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| ELTON JOHN NEWS |
| Bernie Taupin arrested for DUI Saturday, May 18 2013 |
Santa Ynez Valley resident Bernie Taupin was arrested May 5, 2013 on suspicion of DUI, reports the Santa Barbara Independent.
According to California Highway Patrol spokesperson John Ortega, Taupin, 63, was driving his 2010 Ford pickup truck eastbound on Roblar Avenue when he tried to turn into a private driveway. He failed to navigate the turn and backed up, but wound up colliding with a wooden fence. No one was hurt in the accident.
When CHP officers arrived on the scene they arrested and booked Taupin on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Ortega declined to give Taupin's blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident, and no court date on the charge has been set.
Originally from England, Taupin moved to Santa Ynez Valley in the 1980s. He owns Roundup Valley Ranch below Figueroa Mountain where he raises and trains cutting horses for rodeo events.
| "Baby" blows out "Candle in the Wind" Saturday, May 18 2013 |
Justin Bieber's song "Baby" featuring Ludacris becomes the highest-certified single in history now that the RIAA incorporates on-demand streaming numbers into its Gold and Platinum certifications for digital singles.
Elton John's double-sided hit "Candle in the Wind"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" was previously the top song in history with a certification of 11-times platinum all the way back in 1997. Bieber's "Baby," which has 3.9 million track sales and over 857 million views on Vevo, is now 12-times platinum.
A gold or platinum certification that incorporates activity on streaming services is an accurate representation of the world consumers live in today. On-demand streaming services have become such a popular way to experience music that YouTube is often called "the new radio." For track certifications the RIAA counts streams only from services that compensate record labels. Among them are video services YouTube and Vevo and audio services Spotify, Muve Music, Rhapsody, MOG, Xbox Music and Slacker.
The digital-era songs with the highest certifications are some of the most popular videos. "Baby" is the second-most-watched video on YouTube. Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" featuring Rihanna, now 11-times platinum, is fourth all-time at YouTube with over 560 million streams globally (for certification purposes, only streams originated in the U.S. are counted).
Adding streaming numbers to certifications was "easy to decide as a matter of principle" but much more complicated from a procedural standpoint, says RIAA Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman. The organization gathered a group of label marketing, business and data-analysis executives for a yearlong effort to decide exactly how streaming numbers should be integrated into certifications.
Sherman explains that the Gold and Platinum certification program has always been based on "the consumer saying he or she wants a particular piece of music." For decades that demand was represented by purchases, but today can vote with both their pocketbooks and their clicks. But the RIAA decided to count streams only from "pull" services like subscription service Spotify because the intent behind them is similar to a purchase. Streams from "push" services, or non-interactive Internet radio services like Pandora, are excluded because they don't reflect the same consumer intent.
Another consideration was how to mathematically incorporate streaming numbers in certifications while maintaining "the value of the award," as Sherman puts it. It would need a conversion rate that would stand over time. Using the monetary value of the streams wouldn't work -- data collection would be impractical. After looking at sales and streaming trends of popular songs, the RIAA decided that 100 on-demand streams equal 1 download for the purposes of certifications.
The end result, at least in the short term, is more certifications. Perhaps in the future a decline in download sales will be balanced by the inevitable increase in streaming activity. But for now, more artists and songs will be certified Gold and Platinum. Welcome to the new record business.
| Elton Expo 2013 - Las Vegas - 4 to 6 October 2013 Wednesday, May 15 2013 |
It’s on again, another East End Lights "Elton Expo". In the past these events have been a magical experience with hundreds of Elton fans gathered to celebrate the life and music of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
This year’s line-up will be the best ever, with a little added mystery included. At present guests include:
Hercules Co-ordinator and eltonfan.net website administrator Stephan Heimbecher will also be at the event, but is not the "mystery guest".
Registration is limited. The Tuscany Suites Hotel has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate for all attendees. Call and mention that you are attending the Elton Expo: +1-877-887-2263 or +1-702-947-5925.
Register before June 1, 2013 and the registration fee is $160. The first 20 attendees registered will receive a free copy of Keith Haywards’ book: Tin Pan Alley, The Rise of Elton John. More Information with be made available as needed, but the last few Expos have sold out so register today at www.eastendlightsmagazine.com.
