Hercules Fanzine no. 50

HERCULES Hotline on 0906 888 20 20

For up-to-the-minute news about Elton, callers in the UK can phone the

HERCULES Hotline on 0906 888 20 20Calls cost 60p per minute anytime


inside this issue:

Exclusive! Nigel Olsson talks to Hercules

New Album News

Your chance to winrare T-shirt!

News & Tour Dates

Aida - show review

PLUS: YOUR LETTERS, SMALL ADS, LYRIC QUIZ, DAVID FURNISH AND MORE!

March 2000 Issue No: 50

THE MAG

since 1988

50TH ISSUE • 50TH ISSUE • 50TH ISSUE • 50TH ISSUE

This is not an official tour schedule, as it also includes rumoured and unconfirmed dates.

Quarterly Fanzine. Issue 50. March 2000 27Hercules. The Elton John Fan Club2

Annual membership fee is £14 in the UK/Europeand £17/US$30 for the USA and Rest of the World.Please note that your renewal date is printed onyour address label in European formatday/month/year.

Membership passes are available from your localHERCULES department: send a small photo ofyourself when requesting your pass.

Please don't send enquiries or fan mail to the EltonJohn management, but to HERCULES Coordination.Letters will be passed on if necessary.

HERCULES is a quarterly publication released inMarch, June, September and December. In event ofcircumstances beyond our control, there is noguarantee for punctual shipment. It is published inEnglish and German.

Printed articles do not necessarily reflect the editors'opinions. All information is based on the best ofknowledge and belief. Reproductions permitted onlyby prior arrangement with HERCULES.

Member participation is always welcome. We arethankful for your submissions of any kind: reports,articles, photos, drawings, and suggestions. Pleasesend them to the Editor, Tammi Law. Pleaseunderstand that we cannot always publish allcontributions. All photos will be returned.

UK Hotline 0906 888 20 20 (60p per minute)USA/Canada Hotline 815/293 3843Web site http://www.eltonfan.com

COPYRIGHT: HERCULES

Deadline for Issue No. 51 is 1 May 2000

No. 51 will be released June 2000

Front cover: Elton Performing live in LasVegas, 30 December 1999

Back cover: Chicago - 12 November 1999(Photo: S Kalinoski)

FAN CLUB INFORMATION

Fanzine of the Elton John Fan Club

Issue No. 50MARCH 2000

THE MAG

CONTENTSFEATURES

Aida in Chicagoreview ............................8

Healing Hands. Nigel Olsson talksexclusively to Hercules ......................10

David Furnishtalks about his life and relationship with Elton ....................14

Nobody Winsin French......................16

Life in the USAa personal account byCharlie Morgan ..........17

SPECIAL OFFERS

Tour T-Shirt prize draw..24

REGULARS

Between 17 and 20Elton trivia & gossip ..18

Club Information ............2

Convention Reports ......19

Letters to the Editor......22

Lyric Quiz ......................13

News Bullets ....................4

Small ads ........................26

Kaleidescope Eyes - EJ TV/Video Appearances................21

Tour Dates ......................27

HERCULES Chief Editor Tammi Law49 Horseshoe Crescent,PeatmoorSwindon SN5 5AX, U.K.Tel. +44 (0)1793 881 [email protected]

Editorial Assistants:George Matlock, Barbara Turner

Design: Turnstyle Design

Translations:Sabine AsenkirschbaumerMireille Mölbert

For subscription details, pleasewrite to your local HERCULESdepartment or to HERCULESCoordinaton:

HERCULES Coordinationc/o Stephan HeimbecherOrleansstr. 59D-81667 München, GERMANYTel. +49 (0)89 48900369Fax +49 (0)89 [email protected]

HERCULES Fan Adviserc/o Mireille MölbertZaunweg 11D-80805 München, GERMANYTel. +49 (0)89 [email protected]

HERCULES USA/Canadac/o Sharon KalinoskiP.O. Box 398La Grange, IL 60525, [email protected]

HERCULES U.K.P.O. Box 315RichmondSurrey TW9 3QX, [email protected]

HERCULES Beneluxc/o Arjen BuikstraSav. Lohmannstr. 1NL-3214 XA ZuidlandTel. +31 (0)1881 [email protected]: Tim Blezer

HERCULES Italyc/o Luca ZerbiniVia Scheiwiller n.9/AI-20139 Milano, [email protected]

HERCULES FrancaisFrancoise Linden-GillesBP-22, B-4900 [email protected]

HERCULES NordicUrpu Kallioc/o Maria SjöholmBjörkkullavägen 3 A 307880 LILJENDALFINLAND

TOUR DATESPlans & RumoursPlans & RumoursUS SOLO TOUR 200017-March-2000 ......Lakeland, FL Lakeland Civic Center 18-March-2000 ......Albany, GA Albany Civic Center 05-April-2000 ........Binghamton, NY Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena07-April-2000 ........Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center 08-April-2000 ........Bingintom, NY t.b.a. 09-April-2000 ........Erie, PA Erie Civic Center 14-April-2000 ........Evainsville, IN Roberts Stadium 15-April-2000 ........Indianapolis, IN Conseco 18-April-2000 ........Syracuse, NY War Memorial 19-April-2000 ........Trenton, NJ Sovereign Bank Arena 21-April-2000 ........Wilkes-Barre, PA First Union Arena 22-April-2000 ........Hershey, PA Hershey Arena

MISCELLANEOUS13-April-2000 ........New York, NY Carnegie Hall Rainforest Benefit show

EUROPEAN SOLO TOUR 200003-June-2000..........Derbyshire, UK Chatsworth House 06-June-2000..........Hampshire, UK Broadlands 13-June-2000..........Lincolnshire, UK Burghley Park 17-June-2000..........Loeben, Austria t.b.a 18-June-2000..........Bad Ischl, Austria Kaiserpark 23-June-2000..........Kassel, Germany Wilhelmshöhe (open air) 24-June-2000..........Hamburg, Germany Derbypark (open air) 27-June-2000..........Cologne, Germany KölnArena 28-June-2000..........Coburg, Germany Schlossplatz (open air) 30-June-2000..........Leipzig, Germany Völkerschlachtdenkmal (open air) 01-July-2000 ..........Stuttgart, Germany Schlossplatz (open air) 04-July-2000 ..........Mannheim, Germany Schloss Ehrenhof 05-July-2000 ..........Koblenz, Germany Schlosshof (open air) 07-July-2000 ..........Künzelsau, Germany Schlosspark (open air) 08-July-2000 ..........Munich, Germany Königsplatz (open air) 19-July-2000 ..........S. Wales, UK Margam Park 22-July-2000 ..........Northants, UK Castle Ashby

2000

Hercules. The Elton John Fan Club26

1) Billy Bones and the White Bird2) Holiday Inn3) Sick City4) Where’s the Shoorah? 5) Honey Roll6) Satellite 7) Understanding Women 8) Slave 9) Teacher I Need You10) Someone’s Final Song11) Elderberry Wine12) White Lady White Powder

LYRIC QUIZ ANSWERS

ALWAYS let us know theexpiry date of the card, and

the cardholders name.

ALWAYS state yourmembership number if yousend a cheque to Hercules,or pay into one of the Club

accounts.

PLEASE REMEMBER...

Welcome to the 50thissue of the Herculesfanzine! Originally

called Rocket Fan back in 1988,and now called The Mag,readership has growntremendously over the last 12years. Its a reflection of the factthat Elton himself continues togo from strength to strength.

Elton continues to be reallybusy, and his hugely successfulSolo Tour shows no signs ofstopping. Building on the successof last year, EJ kicked off hisschedule for 2000 by performing3 shows in Hawaii, beforereturning to the USA for moreshows throughout the Spring.And more concerts have beenannounced across Europe for thesummer. See the Tour Date listingon page 27 for full details.

In between all of this activity,Elton has also found time to writeand perform the soundtrack foranother animated movie,Dreamworks The Road to ElDorado. Details of the songs onthe resulting album, and whenyou can get hold of your copy,can be found in the Newssection.

We are very excited thatNigel Olsson chose to speakexclusively to Hercules from hishome in California, giving us aninsight into life with EJ in the"early days". The first part of theinterview is later in this issue,with part 2 continuing in June.And we were pleased to hearthat Nigel has subsequentlyreturned to work with Elton, forthe first time in 16 years,providing backing vocals onpromotion work for the ElDorado project.

As part of the service whichwe offer to fans, Hercules haveagain been able to secure groupallocation premium tickets tomany of Elton’s shows this year.We make NO profit on thetickets which fans buy throughHercules, it’s purely a way ofensuring that great seats areavailable for real fans. In factHercules is not about makingprofit at all - the Team here areall volunteers, and we aren’t paidfor what we do. Which is whatmakes it YOUR Elton John FanClub; it’s run by the fans, for thefans.

That’s also why yourcontributions are alwayswelcome. Write and tell us aboutwhy you became a fan, andother EJ-related incidents alongthe way! Photos and pics arealways welcome too.

And if you loved the Hercules2000 Calendar, we want you toshare the glory for 2001! Wewant to emphasise that, not onlyis it Elton, but also the fans thatmake Hercules great. Have alook through your pictures ofElton and select photos you havetaken over the years; if your picis used in the 2001 Calendar,you will have your name printednext to the photo, and receive afree calendar as thanks. Pleasesend all contributions to me -address at top of page 2.

All that’s left is for us to wishElton a very Happy Birthday inMarch. And if you can’t make itto any of our "Celebrate EJ’sBirthday" Conventions (see page19 for details), then I’ll lookforward to seeing as many of youas possible at Elton’s Solo showsin the summer!

Quarterly Fanzine. Issue 50. March 2000. 3

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FROM THE EDITOR...SMALL ADS

WANTEDI am looking for the following

Elton John music videos:"Something About The Way YouLook Tonight", "Recover YourSoul", "If The River Can Bend"and "Written In The Stars". Pleasewrite to: Jochen Loh,Hammerweg 29, D - 52074Aachen, Germany.

FOR SALE OR TRADEUpdated 7 page list includes,

7", 12" vinyl, CDs, Videos,Books, Photos, T- Shirts andmore. Please write to StevenBetts 75A Coillesdene Avenue,Edinburgh EH15 2LN, ScotlandU.K. or [email protected]

HERCULES MEMBER DISCOUNTS AT WRAP IT UP!

Hercules has negotiated apermanent discount package forClub Members buying goodsfrom our retail outlet Wrap ItUp! Quote your membernumber (on your passes) to WrapIt Up!, PO Box 220, Lincoln,LN1 2RZ, England. Tel/fax +44-1522-529275 oremail: [email protected]

EJ CELS

Similar to the way animationCels are made. Matted andpresented in shadow box frames.16 titles available. Some inlimited edition! SPECIAL FREEOFFER! Write to: CartoonCreations, PO Box 396,Dunedin, FL 34697 USA or visitour website atwww.angelfire.com/biz/celebritycel Our home since 1996!

Please note that if you havepaid your Membership Fee by

Credit Card, your card willautomatically be charged

again for the renewal fee, atthe end of your membershipyear. If your card has expired

in the meantime, or if youhave switched companies,please forward your new

Credit Card details to HerculesCoordination in time for your

next renewal.

These are free to Hercules members. Send yours to Tammi Law, Editor, 49 Horseshoe Crescent, Swindon SN5 5AX, UK., or e-mail her [email protected]

idol

Arise Sir Elton! The moment EJ wasknighted by the Queen.


Most of us have heard Eltonand Bernie tell the tale of howthe song "Daniel" was originallywritten with a third verse andhow it had to be deleted beforethe final recording was made.Time and time again, they havesaid that the missing verse hadexplained the whole meaning ofthe song, but it would have beentoo long to be a pop tune. Thiswas, however, not the firstincident in which one of Bernie'slyrics had had the third verseremoved and the meaningchanged before the masterrecording was made.

In all of the interviews I haveencountered, EJ and BT havenever mentioned how or why"Holiday Inn" was reduced to asyrupy tribute to a motel chain,rather than the dark confines of aprison that Bernie had originallyenvisioned. Did the companythat owned the Holiday Inn motelchain threaten to sue? Or didthey simply feel that the publicwould enjoy a much shorterhappier version in the long run?Listening to the original demorecording, I honestly feel that itwould have stood the test of time.

The first notable change cameduring the chorus. Everythingwas the same between the demoand the final master. All exceptone little word. The final version

of the chorus reads in part: "You ain't seen nothing till

you been in a motel, baby, like aHoliday Inn."

That sounds all well and fine,but the replacement of just oneword changed the whole toneand meaning of the song. Theword "baby" replaced the word"prison"!

"You ain't seen nothing tillyou been in a motel prison, likea Holiday Inn."

With "prison" now deleted and"baby" inserted, the song endedup sounding like a commercialadvertisement for the HolidayInn. For those of you who do notknow, Holiday Inn is a motelchain in the USA. I am quitesurprised that the company hasnot yet tried to use this song totheir advantage. Once the word"prison" was eliminated and"baby" penciled in, verse one andtwo seemed to fit better with thechorus. Verse three, however,was now terribly out of place. Ifit had been left intact, it wouldnot have worked well with therest of the lyrics. "Prison"supported that third verse.Without it, there would havebeen no connection to thechorus. Consider the words:

"Don't even know if it'sCleveland or Maine.

Well, the building's as big andthe room's just the same.

Oh, the TV don't work andthe French fries are cold,

and room service closedabout an hour ago."

It must have been a lastminute choice to dramaticallyalter the lyrics because I haveheard EJ perform it live in 1971with the third verse intact, butwithout "prison" in the chorus.There was a great story to be toldhere, just imagine performing forseveral hours then traveling to thenext destination for an overnightstay in a motel room that seemedunacceptable for human comfort.With nowhere to go, thecountless number of motel roomsbegins to feel like a sort of prison.Solution? Write about it. Whywe were deprived of this originalthought may never be known.Perhaps Elton will one dayreinstate the original lyrics andperhaps he won't. For now, I canonly rely on the unreleased demoversion to capture myimagination about staying "in amotel prison, like a Holiday Inn".

(Please note: Feelingsexpressed in this article about theHoliday Inns of the early 1970sare in no way a reflection of theircurrent reputation of quality andgood service)

By Reggie Zippo

While listening to thealbum version of"Holiday Inn", I often

wonder how many fans knowthat they are only listening toabout 75% of the original lyrics.After nearly 30 years of hearing asong that sounds so complete asis, it may surprise even the mostavid of EJ's fans that "HolidayInn" once had a third verse, aslightly different chorus, and ameaning that painted a muchdarker picture about life on theroad.


Full details of the following news items have appeared on our Hotline and Web-site

NEWS BULLETS...NEW ALBUM NEWS

The latest collaboration fromthe team of Elton, Tim Rice andHans Zimmer, stems fromDreamWorks Pictures' upcominganimated adventure The Road ToEl Dorado, which is in cinemasfrom March 31. However, thealbum 'Elton John's The Road ToEl Dorado', scheduled for releaseon March 14, is more than justthe soundtrack.

Elton explained "Instead of justhaving the usual five songs on asoundtrack album and the rest ofit being score, I said, 'Let's makean album out of this and includesongs we wrote that didn't makethe movie.'" He went on to talkabout how the film, and themusic, changed along the way,"The plot changes, the jokeschange, the songs change scenes,but that's par for the course.''

The album features theoriginal, full-length versions of thefive songs Elton performs in thefilm: El Dorado; WithoutQuestion; Friends Never SayGoodbye; The Trail We Blaze;and Someday Out Of The Blue(Theme From El Dorado).

In addition, the album hasElton singing a duet with RandyNewman It's Tough To Be A God(sung in the film by Kevin Kline

and Kenneth Branagh); 16thCentury Man; Trust Me; andQueen Of Cities (all written for,but not included, in the film); ThePanic In Me and My HeartDances (written specifically forthe album). The first single,Someday Out Of The Blue(Theme from El Dorado) will bereleased April 4.

The album also includesexcerpts from the score to thefilm. Elton says of his partnershipwith Rice and Zimmer: “Tim likeswhat I do with the melody, I likewhat Tim does with the lyric, andwe love what Hans does. So it'snot a really complicated thing,primarily because we have somuch respect for each other.” TimRice, sole lyricist on the project,remarks: “Hans is one of the greatfilm composers. And Elton, ofcourse, is a legend in every way.So I feel quite privileged.''

DreamWorks Recordsexecutive Michael Ostin says ofthe album: ``It's so great to be partof a musical event like this. I stillcan't believe I'm working withElton John, Tim Rice and HansZimmer. These guys are at theircreative peaks, and we're reallylucky to be able to bring theircombined talents to so manypeople with this amazing record.''

ELTON AND TIM ASSIGNEDElton and Tim Rice will sit at

Tower Records on 8801 SunsetBlvd., LA, on March 14th 2000at 7pm, to sign copies of TheRoad to El Dorado when thealbum hits the street. It's been 5years since Elton and BernieTaupin did their last autographparty at Tower Records in LA.After 4 hours and 1,300 fans, theevening became a segment ofhistory for both Elton and Tower.Fans must buy their CD March13, and receive a special entrybracelet.

HI HAWAII!EJ kicked off the new year

with 3 concerts in Honolulu,Hawaii, January 7, 8, and 9.Although it is a US state, it is veryfar away from themainland....about halfwaybetween California and Japan !!!!We have a Hercules member inHonolulu: he was very helpful tosome mainland USA and someJapanese members of Hercules onthis occasion.....thanks Brian!Elton used basically the same setlist as the USA shows from thefall of 1999. He commented thatit was a great city, and that hewas really enjoying his stay there.EJ got many flowered leis andHawaiian shirts as gifts from theaudience.....the last time he haddone a concert in Honolulu was1982! Over the 3 nights, hededicated songs to friends in theaudience such as "Janet fromEngland", Lulu, and singer DianeKrall. Elton will continue to tourNorth America until April,bringing the solo tour to Europein the summer.

CAN I PUT YOU ON? Many of you will still

remember the Elton John postagestamps Hercules commissioned forhis 50th birthday in 1997. Thereare more Elton stamps around,visit www.coolstamps.comStamps come from Komi,Gagauzia, Buriatia, and Tanzania!

