What better way to start the new year than with a new site for Elton John fans? And what better way to start the blog than traditionally, with a look at the year just gone and the one to come?
2011 wasn’t the most memorable of years from an eltonite’s point of view. The standout events would probably be the Million Dollar Piano, Gnomeo and Juliet and a new track for the ipod in the shape of ‘Snowed in on Wheeler Street’. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few things so feel free to remind me!
Of course, we’ll all have a personal Elton moment to remember the year by. Mine would be seeing him at the Royal Opera House with Ray Cooper in January. I’m a big fan of these shows and this one was a real treat. Coming a month after the birth of Zachary, Elton was on particularly fine form.
Elton & Ray at the Royal Opera House 2011
Now, Let’s stop thinking about the past And start thinking about the future.
What does 2012 hold in store? According to an interview with Elton in Music Week from earlier in the year, he and Bernie will be back in the studio in January, working once again with T Bone Burnett. This is great news and the main reason to look forward to the year, although whether or not we’ll see the end product in 2012 is unknown.
Here in Britain the coming year sees the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Rumours abound of at least one large concert to celebrate and it will be a real surprise if Elton isn’t involved in someway or other. A couple of other fan sites also list a World Peace Concert at Wembley Stadium in September as a possible date in Elton’s diary.
Another exciting project is the long-mooted biopic ‘Rocketman’. Original reports suggested this would start shooting early in the year but it’s been all quiet on the Western Front since then so we shall have to wait and see. IMDB lists James McAvoy as a rumoured Elton but I’m not holding too much store by that.
Should none of these things materialise this year, we can still be fairly certain there’ll be gigs-a-plenty to enjoy.
Let me know your thoughts on the year just past and your predictions for the one to come. And here’s wishing all a very happy and Elton-filled 2012.
