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With Google Earth you can "visit" Elton's homes around the world - Woodside, Atlanta, Nice, Venice or London as well as Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Take a look!
A copy of Elton John and David Furnish's civil partnership certificate was made available in London on December 29, 2005.
Elton John and David Furnish took a break from their honeymoon on December 27, 2005 to take a guided tour of Venice's historic La Fenice theatre . "It's still the greatest theatre in the world," said Elton, who plans to hold another one-man show at the famed opera house after his highly acclaimed 2003 concert.
Elton John and David Furnish have been spotted enjoying their honeymoon in Venice.
Joss Stone was the surprise entertainment at Sir Elton John's wedding party - hotfooting it from the Hammersmith Apollo where she had performed in concert. The 17-year-old soul star sang at Sir Elton's £1 million wedding party at his Windsor estate hours after she had won rave reviews.
Jack Noseworthy has decided to depart the upcoming Broadway production of Lestat because the creative team has decided to take his character, Armand, in a new direction. ![]() Director Robert Jess Roth said in a statement, "In the development of the show in San Francisco the creative team has decided to take the character of Armand, wonderfully played by Jack Noseworthy, in a new direction. I have enjoyed working with Jack and his contributions to our show have been invaluable. We will all miss him." Noseworthy added, "Being part of the creative process of Lestat has been a tremendous pleasure and an enriching experience. I am confident that taking the character of Armand in a new direction is the correct choice for the production. I wish my friends well, and a long prosperous run." Understudy Drew Sarich will perform the role until a replacement is announced. Lestat, based on Anne Rice's novels, will play Broadway's Palace Theater beginning March 11, 2006 and opening on April 13. It is currently playing at San Francisco's Curran Theatre, and will run there until January 29, 2006.
Monday, December 19 2005 at 07:52:31 Sunday, December 18 2005 at 14:27:49 Wednesday, December 14 2005 at 21:16:12 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 22:01:44 Friday, November 11 2005 at 08:56:24 Wednesday, October 26 2005 at 10:46:54
You have probably seen the greeting card on Sky News, ITV News, BBC News, CNN or your local TV station. It was prepared by gift and free reminder service www.remind4u.com and delivered to Elton and David's wedding in Windsor On December 21, 2005.
Victoria Beckham and Sir Michael Caine were among the stars celebrating at Sir Elton John and David Furnish's civil partnership party on December 21, 2005. Stars were caught in a celebrity traffic jam on as they made their way to the lavish party at the couple's Old Windsor mansion. Crowds gathered for their ceremony, which came on the first day of same-sex unions in England and Wales.
... but nothing much for us: Newlywed Elton John refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement with David Furnish before their marriage on December 21, 2005. Elton — worth an estimated £185million — was urged by pals and professional advisers to get a contract drawn up. But he told his inner circle he was against any document safeguarding his wealth in the event of a split.
Following are various photos from Elton and David's wedding on December 21, 2005.
... from the perspective of a fan club coordinator - by Stephan Heimbecher. While Elton and David were tying the knot in Windsor, I was back home in Munich, Germany, answering the phone almost nonstop.
Britain's most famous gay couple — Sir Elton John and Canadian filmmaker David Furnish — tied the knot on December 21, 2005 in a star-studded event that capped the first week of civil partnership ceremonies in the United Kingdom.
As we post this news item, Elton and David are getting "married" at the Guildhall in Windsor - on the first day of gay “marriages” in England. Only Elton’s mum and stepdad and David’s parents are at the ceremony.