HOL

IDAY

IN

N: the lost lyric

I went to a weddingThe wedding of an old friendI was a long gone ladWe drank brown aleBrown ale from the bottleHe seemed very happyI recall I was sad

It was a promise I madeHe had been a good palHe was glad that I cameWe drank straight ginStraight gin with no iceHis bride was a blondeI don’t remember her name

They got several toastersHe always liked toastHis mother didn’t cryHis Auntie Rose drank stoutShe talked about babiesHe wore a purple shirtA purple shirt with a green tie

He said it was a grand dayShe giggled and thumped himShe worked at ‘Boots’Everyone smoked cigarettesThe girls wore white lipstickTheir frocks had red spotsThe lads smelled of ‘Brut’

The Gents was crowdedEveryone told dirty jokesThere was one about the PopeThe vicar wasn’t listeningThe sausage rolls were goodEveryone had babiesThe kids all drank warm coke

There was a girl called SylvShe had tall hairShe asked me for a fagAll she said was ‘Yea’‘Yea’ and ‘Like ya know’She spilled her BabychamSomeone called her a slag

The reception was fabThat’s what his sister saidI tried hard to fitHis dad sang ‘Edelwies’He sang the wrong wordsEverybody laughed at himHe said he felt a right tit

My friend had a brotherHis brother was a policemanHe wore hot pink socksI don’t think he liked meHe ate little sausagesHe pinched them in his fingersHe made jokes about cocks

My friend was on the doleHe talked about AustraliaThey lived with his mumLong ago he had a dreamWe all dreamt long agoI asked him if he rememberedHe asked me if I was having fun

She wanted lots of babiesHe’d be a great dadI pretended not to hearThe sausage rolls were all goneThere was lots of cake leftNobody ate much cakeThey just sent out for more beer

His brother impersonated ElvisHe had a pee stain on his crotchHe was drinking white rumThere were lots more babiesSome people threw upMy friend passed outWhat’s-her-name chewed gum

I got very drunkDrunk it all looked betterSylv looked better drunkI wanted to hear ‘Danny Boy’Bagpipes and ‘Danny Boy’Sad bitter songsYea! Sylv looked better drunk

I stood outside the Workin’ MansInside everyone was singingI was thinking about sexSaturday felt like SundaySunday when you have school MondayI went to a weddingThe christening comes next.

a wedding inA poem by Bernie Taupin

east angliaeast anglia

Hercules. The Elton John Fan Club24 Quarterly Fanzine. Issue 50. March 2000. 5

NEWS BULLETS...WALLACE TRUSTEE

The London-based museum,the Wallace Collection has hiredElton to its board of trustees. "SirElton dresses normal when hecomes to see us," said one insider."Nothing outrageous. No spangles.You wouldn't say he was famousat all. He loves this place and hasbeen here several times."

42ND ANNUAL GRAMMYAWARD

Elton was presented with theGrammy Legend Award duringthe 42nd Annual GrammyAwards. The CBS-televised eventwas held at the new StaplesCenter in downtown Los Angeleson February 23, 2000. As well asreceiving his award, EJ alsoperformed at the ceremony.

ELTON THANKS HERCULES MEMBERS

During a meeting withHercules in London Jan 18, theCheif Executive Officer of Elton'snew management company,Frank Presland delivered Elton'sthanks for fans' loyalty andsupport - especially in 1999.Elton was impressed by thenumber of Christmas cards andgifts, and says he’ll not forget the"Get Well Soon" projectorganised by Hercules followingElton's heart surgery last July.

PRIVATE DANCERElton performed a private

concert Saturday, Jan 29, in hisadopted hometown of Atlanta,Georgia. Elton was singing tobenefit Elton John AIDSFoundation, as well as GridironGlamour, a travelling fashionshow that benefits the HollyRodFoundation, which raises moneyto fight breast cancer. He playeda 2-hour show at the local FoxTheater and dedicated TinyDancer to Muhammad Ali andPhiladelphia Freedom to BillieJean King both of whom were inthe audience.

JOHN AND DAVEY IN CONCERT

Elton band members JohnJorgenson and Davey Johnstoneperformed a show at McCabe'sGuitar Store in Santa Monica onJan 30, at 7.00 pm. About 150fans braved the rain. Also in theaudience were wives and familymembers of both Davey andJohn, was well as band memberJohn Mahon.

ELTON'S HALF-BROTHER IN COURT

The half-brother of Elton hasbeen banned from driving andconvicted of possessing cannabisby magistrates in north Wales.But 33-year-old Geoffrey Dwight,from Ruthin, was late for court inWrexham after the exhaust felloff his battered Ford Escort car.Mr. Dwight, an unemployed harpmaker, told the court he declineda breathalyser test because policeofficers had seen him driving ona car park, not a public road. Hesaid he had been out drinkingand playing the harp in pubs inLlangollen one night in last Julywhen he was arrested. Mr.Dwight told the court the harp,which he had made for hiselderly mother, was damaged bya police constable who put hisfoot on it as he was arrested.

SNOOKEROO A man described by New York

police as a professional partycrasher was arrested on fraudcharges for allegedly posing asElton's manager to get into a $750-a-plate celebrity-studded gala,reported the New York Daily NewsJan 16. Peter Gianquinto, 50,called up organisers of theVolunteers of America's annualChristmas gala at the Four SeasonsHotel posing as Elton's managerand asked for 7 tickets. He claimedElton and Donatella Versacewanted to attend the Dec 12 eventto meet with two friends who wereleading the event, police said.Party planners were so snookeredthey changed the seatingarrangements at the last minute toaccommodate the request.

INTERVIEWING'S NOT MYSTRONGEST SUIT

"Victoria's Secrets: MrsBeckham's Celebrity Odyssey"(Channel 4 Television) shown onUK television early January, wassomething of an enigma. PoshSpice aka Victoria Adams spentan hour interviewing big nameslike Elton John. Elton, who wasinterviewed as he shopped forCDs, suddenly asked her whatshe thought of former Spice GirlGeri Halliwell's new songs. Poshwas speechless. The Herculesrefrain: "I'm speechless, and Idon't know where to start"!

east anglia

To celebrate our 50th issueof the Hercules Fanzine,we are giving away two

rare Elton Tour T-Shirts! Theseshirts were produced as a verylimited edition by the GermanTour Promoter of EJ’s shows in1999, exclusively for the crew.They are NOT available in theshops, and here’s YOUR chanceto own one.

Two lucky readers of TheMag will each receive one ofthese shirts for free! All youhave to do to enter the draw, issend a postcard with your name,

address, and membershipnumber to: Tammi Law, ChiefEditor, Hercules Elton John FanClub, 49 Horseshoe Crescent,Peatmoor, Swindon, SN5 5AX,UK. Mark your cards “Tour shirtPrize-Draw”. Winners will benotified by post, and names willbe published in the next issue.

And don’t worry if you aren’tsuccessful with this free prize-draw. We will be holding anauction in the forthcoming Juneissue, giving you a chance to bidfor 2 more shirts, with allproceeds benefiting The Elton

John Aids Foundation. There willalso be chance to bid for two ofthese rare shirts on the Auctionsection of the new HerculesWeb-site, with proceeds alsobenefiting EJAF.

Taken from the book ‘The Devil at High Noon’. Written by Bernie Taupin. Supplied by Jimmie Collins

exclusive...exclusive...TOUR T-SHIRT FREE PRIZE-DRAW!

(A poem to Elton & Bernie)

by Hercules MembersGeorge & Ellen Pappas,

Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

Quarterly Fanzine. Issue 50. March 2000. 23Hercules. The Elton John Fan Club6


NEWS BULLETS...NO STRINGS ON JUDIE

Elton has returned thecopyrights of three of JudieTzuke's early albums from hisRocket Record label back to theUK singer/songwriter. The albumswere recorded between 1979and 1981 and include herworldwide hit Stay With Me TillDawn, and For You, her firstsingle for Rocket. "As the albumshad been deleted for some time, Icalled Elton's office. Elton kindlycalled me and said that he wouldof course be prepared to let mehave them back," says Judie.Judie plans a UK tour "Phoenix2000" in April and May.

‘NEW’ HIDDEN RECORDINGSHercules regularly hears of

unearthed hidden Eltonrecordings. But the latest out ofthe closet comes from a Scottishradio station, reports the UKIndependent newspaper Jan 24.Scottish Radio Holdings, ownerof Radio Clyde, plans to raise£75m through a placing andaims to exploit previouslyunreleased recordings of Elton."This isn't the usual call for cashfor acquisitions," one of thebankers to the placing said."Some of SRH's stations havesome great Elton recordings stuckin the archives, which reallyought to be commercialised."

OFFICIAL ELTON JOHN WEBSITE Following a meeting with

Frank Presland, the CEO ofTwenty-First Artist (Elton's newmanagement company), inLondon on January 18, 2000,Hercules can say that the officialElton John websitehttp://www.eltonjohn.com, isgoing to be worth waiting for. Thebasic website is launched March1, but might take a few weeks forall features to be operational. Eltonis expected to be highly involvedin the website project - withpersonal contributions regularly.Hercules hopes to be involvedwith this exciting new project. Areview of the new web site willfollow in June's The Mag.

GREATEST ROCK'N'ROLL SONGS The 100 greatest rock 'n' roll

songs, as determined by a panelof 700 voters assembled by themusic network VH1, have Eltonat number 70 with Your Song.

RAYMOND ON TVMany fans have contacted us

to ask when will the showfeaturing Elton look-a-likeRaymond Johnson and theHercules fan club at Leeds Castlein September 1999 be screenedon British TV. The Look-A-LikesAgency, first due out overChristmas 1999, will be shownon ITV, likely early March. It isbeing screened as a five- or six-part prime-time show, withsegments of Hercules in mostepisodes.

MAYFIELD DIESSoul legend Curtis Mayfield,

whose stylings influenced artistsof all musical genres, died onDec 26. He was 57. Mayfieldsuffered a serious accident inAugust 1990. In 1994, Elton,Whitney Houston, The IsleyBrothers and Aretha Franklinrecorded his compositions in aspecial tribute called, All MenAre Brothers: A Tribute to CurtisMayfield. A remake of aMayfield song will feature as ananthem for the State of Georgia.The record producers want Eltonto be included on the recording.

ELTON AT THE MET New York’s Metropolitan

Museum of Art is showingexhibition "Rock Style" (runsuntil March 19) and spotlightsclassic rock-'n'-roll performersand their pervasive influenceon fashion. The exhibitionfeatures some of Elton'scostumes and shoes.

GERMAN SINGLE CHARTS OF THE 90S

Elton John was present in theGerman Top 100 Singles Chartsfor 294 weeks in the Nineties.That makes him number fiveright behind Michael Jackson(302 weeks), Mariah Carey (309weeks), Madonna (330 weeks)and Sweden's Roxette with atotal of 377 weeks. On averagethere was an Elton John singlelisted in the German Top 100every second week between1990 and 1999.

CANDY BY THE POUND Elton was the biggest solo

earner in 1999 according torock account Cliff Dane. Elton,taking £25m, was also numbertwo overall, behind the almostpredictable Rolling Stones bandwhich creamed £35m. Thefigures follow December newsfrom Pollstar about top concertearners in 1999, which placedElton eighth with $32.5m.Number one were - again - theRolling Stones on $64.7m. Butremember, the Stones have tosplit their earnings betweenthem.

ELTON TO FACE COURTElton is to give evidence at

London's High Court in his£20m damages claim against aformer agent and accountants,reported the Western DailyPress newspaper Dec. 15. MrJustice Jacob heard the firstlegal skirmishes between theparties involved at a preliminaryhearing in Dec. The judge saidit was being claimed thatAndrew Haydon, an agentemployed by Elton's formermanager John Reid's company,JRE Ltd., was negligent inallowing JRE to charge U.S. tourexpenses to Elton. The trial inOctober is expected to last eightweeks.

It was nineteen seventy twoWhen I heard you on AM radio Strutting with my friends along Grand AvenueJust a kid, silly little city boyManhattan's castles sparkled just ahead I recall that first songA soft melancholy whispered "Daniel my brother"

From that moment and infinite moreYour pain gripped me

Your tears filled meYour rhythm raised me

Let me tell you how I feelYour music spiked like a gypsy tapestryDancing wild like cool Kentucky ginHoly Moses that ain't no sinYour words a prism, hues of life'sharmonyYour music tap dancing along concerthall balconies

Twenty seven years I've sung backIn the car on a two lane motorwayRound Norfolks BywayAlone in London TownWalking down the Old Kent Road

Your music great company at three a.m. As I found my way back to my flat

Listening to your soundI thought then like I do now

What grace between your linesYour fingers gliding Your harmony so aliveYour voice like a high blue note Deep from the DeltaNot bad for a "Sheffield Man"

Just a fan no waySoul mates in time and spaceThough never face to faceYour notes fantastic left their grace

Still todayThe songs you singThe lyrics you weaveMy heart liftsOld friends thank you!You two so gifted.

If my message finds youKnow my soul has cherished your artLike a diamond in the rough"Between a Father & Son" and "Candle in the Wind" You made England proud

Your compassion with no boundsBernie's eyes glisten

He knows you well

We've travelled farFrom Cities, Commons to HillsWhen you sing we come together

Your music, your lyricsRoll Elton, Roll on like the mighty MississippiBernie spin that magic without kinAll together nowStrangers we haven't been

strangers wehaven’t been


PERFECT DAYAccording to unconfirmed

sources, Elton has signed up toappear in 'Perfect Day', thefinale concert to National MusicDay in the UK. The concerttakes place at Somerset House,London on June 29, 2000, andwill be broadcast live by UK TVBBC 1 and 2, and UK Radio 1 &2. Elton will break from hisGerman Tour to appear.

NIGEL STRIKES BACK! According to the Nigel

Olsson Fan Club, Nigelprovided backing vocals on theupcoming sound-track albumThe Road to El Dorado.

MUSICARES AWARD

Elton and Sting share a jokeafter Elton was presented withthe Musicares Person of the YearAward in Los Angeles, Feb 21.

NEW BOOKAuthor Philip Norman has

completed writing Sir Elton: TheDefinitive Biography of EltonJohn. It will be published inMarch by London publishersSidgwick & Jackson. Apparently,Elton thinks the book is well-researched and accurate.Norman famously penned Eltonin 1991, which was aninsightful book on Elton andincluded a fascinating andcomprehensive discography, oras our sales manager Alan atWrap It Up! correctly pointedout, "songography" as it didn'tdetail disc catalogue codes!

NEWS BULLETS...

Ifirst became an Elton John fan when the ‘EltonJohn’ album was released, I was about 15years old then and myself and a group of four

friends used to listen to the album and werecompletely bowled over by it. My boyfriend atthe time got tickets to see Elton singing at "TheCountry Club" in Hampstead, I believe in 1969or 1970, and it was the first pop concert I hadever been to. The Club was full and heavingwhen we arrived - I remember that Elton wasvery exciting - we all had a great evening. Thenext time I saw him live was at the Shaw Theatreabout 1 year later, and this concert is still one ofthe most memorable for me. I believe RogerMoore and Princess Margaret were in theaudience and Elton was just electrifying. I was ina daze for days afterwards, and after that I wascompletely hooked on seeing Elton live.

The next concert after that was the one at theRoyal Festival Hall in 1974 when PrincessMargaret was again in the audience - I rememberher dancing in the Royal Box! It was a fantasticconcert; I had queued for hours early onemorning outside the Royal Festival Hall - thequeue went round and round the outside!

By this time of course, TumbleweedConnection was out and this same group of friendsused to listen to it together in someone’s bedroom.

After that I saw Elton perform whenever hewas in London, and of course, bought all his LPs.When he decided to stop touring (was it around1978?), I was devastated - I remember phoningBrian Hayes on LBC one morning when theannouncement had been made - Brian Hayeswas saying "Did anyone care?", and of course Iphoned in to say plenty of us did!

I feel I’ve been so lucky to have been able toenjoy Elton’s music for so long - I play The One,Made in England and of course The Big Pictureall the time, and continue to see him livewhenever I can, with children in tow now. I havenever met Elton personally although my husbandColin met him in 1969, just after Elton had madehis first album. Colin was at a pub in Surrey andwas sitting next to Elton at the bar. Elton was veryshy, and proudly told Colin about the album hehad just made. Of course Colin loves telling methis story, as he has met Elton, and I haven’t!

Jane Bradley, Herts, UK

To Hercules, I hope I speak on behalf of allElton fans... We thank the Lord, there'speople out there like you!!

I hope the 21st century is Hercules', and ofcourse, EJ's best time yet!

Best wishes,Adam Buckley, UK

Iwas reading the December fanzine and realizeda very good point was made in the Summer ofFun article. I also felt for a very long time that

no one could possibly understand my love andaffection for our dear Sir Elton. And then Idiscovered the fan club. I may not be in thegroup that goes to just about every concertpossible, but I do get a sense of connection fromreading about others' love and appreciation forhim. Thank God for both the man and youpeople that care as much about him as I do andenough to do such a wonderful job paying himtribute the way you do. I greatly appreciate notfeeling like an outcast.

Keep up the great work!Wendy Rohn, Greenfield, WI, USA

When I opened my heart to Elton andhis music in 1997, nothing about hisprevious drug and alcohol addictions

- which he had suffered for so long - could befelt. So, it is even harder for me to understand thathe had once fallen to these addictions. Since I amquite a recent fan - as you can see - I cannot sayanything about the past, what concerts were likein those times. I experienced my first concert inJune 1999, and I was absolutely fascinated by hispiano artistry and his voice. We are lucky thatyou are here Elton!

Ines Dießl, Germany

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Admittedly, we hadplanned to launch thenew Hercules website a

lot earlier, but keeping inmind that all Hercules workis done in the so-called sparetime of the Hercules teammembers, things have taken alittle longer than we planned.

And even now that thenew Hercules website willsoon be officially launched athttp://www.eltonfan.net, thereare still a few constructionareas that hopefully willdisappear in the very nearfuture. Still we think thatthere are already lots ofgreat features andservices for everyElton fan on theweb.

The basic idea of the newHercules website is for it tobe your Elton John portal onthe world wide web. As such,the basic navigation of thenew site is very similar toYahoo! for example, or otherinternet portals. However, incontrast to the big searchengines, the Hercules websiteonly features Elton Johnrelated content.

If you are familiar withHercules' current website athttp://www.eltonfan.com you

will noticethat all ofit'sfeatureshavebeentransferredto the newsite, such asthe EltonTrivia, the

Hercules

Message Board, the HerculesChat Room, and of course thenews pages and archives.However, all of these serviceshave been re-designed andimproved in speed andperformance, bringing you aneven better service.

In addition, there are lotsof new services such as theHercules Online Shop, anOnline Auction Room, VirtualHercules eCards, and the newHercules eNewsletter. Asalready stated above, evenmore features will be addedshortly. So make sure to comeback often to check it all out.There will also be newservices for Hercules WebMembers, such as your ownpersonal e-mail [email protected](coming soon), the newsarchive, and multimedialibrary. And again, more WebMember services will beadded over the months tocome.

So don't wait, butbookmark the new pagetoday. At the time this issuewent to press, we were stillplanning to launch the new

website by the end ofMarch. Don't shoot us

if it takes a littlelonger ... we areonly thewebmasters.

eltonfan.net

THE NEW HERCULES WEBSITE

THE NEW HERCULES WEBSITEnight of Aida on December 9,and he made the front page ofthe Chicago Sun-Timesnewspaper.

Before discussing the detailsof the show, a few interestingcomparisons of Chicago's "Aida"to the Atlanta version. First, mostof the cast was replaced, exceptfor Headley as Aida and SherieScott as Amneris and one of theensemble (background/dancer)actors, Phineas Newborn.Although many of the behind-the-scenes people werereplaced, many were alsoretained.

Three of the "Elaborate Lives"songs were dropped from therevamped "Aida", most notably"The Messenger", which was onthe officially released CD anddemo CD. "Not Me" was re-inserted into the musical, alongwith the renamed "Radames'Letter". There are a few songsthat were not included on thevarious artists CD, which werein the musical: "Every Story is aLove Story", "Our Nation HoldsSway", "The Past is AnotherLand", and "Dance of the Robe."Plus, they are not performed inthe order they appear on eitherAida CD.

I can't possibly convey thefull story, atmosphere, andemotions of Aida well enough.You need to see it for yourself. Iwill provide a basic outline ofthe story, but this does not do itjustice. Critics universally agreedthat the musical's costumes andscenery were stunning.