For More info, contact eastendlights0@gmail.com.
| UPDATE: Elton to play Walmart shareholders Wednesday, May 15 2013 |
Elton John and rising country star Luke Bryan will perform in a series of concerts offered to Walmart associates, the retailer confirmed on May 9, 2013.
Elton's concert with special guest Ed Sheeran on June 4, 2013 and Bryan's show on June 5, 2013 will both take place in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR and will precede Walmart's annual Shareholders' meeting, which follows on June 7, 2013 in the same venue.
Walmart and Sam's Club associates will be able to reserve tickets to the shows beginning May 15, 2013, said Dianna Gee, a Walmart spokesperson. Pairs of free tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis. Associates will be able to log on to Ticketmaster.com or visit a Walmart Ticketmaster Retail Outlet to order up to two free tickets per concert.
The general public may begin buying tickets on May 30, 2013.
Walmart is also at work on a community concert for Northwest Arkansas residents, Gee said, but the neither the date or the performer has been announced.
| Robin Hood raises more than $80 million to fight poverty Tuesday, May 14 2013 |
The Robin Hood Foundation raised more than $80 million to fight poverty in New York at its star-studded gala on May 13, 2013, thanks in part to a matching $25 million donation by a group of anonymous donors.
Addressing an audience of Wall Street honchos that was entertained by Mary J. Blige, Bono, Elton John and Brian Williams, Robin Hood founder and hedge-fund manager Paul Tudor Jones II said what united the foundation’s donors was “the need to give love.”
The figure raised May 13, 2013 bests last year’s haul of $59 million, which in turn beat the $47 million raised by the event in 2011. The foundation is also hosting its first investment conference this fall 2013, said Barry Sternlicht, chair of the foundation’s board of directors, with scheduled speakers including David Einhorn, Howard Marks and David Tepper.
The annual springtime extravaganza acts somewhat as a barometer of the hedge-fund industry. In 2008, a trip to Australia to scuba dive and have lunch with Hugh Jackman fetched $420,000. The following year, in the midst of the financial crisis and anger toward Wall Street, prizes on offer during a scaled-back auction focused on opportunities to feed hungry families and enroll children in charter schools.
This year, more than 4,200 people attended the 25th anniversary celebration, chaired by Mr. Jones and his wife, Sonia; KKR & Co. co-founder Henry Kravis and his wife, Marie-Josee; CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves and his wife, television personality Julie Chen; and Hollywood stars Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.
Early in the evening, Mr. Timberlake chatted with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Steven A. Cohen wandered through the cocktail reception and Elton John played “Tiny Dancer” as attendees munched on shrimp and whipped ricotta cheese at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
“I’m very excited to perform for you after you talked over Elton John as if he were playing covers in a Hyatt f– lounge,” the comedian Louis C.K. said, winning laughs, before spinning into an expletive-strewn routine.
Other surprise guests included Jerry Seinfeld, and Paul Simon and Sting, who played together.
Brian Williams, hosting the event, joked about some Bloomberg reporters’ use of the proprietary Bloomberg terminals to access subscriber data, saying, “We have a Bloomberg terminal–I know what you’re all thinking. That’s been a fun development this year.” Later, addressing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was in the audience, he said, “Mr. Mayor, thanks for being a good sport,” then winked and pointed at Mr. Bloomberg, pulling an imaginary trigger. “And, I’m taking the West Side Highway home in case anything happens to me. Five thousand witnesses.”
Since its founding, Robin Hood has given out more than $1.25 billion to fight poverty, according to the foundation, helping to feed New Yorkers, install libraries in public schools and help victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
In 2012, Robin Hood also put on the “12-12-12” benefit concert, featuring musicians such as Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones, to raise money for victims of superstorm Sandy.
| Elton biopic 'Rocketman' to launch foreign sales effort at Cannes Saturday, May 11 2013 |
Rocket Pictures' Elton John biopic "Rocketman" will be taking off at Cannes, with Good Universe launching the international sales effort at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.
Michael Gracey is directing from a script by Oscar nominee Lee Hall ("Billy Elliot"). Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish ("Gnomeo and Juliet") will produce, while Elton John will executive produce.