Cops will form a ring of steel around Sir Elton John on December 21, 2005 to make sure anti-gay protesters do not ruin his “wedding”. ![]() Elton has told pals he fears a repeat of scenes in Northern Ireland when Christian fundamentalists picketed the first civil partnerships on December 19, 2005. Crowd control barriers were put up last night. And undercover cops will be in the crowds to pinpoint potential trouble-makers. A police source said: “We don’t want a hint of trouble, even anyone trying to throw an egg.” The operation to protect Elton and David will cost tens of thousands of pounds — with Elton footing the bill. The couple wed at 11 am at the Guildhall in Windsor on the first day of gay “marriages” in England. It is the venue where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles tied the knot in April 2005. Only Elton’s mum and stepdad and David’s parents will be at the ceremony. But it will be followed by a black-tie bash in a massive marquee at the star’s £12million mansion at Woodside. Elton has had flower arrangements worth thousands of pounds put in the Guildhall. He generously told staff to leave them in place for the two other couples marrying the same day. Victoria Beckham, Liz Hurley, Sharon Stone and Donatella Versace are among celebs due at the reception. Elton and David will make sure they are not photographed by using a covered walkway. The couple want a firework extravaganza at midnight but aviation officials have not yet given the go-head as the house is just five miles from Heathrow. The wedding comes after a riotous “hen night” for 180 pals at the Too2Much gay bar in Soho on December 19, 2005. Former Blue singer Lee Ryan and Scissor Sisters star Jake Shears both stripped. And a hilarious video message from Meet The Parents star Ben Stiller was shown. EX-Boyzone star Stephen Gately has given Elton and David the wedding gift of a balloon flight — as a thank-you for introducing him to his boyfriend.
Wednesday, December 21 2005 at 07:20:40 Tuesday, December 20 2005 at 12:39:29 Tuesday, December 20 2005 at 07:13:06 Monday, December 19 2005 at 16:01:23 Sunday, December 18 2005 at 14:32:12 Sunday, December 18 2005 at 14:20:53 Friday, December 16 2005 at 06:19:59 Thursday, December 15 2005 at 18:03:31 Monday, December 12 2005 at 08:25:41 Monday, December 12 2005 at 08:17:50 Saturday, December 10 2005 at 09:21:19 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 10:48:33 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 10:21:49 Wednesday, December 7 2005 at 10:48:10 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 10:39:31 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 01:28:56 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 01:25:07 Saturday, December 3 2005 at 05:30:17 Thursday, December 1 2005 at 09:00:13 Wednesday, November 30 2005 at 08:15:42 Monday, November 28 2005 at 10:05:08 Tuesday, November 8 2005 at 08:26:28 Sunday, October 23 2005 at 16:28:46 Wednesday, September 14 2005 at 20:53:16 Tuesday, August 9 2005 at 05:26:35 Saturday, December 18 2004 at 02:09:42 Monday, December 13 2004 at 01:07:59 Tuesday, November 16 2004 at 19:06:45 Thursday, November 4 2004 at 17:50:50
By Bill Cadwell, cartoonist for The Sun.
Elton John and David Furnish threw a stag party with a difference to celebrate their imminent "marriage", with a host of celebrities and male models.
Guy Babylon, keyboard player in the Elton John band, is celebrating his birthday on December 20, 2005. On behalf of the Hercules team and the Elton John fans all over the world, we would like to wish him a happy birthday!
Elton's former lover and manager of 25 years John Reid insists the singer's union with David Furnish will be a success - because the rocker's future 'husband' doesn't tolerate his legendary tantrums. Reid, who met Elton in 1970 and lived with him for five years as his first gay partner, is convinced he has found a soulmate in 43-year-old Furnish because he is a strong independent character who can be Elton's equal. ![]() He says, "I have seen him (Elton) nervous walking into a room with six people. David has helped him overcome that. They fit perfectly together and they will have a blast being married. But it can be tricky. Having seen them together I know David is good for Elton because he doesn't put up with the tantrums - he gives as good as he gets - and he is professionally independent."
Tuesday, November 29 2005 at 08:32:35
What could be the ultimate tribute to Elton John in your home, or the one thing left for the Elton fan who has everything? Art and Music Gallery have an exclusive offer for visitors of eltonfan.net – a selection of art pieces, each a one-off, with a number based around classic albums by the Rocket Man. ![]() PopArt is a contemporary art collection by Art And Music Gallery, combining gold discs with their classic album covers and customised artwork. Each art piece incorporates the original album cover presented alongside the coated vinyl, either in 24-carat gold or silver and then set on an exciting, vibrant backdrop. Created in partnership with the leading manufacturers of award to the music industry, Century Displays, the collection includes beautiful one-off customised art pieces of classic Elton records. From “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” to “Blue Moves” to “Duets”, the original vinyl is set against a hand-painted backdrop crafted by one of a team of highly talented artists. This means each piece of art is unique and “one of one”, never to be repeated.The PopArt collection range starts at £275, with highly customised pieces such as "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" from £2000. See www.artandmusicgallery.co.uk for images and more information. And if you feel like adding one of these stunning artworks to your collection, please quote eltonfan.net under the column “where did you hear about us” in the checkout area of the website.