One long time theatergoer Iknow said that it was the bestscenery she had ever seen. A bigfavorite of many was the

I had not seen the firstincarnation in Atlanta in 1998("Elaborate Lives: The Legend ofAida"), so I did not know whatto expect. The first Aidaperformance in Chicago that Iwas supposed to see wascancelled due to an on-stageaccident on the second night ofpreviews. Near the end of theNov 13 show, the two leadactors, Heather Headley as Aidaand Adam Pascal as Radames,fell 15 feet to the stage whenthe "tomb" plummeted. Bothwere only slightly injured, andwere able to resume their rolesfor the November 18 show. Butthere's an old saying that "anypublicity is good publicity": theshow received more local newscoverage due to the mishap.

As it was, a lot of local newsreports focused on the grand re-opening of the theater itself. Theoriginal vaudeville theater’schandeliers, marble, gold-leaf,and intricate decorative figureshave been refurbishedthroughout, at an estimated $20million.

Elton was in Chicago for thefinal week of Aida rehearsals,and performed 3 solo concertsin the city that week. But henever once mentioned themusical during his concerts! MyAida T-shirt did not even triggera comment. He did return to thecity for the official press opening

Elton John and Tim Rice's

AidaIN CHICAGOReview by Sharon Kalinoski

Fortunately for me andother Chicago area

residents the pre-Broadway run of "Aida"

took place at theCadillac Palace Theater

in Chicago from Nov12 1999 to Jan 9, 2000.

The convenientlocation allowed me to

see the musical 7times. And I would

have liked to see more.The music, of course,was written by Elton,

with lyrics by Tim Rice.

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VIDEO SINGLES (contd.) Videos made for promotion of asingle, continuing where we leftthe list in The Mag issue 48.

The 70s1970 Midnight SpecialAndy Williams ShowBBC:The sounds of EltonJohn & Bernie Taupin

1971 "Your Song" on BBC TV"Top of the Pops", inJanuaryMadman Across the WaterAlbum played live"Get It On" [T. Rex] Eltonon Keyboards, BBC TV"Top of the Pops"BBC Sounds For Saturday(8 Live Songs)

1972 London with OrchestraBBC: interview, "TinyDancer", "All the Nasties""Holiday Inn" from BBC

1973 In the Hot SeatMovie: "Born to Boogie"with Marc Bolan. Elton onkeyboards on "Get It On"and "Children of theRevolution"Goodbye Norma Jean andOther Things. AKA "TheElton John Story". Also alaserdisc release

1974 BBC "Old Grey WhistleTest": Ticking, GrimsbyHammersmith OdeonChristmas Show, 24DecemberElton with John Lennon atCaribou Ranch (Brief)

1975 "Soul Train" (Bennie andthe Jets, PhilidalphiaFreedom,)"Cher Show" (Lucy in theSky, Bennie, medley)Dodger Stadium from 8mmcamera, private recording,no sound"Pinball Wizard" From theMovie "Tommy""Midnight Special" tribute"Tommy” Movie PremiereTV Special, hosted byDavid Frost

1976 Elton John Live inEdinburgh Playhouse,Scotland, 17 SeptemberBBC TV "Top of The Pops""Tom Snyder Show""Morecome and Wise",BBC TV. Plays "SorrySeems...Hardest Word"solo

1977"The Muppets": Croc'Rock,Bennie, GBYBrRd, Don'tGo Breaking.. w MissPiggy"The Thom Bell Sessions"London, UK (Wembley-Empire Pool), concert,November"Morecome & Wise". Plays"Shine on Through" solo"Mike Douglas Show""David Frost Show"

1978 "Parkinson Show" BBC TV:Live duet w. Dame EdnaEveridge & "Song For Guy"Merv Griffin Interview

1979"Top of the Pops" BBC TV,live "Part Time Love"

kaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyes


kaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyesPart 5 of our collectors series on Elton's TV & Video Appearances by George Matlock and Sharon Kalinoski

K A L E I D O S C O P E E Y E SK A L E I D O S C O P E E Y E SK A L E I D O S C O P E E Y E S

1996:BelieveMade in EnglandBlessedPleaseYou Can Make HistoryYoung AgainLive Like HorsesPerfect Day

1997:Something About The WayYou Look Tonight(DIRECTOR: TIM ROYES)Candle in The Wind 1997

1998:Recover Your Soul -(DIRECTOR: MARCUS NISPEL)If the River Can Bend

1999:Written in the Stars(DIRECTOR: THE NEW RENASSANCE)

Should you be able to addthe missing Directors of thevideo-singles, or know ofother video-singles or TVappearances by Elton duringthe 70s, please email: [email protected]

or write to: Hercules UK, PO Box 315, Richmond,Surrey TW9 4JF, England.

Thanks to Wayne Martin forhis invaluable contributionto this series.

TV SHOWS etc.Interviews, TV specials,concerts, news clips,commercials featuring Elton

geometric patterned silhouette-filled and backlit "prison scene" -awesome. Most others alsoenjoyed the breathtaking verticalswimming pool scene, completewith mist and "swimmers" in agreat illusion. The frequentscenery changes all moved sosmoothly that one hardly noticedwhen it was happening: therewere no awkward moments atany time.

Critics all lauded Headley'sportrayal of the lead role, andagreed that she is destined to bea big star. But a target of criticswere the seemingly "out ofplace/time" (anachronistic)scenes. For example, one tookissue with a painted womanfigure wearing a bikini swimsuit,which she felt was not "correct"for ancient Egypt. Unfortunately,someone working on the showheard the comment andagreed.....so the figure got apainted-on towel for the rest ofthe show's run!

What the reviewers did notunderstand was that the show'swriters were intentionallyblending old and new, usingmodern devices to tell a timelessstory in an "ancient" setting. I feelthat the story was not intended tobe solely about a drama takingplace in ancient Egypt: it is astory that could take placeanywhere, anytime, withuniversal themes of powerstruggles, love, and death.

Critics also dismissed themodern "fashion show" scene, afuturistic runway sequencebacked by loud rock music,saying that it caused the show tohave a "split personality." Theyfelt it detracted from the

seriousness of the story, and it isrumoured that it may beeliminated during the Broadwayrun. However, it was a veryentertaining crowd pleaser. Toobad the detractors could notappreciate the balance that thisfun scene provided....they needto realize that real life is not allserious, nor all fun.

Tim Rice, for those of youwho don't know, is a veteranlyric writer of many famousmusicals such as Jesus ChristSuperstar and Evita. Hecollaborated with Elton for a fewsongs in the 1980s, and is alsowell know as co-writer with Eltonof the "Lion King" soundtrack.(Hard to believe that was nearly5 years ago!!!) He has beenwidely quoted as saying that hedoes not care what the criticsthink about Aida, and that theywill probably hate it. He says thatwhat matters is that the audiencelikes it, and I agree. If the averageperson enjoys it, asentertainment, then it is asuccess.

A brief summary of the story:An Egyptian captain falls in lovewith a slave he captured, Aida.Unknown to him, she is aNubian princess. He, Radames, isengaged to marry Amneris, thePharaoh's daughter. Against hiswill he is forced to marryAmneris, but his heart forces himto betray Egypt to help Aida. Forthis crime, Radames and Aida aresentenced to be buried alive.Although she loves them both,Amneris must, as the futureleader of Egypt, allow the deathsentence to be carried out.

As the lovers await death,Radames tells Aida that he will

find her again, even if it takes100 lifetimes. This "future"meeting is portrayed in theshow's opening and closingscenes: the show begins andends in a setting of a modern daymuseum with ancient Egyptianartifacts in glass cases. The"ancient" lovers, supposedlyreincarnated, catch each other'seyes and feel an attraction.

During the nearly 9 week runin Chicago there were frequentminor dialog and song lyricchanges. Some made sense,such as Radames' father (Zoser)asking "....what do we do if theytake up arms again?" instead ofthe former ".......what do we do ifthey take up arms against us?".

One very clever scene rightbefore "Like Father, Like Son" hasa humourous little "Lion King"reference. While plotting to killthe pharaoh, Zoser reflects, "firsta wedding, then a funeral.......ah,now that's what I call the Circleof Life." The audience chuckles.

There were other minordialog conflicts I realized aftermy sixth show; hopefully this willbe revised for Broadway, forexample Aida asks Mereb not totell anyone that she is a Nubianprincess, because she fears theEgyptians will kill her. But sinceat the very beginning there wereother Nubian women capturedalong with her, the Nubianswould have already known thatAida was enslaved.

Those who have not alreadyseen it, I highly recommend thatyou go to see Aida in New Yorkif you get the chance. Iguarantee that you will enjoy itimmensely.

HEALING


Bernie did not meet Reggieuntil after Reggie had

already composed the musicfor ten of Bernie's poeticlyrics.

Elton and Bernie signedwith Dick James Music on

November 7, 1967.

If it not had been for CalebQuaye, Elton's career at

Dick James Music wouldhave never been a reality. Itwas Caleb who persuadedDick James to listen to thenow famous Dick JamesDemos.

Did you know that.......When Rod Stewart

married Rachel Hunter, EltonJohn teased the singer bysending the couple a 10pounds ($16) gift voucherwith the instruction to "buysomething nice for thehome."

GOSSIP ABOUT ELTON - FOUND OF COURSE, BETWEEN PAGES 17 AND 20!!

George Matlock: Thank you verymuch for participating in thisinterview. The whole thingsnowballed following aninterview we did with CharlieMorgan earlier this year. Thatgenerated a lot of interest, andhere we are. Do you long tocome back to the UK for a while?

Nigel Olsson: I'd love to comeback to record. Basically, I'd loveto record with producers Ihaven't before, or those I have,on a big record. I'd love torecord again with Gus Dudgeon.We have actually discussed manytimes on the phone. Want to doit the old-fashioned way. Withreal drums, in a real studio, witha real microphone. These daysyou just post a disk and you havesounds. Me and Gus wereprobably the first in and the lastout at the studio, perfecting thedrums. These days I think it takesaway from the energy and theheart of the record.

GM: You mean it's a good thingto suffer a little for your craft.

NO: Absolutely. That's what wedid in the old days, and itworked very well.

GM: Is it that your and Gus'stime schedules don't permit, orare there any other anxieties?

NO: It costs a lot of money to doit the old-fashioned way. Andwith the names I'd like, therecord company would have tocome up with a lot ofsmackeroos (money).

GM: Ideally, who would you liketo bring in? I understand amongnames are Lee Sklar on bass,with whom you worked in yourearly California session days. Andyou are chasing Kiki Dee andRay Cooper for theircollaboration.

NO: Production-wise, Gus, JeffLynne. Also David Foster onkeyboards, with whom I've beenclose friends since the mid-70s

As previously announced inour December issue of The Mag, here’s a quick

reminder of the forthcoming fanconventions we have organised:

EJ’s Birthday Conventions:Hercules UK and

Hercules USA/Canadaare both hosting fanconventions on March25th to celebrate

Elton’s birthday. The UK convention is at ANNAHOTEL, Queensborough Terrace,London, noon to 5 pm as always.Special guests are expected.

In the US, the convention willtake place in Chicago. For

those who cannotattend our 5th annualEJ fan party inChicago, Hercules is

also hosting a birthday partyin Orlando, Florida, for the first

time, also on March 25. If youwould like an invitation or moreinformation, e-mail Barb Meadows-Crowley at:[email protected]

And to celebrate the factthat EJ will beperforming in front ofthe Hercules Statuewhen he brings hisSolo Tour to Germany

in the summer, there will be a

convention on the day of theconcert, 23 June 2000, from 12to 6pm, at the Hotel SchweizerHof, Wilhelmshoher Allee 288,in Kassel, Germany.

All fans are welcome to any ofthe events. If you require furtherinformation, please refer toDecember issue of The Mag, orcontact the relevant department.We look forward to seeing you!

conventionally speaking...HEALING

His friends callhim the"Drop-Out

Drummer", the fanscall him a legend.We’re talking aboutNigel Olsson - one of thefirst drummers of Elton'sremarkable career.

Why drop out? Nigel wasasked to leave the Elton John Band- twice - but what's earned himthat title? In his own words: "It'swhat I leave out that makes peopleappreciate my playing style." Likesuccessor Charlie Morgan, the life-span of an Elton drummer doesn’tappear to exceed 13 years. That'swhat Charlie and Nigel eachsurvived when they were full-timedrummers for Elton.

And why is Nigel a legend?Well, for those of you unsure ofNigel’s history here's a quickreminder... He's played drumsand sung backing vocals on mostof Elton's repertoire 1970 through1984. He was briefly out of theband with colleague and bassguitarist Dee Murray in 1975, andthen returned. He was againreleased - along with Dee - in1985.

His first successful recordingfor Elton was "Lady What'sTomorrow" on 1969 album EmptySky, while Roger Pope providedthe fills on all that album's othertracks. Nigel's next appearancewas on "Tumbleweed Connection",drumming on "Amoreena" as wellas backing vocals with Dee on anumber of other tracks. Thencame the legendary live radioshow "17-11-70", with Elton'ssound stripped down to piano,Dee on bass and Nigel on drums.

Nigel’s full-timestint started with"Honky Chateau" in1972, and among his

classics are "RocketMan" and of course our

anthem "Hercules". Thedrums stopped rolling in 1976,when "Blue Moves" was releasedwithout Nigel. Nigel and Deereappeared in 1980 at the biggestcrowd-puller of the era...theinfamous Central Park, New Yorkshow in September. Nigelreappeared on the album "21 at33", and on the 1981 album TheFox, he was drummer for"Breaking Down The Barriers","Heels of the Wind", and the titletrack.

In a further twist of confusionfor the record-buying public, Nigelwas again off the 1982 album"Jump Up!" but Dee was still on.Jeffrey Porcaro was the drummer.Nigel made a full return on 1983and 1984 hit albums "Too Low ForZero" and "Breaking Hearts." Anddespite all the ins-and-outs, Nigelis probably the best rememberedElton drummer.

Nigel was born in Sunderland,north east England and emigratedto California in 1972, beforemoving to Nashville for 7 years.Old pal Dee was with him there.They did backing vocals for localhero Earl Thomas Connelly. Moreimportantly, Nigel met his wifeSchanda in Nashville. Nigelbecame disillusioned with themusic scene for a while, when hetook up a hobby in racing cars,which continues. Nigel movedback to California four years ago.

That's the history lesson overwith. Now what's Nigel up to?

HANDSHANDS

TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO HERCULESnigel olssonnigel olsson

FROM CALIFORNIA, 13 NOVEMBER 1999

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nigel olsson

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BETWEEN 17 AND 20 • BETWEEN 17 AND 20

WORKINGBEHINDPOSSIBLYTHEGREATEST

SINGER-SONGWRITEROF THE CENTURY

I also have a large number offriends here. Some of them Ex-Pat Brits themselves, but mostlyof American origin. I have beensteadily letting people know Iam here, willing and able. Thisis not as easy as I first thought,and it has certainly been alesson in humility. Having beenat the top of my profession inthe UK for over 15 years, it hascome as something of a shockto start again over here. I mustsay straight away, though, that Ihave unceasing support fromfans everywhere, and I wasmost gratified to discover theesteem in which I was held.Maybe it was a result of beingprotected by the the Elton Johnorganisation for so long, but

certainly coming out into theharsh reality taught me atremendous amount.

I am ready for less touring, andmore studio work. When I firstmet Elton, I was probably one ofthe top 3 studio musicians in theUK. I was working all the hoursthat I wanted, I had recordedextensively, and my discographyincluded such people as NikKershaw, Gary Moore, Tina Turner,Tom Robinson, Tracey Ullman,Matt Bianco & Air Supply - quiteapart from the endless list ofmovie soundtracks and advertisingjingles. I had also composed andrecorded several albums of themetune music (one of which becamethe theme for the British TV series,The Bill). It was a huge decision toburn my bridges and go on theroad with Elton. As it turns out, itwas a decision that I have neverregretted. Working behindpossibly the greatest singer-songwriter of the century (andbeyond) has been an honour anda privilege. I was already a hugefan of his music, and I shallremain so. Since our first meeting Ihave become a fan of hismagnetic personality, hisseemingly never ending wit, his

compassion, generosity anddedication. This is genius materialI am talking about. Sure, he hadhis (well documented) ups anddowns, but this has only madehim more human in my eyes.Well, no doubt this will makeElton squirm with embarrassment,as he has never been one to takepraise well. I learnt that early on!

In my dreams, I have a hopethat he also came out of ourcollaboration having gained fromit. I would like to think that heregarded me as more than just ahired hand. But many people havecome and gone during Elton's 30-year career, and Elton is the onlyone who can judge their effect onhim personally. Certainly he wroteof me in glowing terms to the USImmigration & NaturalizationService - for which I am forevergrateful.

Onwards and Upwards... tonew horizons and newchallenges (with, perhaps, a fewold ones thrown in for goodmeasure). That just about wrapsup my "Letter from America". AHappy and prosperous New Yearto you all!

Charlie Morgan


Before his membershipinto the Bluesology

group, Reggie and Bluesologymember Stuart Brown hadpreviously formed a groupcalled Corvettes, whichplayed at local Boy Scoutgatherings.

While in Bluesology, hisband mates nicknamed

him "Little Bunter", after acomic strip character namedBilly Bunter.

Before teaming up withReggie Dwight, Bernie

Taupin earned a livingchasing and crating chickenson a farm.

BETWEEN 17 AND 20 • BETWEEN 17 AND 20ANOTHER VERSE OF OUR REGULAR COLUMN FEATURING TRIVIA AND


when I moved here. Playing-wise,I still love the way DaveyJohnstone plays. In fact, there is aproject in the air from a smallcompany in Japan who want meto put together an album withDavey, Guy Babylon and BobBirch.

GM: We look forward to pluggingthat at the appropriate time. Isthat happening in 2000?

NO: We're discussing it now, weshould know the deal is there inthe next couple of weeks. But it'sin the 'hurry up and wait'situation [laughter]. We'll cut that(record) probably in Los Angeles.I've been talking to a lot of peopleabout this Internet deal youmentioned. Several people havephoned me to say I should putrecording out on the Internet. Butbeing not yet Internet-friendly, it'sway above my head. But it wouldcut the middle man out. In tenyears there'll only be one recordcompany who owns everybody,run by lawyers and doctors!

GM: So do you think this is theway you'll go, down the worldwide web?

NO: It could be. You know, it'sstill very, very new. I've just gotthis set of electric drums. Afteryears of swearing at electricdrums, I just got sponsored by adrum company in Los Angeles,called Drum Tech. They sent meall these electric drum pads, sothat I can rehearse in the housewithout blowing the neighbours.So the (Internet) is still new. I justwant to get into the studio again.I have a 17-year-old son who'sinto all that Internet.

GM: Good luck with the record.Hercules keeps in touch with theband members, and I think wefeel a big debt to you all. I shouldask your age.

NO: I'm 50 years.

GM: I can't tell that from yourvoice. You don't sound likeLeonard Cohen! [laughter]

GM: Now turning to events oneyear old! Charlie suffered asimilar experience to you. At thetime of his departure, there was alot of speculation that NigelOlsson might come back. Itwasn't to be. But would you havecome back? And was theinvitation made?

