The legendary ELTON JOHN’s spectacular concert event to cinema screens around the world, and for one night only in the US on March 26, 2014. The concert will be shown in an expected 500 theaters across the US and a total of 1,200 in over 40 countries including the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Australia. The concert event includes all of Elton’s greatest hits from throughout his career including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’, ‘I’m Still Standing’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ and ‘Your Song’. Creatively the show is a marvel: A baroque, Roman-inspired golden stage that transforms itself to magnificently reflect the personality of each song. At the centerpiece of the concert is the show’s namesake custom-made Yamaha one-million-dollar piano ($1.4 million, to be exact): an engineering phenomenon featuring more than 68 LED screens incorporated into the design of the piano. When Elton first saw it, he cried. “I look at it as a piece of art; I’m playing something that will go in the Smithsonian,” he says. “This idea of a piano with LED screens…it becomes cinema!” Translating the concert to the big screen was the next obvious step, as John and longtime collaborator, lyricist Bernie Taupin, create songs that are epic stories – and by incorporating the piano as part of those stories John is able to translate that both musically and visually. The concert is glamorous, elegant and over the top (“it IS Vegas,” says Elton).
“Elton John’s career is built on a spirit of abundance, which manifests itself as both generosity and excess,” says Rolling Stone. “His songs overflow with melody, and Bernie Taupin’s lyrics are as prolific as anyone’s this side of Bob Dylan.
Accompanied by his band, “THE MILLION DOLLAR PIANO,” showcases the epic talent of John, guitarist Davey Johnstone, the late Bob Birch on bass, percussionist John Mahon, drummer Nigel Olsson and keyboardist Kim Bullard, with a special appearance by percussionist Ray Cooper.
Nearly four years in the making, the state-of-the-art piano displays imagery complimenting the most enduring and iconic songs of the 20th century. Creating a whimsical, one-of-a-kind entertainment experience, the piano weighs in at nearly 3,200 pounds. Completing the incredible spectacle is the show’s impressive and elaborate baroque-style stage set, masterminded by the show’s design team, the late Mark Fisher and Patrick Woodroffe. Fisher (best known for his design of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” and his work designing the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics) and Woodroffe conceived and designed the impressive lights display that perfectly augments the set and piano. Peter Skillman, Director and CEO of CinemaLive said: “We are delighted to be working with Elton John and his team, to bring this fantastic event to cinema screens around the world. It will give audiences an opportunity to experience this truly unique and incredible concert from one of the world’s greatest performers, as the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas comes to their local cinema.”
Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. Elton holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind ’97,” which sold 37 million copies. He also holds the record for most appearances on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, with his newest single, “Home Again” marking his 69th entry. Since his career began in 1969 he has played over 3,000 concerts worldwide. John has recently been named the first recipient of the BRITs Icon Award, which recognizes the very highest level of British music achievement, presented only to iconic artists whose writing, recording and performances set them apart as having made a lasting impact on the nation’s culture. Elton said, “I’ve had the best time (in Las Vegas) because I always thought of it as a challenge and wanted to put on the best show. If you put on a great show and a spectacle, and it’s fun, then it’s a no-brainer. I don’t think there could be a better-looking show than this in Vegas or in any venue anywhere.” On March 25, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ the ultimate reissue will be released. The seminal 1973 breakthrough album (which is ranked in Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top 100 Great Albums Of All Time) has been remastered and will be reissued on CD, vinyl, limited-edition yellow vinyl, and in a boxset featuring a recording of ‘Live At Hammersmith 1973′ on CD, a DVD of Bryan Forbes’ 1973 film ‘Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean and Other Things’, along with a 100-page illustrated hardback book packed with rare photos, memorabilia and a new essay containing interviews with Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Also included on the Deluxe Edition and box set versions is a suite of nine new cover versions of classic songs from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road performed by Ed Sheeran, Miguel featuring Wale, Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, John Grant, Emeli Sande, Imelda May, Fall Out Boy and Zac Brown Band.