Former US president Bill Clinton has recorded a video message for Elton John's "hen night" to congratulate him on his upcoming nuptials. reports The Mirror. The film - which lasts a minute - will be played during the £100,000 cabaret party at the Too2Much nightclub in London's Soho on December 19, 2005. ![]() An insider revealed: "We were running through the rehearsals with the Pet Shop Boys, Lee Ryan and Sam Taylor Wood, when the tape was first played. We knew Elton had good connections, but to see the ex-US president was something else." Guests - expected to include Sting and George Michael - will hear Mr Clinton congratulate Sir Elton on tying the knot with David. He says: "If there were more people in the world like Elton, then the world would be a better place."
Sunday, December 18 2005 at 14:20:53
Fan Reviews by William Cleere and Brian Ofstedahl. I had the opportunity to be in attendance at the Lestat World Premiere in San Francisco on December 17, 2005. In a word: AMAZING! ![]() For example, every time a vampire bit someone, several disjointed screens at the rear of the stage would flash odd and even disturbing images of the victim's life, and in some cases, other iconic images such s a newborn fetus (when Lestat is "born" as a vampire" and an Oedipus figure when Lestat bites his mother.) This was coupled with an astounding projection of lights that surrounded the apron of the stage. Secondly, the story. The production ran at least three hours and contained a great deal of spoken dialogue. Admittedly, I have not read Anne Rice's books, however, the stage dialogue was extremely well written, and often very humorous. The story in dialogue created the canvas for Elton's and Taupin's work in an absolute synchronicity. The Lyrics. In my opinion, the star of the show is Taupin's lyrics. The man has utterly outdone himself in this show. The story while extremely compelling, owes most of it's emotional resonance to Taupin. His ability to bring these characters to life was something that I was confident he could do, but had no idea he would hit it out of the park like this. Taupin's lyrics for this project are among his finest ever. He consistently forwards the story and character development in a way that I have rarely seen. With all due respect to Mr. Rice, Taupin's Lestat lyrics could go toe to toe with any of the lyrics Rice wrote in his prime. His work in this musical is staggering. (On a side note, Taupin cribbed one of his own lyrics from Japanese Hands. In one song in the show a character sings "Shy Chinese behind their painted fans." I thought, as a fan of Elton and Taupin, that this was a subtle nod to us hard cores.) Then of course there's Sir Elton. He has ventured into a new territory with this musical. This is universes away from Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliot. I think his familiarity with the Broadway medium at this point has given him a new confidence. While the music was often "recognizable" as his, it was never really reminiscent of any of his other works. He uses phrasing and melodic patterns that I've not heard from him in the past. It seems to me that he went out of his way to write exclusively for the stage in this show, and the result is a new and incredible collection of melodies that rival that of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Like Taupin, he reached for a new bag of tricks, and the result was a beautifully incandescent collection of tunes, almost operatic in nature, varying to fit and suit each scene with pinpoint accuracy. Honestly, I've been a fan of this man since 1988, but artistically, I've never been so proud. This was a home run for our boys, a long Barry Bonds type home run, splashing into the San Francisco Bay. And I can't leave without nods to Guy Babylon. His musical direction was spot on. If you've heard the demo clips of the songs on the official site and Amazon, rest assured that these are how the songs are presented (arrangement wise) in the show. It was obvious that they stayed very true to Elton's original concepts. The orchestral arrangements were very heavy on piano, with lush strings, a few subtle horns, some acoustic guitar (no electric), and a peppering of percussion (very little "drumming" in the typical sense.) Additionally, in the PlayBill, Babylon thanks Davey Johnstone for assisting in the arranging of the guitar parts...I was thrilled to read this. It was an amazing night, and the show sparkled with groundbreaking production, & great performances. Hugh Pannaro as Lestat was a perfect choice. His voice was warm and had a dynamic range. Very smooth, completely different than the Adam Pascal style in Aida. As Taupin said early in production "This is not a Rock opera." It most certainly was not, it was Musical Theater in the Style of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, and I would bet serious money, that it will be on Broadway for quite some time. Fan Review by Brian Ofstedahl. I had the opportunity to see the world premiere performance of "Lestat" at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco on Saturday, December 17, 2005. Needless to