Credit: Matt BaronThe first 60 shows for Elton John‘s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour went on sale Friday, and all sold out immediately, with more gigs being added this week. But Elton isn’t retiring from the road because he’s no longer interested in playing live — that’s actually the thing he says he’ll miss the most.
“I love to play live. I hate the traveling,” he said at a recent press conference. “There’s nothing better than going and pleasing an audience. And I’m so lucky as a musician, I get feedback every night from an audience.”
He pointed out in comparison, “It must be hard for a movie actor to do movies all the time, and then sneak into the premiere and then sneak out again and never really get feedback. Musicians are so blessed because they get that.”
Elton also noted that he doesn’t even mind playing to tough audiences that he has to work to win over.
“Nothing is like playing to another human being,” he gushed. “Sometimes you start and some countries are a little colder than others and you have to get them going, but that’s all part and parcel of your craft. And that’s part and parcel of why you’re a professional musician. “
He added, “You never give in, you never say, ‘I can’t be bothered. I always wanted the audience to have the best time. And I wanna have the best time.”
But one thing Elton doesn’t like about performing is playing some hits over and over again. He admitted, “There are certain songs that you think, ‘Ugh, I gotta f***in’ sing that one again!'”
When asked to name one of those songs, he said, laughing, “Probably ‘Crocodile Rock!’ But the audience love it and, y’know, it’s a guilty pleasure, as they say.”
Elton’s tour kicks off September 8 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
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