Entertainment
Elton John’s Live at Wembley concert from 1977 finally airing on TV for the first time – 46 years after declaring his retirement-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
Could the Rocketman break his promise again?
Sir Elton John’s final UK concert was at Glastonbury (Picture: WireImage)
After more than five decades in the limelight, Sir Elton John, after his momentous Farewell Tour and Glastonbury headline set, has said he is retiring.
But it’s not the first time the Rocketman, 76, has vowed to give up music for a quieter life, having first made the declaration just a few years into his chart-topping career.
Back in 1977, at which point he had released 11 albums and iconic tracks including Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, the Tiny Dancer singer performed at Wembley.
To his fans’ disappointment, at the gig, Elton announced he would be retiring for good from live touring, but fortunately for the music world, he shortly went back on his promise.
Now, for the first time, the BBC is airing the longer version of the London concert, using extra footage from the archives which includes a rare guest performance with Stevie Wonder.
The enhanced show also restores some classic Elton performances of songs like Benny and the Jets, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
Sir Elton has performed with lots of the greats, including George Michael (Picture: Getty)
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His most recent – and supposedly last ever – UK performance at Glasto went down a storm, actually breaking TV records as seven million people tuned in live.
Sir Elton used his platform to shine a light on supporting smaller and up-and-coming artists, although there was disappointment as the likes of Britney Spears and Dua Lipa were no-shows.
However, his guests Jacob Lusk, Stephen Sanchez, Brandon Flowers, and Rina Sawayama put in stunning performances incredible duets including Don’t Go Breaking My Heart and Tiny Dancer.
Sir Elton had four guests for his Glastonbury set including Jacob (Picture: Getty)
He also attracted plenty of A-listers to the audience, as Kate Hudson and Stella McCartney were just two of the celebs spotted dancing away in the wings.
After wrapping up his final shows, with Sweden on July 8 the Your Song singer’s final listed concert, he will head off to the Antarctic with his husband David Furnish and their sons Zachary, 12, and ten-year-old Elijah.
‘Our sons both want to go to the Antarctic and Elton wants to go to the Antarctic as well,’ David revealed.
‘It has been identified as a goal by everybody.’
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Sir Elton announced (this!) retirement from touring – a plan that was complicated by pandemic-related lockdowns – in order to spend more time with his family back in January 2018.
Elton John: Live at Wembley in 1977 airs on BBC Four at 9pm on Friday.
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