"Rocketman" follows Elton's life story, from his childhood as a five-year-old musical genius through his often-troubled life, to becoming a global icon and one of the world's most revered musicians. "We’re excited to be bringing this musical event movie to Cannes,” said Rocket CEO Steve Hamilton Shaw. “It’s bold, brave and inspirational. Good Universe has great commercial sensibility and we’re delighted to have them represent us.”
“Much like the life of Elton John the man, 'Rocketman' is the larger than life movie spectacle that brilliantly captures the universal struggle of self-love that we all face," added Good Universe co-founder Joe Drake. "Director Michael Gracey's vision for this movie is overflowing with everything that makes for great event cinema. We pulled out all the stops to join Rocket Pictures on this incredible film.”
UTA Independent Film Group is representing domestic rights.
The deal was negotiated by Shaw for Rocket Pictures, which is represented by UTA, while Drake and Michael Meyer negotiated on behalf of Good Universe.Related News
Tuesday, March 19 2013 at 21:08:13
Tuesday, January 3 2012 at 17:44:05
Tuesday, October 11 2011 at 09:14:34
Sunday, October 9 2011 at 08:03:48
Saturday, September 24 2011 at 05:55:50
Thursday, September 22 2011 at 07:46:22
Monday, January 24 2011 at 12:19:47
| Director Bryan Forbes dies at 86 Friday, May 10 2013 |
Bryan Forbes, the acclaimed British writer-director who helmed the sinister suburban horror classic "The Stepford Wives," died May 8, 2013 after a long illness at his home in Surrey, England. He was 86.
In 1972, Forbes started work on the documentary, "Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye Norma Jean and Other Things", which chronicled the life of the young Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The project took Forbes a full year to complete, and provided a behind-the-scenes look at the writing and recording of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," including interviews with Elton, Bernie and band members including Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray, as well as Elton's mother, Sheila, DJM label head Dick James and son Stephen, and footage of Elton's Hollywood Bowl concert in 1973.
During the filming, Forbes formed a close friendship with Elton and Bernie, which led him to do other work with them, including photography on the "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album sleeves. ITV first transmitted the documentary in the UK on 4 December 1973 (in the US, ABC screened it) shortly after completion, and was later briefly issued on VHS.
Forbes began his career as an actor, playing supporting roles in such British films as An Inspector Calls (1954) and The Colditz Story (1955). He and Attenborough formed the production company Beaver Films in the late 1950s and were frequent collaborators. Forbes also wrote several novels, including The Soldier’s Story, which was published last year. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for his service to the arts.
In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters Emma Forbes, a British TV host, and journalist Sarah Standing. Forbes’ first wife was Irish actress Constance Smith.
| Elton confirmed for Vienna Life Ball Friday, May 10 2013 |
Elton John, Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and ex president Bill Clinton have confirmed they will take part in the 21st annual Life Ball in Vienna on May 25, 2013.
Black-Eyed-Peas singer Fergie will also be attending the "1,001 Nights" themed grand opening of the event alongside Italian star designer Roberto Cavalli, who will be opening the fashion show for the second time. This year, the fashion show will have a slightly retro taste. Roberto Cavalli’s wife Eva said: "We’re not just bringing our current Spring-Summer collection, but we’ve also dug out other pieces from the archive."
The actors Ruth Brauer-Kvam and Cornelius Obony will be replacing Ben Becker und Nicholas Ofczarek in commenting the event, which will see the first prominent guests arrive at the red carpet in the square in front of the city hall at around 7.30pm. The doors open for most guests at 3pm on the day. Elton John and Bill Clinton will also be attending the Aids Charity Gala in the Hofburg just hours before the ball.
A charity concert at the Burgtheater will take place the previous evening, on May 24, 2013. Proceeds from tickets for all these events will be donated to national and international Aids charities.
| Happy 25th anniversary to us! Wednesday, May 8 2013 |
The international Elton John Fan Club Hercules, also known as eltonfan.net, has been serving the Elton John community since 1988, i.e. for a quarter of a century.
Founded as Rocket Fan back on May 8, 1988 with a focus on German-speaking fans, the club has soon turned into a worldwide organization with Elton admirers from all over the planet. In 2013 we are celebrating our 25th anniversary.
