Elton John has revealed one of his favorite yet most terrifying memories during his time on tour, and it has left fans and the media gaping. In his new book Farewell Yellow Brick Road, the 77-year-old recalls all the exciting and shocking events that occurred on his global tours.
Elton also details the sacrifices he has made as a musician and performer, offering readers a glimpse into his career. One of the stories that stood out is the one where he was almost assassinated at a concert
Elton John was almost assassinated by a drug user at his own show
This terrifying event happened during a concert in Greensboro, North Carolina. Elton John was in the middle of performing “Burn Down the Mission” when a drug user in the crowd launched a metal hash pipe at him. The pipe hit the side of his head, and he immediately blacked out. Initially, his band continued playing, unaware of what had occurred. The situation took a bad turn when blood started pouring down Elton’s face, prompting alarm among the band and audience. “Fans have always thrown soft things on stage during my performances,” Elton remarked, “but nothing like that.”
His then-bodyguard Jim Morris, a former Mr. Universe, quickly jumped into action. Morris carried the unconscious Elton to the side of the Coliseum stage, where paramedics rushed to tend to him. “When I woke up, the paramedics were bandaging my head, and there were feathers from my costume everywhere,” Elton recalled. Despite the horrifying incident, the singer got back on his feet.
Now at 77, Elton John is currently facing a different kind of challenge. Recently, he attended a performance of The Devil Wears Prada, the Broadway musical adaptation for which he wrote the music. During the event, he took to the stage not to perform but to speak to the audience about his battle with vision loss. He revealed that a severe eye infection has left him struggling with partial eyesight loss, adding it to a list of obstacles he has experienced in his career.
Elton’s book Farewell Yellow Brick Road, released in September, discusses these moments and more. It sheds light on his memories from tours, the challenges he faced, and his love for music.