of jumping on top of his keys are behind him, ever the showman, he finds other ways to delight his fans. A cheeky hip gyration here. A manic grin there. On the few occasions that he does rise to blow a kiss or clutch his heart in gratitude, he is met with screams and bellows of admiration. Chit-chat is kept to a minimum. There is a tribute to the “magical and everlasting” Aretha Franklin and a long-list of thank yous, but most of his energy goes into splashing those power chords.

John’s voice has grown beefier with age, and he cleverly steers clear of any falsetto. On the mock-Americana inflections of “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”, his voice is as honeyed as ever. On stage, he is joined by old pals whom he takes care to introduce and hype up mid-show: Ray Cooper on percussion; Nigel Olsson on drums; Davey Johnstone on guitar. Playing together since the Seventies, they don’t miss a beat – and all of them match their frontman’s vigour.

An epic trio of “I’m Still Standing”, “Crocodile Rock” and “Saturday Night’s Alright” sandblasts any inklings of creeping fatigue. Unsurprisingly, “Rocket Man” and “I’m Still Standing” are the big-hitters of the night: rambunctious sing-alongs led by the world’s greatest maestro. Behind John, who pounds the keys with gusto, a sizzle reel of his decades-spanning career plays, a suitable – and emotional – accompaniment to a song about perseverance.

Only a performance of his latest hit, the Dua Lipa duet “Cold Heart”, falls flat. The track’s one redeeming quality is that it gives John the perfectly emotional segue from his latest No 1 to his first-ever, as he next launches into 1970’s “Your Song”. The jumbo screen shows many a wet cheek in the audience.

And with that, the musical legend takes his fourth and final bow at Hyde Park. Now wearing a silk robe with the face of a cat bedazzled on the back, because well... he’s Elton John.

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Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour

It is with great excitement that Elton announces the final dates for his award-winning Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour in North America and Europe.

Elton will conclude his world-famous tour at major stadiums which will kick off on May 27, 2022 in Frankfurt. The Final Tour will make stops in Europe in major cities such as Milan, Liverpool, and Paris. Elton will then travel across the pond to take his final bow in North America, playing in major cities including Vancouver, Toronto, East Rutherford, Chicago and more. The North American stadium run will kick off at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 15, 2022 before concluding with back-to-back performances at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 19 and 20, 2022 — commemorating his iconic performance at the historic venue in October 1975. 2023 kicks off with two shows in Auckland, New Zealand on January 27 and 28, followed by soon-to-be-announced dates in Australia before the epic 4-year tour formally concludes there later that year.

Public on-sales begin Tuesday, June 29 in Europe and Wednesday, June 30 in North America.

Rocket Club members will have access to an exclusive pre-sale beginning on Friday, June 25 in North America and Monday, June 28 in Europe.

Fri, May 27 2022 Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt – Tickets

Sun, May 29 2022 Red Bull Arena, Leipzig – Tickets

Sat, June 04 2022 San Siro Stadium, Milan – Tickets

Tue, June 07 2022 CASA Arena, Horsens – On Sale Sept. ’21

Thu, June 09 2022 Gelredome, Arnhem – Tickets

Sat, June 11 2022 La Defense Arena, Paris – Tickets

Sat, June 12 2022 La Defense Arena, Paris – Tickets

Wed, June 15 2022 Carrow Road, Norwich – Tickets

Fri, June 17 2022 Anfield Stadium, Liverpool – Tickets

Sun, June 19 2022 Stadium of Light, Sunderland – Tickets

Wed, June 22 2022 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol – Tickets

Wed, June 29 2022 Liberty Stadium, Swansea – Tickets

Fri, July 1 2022 Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork – On Sale Jul. ’21

Fri, July 15 2022 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA – Tickets

Mon, July 18 2022 Comerica Park, Detroit, MI – Tickets

Sat, July 23 2022 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ – Tickets

Thu, July 28 2022 Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA – Tickets

Sat, July 30 2022 Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH – Tickets

