Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was on his first tour of America, facing an astonished audience in his tight silver hotpants, bare legs and a T-shirt with ROCK AND ROLL emblazoned across it in sequins. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.
His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with song-writing partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.
In "Me", Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.
I was a fan of Elton John's in the 1970s to the 1990s ... though I still like his music, I must admit that I haven't listened to the albums he's made after that. He's always seemed like quite a character so I was interested in his story, especially because it is bio rather than an autobio. I'd seen Rocketman and liked it.
Elton writes about his life starting with his childhood, growing up with two parents who didn't get along and had wicked tempers (which Elton inherited). They eventually divorced and moved on with other spouses. Elton's father was cold and he didn't have much of a relationship with him but Elton did love his stepfather, Fred (aka Derf). Elton's mother was hard to please and didn't sound like a very nice person, yet Elton continually tried to have a relationship with her.
Elton writes about struggling to be a musician and the meeting and collaboration between him and Bernie Taupin and the success they had. He also writes about his relationships and friendships, the songs and albums, his addictions to drugs, liquor and shopping, going to rehab, meeting and marry his husband, David, and their children.
I enjoyed this book. I liked the writing style ... I could hear Elton's voice as I was reading it. As a head's up, there is swearing (he is fond of the "F" word). I found this book to be honest, interesting and a bit gossipy, which was fun. At the end, there are a lot of pictures from when he was a child right up to today.
1 comment:
Just bought it - but no time to read for awhile - looking even more forward to starting it!
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