NO: I wasn't invited, but myname was put forward by acouple of people involved withElton. But I can't tell you bywhom. It was put forward to HisMajesty [laughter]. They weretold by Elton 'no, I don't want togo backwards'. Whatever thatmeans. I'd have loved to havegone back and do small tours.You know when Reidie wasinvolved (John Reid) we'd get acall that we're doing a tour of 32cities. Then when you get on thetour, it becomes 2 years! So, I'dlike to do small tours. And dothose early songs, like "Better OffDead" and "Danny Bailey", and"Tower of Babel". In fact, I'mdoing a Drum Clinic tour at themoment where I play in musicstores and feature two of the earlyCDs. I'm playing "Roy Rogers",and it's going down a storm.People are coming up and asking'where did you find that song?'.

Little do they know its buried on"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

Nigel says he's hopeful of areturn (and since thisinterview was conducted he'sbeen drafted in to providebacking vocals on new album"The Road to El Dorado")

NO: So I would have loved theinvite, and I may be invited back.But to learn he (Elton) would be'going backwards' was anotherkick in the face. It would neverbe the same without Dee, but Ijust want to play with the lads.

GM: Well, your enthusiasm isregistered loud and clear. Thisappears to be a gestation periodfor the band, however. It seemsmost of the 2000 gigs may wellbe solo shows anyway. Do youfeel Elton's trying to keepoverheads low?

NO: Probably so. You know Idon't know how correct the presshas been about millions owing byReidie. But I'm sure (Elton's) gotenough money to see himthrough the weekend [laughter].The tour's selling out everywhere.And in discussion with manypeople over the years, they say'what do you need a band for,when it's selling out anyway?' But

A personalaccount of

LIFE INTHE USA..continued

Nigel then...

Dear Hercules Members, bythe time you read this, wewill have all survived

whatever "glitches" the Y2K bugfelt inclined to throw at us, so Iwould like to take thisopportunity to wish you ALL ahappy Year 2000. I will NOTsuccumb to wishing you a HappyNew Millennium YET... as thatwill not be until the 1st January2001 (George Matlock and Ihave talked about this topic, andbeing perfectionists, came to thesame conclusion - Arthur C.Clarke is right!). We still havethe last year of the oldmillennium to survive yet!! Iwould also like to thank you allfor your continuing supportduring the past 18 months.

Having uprooted myhomebase midway through1999, and moved to the USA,the past 8 months have certainlybeen eventful. Despite havingtoured the USA extensively sincemy first visit in 1979 (with TomRobinson), actually LIVING inthe USA is quite different fromtouring here. On tour, much ofthe more mundane, everydaythings are take care of. We onlyhave to concern ourselves withthe immediate job at hand:performing. Not that life is easy.Living out of a suitcase from onehotel to the next, via buses,planes and taxis has its owndrawbacks. Believe me, I alwaysrelished the chance to get backhome and lead a relativelynormal life for a while! Whilethis might sound like a case of"the grass is always greener", Ihave always accepted thenegative side of my jobwholeheartedly! Such are thepotential rewards from doingwhat I do, that they far outweighthe less palatable aspects.

THERE ARETHINGS I MISS

ABOUT EUROPE

Being "in between" two stools,so to speak, for the past year orso has allowed me a uniquevantage point on the UK and USsocieties. I have to say first of allthat there are wonderful thingsabout BOTH sides of the Atlantic,and while I am (and always willbe) a "Limey-Brit" at heart, I donot find it hard to settle into theAmerican way of life. I supposethat has everything to do with theamount of touring I have donehere.

But there are things I missabout Europe. The one tangiblething that has not been created inthe USA is history. I am talkingabout real depth to the history.After all, the only race that HADany real history on the NorthAmerican continent was sadly all

but wiped out by the first settlers.But I digress. It is the sheer depthof history in Europe that isamazing. For example, where inthe USA can you leave yourhouse and drive 5 miles to anaqueduct that was built by theRomans in the first century AD?

In some respects, I believe itis this lack of "roots" that drivesmany Americans to seek theirorigins in Europe. In addition,America has become a countryof restless travellers: forevermoving on, looking forsomething, never happy to stayin one place. It seems that ifthings don't go right in one town,you move on and try elsewhere,leaving your past behind you. Isuppose if your roots aren't deep,it is easier to pull them up andreplant them.

As for my own existence here,it has certainly taken on anomadic flavour. Having boughta house in Central Florida, I havedriven the 700 miles betweenthere and Nashville, in search ofwork, at least a dozen times inthe past 8 months. I can honestlysay that I know the routes I-75and I-24 like the back of myhand! I know most of the speedtraps, and a large number of thegas stations, where to buy thecheapest fuel (Georgia has thebest prices), and I have nowhoned the trip into a little over10 hours, with 2 fuel stops.

Why Nashville, you may ask?Well, I have tasted the madnessthat is LA, and I have some smallexperience of New York's hecticmusic scene, and I foundNashville's "small-town" feel tobe more to my liking. Thisdoesn't mean I don't workelsewhere - in fact I have been tothe West Coast no fewer than 3times this past year, to work forJohn Jorgenson, promoting hislatest solo album: EmotionalSavant.


fans like the band atmosphere.Although Elton's very exciting towatch solo, the band adds anextra attraction, and you can getup to more antics on stage."

GM: I understand you have aspecial request Nigel.

NO: Yes, I'd like you to stick inhere. We as a band always tookcare of our people. We openedthe door for a lot of the roadcrews. We realised that withoutthem we wouldn't be able to outthe gig on. I think we were thefirst band to put washingmachines on the truck. The crewwould always have clean clothesand clean sheets on their bunkbeds. They had three meals a day.They had a full breakfast whenthey arrived in the morning. Wecame up with things whichnowadays is there in the crew'scontracts everywhere. Wepioneered this. Now they'remaking so much money. In olddays, you had to have at leasttwo major records and wouldn'tmake any money until the thirdrecord. Likewise, touring younever broke even on the first twotours. It cost the record companyor whoever to put you out there.Nowadays, it's mega money, andthe ticket prices are unbelievable.

GM: Well, that's a moot pointwith Elton fans, who have paid£55 for solo shows recently. ButI guess they're paying for anestablished name. But let's goback to when things were lessestablished. Run us through the CV.

NO: I was with a band calledPlastic Penny since the mid-1960s. They were put together bythe record company. Page OneRecords, which was a subsidiaryof Dick James Music, had got thissong "Everything I am" and theywent into studio with sessionguys, cut the song, and put it out.And it started going on the charts.So they were madly scrambling to

put a band together to promotethat record. And they wereauditioning lots of people. And inthis business it's all about whoyou know and where you are. Atalent scout guy in Sunderland,where I lived, was looking for aguitar player and drummer forthis band. At that stage, I wasplaying with local bands inSunderland. He said 'would youguys like to come down toLondon and audition?' We said'give us the (train) ticket andwe're there.' We went to thestudio at Dick James in OxfordStreet, and got the gig. The recordmade position 6 on the UK charts(Jan. 3, 1968). We made twoalbums, but nothing ever came ofthem. We were one of theoriginal one-hit wonders[laughter].

GM: Not so much a Plastic Pennyas a bad penny.

NO: Yes, but it put me in theright circle. We were handled bythe Dick James organisation.Elton and Bernie were staffsongwriters. On the books wereGerry and the Pacemakers,Spencer Davis Group, and TheBeatles. Elton would come in todo demos, and if I was availableI'd do drumming on them.

Nigel, who'd met Dee playingin a band called The Mirage,then got a phone call fromDee, who by then had beenelevated to Spencer DavisGroup. Dee said the band wasdoing a US tour and wouldNigel like to come over. Nigelhad no problem uttering 'yes'!

It was the last tour SpencerDavis Group ever did, and avery small tour. "But it was agreat chance to get toAmerica, in about 1967,"Nigel says.

NO: After eight weeks the tourended, I returned to England andthe band disbanded. Then Eltonrang me. He had a friend who

did jingles who was forming aband called Uriah Heep. Iauditioned with them, andplayed about nine dates withthem, and two tracks on therecord. Elton called again. Hesaid he had this gig to do at theRoundhouse in London. At thatstage he was just trying to get hissongs cut. He and Bernie werebasically writing for theEurovision Song Contest[laughter]. So he said he had thisalbum produced by GusDudgeon and Paul Buckmaster.He asked 'would you come anddo this one-off gig with Dee?'And I said, yes, let's go and seewhat happens.

That's when Nigel found hismusical destiny.

NO: We went into Dick James'sstudio and within the first 16 barsof music, then I knew that's whatI wanted to do. It hit me in theheart, in the head, everywhere. Itwas very original. Before then, Ihadn't had any direction. Untilthen, it had been Keith Moon-ish,get a lot of drums and bashanything in sight!

GM: Well it worked for KeithMoon [laughter]!

HEALINGHEALINGHANDSHANDS

continued


LIFE INTHE USAby Elton’s ex-drummer

Charlie Morganwritten especially

to readers of The Mag

...and Nigel now


I’ll try to speakFrench, but I’llhave to use a

little bit ofEnglish too, as Ionly learnt thislanguage atschool andhaven’t used itfor 10 years!

Now that I’mtrying to speak it again, I realisethat I do like to speak French, infact it’s my favourite language.I’m English, but I even prefer yourlanguage to mine. It’s moredifficult to sing, certainly to startoff with. The first time I sang inFrench, it was at the ChampsElysées theatre, where I sang aCharles Trennet song. I know thecountry quite well too; when Iwas sixteen I came to France,Saint Tropez to be precise, and Iwent to sing at the Papagayo.After that things got worse for me!I remember my first show inFrance at the Champs Elyséestheatre. I was singing in front ofSergio Mendes and right from thebeginning of the show the publicthrew coins and fruit at us, ...a lot of fruit!

Things have changed a bitsince then, and that’s why I reallywanted to sing in that theatreagain. The idea to work withFrench people isn’t a new one, Ihave already recorded in yourcountry. Last summer when I wason holiday in Saint Tropez, Ilistened to the France Gall song"Il jouait du piano debout" andimmediately bought the album.After that a friend of mine lent meall her records. I then thought itwould be a good idea to recordsomething with her, as I loveduets, especially with women. I’mreally pleased with the twoFrench songs (lyrics by BernieTaupin and Michel Berger, musicby Elton), Paul Robinson hasadapted the lyrics of the song "Lesaveux" in English. I had someproblems pronouncing the words,but it’s only the very first time,and next time it will get better.

Europe, and France, areimportant especially when it

comes to music. For the last threeyears, music has got a lot better.In the States disco and soul musicare very popular, but nothing newhappens; they haven’t inventedanything. It’s the same with radiostations there too. People alwayslove the same singers, there is auniformity in radio. With me, forexample, they always play "YourSong" which is now ten years old!As far as I’m concerned I prefer tolisten to new records. I believemore and more in melodies, inclassic music. Chopin is alwaysvery strong! It’s also a matter ofage. I don’t think I’ll be able tosing rock ‘n’ roll for ever. I’ll haveto do something else. When I’molder, I’ll compose some classicalmusic. I’ll always use my piano,because I don’t have the ability toplay lots of other instruments.

I’d be interested to make arecord on my own, like StevieWonder’s done, but I’m too lazy.If I generally do two albums ayear, it’s because I don’t like to letthings lag behind. I alwayscompose at the last moment instudios. I always find that thelyrics are more important than themusic, because they come first.I’m suffering a bit at the moment,not having a piano with me, butit’s not always easy to carry apiano in a hotel room!

Talking about The Fox, Eltonwent on to say "My next albumwill have a classical feel - I’vebeen working with the LondonSymphony Orchestra. We can doa superb mixture using classicalinstruments and a rock band. Forthis album we have mixedFrench, English and Americanmusicians; it’s very international. Ithink this record is verysuccessful, I don’t know if thepublic will react in the same way,but I had a great pleasure indoing it.

NO: Yes it worked very well forKeith. I became quite friendlywith Keith in the latter stages ofhis life.

GM: So what happened next?Did Elton say 'come on board'or did you say 'I want to comeon board'?

NO: He said 'this is great. Let'scall this the band and go outand do a couple of dates.' So wedid a couple of college dates.We went to Leeds and York(England). And every time wewent on stage it was amazing.

GM: How about Dee? Mybiggest disappointment is goingto be that we didn't get aroundto interviewing Dee. As far asyou can comment on his behalf,what was going through hismind at that time. Was hesimilarly struck by all this?

NO: Exactly the same. Therewas never a time when weasked are we doing the rightthing.

GM: That's always the sense thefans have had. That you bothenjoyed being in the band.

NO: In those days the moneywasn't that good. It was just thatsurge everytime you went onstage. Amazing. Especially whenwe went into the studio as aband. The way we recorded wasto go away and stay at thestudio. We heard the songsbeing created. There was never atime when Elton would say'Nigel I want you to play thislike this, and Dee I want you toplay this like that.' We were onthe same wavelength before wesat down to cut the songs. Andthat's why those early songssound so fresh. Because wenever really did more than threeor four takes of any song. If itwasn't there in the first four orfive takes, we'd go on to thenext song!

GM: Anyone who's recordedwith Elton since 1985 hasprobably met with a differentkind of Elton. By then someonewho was in auto-pilot, underthe influence of certain vices,drink, drugs. Presumably whenyou were first recording, noneof this was present. Weren'tthese the Golden Years?

NO: They were the GoldenYears. There were a couple oftimes when he'd go in and do avocal and he couldn't quite singin tune for some reason. I don'tknow whether the phonos or themonitors were out. There was atime - it's quite funny - when hegot so frustrated that he couldn'tget this one line, he screamed toGus Dudgeon 'screw this. Sendit to Lulu, and if she doesn't likeit, send it to Englebert(Humperdinck)' [laughter]. Butfive minutes later it was fine.And we had our differences onthe long tours, especially whenwe did those bus tours. Theywere Greyhound buses, and notelly or catering on board. A buswith seats in, and a long, longdrive. We were very worn out,and tempers get frayed. We alltravelled together. It was a'touring circus'! But they werethe Golden Years. At thechateau in France, for "HonkyChateau" that's where Davey(Johnstone) came on board forgood. He'd always, with RayCooper, been on the records assession musicians. But whenDavey joined the band, it tookoff. Elton John was the wholeband, it wasn't just one guy. Iguess the people in thehierarchy then told Elton 'listen,these guys are sidemen, you'vegot to be the front man. That'show that changed.

(Part 2 of this interview will befeatured in the June issue.)

Do youremember the

Frenchversion of

Nobody Wins,which Elton

recorded as aduet with

France Gall at the

beginning ofthe Eighties?

Elton gave this interviewto promote the song,

J’veux de la Tendresse.EJ’s comments are now

twenty years old, but it’sinteresting to see that

some extracts could havebeen written yesterday!

Original translation supplied byFrancoise Linden-Giles. ” J U S T F O R F U N

1) Take the wheel I hear thetimbers creaking

Take the wheel I think thisship is sinking

2) Slow down JoeI’m a rock ‘n’ roll man

3) ‘Hey ManHow’s about a handout?’

4) She’s had my childrenAnd she’s been my lover

5) Insisting that I pay my alimonyEach and every day is the

same old scene

6) If you want a miracleCall up a superman

7) Just let me be the final wordIn the book we haven’t

written

8) Most nights I have to watchmy woman cry,

Every day I have to watch thecolonel smile,

9) I’ve got Erroll Flynn advancesAnd it doesn’t mean a

doggone thing

10) I’d let nobody - I’d let nobodyStand inside my shoes

11) Those were the days, we’d layin the haze,

Forget depressive times

12) I feel I’m dry-docked andtongue-tied

Heaven sends a stretcher forthe kids to ride.

Have a go at our popular lyricquiz.

We give you a line - see if youcan name the song!

(Answers on page 26)

J U S T F O R F U N

LYRIC QUIZ

“

Ayo

ung-

look

ing

EJ w

ith F

ranc

e G

all

Before I met Elton, I had abig career. I was theyoungest guy on the board

of the ad agency Ogilvy &Mather, but it became sodifficult, flying to the States tosee Elton at weekends.

Now, I’m primarily a filmmaker, but I’m also a fund raiser.When you live with someonelike Elton it really inspires you,but I can’t imagine anythingmore boring than following himaround like a spare part. I needto keep my own identity. Film ismy real passion; I studied it atuniversity. I’ve producedRocket’s first move, WomenTalking Dirty, but haven’t dareddirect since Tantrums & Tiaras.

Tantrums & Tiaras didn’t puta strain on our relationship.When Elton watched it hehowled with laughter, cried atthe scenes of his grandmother’sfuneral, and went very quietwhen his mother talked abouthis difficult relationship with hisfather.

Spookily enough, the first LPI ever bought was one of his -Caribou, I think. But then I sortof "checked-out" on his career inthe mid-80s.

Elton and I met when afriend of mine was going fordinner at his house and askedme to come along. I wasinclined to say no - I justpictured a self-obsessed guyholding court on the sofa. Butwhen we arrived he opened thedoor himself, took our coats,brought us drinks and wasremarkably open. The attractionwas pretty quick - weexchanged phone numbers thatnight - which was surprising forboth of us. The next night heinvited me over for a Chinesetakeaway and it went fromthere. But, being Elton, it was noordinary Chinese - it came fromMr Chow’s.

In terms of what I can offerhim, it’s true love, which is hardfor someone in Elton’s situationto find, plus real stability. AndI’m totally honest with him. Thehardest adjustment to make hasbeen the fact that sometimes it’slike being in a relationship witha corporation. Elton’s a massiveindustry, responsible for manylivelihoods, and you have toaccept that you’re not alwaysthe priority.

The celebrity side wasn’tdifficult because he doesn’tenjoy it that much. He cravesnormality. But that’s rather hardto achieve because he is sorecognisable. Part of me finds itsweet that people like him somuch, part of me wishes they’dleave you alone to push yourtrolley around the supermarket.

It was a terrifying momentwhen Elton had his heart scare.He’s pacing himself - or rather,his pacemaker’s pacing him - alittle more than he used to. Bothof us have a much greaterappreciation for every day ofour lives. We don’t takeanything for granted.

It was hard last Christmas,when I told my parents that notonly was I gay, but that I wasgoing out with Elton. I comefrom a very middle-classCanadian family. They’re verymuch in love - ideal role modelsfor heterosexuality, and I felt I’dlet them down. I ended upcrying my eyes out,unburdening all the years ofguilt. Although their initialresponse was "Oh God, he’swith a rock star", Elton did a lotto assure them.

The most surprising thing thatpeople might learn about me isthat I was learning the cello,although I’ve actually justabandoned it. Now I’ve turnedto horse riding. I gallop throughWindsor Great Park everyweekend.


Elton’s partner ofthe last 7 years

DavidFurnish

talks here about his life and

relationship withElton

Adapted by Tammi Law from aninterview with The Mail on Sunday,

Nov 99.

Elton’s new single, from the soundtrack album The Road to El Dorado

Some Day Out Of The BlueSome day out of the blueIn a crowded street or a deserted squareI'll turn and I'll see youAs if our love were newSome day we can start againSome day soon

Here comes the nightHere come the memoriesLost in your armsDown in the foreign fieldsNot so long agoSeems like eternityThose sweet afternoonsStill capture me

Some day out of the blueIn a crowded streetor a deserted squareI'll turn and I'll see youAs if our love were newSome day we can start againSome day soon

I still believeI still put faith in usWe had it all and watched it slip awayWhere are we nowNot where we want to beThose hot afternoons Still follow me

Some day out of the blueMaybe years from nowOr tomorrow nightI'll turn and I'll see youAs if we always knewSome day we would live againSome day soon

I still believe, I still put faith in usI still believe, I still put faith in usI still believe, I still put faith in us



Written By Elton John and Tim Rice, for SKG Dreamworks film Road to El Dorado.