For the past decade Hercules has been offering all of its services on eltonfan.net free of charge. The site is maintained on a voluntary basis, however, there are costs involved in hosting the site on a high-speed and reliable server. If you like the services provided on eltonfan.net and if you feel like supporting this website, we would be grateful if you would make a small donation.
With this we would like to thank Elton for his persistence and everlasting presence, the management and record company for their support, and last but not least the fans for their loyalty and contributions to the site.
| Happy Birthday, Davey & Kim! Monday, May 6 2013 |
Two members of Elton's band will be celebrating their birthday on May 6, 2013.
Guitarist Davey Johnstone turns 62 while keyboard player Kim Bullard will celebrate his 58th birtday.
Just like last year, both will have the chance to party in Las Vegas where they are currently playing "The Million Dollar Piano" shows with Elton.
On behalf of the visitors of eltonfan.net and all Elton fans around the world, we would like to wish them a happy Birthday.
| Elton performed at Race to Erase MS Benefit Sunday, May 5 2013 |
On May 3, 2013, Elton John performed at the 20th annual Race To Erase MS benefit in Los Angeles.
The event is put on by activist and author Nancy Davis to raise funds and awareness for the fight against multiple sclerosis. It's grown considerably since its start, from a ski event in Colorado to a celeb-laden dinner and concert that in recent years has featured the Eagles, Heart and more. Despite that expansion, there was a feeling of community and intimacy at the Century Plaza Hotel. Jack Osbourne, who was diagnosed with MS in 2012, was honored along with his mother, Sharon Osbourne.
The camaraderie stems from the Osbournes' long history with Elton. "It's got to be 40 years ago – we go back that long," Sharon told Rolling Stone. "He came because of Jack. He's known Jack since he was born. Elton has always been here for our family and a great friend, and that's one of the things about being blessed with great friends – they're there with you," she said.
After opening with "Tiny Dancer," Elton quipped, "Sharon Osbourne has so much information on me I had to be here." Then, getting serious, he praised both Sharon and Jack for their courage and activism in the year since Jack revealed his MS.
Elton also teased his long-time friend Rod Stewart, and got sentimental when he explained that one of the thrills of the night was getting to sit with him. "We go back a long way," Elton said from the stage to his fellow British icon. "I love you, man."
Following Elton's performance, Stewart told Rolling Stone the affection was mutual. "I've just been enjoying the performance of my mate," he said. Stewart gave advance praise for Elton's upcoming album The Diving Board, due in September 2013: "It's so good," He promised.
Elton dazzled in his solo performance: He ran through several mega-hits, from a boogie woogie "Philadelphia Freedom" to an extended "Rocket Man." Other standouts in the nearly hour-long set included "Your Song" and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," which Elton recalled first playing for Stewart during a car ride together nearly 40 years earlier. A celebratory "I'm Still Standing" had everyone dancing, and it perfectly captured the resiliency of the night.
This night Ziggy Marley and country star Kellie Pickler got their first-ever opportunity to witness him live. Pickler had a suggestion for the singer: "I think he needs to come to the CMA's one year. That would be amazing," she said. It's not so far-fetched, as there are a lot of rock acts who go to the Country Music Awards, and Elton has been very open to working with young artists in the past. If Pickler gets her wish and she got to perform with him, what would she want to do? "It would be fun to sing a classic country song – maybe pull out an old Tammy [Wynette] and George [Jones]," she said. "He can do anything he wants to do. He's Elton John."
For Marley, the chance to see Elton and support the cause made for an easy choice to come out. "That's the good thing about having someone like him play events like this; he brings us out to support," Marley said. Marley, like Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, was on hand because of personal connections to the illness. "We have a friend who suffers from MS and she invited us here to lend support to the cause," Marley said. Thal explained, "One of my best friends was stricken with the disease about 15 years ago and we started a non-profit organization, a group in New Jersey, the MS Research Foundation. I am here to give my positive vibes, my support, anything I can do to help spread awareness."
Thal summed up the aim of all those in attendance last night when he said "We all have the same goal here. We want to do something to maintain the quality of life [for those] that have this disease."
Following is the complete set list of the Race to Erase MS benefit show on May 3, 2013:
© 1997-2013 by HERCULES International. Hercules is not affiliated with Elton John`s management or the Elton John Aids Foundation. |