say, my expectations were high. Maybe too high. After all, as director Robert Jess Roth (who welcomed us to this special event with a brief personal introduction) said, "This is a work in progress." Things such as timing, set changes, etc., were still being worked out and that he knew we understood all that due to this being a 'preview' performance run". Like "Aida", which went through the same preview process prior to its Broadway opening (and was tweaked and reworked extensively), Lestat has amazing strengths, as well as opportunities for some fine tuning. Let's start with the amazing strengths. Trust me when I say this (and it is not because I am an Elton/Bernie fan), the music and lyrics are breathtaking. Actually, to be more precise, the lyrics first, then the melodies (although they are a perfect marraige). I have never been so completely blown away by Taupin's lyrics as I was that night (and I consider him to be the lyricist of our time). His storytelling abilities, the way he moved me, the story, the performers, the tone, the rhythm, etc., was nothing short of brilliant. And all this from a first timer! Bernie, you stole the show hands down! Now on to Elton's music. Because this isn't a "singing and dancing vampire rock opera", there isn't the "showstopper" number one expects to find in a Broadway musical (although "The Crimson Kiss", "I Want More", "Make Me As You Are" and "Sail Me Away" received much applause). This made Elton's job significantly more challenging. Did he rise to it? Yes, yes, yes. The music is haunting, beautiful, and tone perfect to the lyrics and story that are being told. Dramatic when needed, subtle where necessary. Always captivating. It is hard to point out a singular favorite because as one may sound more "radio friendly" than another, all are perfectly in sync with the scene for which it was written. Elton has become a master of theatre music. He is no longer writing Elton-like songs, he is writing for the material, for the moment, from the heart. Together with Taupin (to no surprise), they have created a masterpiece. As for the opportunities, the book by Linda Woolverton is too long (you dont have to pack all of Anne Rice's vampire novels into one play) and fragmented. At almost three hours, a bit of belt tightening would increase dramatic impact (suggestion, lose the Egypt storyline altogether). Casting of Hugh Panaro (Lestat), Carolee Carmello (Gabrielle) and Allison Fischer (Claudia) are all inspired choices. However, Jack Noseworthy (Armand), Jim Stanek (Louis), and especially Michael Genet (Marius) all lacked the power and conviction the material called for. The "vampire scenes" with the video images bordered on camp after even the 2nd or 3rd time, let alone the 5th or 6th. Let the music and the spectacular set pieces tell the story, not a video screen with abstract imagery. As someone said to Guy Babylon (who was seated in the row in front of me) after the show, "It needs work, but it is going to be great". I couldn't agree more. But no matter what, Elton and Bernie have once again created music magic. Elton says in the program that this is their finest work. It is. And after creating some of the most beloved classics over the past 30 plus years, that is really saying something. Song Listings from "Lestat" From The Dead Nothing Here In Paris In Paris (reprise) The Thirst The Thirst (reprise) Make Me As You Are To live Like This The Origin Of The Species The Crimson Kiss The Thirst (reprise) Welcome To the New World Embrace It I Want More I'll Never Have That Chance Sail Me Away To Kill Your Kind Embrace It (reprise) After All This Time From The Dead (finale)
Sunday, December 18 2005 at 14:27:49 Wednesday, December 14 2005 at 21:16:12 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 22:01:44 Friday, November 11 2005 at 08:56:24
Elton John hailed the introduction of civil partnerships in Britain that will allow him to 'marry' his male partner, and issued a call to fight against homophobia worldwide. Elton and David will have their relationship legally recognised in a ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor, west of London, on December 21, 2005, the day the new law comes into force in England and Wales. ![]() "It is precisely because homosexuality is a criminal offence, punished with up to 10 years' hard labour in Jamaica, that ordinary people feel it is OK to hate and exclude gay people," he said. "It does not take long for this hate to turn to violence." Elton rounded on African leaders for using a "platform of homophobia" to build up their reputations, as well as Polish president-elect Lech Kaczynski's recent comments denouncing homosexuality. In a rallying call to the gay community, Elton said: "I strongly believe we can make a difference if we show solidarity with those who are bullied and ill-treated for their sexuality by bombarding the authorities with letters, faxes and emails making it clear that we know about these abuses and calling for them to end." He added: "While David and I enjoy and celebrate our freedom on Wednesday, we do not forget our brothers and sisters who still live in fear."