Recorded by Elton John

Before I met Elton, I had abig career. I was theyoungest guy on the board

of the ad agency Ogilvy &Mather, but it became sodifficult, flying to the States tosee Elton at weekends.

Now, I’m primarily a filmmaker, but I’m also a fund raiser.When you live with someonelike Elton it really inspires you,but I can’t imagine anythingmore boring than following himaround like a spare part. I needto keep my own identity. Film ismy real passion; I studied it atuniversity. I’ve producedRocket’s first move, WomenTalking Dirty, but haven’t dareddirect since Tantrums & Tiaras.

Tantrums & Tiaras didn’t puta strain on our relationship.When Elton watched it hehowled with laughter, cried atthe scenes of his grandmother’sfuneral, and went very quietwhen his mother talked abouthis difficult relationship with hisfather.

Spookily enough, the first LPI ever bought was one of his -Caribou, I think. But then I sortof "checked-out" on his career inthe mid-80s.

Elton and I met when afriend of mine was going fordinner at his house and askedme to come along. I wasinclined to say no - I justpictured a self-obsessed guyholding court on the sofa. Butwhen we arrived he opened thedoor himself, took our coats,brought us drinks and wasremarkably open. The attractionwas pretty quick - weexchanged phone numbers thatnight - which was surprising forboth of us. The next night heinvited me over for a Chinesetakeaway and it went fromthere. But, being Elton, it was noordinary Chinese - it came fromMr Chow’s.

In terms of what I can offerhim, it’s true love, which is hardfor someone in Elton’s situationto find, plus real stability. AndI’m totally honest with him. Thehardest adjustment to make hasbeen the fact that sometimes it’slike being in a relationship witha corporation. Elton’s a massiveindustry, responsible for manylivelihoods, and you have toaccept that you’re not alwaysthe priority.

The celebrity side wasn’tdifficult because he doesn’tenjoy it that much. He cravesnormality. But that’s rather hardto achieve because he is sorecognisable. Part of me finds itsweet that people like him somuch, part of me wishes they’dleave you alone to push yourtrolley around the supermarket.

It was a terrifying momentwhen Elton had his heart scare.He’s pacing himself - or rather,his pacemaker’s pacing him - alittle more than he used to. Bothof us have a much greaterappreciation for every day ofour lives. We don’t takeanything for granted.

It was hard last Christmas,when I told my parents that notonly was I gay, but that I wasgoing out with Elton. I comefrom a very middle-classCanadian family. They’re verymuch in love - ideal role modelsfor heterosexuality, and I felt I’dlet them down. I ended upcrying my eyes out,unburdening all the years ofguilt. Although their initialresponse was "Oh God, he’swith a rock star", Elton did a lotto assure them.

The most surprising thing thatpeople might learn about me isthat I was learning the cello,although I’ve actually justabandoned it. Now I’ve turnedto horse riding. I gallop throughWindsor Great Park everyweekend.


Elton’s partner ofthe last 7 years

DavidFurnish

talks here about his life and

relationship withElton

Adapted by Tammi Law from aninterview with The Mail on Sunday,

Nov 99.

Elton’s new single, from the soundtrack album The Road to El Dorado

Some Day Out Of The BlueSome day out of the blueIn a crowded street or a deserted squareI'll turn and I'll see youAs if our love were newSome day we can start againSome day soon


Some day out of the blueIn a crowded streetor a deserted squareI'll turn and I'll see youAs if our love were newSome day we can start againSome day soon

I still believeI still put faith in usWe had it all and watched it slip awayWhere are we nowNot where we want to beThose hot afternoons Still follow me


I still believe, I still put faith in usI still believe, I still put faith in usI still believe, I still put faith in us



Written By Elton John and Tim Rice, for SKG Dreamworks film Road to El Dorado.

Recorded by Elton John


I’ll try to speakFrench, but I’llhave to use a

little bit ofEnglish too, as Ionly learnt thislanguage atschool andhaven’t used itfor 10 years!

Now that I’mtrying to speak it again, I realisethat I do like to speak French, infact it’s my favourite language.I’m English, but I even prefer yourlanguage to mine. It’s moredifficult to sing, certainly to startoff with. The first time I sang inFrench, it was at the ChampsElysées theatre, where I sang aCharles Trennet song. I know thecountry quite well too; when Iwas sixteen I came to France,Saint Tropez to be precise, and Iwent to sing at the Papagayo.After that things got worse for me!I remember my first show inFrance at the Champs Elyséestheatre. I was singing in front ofSergio Mendes and right from thebeginning of the show the publicthrew coins and fruit at us, ...a lot of fruit!

Things have changed a bitsince then, and that’s why I reallywanted to sing in that theatreagain. The idea to work withFrench people isn’t a new one, Ihave already recorded in yourcountry. Last summer when I wason holiday in Saint Tropez, Ilistened to the France Gall song"Il jouait du piano debout" andimmediately bought the album.After that a friend of mine lent meall her records. I then thought itwould be a good idea to recordsomething with her, as I loveduets, especially with women. I’mreally pleased with the twoFrench songs (lyrics by BernieTaupin and Michel Berger, musicby Elton), Paul Robinson hasadapted the lyrics of the song "Lesaveux" in English. I had someproblems pronouncing the words,but it’s only the very first time,and next time it will get better.

Europe, and France, areimportant especially when it

comes to music. For the last threeyears, music has got a lot better.In the States disco and soul musicare very popular, but nothing newhappens; they haven’t inventedanything. It’s the same with radiostations there too. People alwayslove the same singers, there is auniformity in radio. With me, forexample, they always play "YourSong" which is now ten years old!As far as I’m concerned I prefer tolisten to new records. I believemore and more in melodies, inclassic music. Chopin is alwaysvery strong! It’s also a matter ofage. I don’t think I’ll be able tosing rock ‘n’ roll for ever. I’ll haveto do something else. When I’molder, I’ll compose some classicalmusic. I’ll always use my piano,because I don’t have the ability toplay lots of other instruments.

I’d be interested to make arecord on my own, like StevieWonder’s done, but I’m too lazy.If I generally do two albums ayear, it’s because I don’t like to letthings lag behind. I alwayscompose at the last moment instudios. I always find that thelyrics are more important than themusic, because they come first.I’m suffering a bit at the moment,not having a piano with me, butit’s not always easy to carry apiano in a hotel room!

Talking about The Fox, Eltonwent on to say "My next albumwill have a classical feel - I’vebeen working with the LondonSymphony Orchestra. We can doa superb mixture using classicalinstruments and a rock band. Forthis album we have mixedFrench, English and Americanmusicians; it’s very international. Ithink this record is verysuccessful, I don’t know if thepublic will react in the same way,but I had a great pleasure indoing it.

NO: Yes it worked very well forKeith. I became quite friendlywith Keith in the latter stages ofhis life.

GM: So what happened next?Did Elton say 'come on board'or did you say 'I want to comeon board'?

NO: He said 'this is great. Let'scall this the band and go outand do a couple of dates.' So wedid a couple of college dates.We went to Leeds and York(England). And every time wewent on stage it was amazing.

GM: How about Dee? Mybiggest disappointment is goingto be that we didn't get aroundto interviewing Dee. As far asyou can comment on his behalf,what was going through hismind at that time. Was hesimilarly struck by all this?

NO: Exactly the same. Therewas never a time when weasked are we doing the rightthing.

GM: That's always the sense thefans have had. That you bothenjoyed being in the band.

NO: In those days the moneywasn't that good. It was just thatsurge everytime you went onstage. Amazing. Especially whenwe went into the studio as aband. The way we recorded wasto go away and stay at thestudio. We heard the songsbeing created. There was never atime when Elton would say'Nigel I want you to play thislike this, and Dee I want you toplay this like that.' We were onthe same wavelength before wesat down to cut the songs. Andthat's why those early songssound so fresh. Because wenever really did more than threeor four takes of any song. If itwasn't there in the first four orfive takes, we'd go on to thenext song!

GM: Anyone who's recordedwith Elton since 1985 hasprobably met with a differentkind of Elton. By then someonewho was in auto-pilot, underthe influence of certain vices,drink, drugs. Presumably whenyou were first recording, noneof this was present. Weren'tthese the Golden Years?

NO: They were the GoldenYears. There were a couple oftimes when he'd go in and do avocal and he couldn't quite singin tune for some reason. I don'tknow whether the phonos or themonitors were out. There was atime - it's quite funny - when hegot so frustrated that he couldn'tget this one line, he screamed toGus Dudgeon 'screw this. Sendit to Lulu, and if she doesn't likeit, send it to Englebert(Humperdinck)' [laughter]. Butfive minutes later it was fine.And we had our differences onthe long tours, especially whenwe did those bus tours. Theywere Greyhound buses, and notelly or catering on board. A buswith seats in, and a long, longdrive. We were very worn out,and tempers get frayed. We alltravelled together. It was a'touring circus'! But they werethe Golden Years. At thechateau in France, for "HonkyChateau" that's where Davey(Johnstone) came on board forgood. He'd always, with RayCooper, been on the records assession musicians. But whenDavey joined the band, it tookoff. Elton John was the wholeband, it wasn't just one guy. Iguess the people in thehierarchy then told Elton 'listen,these guys are sidemen, you'vegot to be the front man. That'show that changed.

(Part 2 of this interview will befeatured in the June issue.)

Do youremember the

Frenchversion of

Nobody Wins,which Elton

recorded as aduet with

France Gall at the

beginning ofthe Eighties?

Elton gave this interviewto promote the song,

J’veux de la Tendresse.EJ’s comments are now

twenty years old, but it’sinteresting to see that

some extracts could havebeen written yesterday!

Original translation supplied byFrancoise Linden-Giles. ” J U S T F O R F U N

1) Take the wheel I hear thetimbers creaking

Take the wheel I think thisship is sinking

2) Slow down JoeI’m a rock ‘n’ roll man

3) ‘Hey ManHow’s about a handout?’

4) She’s had my childrenAnd she’s been my lover

5) Insisting that I pay my alimonyEach and every day is the

same old scene

6) If you want a miracleCall up a superman

7) Just let me be the final wordIn the book we haven’t

written

8) Most nights I have to watchmy woman cry,

Every day I have to watch thecolonel smile,

9) I’ve got Erroll Flynn advancesAnd it doesn’t mean a

doggone thing

10) I’d let nobody - I’d let nobodyStand inside my shoes

11) Those were the days, we’d layin the haze,

Forget depressive times

12) I feel I’m dry-docked andtongue-tied

Heaven sends a stretcher forthe kids to ride.

Have a go at our popular lyricquiz.

We give you a line - see if youcan name the song!

(Answers on page 26)

J U S T F O R F U N

LYRIC QUIZ

“A

youn

g-lo

okin

g EJ

with

Fra

nce

Gal

l

Dear Hercules Members, bythe time you read this, wewill have all survived

whatever "glitches" the Y2K bugfelt inclined to throw at us, so Iwould like to take thisopportunity to wish you ALL ahappy Year 2000. I will NOTsuccumb to wishing you a HappyNew Millennium YET... as thatwill not be until the 1st January2001 (George Matlock and Ihave talked about this topic, andbeing perfectionists, came to thesame conclusion - Arthur C.Clarke is right!). We still havethe last year of the oldmillennium to survive yet!! Iwould also like to thank you allfor your continuing supportduring the past 18 months.

Having uprooted myhomebase midway through1999, and moved to the USA,the past 8 months have certainlybeen eventful. Despite havingtoured the USA extensively sincemy first visit in 1979 (with TomRobinson), actually LIVING inthe USA is quite different fromtouring here. On tour, much ofthe more mundane, everydaythings are take care of. We onlyhave to concern ourselves withthe immediate job at hand:performing. Not that life is easy.Living out of a suitcase from onehotel to the next, via buses,planes and taxis has its owndrawbacks. Believe me, I alwaysrelished the chance to get backhome and lead a relativelynormal life for a while! Whilethis might sound like a case of"the grass is always greener", Ihave always accepted thenegative side of my jobwholeheartedly! Such are thepotential rewards from doingwhat I do, that they far outweighthe less palatable aspects.

THERE ARETHINGS I MISS

ABOUT EUROPE

Being "in between" two stools,so to speak, for the past year orso has allowed me a uniquevantage point on the UK and USsocieties. I have to say first of allthat there are wonderful thingsabout BOTH sides of the Atlantic,and while I am (and always willbe) a "Limey-Brit" at heart, I donot find it hard to settle into theAmerican way of life. I supposethat has everything to do with theamount of touring I have donehere.

But there are things I missabout Europe. The one tangiblething that has not been created inthe USA is history. I am talkingabout real depth to the history.After all, the only race that HADany real history on the NorthAmerican continent was sadly all

but wiped out by the first settlers.But I digress. It is the sheer depthof history in Europe that isamazing. For example, where inthe USA can you leave yourhouse and drive 5 miles to anaqueduct that was built by theRomans in the first century AD?

In some respects, I believe itis this lack of "roots" that drivesmany Americans to seek theirorigins in Europe. In addition,America has become a countryof restless travellers: forevermoving on, looking forsomething, never happy to stayin one place. It seems that ifthings don't go right in one town,you move on and try elsewhere,leaving your past behind you. Isuppose if your roots aren't deep,it is easier to pull them up andreplant them.

As for my own existence here,it has certainly taken on anomadic flavour. Having boughta house in Central Florida, I havedriven the 700 miles betweenthere and Nashville, in search ofwork, at least a dozen times inthe past 8 months. I can honestlysay that I know the routes I-75and I-24 like the back of myhand! I know most of the speedtraps, and a large number of thegas stations, where to buy thecheapest fuel (Georgia has thebest prices), and I have nowhoned the trip into a little over10 hours, with 2 fuel stops.

Why Nashville, you may ask?Well, I have tasted the madnessthat is LA, and I have some smallexperience of New York's hecticmusic scene, and I foundNashville's "small-town" feel tobe more to my liking. Thisdoesn't mean I don't workelsewhere - in fact I have been tothe West Coast no fewer than 3times this past year, to work forJohn Jorgenson, promoting hislatest solo album: EmotionalSavant.


fans like the band atmosphere.Although Elton's very exciting towatch solo, the band adds anextra attraction, and you can getup to more antics on stage."

GM: I understand you have aspecial request Nigel.

NO: Yes, I'd like you to stick inhere. We as a band always tookcare of our people. We openedthe door for a lot of the roadcrews. We realised that withoutthem we wouldn't be able to outthe gig on. I think we were thefirst band to put washingmachines on the truck. The crewwould always have clean clothesand clean sheets on their bunkbeds. They had three meals a day.They had a full breakfast whenthey arrived in the morning. Wecame up with things whichnowadays is there in the crew'scontracts everywhere. Wepioneered this. Now they'remaking so much money. In olddays, you had to have at leasttwo major records and wouldn'tmake any money until the thirdrecord. Likewise, touring younever broke even on the first twotours. It cost the record companyor whoever to put you out there.Nowadays, it's mega money, andthe ticket prices are unbelievable.

GM: Well, that's a moot pointwith Elton fans, who have paid£55 for solo shows recently. ButI guess they're paying for anestablished name. But let's goback to when things were lessestablished. Run us through the CV.

NO: I was with a band calledPlastic Penny since the mid-1960s. They were put together bythe record company. Page OneRecords, which was a subsidiaryof Dick James Music, had got thissong "Everything I am" and theywent into studio with sessionguys, cut the song, and put it out.And it started going on the charts.So they were madly scrambling to

put a band together to promotethat record. And they wereauditioning lots of people. And inthis business it's all about whoyou know and where you are. Atalent scout guy in Sunderland,where I lived, was looking for aguitar player and drummer forthis band. At that stage, I wasplaying with local bands inSunderland. He said 'would youguys like to come down toLondon and audition?' We said'give us the (train) ticket andwe're there.' We went to thestudio at Dick James in OxfordStreet, and got the gig. The recordmade position 6 on the UK charts(Jan. 3, 1968). We made twoalbums, but nothing ever came ofthem. We were one of theoriginal one-hit wonders[laughter].

GM: Not so much a Plastic Pennyas a bad penny.

NO: Yes, but it put me in theright circle. We were handled bythe Dick James organisation.Elton and Bernie were staffsongwriters. On the books wereGerry and the Pacemakers,Spencer Davis Group, and TheBeatles. Elton would come in todo demos, and if I was availableI'd do drumming on them.

Nigel, who'd met Dee playingin a band called The Mirage,then got a phone call fromDee, who by then had beenelevated to Spencer DavisGroup. Dee said the band wasdoing a US tour and wouldNigel like to come over. Nigelhad no problem uttering 'yes'!

It was the last tour SpencerDavis Group ever did, and avery small tour. "But it was agreat chance to get toAmerica, in about 1967,"Nigel says.

NO: After eight weeks the tourended, I returned to England andthe band disbanded. Then Eltonrang me. He had a friend who

did jingles who was forming aband called Uriah Heep. Iauditioned with them, andplayed about nine dates withthem, and two tracks on therecord. Elton called again. Hesaid he had this gig to do at theRoundhouse in London. At thatstage he was just trying to get hissongs cut. He and Bernie werebasically writing for theEurovision Song Contest[laughter]. So he said he had thisalbum produced by GusDudgeon and Paul Buckmaster.He asked 'would you come anddo this one-off gig with Dee?'And I said, yes, let's go and seewhat happens.

That's when Nigel found hismusical destiny.

NO: We went into Dick James'sstudio and within the first 16 barsof music, then I knew that's whatI wanted to do. It hit me in theheart, in the head, everywhere. Itwas very original. Before then, Ihadn't had any direction. Untilthen, it had been Keith Moon-ish,get a lot of drums and bashanything in sight!

GM: Well it worked for KeithMoon [laughter]!

HEALINGHEALINGHANDSHANDS

continued


LIFE INTHE USAby Elton’s ex-drummer

Charlie Morganwritten especially

to readers of The Mag

...and Nigel now

WORKINGBEHINDPOSSIBLYTHEGREATEST

SINGER-SONGWRITEROF THE CENTURY

I also have a large number offriends here. Some of them Ex-Pat Brits themselves, but mostlyof American origin. I have beensteadily letting people know Iam here, willing and able. Thisis not as easy as I first thought,and it has certainly been alesson in humility. Having beenat the top of my profession inthe UK for over 15 years, it hascome as something of a shockto start again over here. I mustsay straight away, though, that Ihave unceasing support fromfans everywhere, and I wasmost gratified to discover theesteem in which I was held.Maybe it was a result of beingprotected by the the Elton Johnorganisation for so long, but

certainly coming out into theharsh reality taught me atremendous amount.

I am ready for less touring, andmore studio work. When I firstmet Elton, I was probably one ofthe top 3 studio musicians in theUK. I was working all the hoursthat I wanted, I had recordedextensively, and my discographyincluded such people as NikKershaw, Gary Moore, Tina Turner,Tom Robinson, Tracey Ullman,Matt Bianco & Air Supply - quiteapart from the endless list ofmovie soundtracks and advertisingjingles. I had also composed andrecorded several albums of themetune music (one of which becamethe theme for the British TV series,The Bill). It was a huge decision toburn my bridges and go on theroad with Elton. As it turns out, itwas a decision that I have neverregretted. Working behindpossibly the greatest singer-songwriter of the century (andbeyond) has been an honour anda privilege. I was already a hugefan of his music, and I shallremain so. Since our first meeting Ihave become a fan of hismagnetic personality, hisseemingly never ending wit, his

compassion, generosity anddedication. This is genius materialI am talking about. Sure, he hadhis (well documented) ups anddowns, but this has only madehim more human in my eyes.Well, no doubt this will makeElton squirm with embarrassment,as he has never been one to takepraise well. I learnt that early on!

