Leon Russell For 'Mature' New Album with Elton John Teams

Elton John says his approaching collaboration with legendary singer, songwriter and sideman Leon Russell marks a new chapter in his recording career, saying: "I don't have to make pop records any more." Speaking at the launch of the album at the Electric Cinema in West London last night (July 5), John said: "I thought, 'The world isn't screaming for another Elton John record and I'm not screaming for it either unless it's going to be different. In the '70s, '80s and '90s, the record companies always said we had to have a single and I think I fulfilled my brief. But at 63, the singles chart isn't one I'm going to be in very often. To me now, it's all about writing albums and trying to be mature." John recruited Russell for the album, aptly entitled "The Union," after rediscovering Russell's music 40 years after they toured the United States together. Russell was a big name in the 1960s and 1970s, playing keyboards for the likes of Phil Spector and the Beach Boys, making solo records and writing songs including "A Song for You," "This Masquerade" and "Delta Lady." But he largely fell off the radar in the late 1970s and has suffered from poor health in current years, although he kept touring. John described Russell as his "idol" and working with him as a "humbling and moving experience." He hopes the exposure from the album will bring new attention to Russell's solo output. John said, "There's no point doing this record if it doesn't bring his work to light". "I want him to be comfortable financially. I want his life to improve a little." John and Russell worked with John's long time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin and producer T Bone Burnett on the collaborative project, which also features guest appearances from the likes of Neil Young and Brian Wilson. Journalists at the launch also heard a playback of the 16 track album, which has a rootsy, almost gospel sound, and was recorded live, with most tracks done "in one or two takes." In an entertaining Q&A session hosted by U.K.-based broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, John also held forth on Christmas albums ("My record company in America asked me to do a Christmas record and I just told them to fuck off"), videos ("I fucking hate videos") and even which of his songs would be the best introduction to his music for a 6 year old ("Just show him 'The Lion King'"). John said he plans to tour with Russell next year and hopes to make another record with him if "The Union" is a success. He also plans to do a solo covers album in the near future. "The Union" will be released Oct. 19 in the United States on Decca Records, and Oct. 25 in the United Kingdom on Mercury.

Elton John: Elton John's ball raises big bucks

Sir Elton John's annual White Tie and Tiara Ball raised more than £5.6 million for charity.
Lots included a car transformed into an artwork by Damien Hirst, which clocked up £350,000 for the (EJAF) Elton John Aids Foundation.
Almost 700 VIPs, including Elizabeth Hurley, Lily Cole, David Walliams, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, Peter Andre, and Lady Gaga, attended the glitzy bash at Sir Elton's home in Windsor last night.
Kerry Katona was also spotted at the event, sealing her current comeback by wearing a glamorous strapless white gown to the A-list party.
The candyfloss pink paint splattered Audi A1 car, described as "fully driveable and road legal", was snapped up by an unnamed bidder.
As part of the same lot, the car was auctioned with a 6ft diameter canvas spin painting, which Hirst completed at the same time.
Sir Elton previously described the car as "one of the most exciting auction items we have ever had for White Tie".
The A1 car will not be seen on UK roads until November.
Lady Gaga, who performed at the event, Tweeted after last night's bash: "What a brilliant evening with wonderful friends.
"Thank you to everyone who donated to the Elton John Aids Foundation. What a magical stage X."

why he sang at Rush Limbaugh's wedding, Elton John explains

When news started circulating that Elton John serenaded Rush Limbaugh and his blushing bride at their current wedding, people were just a bit confused. The conservative talk show host is vocally opposed to gay marriage, and John is openly homosexual.

Now the Rocket Man vocalist's husband, David Furnish, is coming clean about his partner's decision to perform at the affair."It turned out to be a genuinely sincere invitation...Elton said, 'Life is about building bridges, not walls,'" he told the news outlet. That's definitely a kindhearted take on the situation, and we have to give praise to John for taking such a bold initiative. In fact, Furnish goes on to further explain his husband's good natured actions to the news source."And may be if I can make a nice impression," he quoted John as saying, "people might change their perspectives on life."Maybe Limbaugh can repay the favor if John and Furnish ever decide to renew their wedding vows? We would love to hear his version of Candle in the Wind.

Elton John Shunning

At the radio star Elton John performed Rush Limbaugh and Kathryn Rogers last Saturday. Significant controversy surrounds the fact that the openly gay John serenaded the openly conservative Limbaugh. But a hush greeted John's current adventure in Islamofascist homophobia.
Elton John's appearance reportedly earned him $1 million. Such fees routinely underwrite an excellent cause: the Elton John AIDS Foundation. But the newlyweds barely had begun honeymooning before the hue and cry erupted:
"We're experiencing greed, a lot of greed, and people doing things for money," Joy Behar noted on June 7's "The View." "I wonder if it would be OK with everybody if Elton or somebody had gone down to perform during apartheid South Africa, you know, or the Ku Klux Klan, if they had a lot of money."
Yes, Limbaugh opposes same-sex marriage and has said obnoxious things about gay people. Yet Zev Chafets, author of Limbaugh biography "An Army of One," noted on WSJ.com: "In an interview last summer, (Limbaugh) told me that he regards homosexuality as most likely determined by biology, considers other people's sex lives to be none of his business, and supports gay civil unions."
John, 63, also favors civil unions rather than gay nuptials. "Heterosexual people get married," he told USA Today in November 2008. "We can have civil partnerships." Since 2005, John has been civil partners with David Furnish, 47.
Compared to today's clamor, the whole world was napping as John faced not a seven-figure check, but rejection when he tried to play a private May 18 concert in Egypt.
"How do we allow a homosexual, who wants to ban religions, claimed that the prophet Issa (Jesus) was gay, and calls for Middle Eastern countries to allow gays to have sexual freedom?" huffed Mounir al-Wasimi, boss of the Egyptian Musician Union. He then scotched the gig by John, whom he called "a symbol of homosexuals in the world." (For his part, John told Parade Magazine last February: "Try being a gay woman in the Middle East. You're as good as dead.")
Contrast the publicity these two situations generated. Cairo incident during the first week, the words "Elton John," "Egypt," and "concert" yielded just 18 mentions in Nexis's news database. Meanwhile, during the equivalent period, "Elton John" and "Limbaugh" produced 87 references, or roughly five times as much. Respective Google hits are 139,000 and 705,000, also reflecting a five-to-one rage ratio between these two events.
The moral of this story? Liberals will tread more lightly on a homophobic, concert canceling Islamic fundamentalist than a conservative broadcaster who recognizes and rewards talent when he hears it, even when that Academy Award winning musician happens to be gay.