Sunday, December 18 2005 at 14:20:53 Friday, December 16 2005 at 06:19:59 Thursday, December 15 2005 at 18:03:31 Monday, December 12 2005 at 08:25:41 Monday, December 12 2005 at 08:17:50 Saturday, December 10 2005 at 09:21:19 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 10:48:33 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 10:21:49 Wednesday, December 7 2005 at 10:48:10 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 10:39:31 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 01:28:56 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 01:25:07 Saturday, December 3 2005 at 05:30:17 Thursday, December 1 2005 at 09:00:13 Wednesday, November 30 2005 at 08:15:42 Monday, November 28 2005 at 10:05:08 Tuesday, November 8 2005 at 08:26:28 Sunday, October 23 2005 at 16:28:46 Saturday, December 18 2004 at 02:09:42 Monday, December 13 2004 at 01:07:59 Tuesday, November 16 2004 at 19:06:45 Thursday, November 4 2004 at 17:50:50
Previews for "Lestat" -- a musical with an Elton John and Bernie Taupin score based on the novels of Anne Rice -- began December 17, 2005, and the show will officially premiere Januar 8, 2006. ![]() Vampire musicals have not fared well on New York's big stage lately. The campy "Dance of the Vampires" from the 2002-03 season and last year's ever-serious "Dracula" both flopped. But the aforementioned did not have the composing veteran Elton John ("The Lion King," "Aida" and "Billy Elliot") and Taupin. As rock 'n' roll collaborators, the two made 16 top-20 pop hits in a row, from 1972 to 1976. "Lestat" also boasts the proven commercial tandem of director Robert Jess Roth and scriptwriter Linda Woolverton from "Beauty and the Beast." They pitched the "Lestat" concept to Warners executives, who had been looking for a potential blockbuster for the studio's first stage effort, said Gregg Maday, Warner Bros.' executive vice president of theatrical ventures. "This is a product of passion," Roth says. "We came to them. It's different than being a hired hand." In what has become a familiar site at Geary Street theaters, the creatives will be recognized by their clipboards and lighted pens. "When you're in the audience, you know whether they're on the emotional journey you want to take them on," Roth says. "The only way we're gonna find out, as they say, is when the bums are in the seats," lyricist Taupin says, over Caesar salads across the street from the 42nd Street rehearsal studio. Taupin is the music-theater rookie. He might not have gotten the opportunity if not for a chance backstage meeting between Elton and Roth at a concert a few years ago. Roth, already determined to adapt Rice's work for the footlights, asked Elton if he had ever read her books. Elton replied yes and told Roth they would make a wonderful musical. A handshake deal, a phone call from Elton to Taupin and a 14-month hunt to secure the rights culminated in a "Lestat" boot camp at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Cut to a montage of neon lights flashing, clock hands turning and coffee cups emptying: In four days, Roth, Woolverton and Taupin hammered out the story line, using "The Vampire Lestat" as the first act and "Interview With the Vampire" as the second. Taupin began to write the lyrics with a symphonic bent to accent the novels' sensuality. Enter Elton, who had remained in London. In a spasm of productivity, he wrote the melodies in 10 days, playing tracks for Roth over the phone almost daily. But it is Taupin who has been the rehearsal regular, along with an industrial-size tub of throat lozenges. That morning, actor Hugh Panaro ("The Phantom of the Opera") had requested revisions in one of the songs, and Taupin immediately scribbled new lyrics. "It's so not about vampires," says Panaro, who, as Lestat, was seen sinking his teeth into the breast of Colleen Fitzpatrick during a rehearsal. "It's about relationships with partners, lovers, family and siblings, and they happen to be vampires." That means no fake fangs, no blood capsules or any other old-school accoutrements. The play distills Rice's epic series into Lestat's yearning for eternal love. Immortality proves seductive, but Lestat is tortured