In my dreams, I have a hopethat he also came out of ourcollaboration having gained fromit. I would like to think that heregarded me as more than just ahired hand. But many people havecome and gone during Elton's 30-year career, and Elton is the onlyone who can judge their effect onhim personally. Certainly he wroteof me in glowing terms to the USImmigration & NaturalizationService - for which I am forevergrateful.

Onwards and Upwards... tonew horizons and newchallenges (with, perhaps, a fewold ones thrown in for goodmeasure). That just about wrapsup my "Letter from America". AHappy and prosperous New Yearto you all!

Charlie Morgan


Before his membershipinto the Bluesology

group, Reggie and Bluesologymember Stuart Brown hadpreviously formed a groupcalled Corvettes, whichplayed at local Boy Scoutgatherings.

While in Bluesology, hisband mates nicknamed

him "Little Bunter", after acomic strip character namedBilly Bunter.

Before teaming up withReggie Dwight, Bernie

Taupin earned a livingchasing and crating chickenson a farm.

BETWEEN 17 AND 20 • BETWEEN 17 AND 20ANOTHER VERSE OF OUR REGULAR COLUMN FEATURING TRIVIA AND


when I moved here. Playing-wise,I still love the way DaveyJohnstone plays. In fact, there is aproject in the air from a smallcompany in Japan who want meto put together an album withDavey, Guy Babylon and BobBirch.

GM: We look forward to pluggingthat at the appropriate time. Isthat happening in 2000?

NO: We're discussing it now, weshould know the deal is there inthe next couple of weeks. But it'sin the 'hurry up and wait'situation [laughter]. We'll cut that(record) probably in Los Angeles.I've been talking to a lot of peopleabout this Internet deal youmentioned. Several people havephoned me to say I should putrecording out on the Internet. Butbeing not yet Internet-friendly, it'sway above my head. But it wouldcut the middle man out. In tenyears there'll only be one recordcompany who owns everybody,run by lawyers and doctors!

GM: So do you think this is theway you'll go, down the worldwide web?

NO: It could be. You know, it'sstill very, very new. I've just gotthis set of electric drums. Afteryears of swearing at electricdrums, I just got sponsored by adrum company in Los Angeles,called Drum Tech. They sent meall these electric drum pads, sothat I can rehearse in the housewithout blowing the neighbours.So the (Internet) is still new. I justwant to get into the studio again.I have a 17-year-old son who'sinto all that Internet.

GM: Good luck with the record.Hercules keeps in touch with theband members, and I think wefeel a big debt to you all. I shouldask your age.

NO: I'm 50 years.

GM: I can't tell that from yourvoice. You don't sound likeLeonard Cohen! [laughter]

GM: Now turning to events oneyear old! Charlie suffered asimilar experience to you. At thetime of his departure, there was alot of speculation that NigelOlsson might come back. Itwasn't to be. But would you havecome back? And was theinvitation made?

NO: I wasn't invited, but myname was put forward by acouple of people involved withElton. But I can't tell you bywhom. It was put forward to HisMajesty [laughter]. They weretold by Elton 'no, I don't want togo backwards'. Whatever thatmeans. I'd have loved to havegone back and do small tours.You know when Reidie wasinvolved (John Reid) we'd get acall that we're doing a tour of 32cities. Then when you get on thetour, it becomes 2 years! So, I'dlike to do small tours. And dothose early songs, like "Better OffDead" and "Danny Bailey", and"Tower of Babel". In fact, I'mdoing a Drum Clinic tour at themoment where I play in musicstores and feature two of the earlyCDs. I'm playing "Roy Rogers",and it's going down a storm.People are coming up and asking'where did you find that song?'.

Little do they know its buried on"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

Nigel says he's hopeful of areturn (and since thisinterview was conducted he'sbeen drafted in to providebacking vocals on new album"The Road to El Dorado")

NO: So I would have loved theinvite, and I may be invited back.But to learn he (Elton) would be'going backwards' was anotherkick in the face. It would neverbe the same without Dee, but Ijust want to play with the lads.

GM: Well, your enthusiasm isregistered loud and clear. Thisappears to be a gestation periodfor the band, however. It seemsmost of the 2000 gigs may wellbe solo shows anyway. Do youfeel Elton's trying to keepoverheads low?

NO: Probably so. You know Idon't know how correct the presshas been about millions owing byReidie. But I'm sure (Elton's) gotenough money to see himthrough the weekend [laughter].The tour's selling out everywhere.And in discussion with manypeople over the years, they say'what do you need a band for,when it's selling out anyway?' But


LIFE INTHE USA..continued

Nigel then...

HEALING


Bernie did not meet Reggieuntil after Reggie had

already composed the musicfor ten of Bernie's poeticlyrics.

Elton and Bernie signedwith Dick James Music on

November 7, 1967.

If it not had been for CalebQuaye, Elton's career at

Dick James Music wouldhave never been a reality. Itwas Caleb who persuadedDick James to listen to thenow famous Dick JamesDemos.

Did you know that.......When Rod Stewart

married Rachel Hunter, EltonJohn teased the singer bysending the couple a 10pounds ($16) gift voucherwith the instruction to "buysomething nice for thehome."

GOSSIP ABOUT ELTON - FOUND OF COURSE, BETWEEN PAGES 17 AND 20!!

George Matlock: Thank you verymuch for participating in thisinterview. The whole thingsnowballed following aninterview we did with CharlieMorgan earlier this year. Thatgenerated a lot of interest, andhere we are. Do you long tocome back to the UK for a while?

Nigel Olsson: I'd love to comeback to record. Basically, I'd loveto record with producers Ihaven't before, or those I have,on a big record. I'd love torecord again with Gus Dudgeon.We have actually discussed manytimes on the phone. Want to doit the old-fashioned way. Withreal drums, in a real studio, witha real microphone. These daysyou just post a disk and you havesounds. Me and Gus wereprobably the first in and the lastout at the studio, perfecting thedrums. These days I think it takesaway from the energy and theheart of the record.

GM: You mean it's a good thingto suffer a little for your craft.

NO: Absolutely. That's what wedid in the old days, and itworked very well.

GM: Is it that your and Gus'stime schedules don't permit, orare there any other anxieties?

NO: It costs a lot of money to doit the old-fashioned way. Andwith the names I'd like, therecord company would have tocome up with a lot ofsmackeroos (money).

GM: Ideally, who would you liketo bring in? I understand amongnames are Lee Sklar on bass,with whom you worked in yourearly California session days. Andyou are chasing Kiki Dee andRay Cooper for theircollaboration.

NO: Production-wise, Gus, JeffLynne. Also David Foster onkeyboards, with whom I've beenclose friends since the mid-70s

As previously announced inour December issue of The Mag, here’s a quick

reminder of the forthcoming fanconventions we have organised:

EJ’s Birthday Conventions:Hercules UK and

Hercules USA/Canadaare both hosting fanconventions on March25th to celebrate

Elton’s birthday. The UK convention is at ANNAHOTEL, Queensborough Terrace,London, noon to 5 pm as always.Special guests are expected.

In the US, the convention willtake place in Chicago. For

those who cannotattend our 5th annualEJ fan party inChicago, Hercules is

also hosting a birthday partyin Orlando, Florida, for the first

time, also on March 25. If youwould like an invitation or moreinformation, e-mail Barb Meadows-Crowley at:[email protected]

And to celebrate the factthat EJ will beperforming in front ofthe Hercules Statuewhen he brings hisSolo Tour to Germany

in the summer, there will be a

convention on the day of theconcert, 23 June 2000, from 12to 6pm, at the Hotel SchweizerHof, Wilhelmshoher Allee 288,in Kassel, Germany.

All fans are welcome to any ofthe events. If you require furtherinformation, please refer toDecember issue of The Mag, orcontact the relevant department.We look forward to seeing you!

conventionally speaking...HEALING

His friends callhim the"Drop-Out

Drummer", the fanscall him a legend.We’re talking aboutNigel Olsson - one of thefirst drummers of Elton'sremarkable career.

Why drop out? Nigel wasasked to leave the Elton John Band- twice - but what's earned himthat title? In his own words: "It'swhat I leave out that makes peopleappreciate my playing style." Likesuccessor Charlie Morgan, the life-span of an Elton drummer doesn’tappear to exceed 13 years. That'swhat Charlie and Nigel eachsurvived when they were full-timedrummers for Elton.

And why is Nigel a legend?Well, for those of you unsure ofNigel’s history here's a quickreminder... He's played drumsand sung backing vocals on mostof Elton's repertoire 1970 through1984. He was briefly out of theband with colleague and bassguitarist Dee Murray in 1975, andthen returned. He was againreleased - along with Dee - in1985.

His first successful recordingfor Elton was "Lady What'sTomorrow" on 1969 album EmptySky, while Roger Pope providedthe fills on all that album's othertracks. Nigel's next appearancewas on "Tumbleweed Connection",drumming on "Amoreena" as wellas backing vocals with Dee on anumber of other tracks. Thencame the legendary live radioshow "17-11-70", with Elton'ssound stripped down to piano,Dee on bass and Nigel on drums.

Nigel’s full-timestint started with"Honky Chateau" in1972, and among his

classics are "RocketMan" and of course our

anthem "Hercules". Thedrums stopped rolling in 1976,when "Blue Moves" was releasedwithout Nigel. Nigel and Deereappeared in 1980 at the biggestcrowd-puller of the era...theinfamous Central Park, New Yorkshow in September. Nigelreappeared on the album "21 at33", and on the 1981 album TheFox, he was drummer for"Breaking Down The Barriers","Heels of the Wind", and the titletrack.

In a further twist of confusionfor the record-buying public, Nigelwas again off the 1982 album"Jump Up!" but Dee was still on.Jeffrey Porcaro was the drummer.Nigel made a full return on 1983and 1984 hit albums "Too Low ForZero" and "Breaking Hearts." Anddespite all the ins-and-outs, Nigelis probably the best rememberedElton drummer.

Nigel was born in Sunderland,north east England and emigratedto California in 1972, beforemoving to Nashville for 7 years.Old pal Dee was with him there.They did backing vocals for localhero Earl Thomas Connelly. Moreimportantly, Nigel met his wifeSchanda in Nashville. Nigelbecame disillusioned with themusic scene for a while, when hetook up a hobby in racing cars,which continues. Nigel movedback to California four years ago.

That's the history lesson overwith. Now what's Nigel up to?

HANDSHANDS

TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO HERCULESnigel olssonnigel olsson

FROM CALIFORNIA, 13 NOVEMBER 1999

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BETWEEN 17 AND 20 • BETWEEN 17 AND 20

VIDEO SINGLES (contd.) Videos made for promotion of asingle, continuing where we leftthe list in The Mag issue 48.

The 70s1970 Midnight SpecialAndy Williams ShowBBC:The sounds of EltonJohn & Bernie Taupin

1971 "Your Song" on BBC TV"Top of the Pops", inJanuaryMadman Across the WaterAlbum played live"Get It On" [T. Rex] Eltonon Keyboards, BBC TV"Top of the Pops"BBC Sounds For Saturday(8 Live Songs)

1972 London with OrchestraBBC: interview, "TinyDancer", "All the Nasties""Holiday Inn" from BBC

1973 In the Hot SeatMovie: "Born to Boogie"with Marc Bolan. Elton onkeyboards on "Get It On"and "Children of theRevolution"Goodbye Norma Jean andOther Things. AKA "TheElton John Story". Also alaserdisc release

1974 BBC "Old Grey WhistleTest": Ticking, GrimsbyHammersmith OdeonChristmas Show, 24DecemberElton with John Lennon atCaribou Ranch (Brief)

1975 "Soul Train" (Bennie andthe Jets, PhilidalphiaFreedom,)"Cher Show" (Lucy in theSky, Bennie, medley)Dodger Stadium from 8mmcamera, private recording,no sound"Pinball Wizard" From theMovie "Tommy""Midnight Special" tribute"Tommy” Movie PremiereTV Special, hosted byDavid Frost

1976 Elton John Live inEdinburgh Playhouse,Scotland, 17 SeptemberBBC TV "Top of The Pops""Tom Snyder Show""Morecome and Wise",BBC TV. Plays "SorrySeems...Hardest Word"solo

1977"The Muppets": Croc'Rock,Bennie, GBYBrRd, Don'tGo Breaking.. w MissPiggy"The Thom Bell Sessions"London, UK (Wembley-Empire Pool), concert,November"Morecome & Wise". Plays"Shine on Through" solo"Mike Douglas Show""David Frost Show"

1978 "Parkinson Show" BBC TV:Live duet w. Dame EdnaEveridge & "Song For Guy"Merv Griffin Interview

1979"Top of the Pops" BBC TV,live "Part Time Love"

kaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyes


kaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyeskaleidoscope eyesPart 5 of our collectors series on Elton's TV & Video Appearances by George Matlock and Sharon Kalinoski

K A L E I D O S C O P E E Y E SK A L E I D O S C O P E E Y E SK A L E I D O S C O P E E Y E S

1996:BelieveMade in EnglandBlessedPleaseYou Can Make HistoryYoung AgainLive Like HorsesPerfect Day

1997:Something About The WayYou Look Tonight(DIRECTOR: TIM ROYES)Candle in The Wind 1997

1998:Recover Your Soul -(DIRECTOR: MARCUS NISPEL)If the River Can Bend

1999:Written in the Stars(DIRECTOR: THE NEW RENASSANCE)

Should you be able to addthe missing Directors of thevideo-singles, or know ofother video-singles or TVappearances by Elton duringthe 70s, please email: [email protected]

or write to: Hercules UK, PO Box 315, Richmond,Surrey TW9 4JF, England.

Thanks to Wayne Martin forhis invaluable contributionto this series.

TV SHOWS etc.Interviews, TV specials,concerts, news clips,commercials featuring Elton

geometric patterned silhouette-filled and backlit "prison scene" -awesome. Most others alsoenjoyed the breathtaking verticalswimming pool scene, completewith mist and "swimmers" in agreat illusion. The frequentscenery changes all moved sosmoothly that one hardly noticedwhen it was happening: therewere no awkward moments atany time.

Critics all lauded Headley'sportrayal of the lead role, andagreed that she is destined to bea big star. But a target of criticswere the seemingly "out ofplace/time" (anachronistic)scenes. For example, one tookissue with a painted womanfigure wearing a bikini swimsuit,which she felt was not "correct"for ancient Egypt. Unfortunately,someone working on the showheard the comment andagreed.....so the figure got apainted-on towel for the rest ofthe show's run!

What the reviewers did notunderstand was that the show'swriters were intentionallyblending old and new, usingmodern devices to tell a timelessstory in an "ancient" setting. I feelthat the story was not intended tobe solely about a drama takingplace in ancient Egypt: it is astory that could take placeanywhere, anytime, withuniversal themes of powerstruggles, love, and death.

Critics also dismissed themodern "fashion show" scene, afuturistic runway sequencebacked by loud rock music,saying that it caused the show tohave a "split personality." Theyfelt it detracted from the

seriousness of the story, and it isrumoured that it may beeliminated during the Broadwayrun. However, it was a veryentertaining crowd pleaser. Toobad the detractors could notappreciate the balance that thisfun scene provided....they needto realize that real life is not allserious, nor all fun.

Tim Rice, for those of youwho don't know, is a veteranlyric writer of many famousmusicals such as Jesus ChristSuperstar and Evita. Hecollaborated with Elton for a fewsongs in the 1980s, and is alsowell know as co-writer with Eltonof the "Lion King" soundtrack.(Hard to believe that was nearly5 years ago!!!) He has beenwidely quoted as saying that hedoes not care what the criticsthink about Aida, and that theywill probably hate it. He says thatwhat matters is that the audiencelikes it, and I agree. If the averageperson enjoys it, asentertainment, then it is asuccess.

A brief summary of the story:An Egyptian captain falls in lovewith a slave he captured, Aida.Unknown to him, she is aNubian princess. He, Radames, isengaged to marry Amneris, thePharaoh's daughter. Against hiswill he is forced to marryAmneris, but his heart forces himto betray Egypt to help Aida. Forthis crime, Radames and Aida aresentenced to be buried alive.Although she loves them both,Amneris must, as the futureleader of Egypt, allow the deathsentence to be carried out.

As the lovers await death,Radames tells Aida that he will

find her again, even if it takes100 lifetimes. This "future"meeting is portrayed in theshow's opening and closingscenes: the show begins andends in a setting of a modern daymuseum with ancient Egyptianartifacts in glass cases. The"ancient" lovers, supposedlyreincarnated, catch each other'seyes and feel an attraction.

During the nearly 9 week runin Chicago there were frequentminor dialog and song lyricchanges. Some made sense,such as Radames' father (Zoser)asking "....what do we do if theytake up arms again?" instead ofthe former ".......what do we do ifthey take up arms against us?".

One very clever scene rightbefore "Like Father, Like Son" hasa humourous little "Lion King"reference. While plotting to killthe pharaoh, Zoser reflects, "firsta wedding, then a funeral.......ah,now that's what I call the Circleof Life." The audience chuckles.

There were other minordialog conflicts I realized aftermy sixth show; hopefully this willbe revised for Broadway, forexample Aida asks Mereb not totell anyone that she is a Nubianprincess, because she fears theEgyptians will kill her. But sinceat the very beginning there wereother Nubian women capturedalong with her, the Nubianswould have already known thatAida was enslaved.

Those who have not alreadyseen it, I highly recommend thatyou go to see Aida in New Yorkif you get the chance. Iguarantee that you will enjoy itimmensely.


Admittedly, we hadplanned to launch thenew Hercules website a

lot earlier, but keeping inmind that all Hercules workis done in the so-called sparetime of the Hercules teammembers, things have taken alittle longer than we planned.

And even now that thenew Hercules website willsoon be officially launched athttp://www.eltonfan.net, thereare still a few constructionareas that hopefully willdisappear in the very nearfuture. Still we think thatthere are already lots ofgreat features andservices for everyElton fan on theweb.

The basic idea of the newHercules website is for it tobe your Elton John portal onthe world wide web. As such,the basic navigation of thenew site is very similar toYahoo! for example, or otherinternet portals. However, incontrast to the big searchengines, the Hercules websiteonly features Elton Johnrelated content.

If you are familiar withHercules' current website athttp://www.eltonfan.com you

will noticethat all ofit'sfeatureshavebeentransferredto the newsite, such asthe EltonTrivia, the

Hercules

Message Board, the HerculesChat Room, and of course thenews pages and archives.However, all of these serviceshave been re-designed andimproved in speed andperformance, bringing you aneven better service.

In addition, there are lotsof new services such as theHercules Online Shop, anOnline Auction Room, VirtualHercules eCards, and the newHercules eNewsletter. Asalready stated above, evenmore features will be addedshortly. So make sure to comeback often to check it all out.There will also be newservices for Hercules WebMembers, such as your ownpersonal e-mail [email protected](coming soon), the newsarchive, and multimedialibrary. And again, more WebMember services will beadded over the months tocome.