Fri, August 05 2022 Soldier Field, Chicago, IL – Tickets

Sun, September 07 2022 Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON – Tickets

Sat, September 10 2022 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY – Tickets

Fri, September 16 2022 PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA – Tickets

Sun, September 18 2022 Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC – Tickets

Thu, September 22 2022 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA – Tickets

Sat, September 24 2022 Nationals Park, Washington, DC – Tickets

Fri, September 30 2022 Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX – Tickets

Sun, October 02 2022 Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN – Tickets

Fri, October 21 2022 BC Place, Vancouver, BC – Tickets

Sat, October 29 2022 Alamodome, San Antonio, TX – Tickets

Fri, November 04 2022 Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX – Tickets

Sat, November 12 2022 Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ – Tickets

Sat, November 19 2022 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA – Tickets

Sun, November 20 2022 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA – Tickets

Become a Rocket Club member and exclusive news will make its way directly to your inbox. Be the first to know where Elton will perform next and get your hands on pre-sale tickets.

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Elton John announces Farewell Yellow Brick Road final UK tour dates

23 June 2021, 16:18 | Updated: 23 June 2021, 16:19

By Jenny Mensah

The legendary piano man has announced the return of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour with five more UK dates. Find out how to get tickets.

Elton John has announced his final tour dates in North America and Europe today (Wednesday 23 June).

The legendary singer-songwriter first embarked on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour back in 2018, but was forced to pause like many stars during the pandemic.

Now he's announced even more dates in North America and Europe, which include five new shows in the UK alone.

Taking to social media the Your Song singer wrote: "Here they are - my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe! This has been an incredible tour so far and I'll be going out in the biggest possible way. I can't wait to see you all on the road one last time".

Here they are - my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe! This has been an incredible tour so far and I'll be going out in the biggest possible way. I can't wait to see you all on the road one last time 🚀🚀🚀 🎫 → https://t.co/fEQsOiiRjO #EltonFarewellTour pic.twitter.com/rlXs6cHsA7 — Elton John (@eltonofficial) June 23, 2021

What are Elton John's final UK tour dates?

• 15 June 2022 - Carrow Road, Norwich
• 17 June 2022 - Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
• 19 June 2022 - Stadium of Light, Sunderland
• 22 June 2022 - Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
• 29 June 2022 - Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Visit eltonjohn.com for more info.

How can I get tickets?

Elton John's final dates can be found at eltonjohn.com . They are scheduled to go on general sale from Wednesday 30 June at 10am BST and will be available from Ticketmaster, AXS, Alt Tickets and Gigantic.

Who is Elton John's support act?

There's no confirmed support act for these latest dates, but whoever it is will no doubt be impressive.

• READ MORE: How Elton John became an LGBTQ advocate and icon

What's on the rumoured setlist?

• Bennie and the Jets
• All the Girls Love Alice
• Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
• Border Song
• Tiny Dancer
• Philadelphia Freedom
• Indian Sunset
• Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
• Take Me to the Pilot
• Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
• Candle in the Wind
• Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
• Burn Down the Mission
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down on MePlay Video
• The Bitch Is Back
• I'm Still Standing
• Crocodile Rock
• Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

23. Your Song

24. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

The exact setlist won't be published until after the gig, but it will no doubt consist of selection of hits from across Elton John's career. See a setlist from his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour date at Australia's Sunshine Coast Stadium above, courtesy of setlist.fm.

READ MORE: Elton John can't wait to not sing Crocodile Rock ever again

Elton John Farewell Tour Highlights

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ELTON JOHN ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF HIS ICONIC ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR

AN ELECTRIFYING 30-DATE STADIUM TOUR IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE KICKING OFF MAY 27, 2022 IN FRANKFURT   FINAL NORTH AMERICAN SHOWS SET FOR TWO NIGHTS AT DODGER STADIUM IN LOS ANGELES ON NOVEMBER 19 + 20, 2022   PUBLIC ON-SALES BEGIN  JUNE 29, 2021 IN EUROPE  JUNE 30, 2021 IN NORTH AMERICA

