Fan report and photo by Juliane Kessing.

Finally my calendar shows me the 13th of December! That means, my girlfriend Kathrin and me could go to Hamburg to see Elton with his band live in the Colorline Arena (big Arena, similar to the Madison Square garden, because you could sit all around, but not so big).

We went to Hamburg early in the morning (90 min. to drive) to see the "Körperwelten" exhibition, which was very interesting. After having dinner and going shopping we decided that in was time to drive to the arena.

When we arrived at 6 pm the hall was almost empty, also there were only a few “hard core” fans around the stage. We went back to the main entry to see what´s new at the merchandise shop. Only the Tourbook and 2 or 3 T-shirts where new, but the mug had the old design, the “Bubblehead-Elton” was the same and the prices increased so much in the last years, that I decided to buy nothing! € 115 for a Hockey shirt with EJ letters in the fron just is too much.

Also the ticket prices increased a lot: € 120,00 for the 1st section and more the € 80,00 for the 2nd category. But the money was it worth to see EJ again (almost the 40th time).

Back to the stage 20 min. to 7 pm we met some other “Reg Heads”. You can go to any Elton show in the world, but you will always find some fans you already know and see every time again. This is very nice, like big old family of crazy Elton fans!

5 min. to 7 pm it was time to go back to our seats. Elton starts a few minutes past 7 pm with "Funeral for a Friend". Great Song to open the concert! He was good looking in his black suit with his red blouse and sunglasses. The suit had his own air condition in the axle area, so that his red blouse gleamed through it. The hair was still the same as some weeks / month ago. Davey and Guy also wear their hair shorter now (Guy looks much younger with the short hair).

When Elton started "The Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes” Davey had a red guitar to play on. Most of the band members wore similar jeans pants (with some painting on it). Even Bob Birch, he seemed to be ill, because he was sitting on a chair for the whole show.

Kathrin and me sat in the front of the 2nd section and became very, very angry, when people arrived to late for the show and were running like stupid idiots to find their seats. There was an older couple arriving much too late and taking their seats just behind us.

Next song was "Philadelphia Freedom" (which starts with a great intro of course) and Kathrin and me stood up for maybe one minute at least to rock. Back on our seats the man, who was to late, grabed my shoulder and threatened me. I told him he should not be so late for the show and asked him if he can tell a Funeral from a rock concert. He threatened me again, but I didn´t care. A few songs later he and his wife went to other seats, more in the front.

Anyway, Elton was in a great mood! During “I Want Love” they played the video with Robert Downey jr. in the background. As they noticed, that Eltons word were not synchron with the video, they blend it out for a while and start again with the refrain. Now it was okay.

When Elton finished “All the Young Girls Love Alice” we ran to the stage to get a better view on Elton and his band. He continued with "The Bitch is Back" and some faster songs. This caused that now the whole audience (the arena was completely full) stood up to party with Elton!

"Pinball Wizard" also started again with the fantastic Intro and Elton finished the show in a black sporting suit with "Don´t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “Your Song”.

After the show we met other fans to have a little “small talk” and to discuss the show and Elton. So all I can say, is thank you Elton for this fantastic evening!

Following is the complete set list of the Hamburg show on December 13, 2003:

• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Daniel
  
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  
• Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• The Wasteland
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• I Want Love
  
• This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• Are You Ready For Love
  
• Harmony
  
• All The Young Girls Love Alice
  
• The Bitch Is Back
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
  
• Pinball Wizard
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
  
• Your Song

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