So don't wait, butbookmark the new pagetoday. At the time this issuewent to press, we were stillplanning to launch the new

website by the end ofMarch. Don't shoot us

if it takes a littlelonger ... we areonly thewebmasters.

eltonfan.net

THE NEW HERCULES WEBSITE

THE NEW HERCULES WEBSITEnight of Aida on December 9,and he made the front page ofthe Chicago Sun-Timesnewspaper.

Before discussing the detailsof the show, a few interestingcomparisons of Chicago's "Aida"to the Atlanta version. First, mostof the cast was replaced, exceptfor Headley as Aida and SherieScott as Amneris and one of theensemble (background/dancer)actors, Phineas Newborn.Although many of the behind-the-scenes people werereplaced, many were alsoretained.

Three of the "Elaborate Lives"songs were dropped from therevamped "Aida", most notably"The Messenger", which was onthe officially released CD anddemo CD. "Not Me" was re-inserted into the musical, alongwith the renamed "Radames'Letter". There are a few songsthat were not included on thevarious artists CD, which werein the musical: "Every Story is aLove Story", "Our Nation HoldsSway", "The Past is AnotherLand", and "Dance of the Robe."Plus, they are not performed inthe order they appear on eitherAida CD.

I can't possibly convey thefull story, atmosphere, andemotions of Aida well enough.You need to see it for yourself. Iwill provide a basic outline ofthe story, but this does not do itjustice. Critics universally agreedthat the musical's costumes andscenery were stunning.

One long time theatergoer Iknow said that it was the bestscenery she had ever seen. A bigfavorite of many was the

I had not seen the firstincarnation in Atlanta in 1998("Elaborate Lives: The Legend ofAida"), so I did not know whatto expect. The first Aidaperformance in Chicago that Iwas supposed to see wascancelled due to an on-stageaccident on the second night ofpreviews. Near the end of theNov 13 show, the two leadactors, Heather Headley as Aidaand Adam Pascal as Radames,fell 15 feet to the stage whenthe "tomb" plummeted. Bothwere only slightly injured, andwere able to resume their rolesfor the November 18 show. Butthere's an old saying that "anypublicity is good publicity": theshow received more local newscoverage due to the mishap.

As it was, a lot of local newsreports focused on the grand re-opening of the theater itself. Theoriginal vaudeville theater’schandeliers, marble, gold-leaf,and intricate decorative figureshave been refurbishedthroughout, at an estimated $20million.

Elton was in Chicago for thefinal week of Aida rehearsals,and performed 3 solo concertsin the city that week. But henever once mentioned themusical during his concerts! MyAida T-shirt did not even triggera comment. He did return to thecity for the official press opening

Elton John and Tim Rice's

AidaIN CHICAGOReview by Sharon Kalinoski

Fortunately for me andother Chicago area

residents the pre-Broadway run of "Aida"

took place at theCadillac Palace Theater

in Chicago from Nov12 1999 to Jan 9, 2000.

The convenientlocation allowed me to

see the musical 7times. And I would

have liked to see more.The music, of course,was written by Elton,

with lyrics by Tim Rice.

Atla

nta,

USA

- 24

Sep

tem

ber

1999

(Pho

to: L

Syke

s)


PERFECT DAYAccording to unconfirmed

sources, Elton has signed up toappear in 'Perfect Day', thefinale concert to National MusicDay in the UK. The concerttakes place at Somerset House,London on June 29, 2000, andwill be broadcast live by UK TVBBC 1 and 2, and UK Radio 1 &2. Elton will break from hisGerman Tour to appear.

NIGEL STRIKES BACK! According to the Nigel

Olsson Fan Club, Nigelprovided backing vocals on theupcoming sound-track albumThe Road to El Dorado.

MUSICARES AWARD

Elton and Sting share a jokeafter Elton was presented withthe Musicares Person of the YearAward in Los Angeles, Feb 21.

NEW BOOKAuthor Philip Norman has

completed writing Sir Elton: TheDefinitive Biography of EltonJohn. It will be published inMarch by London publishersSidgwick & Jackson. Apparently,Elton thinks the book is well-researched and accurate.Norman famously penned Eltonin 1991, which was aninsightful book on Elton andincluded a fascinating andcomprehensive discography, oras our sales manager Alan atWrap It Up! correctly pointedout, "songography" as it didn'tdetail disc catalogue codes!

NEWS BULLETS...

Ifirst became an Elton John fan when the ‘EltonJohn’ album was released, I was about 15years old then and myself and a group of four

friends used to listen to the album and werecompletely bowled over by it. My boyfriend atthe time got tickets to see Elton singing at "TheCountry Club" in Hampstead, I believe in 1969or 1970, and it was the first pop concert I hadever been to. The Club was full and heavingwhen we arrived - I remember that Elton wasvery exciting - we all had a great evening. Thenext time I saw him live was at the Shaw Theatreabout 1 year later, and this concert is still one ofthe most memorable for me. I believe RogerMoore and Princess Margaret were in theaudience and Elton was just electrifying. I was ina daze for days afterwards, and after that I wascompletely hooked on seeing Elton live.

The next concert after that was the one at theRoyal Festival Hall in 1974 when PrincessMargaret was again in the audience - I rememberher dancing in the Royal Box! It was a fantasticconcert; I had queued for hours early onemorning outside the Royal Festival Hall - thequeue went round and round the outside!

By this time of course, TumbleweedConnection was out and this same group of friendsused to listen to it together in someone’s bedroom.

After that I saw Elton perform whenever hewas in London, and of course, bought all his LPs.When he decided to stop touring (was it around1978?), I was devastated - I remember phoningBrian Hayes on LBC one morning when theannouncement had been made - Brian Hayeswas saying "Did anyone care?", and of course Iphoned in to say plenty of us did!

I feel I’ve been so lucky to have been able toenjoy Elton’s music for so long - I play The One,Made in England and of course The Big Pictureall the time, and continue to see him livewhenever I can, with children in tow now. I havenever met Elton personally although my husbandColin met him in 1969, just after Elton had madehis first album. Colin was at a pub in Surrey andwas sitting next to Elton at the bar. Elton was veryshy, and proudly told Colin about the album hehad just made. Of course Colin loves telling methis story, as he has met Elton, and I haven’t!

Jane Bradley, Herts, UK

To Hercules, I hope I speak on behalf of allElton fans... We thank the Lord, there'speople out there like you!!

I hope the 21st century is Hercules', and ofcourse, EJ's best time yet!

Best wishes,Adam Buckley, UK

Iwas reading the December fanzine and realizeda very good point was made in the Summer ofFun article. I also felt for a very long time that

no one could possibly understand my love andaffection for our dear Sir Elton. And then Idiscovered the fan club. I may not be in thegroup that goes to just about every concertpossible, but I do get a sense of connection fromreading about others' love and appreciation forhim. Thank God for both the man and youpeople that care as much about him as I do andenough to do such a wonderful job paying himtribute the way you do. I greatly appreciate notfeeling like an outcast.

Keep up the great work!Wendy Rohn, Greenfield, WI, USA

When I opened my heart to Elton andhis music in 1997, nothing about hisprevious drug and alcohol addictions

- which he had suffered for so long - could befelt. So, it is even harder for me to understand thathe had once fallen to these addictions. Since I amquite a recent fan - as you can see - I cannot sayanything about the past, what concerts were likein those times. I experienced my first concert inJune 1999, and I was absolutely fascinated by hispiano artistry and his voice. We are lucky thatyou are here Elton!

Ines Dießl, Germany

LE

TT

ER

S

TO

TH

E

E

DI

TO

RSend your letters toTammi Law, Editor(address on page 2) ore.mail her [email protected].

Sout

hben

d, IN

, USA

- O

ctob

er 1

999

(Pho

to: L

Syke

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Mad

ison

Squ

are

Gar

den

- 19

99 (P

hoto

: LSy

kes)

(A poem to Elton & Bernie)

by Hercules MembersGeorge & Ellen Pappas,

Cherry Hill, NJ, USA



NEWS BULLETS...NO STRINGS ON JUDIE

Elton has returned thecopyrights of three of JudieTzuke's early albums from hisRocket Record label back to theUK singer/songwriter. The albumswere recorded between 1979and 1981 and include herworldwide hit Stay With Me TillDawn, and For You, her firstsingle for Rocket. "As the albumshad been deleted for some time, Icalled Elton's office. Elton kindlycalled me and said that he wouldof course be prepared to let mehave them back," says Judie.Judie plans a UK tour "Phoenix2000" in April and May.

‘NEW’ HIDDEN RECORDINGSHercules regularly hears of

unearthed hidden Eltonrecordings. But the latest out ofthe closet comes from a Scottishradio station, reports the UKIndependent newspaper Jan 24.Scottish Radio Holdings, ownerof Radio Clyde, plans to raise£75m through a placing andaims to exploit previouslyunreleased recordings of Elton."This isn't the usual call for cashfor acquisitions," one of thebankers to the placing said."Some of SRH's stations havesome great Elton recordings stuckin the archives, which reallyought to be commercialised."

OFFICIAL ELTON JOHN WEBSITE Following a meeting with

Frank Presland, the CEO ofTwenty-First Artist (Elton's newmanagement company), inLondon on January 18, 2000,Hercules can say that the officialElton John websitehttp://www.eltonjohn.com, isgoing to be worth waiting for. Thebasic website is launched March1, but might take a few weeks forall features to be operational. Eltonis expected to be highly involvedin the website project - withpersonal contributions regularly.Hercules hopes to be involvedwith this exciting new project. Areview of the new web site willfollow in June's The Mag.

GREATEST ROCK'N'ROLL SONGS The 100 greatest rock 'n' roll

songs, as determined by a panelof 700 voters assembled by themusic network VH1, have Eltonat number 70 with Your Song.

RAYMOND ON TVMany fans have contacted us

to ask when will the showfeaturing Elton look-a-likeRaymond Johnson and theHercules fan club at Leeds Castlein September 1999 be screenedon British TV. The Look-A-LikesAgency, first due out overChristmas 1999, will be shownon ITV, likely early March. It isbeing screened as a five- or six-part prime-time show, withsegments of Hercules in mostepisodes.

MAYFIELD DIESSoul legend Curtis Mayfield,

whose stylings influenced artistsof all musical genres, died onDec 26. He was 57. Mayfieldsuffered a serious accident inAugust 1990. In 1994, Elton,Whitney Houston, The IsleyBrothers and Aretha Franklinrecorded his compositions in aspecial tribute called, All MenAre Brothers: A Tribute to CurtisMayfield. A remake of aMayfield song will feature as ananthem for the State of Georgia.The record producers want Eltonto be included on the recording.

ELTON AT THE MET New York’s Metropolitan

Museum of Art is showingexhibition "Rock Style" (runsuntil March 19) and spotlightsclassic rock-'n'-roll performersand their pervasive influenceon fashion. The exhibitionfeatures some of Elton'scostumes and shoes.

GERMAN SINGLE CHARTS OF THE 90S

Elton John was present in theGerman Top 100 Singles Chartsfor 294 weeks in the Nineties.That makes him number fiveright behind Michael Jackson(302 weeks), Mariah Carey (309weeks), Madonna (330 weeks)and Sweden's Roxette with atotal of 377 weeks. On averagethere was an Elton John singlelisted in the German Top 100every second week between1990 and 1999.

CANDY BY THE POUND Elton was the biggest solo

earner in 1999 according torock account Cliff Dane. Elton,taking £25m, was also numbertwo overall, behind the almostpredictable Rolling Stones bandwhich creamed £35m. Thefigures follow December newsfrom Pollstar about top concertearners in 1999, which placedElton eighth with $32.5m.Number one were - again - theRolling Stones on $64.7m. Butremember, the Stones have tosplit their earnings betweenthem.

ELTON TO FACE COURTElton is to give evidence at

London's High Court in his£20m damages claim against aformer agent and accountants,reported the Western DailyPress newspaper Dec. 15. MrJustice Jacob heard the firstlegal skirmishes between theparties involved at a preliminaryhearing in Dec. The judge saidit was being claimed thatAndrew Haydon, an agentemployed by Elton's formermanager John Reid's company,JRE Ltd., was negligent inallowing JRE to charge U.S. tourexpenses to Elton. The trial inOctober is expected to last eightweeks.

It was nineteen seventy twoWhen I heard you on AM radio Strutting with my friends along Grand AvenueJust a kid, silly little city boyManhattan's castles sparkled just ahead I recall that first songA soft melancholy whispered "Daniel my brother"

From that moment and infinite moreYour pain gripped me

Your tears filled meYour rhythm raised me

Let me tell you how I feelYour music spiked like a gypsy tapestryDancing wild like cool Kentucky ginHoly Moses that ain't no sinYour words a prism, hues of life'sharmonyYour music tap dancing along concerthall balconies

Twenty seven years I've sung backIn the car on a two lane motorwayRound Norfolks BywayAlone in London TownWalking down the Old Kent Road

Your music great company at three a.m. As I found my way back to my flat

Listening to your soundI thought then like I do now

What grace between your linesYour fingers gliding Your harmony so aliveYour voice like a high blue note Deep from the DeltaNot bad for a "Sheffield Man"

Just a fan no waySoul mates in time and spaceThough never face to faceYour notes fantastic left their grace

Still todayThe songs you singThe lyrics you weaveMy heart liftsOld friends thank you!You two so gifted.

If my message finds youKnow my soul has cherished your artLike a diamond in the rough"Between a Father & Son" and "Candle in the Wind" You made England proud

Your compassion with no boundsBernie's eyes glisten

He knows you well

We've travelled farFrom Cities, Commons to HillsWhen you sing we come together

Your music, your lyricsRoll Elton, Roll on like the mighty MississippiBernie spin that magic without kinAll together nowStrangers we haven't been

strangers wehaven’t been

I went to a weddingThe wedding of an old friendI was a long gone ladWe drank brown aleBrown ale from the bottleHe seemed very happyI recall I was sad

It was a promise I madeHe had been a good palHe was glad that I cameWe drank straight ginStraight gin with no iceHis bride was a blondeI don’t remember her name

They got several toastersHe always liked toastHis mother didn’t cryHis Auntie Rose drank stoutShe talked about babiesHe wore a purple shirtA purple shirt with a green tie

He said it was a grand dayShe giggled and thumped himShe worked at ‘Boots’Everyone smoked cigarettesThe girls wore white lipstickTheir frocks had red spotsThe lads smelled of ‘Brut’

The Gents was crowdedEveryone told dirty jokesThere was one about the PopeThe vicar wasn’t listeningThe sausage rolls were goodEveryone had babiesThe kids all drank warm coke

There was a girl called SylvShe had tall hairShe asked me for a fagAll she said was ‘Yea’‘Yea’ and ‘Like ya know’She spilled her BabychamSomeone called her a slag

The reception was fabThat’s what his sister saidI tried hard to fitHis dad sang ‘Edelwies’He sang the wrong wordsEverybody laughed at himHe said he felt a right tit

My friend had a brotherHis brother was a policemanHe wore hot pink socksI don’t think he liked meHe ate little sausagesHe pinched them in his fingersHe made jokes about cocks

My friend was on the doleHe talked about AustraliaThey lived with his mumLong ago he had a dreamWe all dreamt long agoI asked him if he rememberedHe asked me if I was having fun

She wanted lots of babiesHe’d be a great dadI pretended not to hearThe sausage rolls were all goneThere was lots of cake leftNobody ate much cakeThey just sent out for more beer

His brother impersonated ElvisHe had a pee stain on his crotchHe was drinking white rumThere were lots more babiesSome people threw upMy friend passed outWhat’s-her-name chewed gum

I got very drunkDrunk it all looked betterSylv looked better drunkI wanted to hear ‘Danny Boy’Bagpipes and ‘Danny Boy’Sad bitter songsYea! Sylv looked better drunk

I stood outside the Workin’ MansInside everyone was singingI was thinking about sexSaturday felt like SundaySunday when you have school MondayI went to a weddingThe christening comes next.

a wedding inA poem by Bernie Taupin

east angliaeast anglia


NEWS BULLETS...WALLACE TRUSTEE

The London-based museum,the Wallace Collection has hiredElton to its board of trustees. "SirElton dresses normal when hecomes to see us," said one insider."Nothing outrageous. No spangles.You wouldn't say he was famousat all. He loves this place and hasbeen here several times."

42ND ANNUAL GRAMMYAWARD

Elton was presented with theGrammy Legend Award duringthe 42nd Annual GrammyAwards. The CBS-televised eventwas held at the new StaplesCenter in downtown Los Angeleson February 23, 2000. As well asreceiving his award, EJ alsoperformed at the ceremony.

ELTON THANKS HERCULES MEMBERS

During a meeting withHercules in London Jan 18, theCheif Executive Officer of Elton'snew management company,Frank Presland delivered Elton'sthanks for fans' loyalty andsupport - especially in 1999.Elton was impressed by thenumber of Christmas cards andgifts, and says he’ll not forget the"Get Well Soon" projectorganised by Hercules followingElton's heart surgery last July.

PRIVATE DANCERElton performed a private

concert Saturday, Jan 29, in hisadopted hometown of Atlanta,Georgia. Elton was singing tobenefit Elton John AIDSFoundation, as well as GridironGlamour, a travelling fashionshow that benefits the HollyRodFoundation, which raises moneyto fight breast cancer. He playeda 2-hour show at the local FoxTheater and dedicated TinyDancer to Muhammad Ali andPhiladelphia Freedom to BillieJean King both of whom were inthe audience.

JOHN AND DAVEY IN CONCERT

Elton band members JohnJorgenson and Davey Johnstoneperformed a show at McCabe'sGuitar Store in Santa Monica onJan 30, at 7.00 pm. About 150fans braved the rain. Also in theaudience were wives and familymembers of both Davey andJohn, was well as band memberJohn Mahon.

ELTON'S HALF-BROTHER IN COURT

The half-brother of Elton hasbeen banned from driving andconvicted of possessing cannabisby magistrates in north Wales.But 33-year-old Geoffrey Dwight,from Ruthin, was late for court inWrexham after the exhaust felloff his battered Ford Escort car.Mr. Dwight, an unemployed harpmaker, told the court he declineda breathalyser test because policeofficers had seen him driving ona car park, not a public road. Hesaid he had been out drinkingand playing the harp in pubs inLlangollen one night in last Julywhen he was arrested. Mr.Dwight told the court the harp,which he had made for hiselderly mother, was damaged bya police constable who put hisfoot on it as he was arrested.

SNOOKEROO A man described by New York

police as a professional partycrasher was arrested on fraudcharges for allegedly posing asElton's manager to get into a $750-a-plate celebrity-studded gala,reported the New York Daily NewsJan 16. Peter Gianquinto, 50,called up organisers of theVolunteers of America's annualChristmas gala at the Four SeasonsHotel posing as Elton's managerand asked for 7 tickets. He claimedElton and Donatella Versacewanted to attend the Dec 12 eventto meet with two friends who wereleading the event, police said.Party planners were so snookeredthey changed the seatingarrangements at the last minute toaccommodate the request.

INTERVIEWING'S NOT MYSTRONGEST SUIT

"Victoria's Secrets: MrsBeckham's Celebrity Odyssey"(Channel 4 Television) shown onUK television early January, wassomething of an enigma. PoshSpice aka Victoria Adams spentan hour interviewing big nameslike Elton John. Elton, who wasinterviewed as he shopped forCDs, suddenly asked her whatshe thought of former Spice GirlGeri Halliwell's new songs. Poshwas speechless. The Herculesrefrain: "I'm speechless, and Idon't know where to start"!

east anglia

To celebrate our 50th issueof the Hercules Fanzine,we are giving away two

rare Elton Tour T-Shirts! Theseshirts were produced as a verylimited edition by the GermanTour Promoter of EJ’s shows in1999, exclusively for the crew.They are NOT available in theshops, and here’s YOUR chanceto own one.