“As a thank you, he’s giving the fans exactly what they could want in a final hurrah: some of his all-time biggest hits played with his classic gusto and draped in glitz.” – Billboard

"Elton John’s set on this tour is a beautifully curated trip through his golden era, with enough deep cuts to keep the musicians and veteran fans on their toes, yet so packed with hits that he’d reeled off ‘Bennie and the Jets,’ ‘Tiny Dancer,’ ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,’ ‘Border Song’ and ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ in the first half hour — and he’d barely scraped the surface.” – Variety

Download Photos Here

NEW YORK, NY (June 23, 2021) – It is with great excitement that Elton John announces the final dates for his award-winning Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour in North America and Europe. Elton will conclude his world-famous tour at major stadiums which will kick off on May 27, 2022 in Frankfurt. The Final Tour will make stops in Europe in major cities such as Milan, Liverpool, and Paris. Elton will then travel across the pond to take his final bow in North America, playing in major cities including Vancouver, Toronto, East Rutherford, Chicago and more. The North American stadium run will kick off at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 15, 2022 before concluding with back-to-back performances at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 19 and 20, 2022 --- commemorating his iconic performance at the historic venue in October 1975. 2023 kicks off with two shows in Auckland New Zealand on January 27 and 28, followed by soon-to-be-announced dates in Australia before the epic 4-year tour formally concludes there later that year. Please visit www.EltonJohn.com 

Announcing the final dates of his tour on social media, Elton John said, “Hello, all you wonderful fans out there. I’m coming to you today with an announcement I’ve been working towards for, well, all my life: the shows that I announce today will be my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe. I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career. Whether it’s next summer in Frankfurt or at the legendary Dodger Stadium for the grand finale in the United States, I can’t wait to see you all on the road one last time. This has been an incredible tour so far, full of the most amazing highs, and I look forward to making more wonderful memories with you at these final shows. To all my friends down under, We’ll be seeing you too. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in your town.”  

For the US, Canada and UK dates, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public. Presale details are included in the tour routing below.  Public on-sales begin Tuesday, June 29 in Europe and Wednesday, June 30 in North America. 

Ahead of the stadium run, Elton will mark his return to the stage this Fall in Europe on September 1st at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, then later to North America on January 19, 2022 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.  More details on the previously announced arenas dates on sale now are available on www.EltonJohn.com/Tours .  

Recently winning the 2021 iHeartRadio “Golden Icon” Award, the tour has also received top accolades including the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Award for “Tour Of The Year,” 2020 Pollstar “Major Tour of the Year” and the 2019 Billboard Music Award for the “Top Rock Tour.” The Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour kicked off to a sold-out crowd on September 8, 2018 and has since received rave reviews around the world. The critically acclaimed show takes the audience on a magical journey through his incredible 50-year career with never-before-seen-photos and videos, all set to the tune of some of Elton’s most beloved songs from his legendary catalog including, “Bennie and the Jets,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Philadelphia Freedom.” 

ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR North American and Europe dates are as follows: 

ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR– EUROPEAN DATES  *For UK dates, Amex® Presale begins Thursday, June 24 at 10am BST through Tuesday, June 29 at 10pm BST*

Friday, May 27, 2022                Frankfurt, Germany        Deutsche Bank Park FKA Commerzbank-Arena Sunday, May 29, 2022              Leipzig, Germany            Red Bull Arena Saturday, June 4, 2022             Milan, Italy                        San Siro Stadium Tuesday, June 7, 2022              Horsens, Denmark          CASA Arena Horsens Thursday, June 9, 2022            Arnhem, Netherlands     GelreDome Saturday, June 11, 2022           Paris, France                     La Defense Arena Wednesday, June 15, 2022      Norwich, UK                      Carrow Road Friday, June 17, 2022                Liverpool, UK                    Anfield Sunday, June 19, 2022              Sunderland, UK                Stadium of Light Wednesday, June 22, 2022      Bristol, UK                          Ashton Gate Stadium Wednesday, June 29, 2022      Swansea, UK                      Liberty Stadium               ELTON JOHN FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD THE FINAL TOUR– NORTH AMERICAN DATES  *For US & Canada, the Amex® Presale begins Wednesday, June 23 at noon local time through Tuesday, June 29 at 10pm local time.*