by the moral conundrum: How can one be good when one has to drain the life out of human beings every now and then? A different version of Rice's work was targeted for Broadway in the early '90s, before David Geffen signed Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise for the nonmusical movie version. The road to San Francisco has been paved more smoothly by having one point man in Maday, Roth says. Unlike the common practice of a project bloated with investors, Maday narrowed the lines of communication. "You don't have the dentist from Duluth saying this is who you should cast," Maday says. The biggest challenge for film conglomerates entering the theater business, Maday says, is to realize that they can't recoup the financing in one big weekend, like with movies. A healthy stay in San Francisco, where Rice once lived, would be the first step to profit. Roth, who directed "The Opposite of Sex" at the Magic Theatre last year, called the local audience "sophisticated." But a supposedly smart house has not prevented other hopeful productions from biting the dust. Says Roth: "I'm not nervous at all. I've chosen the greatest artists to surround myself with." LESTAT plays at the Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco. $30-$90. +1 (415) 551-2000, +1 (415) 512-7770, www.bestofbroadway-sf.com.
Wednesday, December 14 2005 at 21:16:12 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 22:01:44 Friday, November 11 2005 at 08:56:24 Wednesday, October 26 2005 at 10:46:54 Tuesday, September 27 2005 at 10:44:16 Saturday, April 16 2005 at 07:40:12 Monday, April 4 2005 at 16:31:32 Tuesday, November 4 2003 at 11:45:07 Tuesday, May 6 2003 at 19:45:38
Elton John will celebrate his "hen night" with a £100,000 show starring his top showbiz pals. The amazing cabaret will be the centrepiece of a nightclub party being arranged by shoe designer Patrick Cox. Elton will tie the knot in a civil partnership ceremony with David two days later.
Fan Report and photo by Marcel Zuercher.
Fan review by Holger Wagner.
Police have said the cost of security for Sir Elton John's civil partnership ceremony in Windsor, Berkshire, will not be met by the taxpayer. > ![]() But Thames Valley Police chiefs have still refused to reveal how many extra officers will be laid on for next week's event for "operational reasons". They have only confirmed that "high visibility patrols" will be laid on "to ensure public safety". The cost of extra policing around the Guildhall will be met by organisers. The ceremony takes place on December 21, 2005 in the same 17th Century venue where Prince Charles married the Duchess of Cornwall in April 2005. Sir Elton and David Furnish will be among the first to take advantage of new legislation making gay civil partnerships legal in the UK.
Thursday, December 15 2005 at 18:03:31 Monday, December 12 2005 at 08:25:41 Monday, December 12 2005 at 08:17:50 Saturday, December 10 2005 at 09:21:19 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 10:48:33 Thursday, December 8 2005 at 10:21:49 Wednesday, December 7 2005 at 10:48:10 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 10:39:31 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 01:28:56 Tuesday, December 6 2005 at 01:25:07 Saturday, December 3 2005 at 05:30:17 Thursday, December 1 2005 at 09:00:13 Wednesday, November 30 2005 at 08:15:42 Monday, November 28 2005 at 10:05:08 Tuesday, November 8 2005 at 08:26:28 Sunday, October 23 2005 at 16:28:46 Wednesday, September 14 2005 at 20:53:16 Tuesday, August 9 2005 at 05:26:35 Saturday, December 18 2004 at 02:09:42 Monday, December 13 2004 at 01:07:59 Tuesday, November 16 2004 at 19:06:45 Thursday, November 4 2004 at 17:50:50 Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 20:13:12
George Michael said he will attend next week's wedding of fellow gay pop icon Elton John and will probably tie the knot himself in June 2006 under Britain's new civil partnership law. In a new gesture of conciliation since a public spat, the British singer said he and his fiance Kenny Goss will take part in the small wedding reception in Windsor on December 21, 2005, west of London, between Elton John and David Furnish.