Two lucky readers of TheMag will each receive one ofthese shirts for free! All youhave to do to enter the draw, issend a postcard with your name,

address, and membershipnumber to: Tammi Law, ChiefEditor, Hercules Elton John FanClub, 49 Horseshoe Crescent,Peatmoor, Swindon, SN5 5AX,UK. Mark your cards “Tour shirtPrize-Draw”. Winners will benotified by post, and names willbe published in the next issue.

And don’t worry if you aren’tsuccessful with this free prize-draw. We will be holding anauction in the forthcoming Juneissue, giving you a chance to bidfor 2 more shirts, with allproceeds benefiting The Elton

John Aids Foundation. There willalso be chance to bid for two ofthese rare shirts on the Auctionsection of the new HerculesWeb-site, with proceeds alsobenefiting EJAF.

Taken from the book ‘The Devil at High Noon’. Written by Bernie Taupin. Supplied by Jimmie Collins

exclusive...exclusive...TOUR T-SHIRT FREE PRIZE-DRAW!


Most of us have heard Eltonand Bernie tell the tale of howthe song "Daniel" was originallywritten with a third verse andhow it had to be deleted beforethe final recording was made.Time and time again, they havesaid that the missing verse hadexplained the whole meaning ofthe song, but it would have beentoo long to be a pop tune. Thiswas, however, not the firstincident in which one of Bernie'slyrics had had the third verseremoved and the meaningchanged before the masterrecording was made.

In all of the interviews I haveencountered, EJ and BT havenever mentioned how or why"Holiday Inn" was reduced to asyrupy tribute to a motel chain,rather than the dark confines of aprison that Bernie had originallyenvisioned. Did the companythat owned the Holiday Inn motelchain threaten to sue? Or didthey simply feel that the publicwould enjoy a much shorterhappier version in the long run?Listening to the original demorecording, I honestly feel that itwould have stood the test of time.

The first notable change cameduring the chorus. Everythingwas the same between the demoand the final master. All exceptone little word. The final version

of the chorus reads in part: "You ain't seen nothing till

you been in a motel, baby, like aHoliday Inn."

That sounds all well and fine,but the replacement of just oneword changed the whole toneand meaning of the song. Theword "baby" replaced the word"prison"!

"You ain't seen nothing tillyou been in a motel prison, likea Holiday Inn."

With "prison" now deleted and"baby" inserted, the song endedup sounding like a commercialadvertisement for the HolidayInn. For those of you who do notknow, Holiday Inn is a motelchain in the USA. I am quitesurprised that the company hasnot yet tried to use this song totheir advantage. Once the word"prison" was eliminated and"baby" penciled in, verse one andtwo seemed to fit better with thechorus. Verse three, however,was now terribly out of place. Ifit had been left intact, it wouldnot have worked well with therest of the lyrics. "Prison"supported that third verse.Without it, there would havebeen no connection to thechorus. Consider the words:

"Don't even know if it'sCleveland or Maine.

Well, the building's as big andthe room's just the same.

Oh, the TV don't work andthe French fries are cold,

and room service closedabout an hour ago."

It must have been a lastminute choice to dramaticallyalter the lyrics because I haveheard EJ perform it live in 1971with the third verse intact, butwithout "prison" in the chorus.There was a great story to be toldhere, just imagine performing forseveral hours then traveling to thenext destination for an overnightstay in a motel room that seemedunacceptable for human comfort.With nowhere to go, thecountless number of motel roomsbegins to feel like a sort of prison.Solution? Write about it. Whywe were deprived of this originalthought may never be known.Perhaps Elton will one dayreinstate the original lyrics andperhaps he won't. For now, I canonly rely on the unreleased demoversion to capture myimagination about staying "in amotel prison, like a Holiday Inn".

(Please note: Feelingsexpressed in this article about theHoliday Inns of the early 1970sare in no way a reflection of theircurrent reputation of quality andgood service)

By Reggie Zippo

While listening to thealbum version of"Holiday Inn", I often

wonder how many fans knowthat they are only listening toabout 75% of the original lyrics.After nearly 30 years of hearing asong that sounds so complete asis, it may surprise even the mostavid of EJ's fans that "HolidayInn" once had a third verse, aslightly different chorus, and ameaning that painted a muchdarker picture about life on theroad.



NEWS BULLETS...NEW ALBUM NEWS

The latest collaboration fromthe team of Elton, Tim Rice andHans Zimmer, stems fromDreamWorks Pictures' upcominganimated adventure The Road ToEl Dorado, which is in cinemasfrom March 31. However, thealbum 'Elton John's The Road ToEl Dorado', scheduled for releaseon March 14, is more than justthe soundtrack.

Elton explained "Instead of justhaving the usual five songs on asoundtrack album and the rest ofit being score, I said, 'Let's makean album out of this and includesongs we wrote that didn't makethe movie.'" He went on to talkabout how the film, and themusic, changed along the way,"The plot changes, the jokeschange, the songs change scenes,but that's par for the course.''

The album features theoriginal, full-length versions of thefive songs Elton performs in thefilm: El Dorado; WithoutQuestion; Friends Never SayGoodbye; The Trail We Blaze;and Someday Out Of The Blue(Theme From El Dorado).

In addition, the album hasElton singing a duet with RandyNewman It's Tough To Be A God(sung in the film by Kevin Kline

and Kenneth Branagh); 16thCentury Man; Trust Me; andQueen Of Cities (all written for,but not included, in the film); ThePanic In Me and My HeartDances (written specifically forthe album). The first single,Someday Out Of The Blue(Theme from El Dorado) will bereleased April 4.

The album also includesexcerpts from the score to thefilm. Elton says of his partnershipwith Rice and Zimmer: “Tim likeswhat I do with the melody, I likewhat Tim does with the lyric, andwe love what Hans does. So it'snot a really complicated thing,primarily because we have somuch respect for each other.” TimRice, sole lyricist on the project,remarks: “Hans is one of the greatfilm composers. And Elton, ofcourse, is a legend in every way.So I feel quite privileged.''

DreamWorks Recordsexecutive Michael Ostin says ofthe album: ``It's so great to be partof a musical event like this. I stillcan't believe I'm working withElton John, Tim Rice and HansZimmer. These guys are at theircreative peaks, and we're reallylucky to be able to bring theircombined talents to so manypeople with this amazing record.''

ELTON AND TIM ASSIGNEDElton and Tim Rice will sit at

Tower Records on 8801 SunsetBlvd., LA, on March 14th 2000at 7pm, to sign copies of TheRoad to El Dorado when thealbum hits the street. It's been 5years since Elton and BernieTaupin did their last autographparty at Tower Records in LA.After 4 hours and 1,300 fans, theevening became a segment ofhistory for both Elton and Tower.Fans must buy their CD March13, and receive a special entrybracelet.

HI HAWAII!EJ kicked off the new year

with 3 concerts in Honolulu,Hawaii, January 7, 8, and 9.Although it is a US state, it is veryfar away from themainland....about halfwaybetween California and Japan !!!!We have a Hercules member inHonolulu: he was very helpful tosome mainland USA and someJapanese members of Hercules onthis occasion.....thanks Brian!Elton used basically the same setlist as the USA shows from thefall of 1999. He commented thatit was a great city, and that hewas really enjoying his stay there.EJ got many flowered leis andHawaiian shirts as gifts from theaudience.....the last time he haddone a concert in Honolulu was1982! Over the 3 nights, hededicated songs to friends in theaudience such as "Janet fromEngland", Lulu, and singer DianeKrall. Elton will continue to tourNorth America until April,bringing the solo tour to Europein the summer.

CAN I PUT YOU ON? Many of you will still

remember the Elton John postagestamps Hercules commissioned forhis 50th birthday in 1997. Thereare more Elton stamps around,visit www.coolstamps.comStamps come from Komi,Gagauzia, Buriatia, and Tanzania!

HOL

IDAY

IN

N: the lost lyric


1) Billy Bones and the White Bird2) Holiday Inn3) Sick City4) Where’s the Shoorah? 5) Honey Roll6) Satellite 7) Understanding Women 8) Slave 9) Teacher I Need You10) Someone’s Final Song11) Elderberry Wine12) White Lady White Powder

LYRIC QUIZ ANSWERS

ALWAYS let us know theexpiry date of the card, and

the cardholders name.

ALWAYS state yourmembership number if yousend a cheque to Hercules,or pay into one of the Club

accounts.

PLEASE REMEMBER...

Welcome to the 50thissue of the Herculesfanzine! Originally

called Rocket Fan back in 1988,and now called The Mag,readership has growntremendously over the last 12years. Its a reflection of the factthat Elton himself continues togo from strength to strength.

Elton continues to be reallybusy, and his hugely successfulSolo Tour shows no signs ofstopping. Building on the successof last year, EJ kicked off hisschedule for 2000 by performing3 shows in Hawaii, beforereturning to the USA for moreshows throughout the Spring.And more concerts have beenannounced across Europe for thesummer. See the Tour Date listingon page 27 for full details.

In between all of this activity,Elton has also found time to writeand perform the soundtrack foranother animated movie,Dreamworks The Road to ElDorado. Details of the songs onthe resulting album, and whenyou can get hold of your copy,can be found in the Newssection.

We are very excited thatNigel Olsson chose to speakexclusively to Hercules from hishome in California, giving us aninsight into life with EJ in the"early days". The first part of theinterview is later in this issue,with part 2 continuing in June.And we were pleased to hearthat Nigel has subsequentlyreturned to work with Elton, forthe first time in 16 years,providing backing vocals onpromotion work for the ElDorado project.

As part of the service whichwe offer to fans, Hercules haveagain been able to secure groupallocation premium tickets tomany of Elton’s shows this year.We make NO profit on thetickets which fans buy throughHercules, it’s purely a way ofensuring that great seats areavailable for real fans. In factHercules is not about makingprofit at all - the Team here areall volunteers, and we aren’t paidfor what we do. Which is whatmakes it YOUR Elton John FanClub; it’s run by the fans, for thefans.

That’s also why yourcontributions are alwayswelcome. Write and tell us aboutwhy you became a fan, andother EJ-related incidents alongthe way! Photos and pics arealways welcome too.

And if you loved the Hercules2000 Calendar, we want you toshare the glory for 2001! Wewant to emphasise that, not onlyis it Elton, but also the fans thatmake Hercules great. Have alook through your pictures ofElton and select photos you havetaken over the years; if your picis used in the 2001 Calendar,you will have your name printednext to the photo, and receive afree calendar as thanks. Pleasesend all contributions to me -address at top of page 2.

All that’s left is for us to wishElton a very Happy Birthday inMarch. And if you can’t make itto any of our "Celebrate EJ’sBirthday" Conventions (see page19 for details), then I’ll lookforward to seeing as many of youas possible at Elton’s Solo showsin the summer!


Mad

ison

Squ

are

Gar

den

- 19

98 (P

hoto

s: J

Keß

ing)

FROM THE EDITOR...SMALL ADS

WANTEDI am looking for the following

Elton John music videos:"Something About The Way YouLook Tonight", "Recover YourSoul", "If The River Can Bend"and "Written In The Stars". Pleasewrite to: Jochen Loh,Hammerweg 29, D - 52074Aachen, Germany.

FOR SALE OR TRADEUpdated 7 page list includes,

7", 12" vinyl, CDs, Videos,Books, Photos, T- Shirts andmore. Please write to StevenBetts 75A Coillesdene Avenue,Edinburgh EH15 2LN, ScotlandU.K. or [email protected]

HERCULES MEMBER DISCOUNTS AT WRAP IT UP!

Hercules has negotiated apermanent discount package forClub Members buying goodsfrom our retail outlet Wrap ItUp! Quote your membernumber (on your passes) to WrapIt Up!, PO Box 220, Lincoln,LN1 2RZ, England. Tel/fax +44-1522-529275 oremail: [email protected]

EJ CELS

Similar to the way animationCels are made. Matted andpresented in shadow box frames.16 titles available. Some inlimited edition! SPECIAL FREEOFFER! Write to: CartoonCreations, PO Box 396,Dunedin, FL 34697 USA or visitour website atwww.angelfire.com/biz/celebritycel Our home since 1996!

Please note that if you havepaid your Membership Fee by

Credit Card, your card willautomatically be charged

again for the renewal fee, atthe end of your membershipyear. If your card has expired

in the meantime, or if youhave switched companies,please forward your new

Credit Card details to HerculesCoordination in time for your

next renewal.

These are free to Hercules members. Send yours to Tammi Law, Editor, 49 Horseshoe Crescent, Swindon SN5 5AX, UK., or e-mail her [email protected]

idol

Arise Sir Elton! The moment EJ wasknighted by the Queen.

This is not an official tour schedule, as it also includes rumoured and unconfirmed dates.

Quarterly Fanzine. Issue 50. March 2000 27Hercules. The Elton John Fan Club2

Annual membership fee is £14 in the UK/Europeand £17/US$30 for the USA and Rest of the World.Please note that your renewal date is printed onyour address label in European formatday/month/year.

Membership passes are available from your localHERCULES department: send a small photo ofyourself when requesting your pass.

Please don't send enquiries or fan mail to the EltonJohn management, but to HERCULES Coordination.Letters will be passed on if necessary.

HERCULES is a quarterly publication released inMarch, June, September and December. In event ofcircumstances beyond our control, there is noguarantee for punctual shipment. It is published inEnglish and German.

Printed articles do not necessarily reflect the editors'opinions. All information is based on the best ofknowledge and belief. Reproductions permitted onlyby prior arrangement with HERCULES.

Member participation is always welcome. We arethankful for your submissions of any kind: reports,articles, photos, drawings, and suggestions. Pleasesend them to the Editor, Tammi Law. Pleaseunderstand that we cannot always publish allcontributions. All photos will be returned.

UK Hotline 0906 888 20 20 (60p per minute)USA/Canada Hotline 815/293 3843Web site http://www.eltonfan.com

COPYRIGHT: HERCULES

Deadline for Issue No. 51 is 1 May 2000

No. 51 will be released June 2000

Front cover: Elton Performing live in LasVegas, 30 December 1999

Back cover: Chicago - 12 November 1999(Photo: S Kalinoski)

FAN CLUB INFORMATION

Fanzine of the Elton John Fan Club

Issue No. 50MARCH 2000

THE MAG

CONTENTSFEATURES

Aida in Chicagoreview ............................8

Healing Hands. Nigel Olsson talksexclusively to Hercules ......................10

David Furnishtalks about his life and relationship with Elton ....................14

Nobody Winsin French......................16

Life in the USAa personal account byCharlie Morgan ..........17

SPECIAL OFFERS

Tour T-Shirt prize draw..24

REGULARS

Between 17 and 20Elton trivia & gossip ..18

Club Information ............2

Convention Reports ......19

Letters to the Editor......22

Lyric Quiz ......................13

News Bullets ....................4

Small ads ........................26

Kaleidescope Eyes - EJ TV/Video Appearances................21

Tour Dates ......................27

HERCULES Chief Editor Tammi Law49 Horseshoe Crescent,PeatmoorSwindon SN5 5AX, U.K.Tel. +44 (0)1793 881 [email protected]

Editorial Assistants:George Matlock, Barbara Turner

Design: Turnstyle Design

Translations:Sabine AsenkirschbaumerMireille Mölbert

For subscription details, pleasewrite to your local HERCULESdepartment or to HERCULESCoordinaton:

HERCULES Coordinationc/o Stephan HeimbecherOrleansstr. 59D-81667 München, GERMANYTel. +49 (0)89 48900369Fax +49 (0)89 [email protected]

HERCULES Fan Adviserc/o Mireille MölbertZaunweg 11D-80805 München, GERMANYTel. +49 (0)89 [email protected]

HERCULES USA/Canadac/o Sharon KalinoskiP.O. Box 398La Grange, IL 60525, [email protected]

HERCULES U.K.P.O. Box 315RichmondSurrey TW9 3QX, [email protected]

HERCULES Beneluxc/o Arjen BuikstraSav. Lohmannstr. 1NL-3214 XA ZuidlandTel. +31 (0)1881 [email protected]: Tim Blezer

HERCULES Italyc/o Luca ZerbiniVia Scheiwiller n.9/AI-20139 Milano, [email protected]

HERCULES FrancaisFrancoise Linden-GillesBP-22, B-4900 [email protected]

HERCULES NordicUrpu Kallioc/o Maria SjöholmBjörkkullavägen 3 A 307880 LILJENDALFINLAND

TOUR DATESPlans & RumoursPlans & RumoursUS SOLO TOUR 200017-March-2000 ......Lakeland, FL Lakeland Civic Center 18-March-2000 ......Albany, GA Albany Civic Center 05-April-2000 ........Binghamton, NY Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena07-April-2000 ........Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center 08-April-2000 ........Bingintom, NY t.b.a. 09-April-2000 ........Erie, PA Erie Civic Center 14-April-2000 ........Evainsville, IN Roberts Stadium 15-April-2000 ........Indianapolis, IN Conseco 18-April-2000 ........Syracuse, NY War Memorial 19-April-2000 ........Trenton, NJ Sovereign Bank Arena 21-April-2000 ........Wilkes-Barre, PA First Union Arena 22-April-2000 ........Hershey, PA Hershey Arena

MISCELLANEOUS13-April-2000 ........New York, NY Carnegie Hall Rainforest Benefit show

EUROPEAN SOLO TOUR 200003-June-2000..........Derbyshire, UK Chatsworth House 06-June-2000..........Hampshire, UK Broadlands 13-June-2000..........Lincolnshire, UK Burghley Park 17-June-2000..........Loeben, Austria t.b.a 18-June-2000..........Bad Ischl, Austria Kaiserpark 23-June-2000..........Kassel, Germany Wilhelmshöhe (open air) 24-June-2000..........Hamburg, Germany Derbypark (open air) 27-June-2000..........Cologne, Germany KölnArena 28-June-2000..........Coburg, Germany Schlossplatz (open air) 30-June-2000..........Leipzig, Germany Völkerschlachtdenkmal (open air) 01-July-2000 ..........Stuttgart, Germany Schlossplatz (open air) 04-July-2000 ..........Mannheim, Germany Schloss Ehrenhof 05-July-2000 ..........Koblenz, Germany Schlosshof (open air) 07-July-2000 ..........Künzelsau, Germany Schlosspark (open air) 08-July-2000 ..........Munich, Germany Königsplatz (open air) 19-July-2000 ..........S. Wales, UK Margam Park 22-July-2000 ..........Northants, UK Castle Ashby

2000

HERCULES Hotline on 0906 888 20 20


HERCULES Hotline on 0906 888 20 20Calls cost 60p per minute anytime


inside this issue:

Exclusive! Nigel Olsson talks to Hercules

New Album News

Your chance to winrare T-shirt!

News & Tour Dates

Aida - show review

PLUS: YOUR LETTERS, SMALL ADS, LYRIC QUIZ, DAVID FURNISH AND MORE!

March 2000 Issue No: 50

THE MAG

since 1988

50TH ISSUE • 50TH ISSUE • 50TH ISSUE • 50TH ISSUE

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