Friday, July 15, 2022                          Philadelphia, PA            Citizens Bank Park Monday, July 18, 2022                      Detroit, MI                      Comerica Park Saturday, July 23, 2022                     East Rutherford, NJ       MetLife Stadium Thursday, July 28, 2022                    Foxboro, MA                   Gillette Stadium Saturday, July 30, 2022                     Cleveland, OH                Progressive Field Friday, August 5, 2022                      Chicago, IL                      Soldier Field Wednesday, September 7, 2022     Toronto, ON                   Rogers Centre Saturday, September 10, 2022        Syracuse, NY                  Carrier Dome Friday, September 16, 2022             Pittsburgh, PA                PNC Park Sunday, September 18, 2022           Charlotte, NC                 Bank of America Stadium Thursday, September 22, 2022        Atlanta, GA                     Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday, September 24, 2022        Washington, DC             Nationals Park Friday, September 30, 2022             Arlington, TX                  Globe Life Field Sunday, October 2, 2022                  Nashville, TN                  Nissan Stadium Friday, October 21, 2022                  Vancouver, BC               BC Place Saturday, October 29, 2022             San Antonio, TX             Alamodome Friday, November 4, 2022                Houston, TX                   Minute Maid Park Saturday, November 12, 2022         Phoenix, AZ                   Chase Field Saturday, November 19, 2022         Los Angeles, CA            Dodgers Stadium Sunday, November 20, 2022            Los Angeles, CA            Dodgers Stadium    For more information or to purchase tickets and VIP packages, please visit EltonJohn.com . These exclusive VIP offers can include premium tickets, on-stage photo opportunities at Elton John’s piano, backstage tours, limited-edition lithographs, custom merchandise, and much more.

Elton John says Liverpool gig is one of his ‘top five shows ever’

“Liverpool, it’s great to be back”

• 22:15, 23 MAR 2023
• Updated 12:54, 24 MAR 2023

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Elton John returned to “memorable” Liverpool this evening with a powerful and dazzling show ahead of his retirement.

The legendary musician has descended on the city for two nights of musical magic at the M&S Bank Arena, as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

In 2018, the entertainer confirmed plans to embark on a three year “farewell” tour after 50 years on stage, marking a grand finale to an impressive, history-making performing career.

READ MORE: Fans honour Elton John by wearing quirky sunglasses and costumes to Liverpool gig

As the 75-year-old icon’s last tour, there’s more than 300 concerts taking place worldwide. Once it finishes on July 8, 2023, Sir Elton will be retiring from live performance and spending more time with his family - and he’s clearly going out with a bang.

This Thursday evening (March 23), the Rocket Man lit up the stage at the M&S Bank Arena with hit after hit, kicking off with a vibrant and psychedelic floral display on the screens above the stage.

He almost snuck onto stage, appearing at the piano while it was still cast in darkness before hitting the opening bars of ‘Bennie and the Jets’ on the piano, much to the delight of the enraptured crowd.

The doors to the arena opened at 6pm, with the show kicking off at 7.30pm. There was no support act, but Sir Elton is more than enough of a performer to dazzle thousands without these usual gig additions.

After a few songs, he told the audience: “Liverpool, it’s great to be back - last summer [at Anfield] was one of the most memorable shows… it’s one of my top five shows ever.” He added: “There’s amazing, amazing people here.”

In a career that’s spanned so many decades, Liverpool appearing among the star’s top five favourite gigs is no mean feat.

The screens were well utilised throughout the show, with choreographed dance routines accompanying several songs, as well as photos and various footage of people seemingly going about their lives, plus cartoons and artistic shots of the star himself performing. This allowed Sir Elton to focus on the piano and his vocals.