Sir Elton John played a key role in helping Donatella Versace kick her longtime cocaine addiction by persuading the Italian fashion queen to attend a rehab clinic in Arizona, Italy's Corriere della Sera reported on December 14, 2005. In an interview with the Milan-based daily, Versace said she underwent treatment in the same clinic used recently by Kate Moss, a year before the British supermodel was admitted there.
By Anne Rice - with comments by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. ![]() Go back. The quiet of the night in Berkeley, California in 1969 I was sitting there at the typewriter in the precious time, after the routine work of life was finished, and thinking: “What would it be like if you could get a vampire to tell you just what it was like? If you could get him to explain the relationship between himself and his victim -- I mean, getting that close to someone unique and living and loving, and then taking that life. What is this like?” I began to write the short story: “Interview with the Vampire.” Flash forward to 1972. I’d done about three drafts. We were in the living room of our apartment in Berkeley, and a friend said: “I think you have something there, something you can really go with.” Just a few words. Were they determinative? I don’t know. What happened was this. I started to re-write the story for a collection of stories. And the rest of the collection fell away. I was in the story with Louis, and he had a name for the first time, and then came Lestat, the maker, a blaze into which I never really looked, a blaze that kept growing as I was Louis, being made a vampire, being forced out into a great gloom in which despair seemed the inevitable verdict. Louis refused the verdict. Louis demanded that life mean something, no matter how monstrous he was, no matter how brutal and indifferent the universe seemed. On and on, I was Louis; but there was Lestat exploding, filling the developing novel with a great pervasive heat. There was Lestat suddenly dancing under the gaslamp, cape flaring, mocking the passersby. Louis told his story. Lestat was vanquished -- punished maybe for having created Louis and the child vampire Claudia as monsters. But Lestat never really gave up; Lestat wasn’t finished. Lestat was the fire that never went out, and then years later roared into the conflagration that was the second book, Lestat’s own book, the story of one who was determined to be good at being bad, if that was what he had to do, Lestat, made a monster against his will, and insisting: “I will be the hero of this, you understand me? I will never grieve for myself .” It was Lestat who saw the world as the Savage Garden, and spoke of Hell’s Bells echoing in his mind, bells calling him to be strong, to go forth, to do what he must do to be ever more bright and fierce and irresistible in the seeming chaos and beauty that surrounded him.Why were these characters born? Why were they everything that I knew? Why was I able to talk about what mattered to me when they started talking? Fantasy, the much abused word, was merely a doorway through which I walked to enter my reality: a doorway to the place where I could bring it all together, where I could say: I will be the hero of this, you understand me?” Our Finest WorkBy Elton John Interview with the Vampire has long been one of my favorite books and Anne Rice one of my favorite writers. Being able to combine these worlds into one piece of musical theater has been enormously fulfilling for me and one of the highlights of my professional career. I’m tremendously proud of Lestat. I first discovered the joys of writing for the theater when I worked on The Lion King, Aida and Billy Elliot. With Lestat, it’s a whole new experience as I’ve had the chance to work with my writing partner, Bernie Taupin, on his first musical, which makes it all the more special. I’m extremely confident that this is our finest work. A Non Vampire Vampire Musical By Bernie Taupin Anne Rice’s stories have always been for me more than simply tales of vampires adrift through the centuries. I have never found anything remotely clichéd about her immortals. They are in many ways more human than most of those they take in order to survive. Their senses are heightened, so their passions and the moral issues they face become magnified to a surreal intensity. This to me is what the show embodies, a moral man in an amoral world. The traditional world of the vampire was turned upside down by Anne Rice. Her characters are sleek and sexy, infused with all the complexities of history’s great heroes. No Lugosi– pale and veiled by his cape, no hissing “Hammer” villains, in fact none of the undead’s traditional accoutrements. I suppose what I’m saying is that this could be labeled a “non-vampire, vampire musical.” Strange as it may seem it’s oddly true.We have gone out of our way to stage something that is a composite of rich history and contemporary stylization melded with extraordinary graphic images. I am aware that skepticism is inevitable. After all, the immediate image of singing vampires can induce a veritable wave of hilarity and sarcasm. I’ve no argument other than I think you’ll be surprised how well it works and how natural it seems. Our vision has always been a stylish, sexy, intelligent show that is stripped of gothic clichés and that displays the vampire dealing with his damnation on a startlingly realistic and human level. Writing the songs for this show has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career. I was terrified at first and found the whole process daunting. I do after all come from a background of rock where the 4-minute fix is a staple of the genre. Please let me make this clear: this is not a rock opera.