Elton John sings at Limbaugh’s fourth wedding

Singer Elton John received a $1 million fee to perform in front of 400 guests celebrating radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh's fourth wedding Saturday night, People Magazine reports.
Limbaugh, 59, wed Kathryn Rogers, 33, at the Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.
Limbaugh is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage while John is openly gay and in a civil partnership with male partner David Furnish.
Celebrity guests at the wedding reportedly included former Bush adviser Karl Rove, baseball slugger George Brett, former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and golfer Tom Watson.
According to People, the couple met six years ago, while Rogers was running a charity golf tournament and Limbaugh was in the process of divorcing for the third time.
The Palm Beach Post reported that as many as 50 private security guards were hired for the wedding.
Web site Gawker.com hired a plane to fly over the wedding site towing a banner that read "Rush: Congrats on your 4th marriage. XO, Gawker." The saying on the banner was chosen from suggestions made by readers. Rejected suggestions included "This time he really means it," "Wishing you months of bliss," and "Congrats on #4 from those of us who can't have 1."
The magazine reports that the newlyweds took Limbaugh's private Gulfstream jet to a honeymoon in Mexico and Africa, among other locations.

Elton John happy with his Disney film.

Elton John has revealed he's happy to have persevered with his Disney film.
Gnomeo And Juliet was rumoured to be in trouble after a series of setbacks, but the Rocket Man confirmed the movie is back on the road and will be released next year.

"We've had so many ups and downs with it, with changes at Disney but we kept going with it because we believed it was a really great project," said Elton.

He went on: "It is a great project and we're very happy with it and it's coming out next year."
The movie, which is set to feature classic and new songs by Elton, is set to star Emily Blunt and James McAvoy.

Sir Elton John says Jesus was super-intelligent gay man

Sir Elton John has claimed Jesus was a "super-intelligent gay man" in an interview with a US magazine.
The singer also told Parade Jesus was "compassionate", forgiving and "understood human problems".
A spokesman for the Church of England said: "Sir Elton's reflection that Jesus calls us all to love and forgive is one shared by all Christians."
"But insights into aspects of the historic person of Jesus are perhaps best left to the academics," he added.
Sir Elton said in the interview: "On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving.
"I don't know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East - you're as good as dead," he added.
In the interview, the singer also said he did not like being a celebrity any more because "fame attracts lunatics".
"Princess Diana, Gianni Versace, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, all dead. Two of them shot outside their houses. None of this would have happened if they hadn't been famous. I never had a bodyguard, ever, until Gianni died," he said.

Sir Elton John says Jesus was super-intelligent gay man

Sir Elton John has claimed Jesus was a "super-intelligent gay man" in an interview with a US magazine.
The singer also told Parade Jesus was "compassionate", forgiving and "understood human problems".
A spokesman for the Church of England said: "Sir Elton's reflection that Jesus calls us all to love and forgive is one shared by all Christians."
"But insights into aspects of the historic person of Jesus are perhaps best left to the academics," he added.
Sir Elton said in the interview: "On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving.
"I don't know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East - you're as good as dead," he added.
In the interview, the singer also said he did not like being a celebrity any more because "fame attracts lunatics".
"Princess Diana, Gianni Versace, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, all dead. Two of them shot outside their houses. None of this would have happened if they hadn't been famous. I never had a bodyguard, ever, until Gianni died," he said.

Ready To Work, Sir Elton John Released From Hospital,

Out of hospital to Sir Elton John and is feeling much better after being struck down with a bout of flu and an E.coli bacterial infection, according to media reports.
His spokesman said: “He’s fine, absolutely fine.”
John, 62, is now planning to resume his work, reported mirror.co.uk.
The “Rocket Man” singer had postponed performances in Sheffield, Newcastle, London, Liverpool and Dublin since Oct 23 when he contracted flu.
In his four decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, one of the most successful making him artists of all time.

in hospital from flu, E. coli, Elton John recovering

Elton John has been hospitalized after suffering from a case of E. coli bacterial infection and the flu, his spokesman said Monday.
Gary Farrow said the pop star hopes to be released soon but in England has been forced to cancel concerts, Ireland and the United States.
John intends to rejoin the Face2Face tour later in the month when he and Billy Joel play concerts in Northern California.
Farrow said John, 62, is suffering from a "bad case of the flu and a minor case of E. coli." His website says he was advised by his doctor to postpone dates in Seattle and Portland.
The Daily Mail's website quoted John's partner, David Furnish, as saying, "He's OK — he's fine," after leaving a London hospital.
Farrow says the singer has rescheduled previously canceled dates during the European leg of his world tour.