Ahead of a rendition of ‘Border Song’, he praised Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who covered the single in the 70s. John said, at that point, it was “the most exciting thing to happen” in his career.

The legends went on to work together throughout their careers. He told the crowd: “The very last show she did was for the Elton John AIDS Foundation - it was very emotional because she was very sick. She passed away six months later.

“Before the show, I went backstage and I said to her, ‘Aretha, let me do it, you’re so sick, let me do it’, but she said: 'Honey, two years ago I was supposed to be here and I let you down. I'm not letting you down again.'”

He added: “She is one of the all time greats - there are very few but she’s one of them.”

After an extended rendition of ‘Rocket Man’, he stood and walked across the stage to wave to each area of the arena, causing mass hysteria and sheer joy among the crowd, before returning to the piano to carry on with the show.

John didn’t address the crowd too often throughout his performance but when he did, it was always interesting; offering insight and little anecdotes from his illustrious career. He cited one of his favourite songs as ‘Someone Saved my Life Tonight’, written with long-term songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, from the 1975 album ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy’.

Later, video footage of Marilyn Monroe accompanied Elton John’s rendition of ‘Candle in the Wind’ - a personal favourite - with the star’s multitalented band vacating the stage, while his piano moved across it on a track as he played adding a touch of subtle drama.

Ever the fashion icon, Sir Elton performed in a pair of bejewelled tinted glasses while sporting an elaborate sequin and gemstone encrusted jacket. He changed for the second half of the show, swapping his black sparkling blazer for a pale pink one - and new glasses to match. What I would give to have a nosy in his wardrobe!

To thank his band, Sir Elton introduced them one by one so they could each get “a massive Liverpool roar” and said he’d been “fortunate” throughout his career to work with so many talented and “incredible musicians”.

It’s a great privilege to see such an iconic and integral force of the music industry like Elton John perform live, with this tour made all the more special and poignant because it’s the last one. Tonight is a night I’ll never forget, and I know I won’t be the only one who feels this way.

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Elton John announces final 2023 UK arena dates of ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour

Extra dates are set for London and Birmingham

Elton John has added two more dates to the final leg of his global ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour.

• READ MORE: Elton John: “I’m not interested in the past – not even Elton John’s past”

The pop legend will now play new dates at the The O2 Arena in London on May 30, 2023 and the Utilita Arena Birmingham on June 8, 2023.

His tour restarts in Europe at the 3Arena in Dublin on March 28, 2023 following the completion of his stadium tour dates in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Earlier this summer he kicked off some UK dates in Norwich .

Tickets for the new shows go on sale here this Friday (October 7) at 10am. Fans can join the Rocket Club here and get access to an exclusive pre-sale.

John’s tour shows “take his audience on a magical journey through his incredible 50-year career with never-before-seen-photos and videos, all set to the tune of some of Elton’s most beloved songs from his legendary catalogue”, a press release states.

Elton John’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ Uk and Ireland tour dates 2023:

APRIL Sunday 02 – The O2, London Tuesday 04 – The O2, London Wednesday 05 – The O2, London Saturday 08 – The O2, London Sunday 09 – The O2, London Wednesday 12 – The O2, London Thursday 13 – The O2, London Sunday 16 – The O2, London Monday 17 – The O2, London Wednesday 19 – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham Saturday 22 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Sunday 23 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Recommended

MAY Tuesday 30 – The O2, London – NEW SHOW Wednesday 31 – AO Arena, Manchester

JUNE Friday 02 – AO Arena, Manchester Saturday 03 – AO Arena, Manchester Tuesday 06 – First Direct Arena, Leeds Thursday 08 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham Saturday 10 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham Sunday 11 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham Tuesday 13 – P&J Live, Aberdeen Thursday 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen Saturday 17 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow Sunday 18 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow

Meanwhile,  John and Britney Spears have shared the music video for their recent collaborative single, ‘Hold Me Closer’, and revealed the details for three CD single releases .