Thursday, December 8 2005 at 22:01:44 Friday, November 11 2005 at 08:56:24 Wednesday, October 26 2005 at 10:46:54 Tuesday, September 27 2005 at 10:44:16 Wednesday, August 24 2005 at 13:44:57 Saturday, April 16 2005 at 07:40:12 Tuesday, November 4 2003 at 11:45:07 Tuesday, May 6 2003 at 19:45:38
U2's Vertigo tour was the top-grossing trek of 2005, according to year-end figures from Billboard Boxscore that will be published in the December 24, 2005 issue of magazine, which hits newsstands December 16, 2005. Elton John ranks #7. Vertigo reported grosses of $260 million and drew more than 3 million people to 90 concerts, all of which were sell-outs. In addition, U2's June 24-27 run at Dublin's Croke Park was named Boxscore of the year, grossing more than $21.1 million and drawing nearly 247,000 fans.
99Xmas Soundtrack Volume 4 CD filled with your holiday favorites performed by local Atlanta bands will be released on December 13, 2005. Plus, if you ever wanted to hear "Twas the Night Before Christmas" read by Atlanta's most famous resident you're in luck! Elton John recites "Twas the Night Before Christmas" only the way Elton can....with a British accent!
Pamela Anderson and pole dancing proved too hot for NBC, which dropped a number featuring the actress in a sexy big-screen video from the Elton John "Red Piano" special. Elton John: The Red Piano, a Las Vegas extravaganza taped at Caesars Palace, aired December 12, 2005 without the segment in which Elton sang "The Bitch is Back" while an oversized screen behind him displayed a scantily clad Anderson.
Alanis Morissette, Dolly Parton and Bernie Taupin are among the Golden Globe nominees in the Best Original Song in a Motion Picture category. The Globes further honored music by doling out three nominations to the Johnny Cash/June Carter Cash love story Walk the Line: Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy, and Best Performance by an Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and Actress (Reese Witherspoon) in a Musical or Comedy.
Fan Review by Chris Akins. I was anxious to see how The Red Piano would be deomonstrated on television. I had seen the show in Las Vegas this last February 2005 and will hopefully get to see the show this coming year. Then, after the commercial break "Saturday Night's Alright" started, and it was just wild. Very well recorded for the television version. I loved the different people in the audience that crowded around the piano. I also noticed the inflatable breasts hanging from the ceiling, but only for a brief second (I hope Elton doesn't take as much bullsh*t as Janet Jackson did). Then came "Your Song", with L-O-V-E inflated across the stage. This was a great rendition, but not nearly as powerful as seeing it live (obviously). The one complaint I do have about the special, is Pamela Anderson's pole dance was advertised, but never shown in the show. I really thought "The Bitch is Back" was going to be televised, but it wasn't, and it's a shame because Elton is so entertaining during that song. This was The Red Piano, but thankfully it really did not ruin the experience of seeing the show in Vegas. There is so much to see in that show, and NBC captured just enough of it to make you want to see the show in its entirety. Song List:
Elton John has asked not to give him presents for his wedding with David. Instead he has asked for donations to his Aids Foundation.
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