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‘Elton John: Never Too Late’: Toronto Review

By Robert Daniels 2024-09-07T09:03:00+01:00

Disney’s Elton John documentary fails to hit the high notes

Source: TIFF

‘Elton John: Never Too Late’

Dirs: R.J. Cutler and David Furnish. US. 2024. 102mins

Threadbare tour-bio documentary Elton John: Never Too Late combines the audio from a 2019 interview with the ’Crocodile Rock’ singer and footage from his final North American shows in 2022. Directors R.J. Cultler and David Furnish (the singer’s husband) use vintage footage and animation to jump between the 1970s and his recent tour, with Dodger Stadium as the throughline. There in 1975, John, dressed in an iconic sequined Dodger baseball uniform, became the first solo rock act to sell out a stadium and, in 2022, it was the location of his final concert in America. Yet neither story feels fresh. In fact, they’re both so thin it’s difficult to even call this a puff piece. 

 The only thing holding  Elton John: Never Too Late  together is the songs

A Disney documentary,  Elton John: Never Too Late  premieres as a Gala Presentation at Toronto and then heads to London before embarking on a limited US theatrical run in November and bowing on Disney+ in the US on December 13. It’s a challenge to know who will find this film of spare parts appealing. Surely, diehard fans of the singer know the minutest parts of his biography already – not least thanks to the far-more-candid 1997 documentary Tantrums & Tiaras , also directed by Furnish – and casuals are likely to prefer the crowd-pleasing version of his life seen in the musical biopic Rocketman . Ultimately, this will likely blend in with other rote ‘print the legend’ films. 

It’s clear early on that this film is poorly conceived. It deploys the common contemporary documentary framework of building a story around audio tapes – in this case with John, conducted by journalist Alexis Petridis for the singer’s 2019 memoir Me.  Unlike other instances where this has happened (in films about Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick and Princess Diana, for example), this subject is alive and well. In the hands of Cutler and Furnish, the audio that powered John’s frank autobiography is re-tooled unimaginatively to recount the basic beats of John’s life: his abusive family; his musical training and influences (Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Winifred Atwell); and his time playing backup for major African American act like the Temptations, the Drifters and Patti La Belle. 

That backgrounding carries viewers to the 1970s, when John and his songwriter partner, lyricist Bernie Taupin, went on a prolific five-year run that witnessed the singer produce 20-plus albums and countless hits, and headline Dodger stadium. It also included John confining himself in an abusive relationship with his manager and partner John Reed, and developing a raging coke habit to self-medicate his depression and loneliness. Once again, none of this is particularly new information. Rather, the pleasure derived from these scenes will mostly amount to vintage photos, footage of his star-making show at LA’s Troubadour in 1970, video of ’Yellow Brick Road’s recording session, and a touching story about how his duet with John Lennon at Madison Square Garden — a show that would be Lennon’s final live performance — led to the Beatles singer reuniting with Yoko Ono. 

Hearing the same stories again would be alright if Cutler and Furnish didn’t force feed an undercooked contemporary storyline into the edit. The present-day sequences, which weave in and out of the walks down memory lane, are frustratingly empty. We begin nine months out from John’s 2022 Dodger Stadium gig, and check in with him at each major stop. As opposed to the frank biographical information, these behind-the-scenes moments – John video chatting with his kids, recording his podcast ’Rocket Hour’ and thanking his longtime band for their wonderful playing — are overly controlled. You know you’re only seeing the best of the singer. 

When intertwined, the two timelines struggle to cohere to a satisfying end. The entire final gig at Dodger Stadium is anti-climatic, totaling three partially performed songs: ’Someone Saved My Life Tonight’, ’I’m Still Standing’, and ‘Your Song’. While it makes sense to spend much of the film abbreviating the jukebox hits for the benefit of time, it’s odd not to let fans luxuriate in these comforting earworms by playing them in their entirety. Because in the end, apart from a few quippy anecdotes, the only thing holding Elton John: Never Too Late together is the songs.  

Production companies: This Machine Filmworks, Rocket Entertainment

Worldwide distribution: Disney+

Producers: R.J. Cutler, David Furnish, Trevor Smith

Screenplay: Embeth Davidtz

Cinematography: Jenna Rosher

Editing: Greg Finton, Poppy Das

Music: Chris Letcher

• Documentaries
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Elton John Electrifies at Final Madison Square Garden Show: Concert Review

By Rebecca Rubin

Rebecca Rubin

Senior Film and Media Reporter

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Watching Elton John perform at Madison Square Garden always feels historic; although he’s performed there more than 70 times, he frequently says it’s his favorite stage on Earth.

Even more historic is the feeling of watching him play what he says will be his last show ever at the iconic venue. (Then again, this is a man whose 300-stop worldwide farewell tour began in 2018 and, due to COVID-19, may be going on considerably longer than the 74-year-old originally planned.)

“This is definitely the most magical venue to play in the world,” an emotional John told the New York City crowd on an unseasonably warm Wednesday evening. “I have had so many wonderful nights here.”

He can check off at least one more. Two years and one pandemic behind schedule, John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour resumed at a sold-out Madison Square Garden — for the second night in a row — to an energetic, vaccinated and mostly mask-less concertgoers. The seemingly tireless entertainer was front-and-center for some 23 songs and two and a half hours, taking only two brief breaks to change outfits and swap his signature bedazzled shades.

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He knows the songs that people came for, and he wasted no time in getting to them. After kicking off the show with a rousing “Bennie and the Jets” segueing into “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” John spoke warmly about live music’s return. “How lovely it is to be here after all this time away,” he said. He had the 20,000-strong audience in the palm of his hand for the entire evening, as they swooned to “Tiny Dancer” and “Candle in the Wind.” After a 24-month wait for this show, which was rescheduled from its original April 2020 date, nobody wanted to waste a moment by sitting down.

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Indeed, the entire set was filled with greatest hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s, with only “Cold Heart” — his recent duet with Dua Lipa from his “Lockdown Sessions” album that interpolates four of his earlier songs — dating from this century (and, funnily enough, was sung by Lipa two nights earlier and just a few miles away during her headlining set at UBS Arena in Queens.)

With the exception of a couple of songs (such as “Daniel”), the track list did not deviate much from Elton’s 2019 stop at the storied arena (his 70th at MSG), not that the generation-spanning audience minded. John mostly let his music do the talking, taking only a few moments in between songs to address the crowd. When he did, he spoke passionately about of his love for New York, an area he’s performed 150 shows, and Madison Square Garden, a venue he’s now sold out 72 times.

“This is my last show here,” he noted, and on cue, everyone instinctively and endearingly booed at the mere idea of John hanging up his sparkled suits and glittery glasses. “By the time I finish my last show, I’ll be 76, and I want to spend time with my family and my children. There are other people who will take my place, and you’ll enjoy them.”

After all, he joked, he’s not getting any younger. “When you get to 74 and have a hip, it feels really good,” he said with a laugh. That may be true, but he is nothing less than a completely commanding presence on stage, even after recovering from COVID-19, which recently forced the fully vaccinated star to postpone two shows in Texas. He was in top-notch form on Wednesday night, bursting with energy as he tore through several powerful minutes-long piano solos. He sat parked in front of the keyboard most of the night, only occasionally standing up to soak in the ear-shattering screams on the floor and up through the rafters.

He closed out the show with a lively string of favorites — “The Bitch Is Back,” “I’m Still Standing,” a lively “Crocodile Rock” and “Saturday’s Night’s Alright (for Fighting)” — culminating with golden confetti raining down from the ceiling.

Ever the showman, John pretended to leave the stage only to come back and croon the number that first made him an icon, “Your Song.” And of course the finale had to be “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” which played against a backdrop of sweet and some instantly recognizable photos and videos from his decades-long career.

And with that, a now-tracksuit-clad Elton stepped onto a platform that ascended up the stage as he took his final bow ever at Madison Square Garden.

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