Part 3 – New York Stories - by Scott Johnson.

Name: Rich Joline
Age: 54
Profession: Financial advisor
Year you first became an Elton fan: 1972


Quick Fire Questions

1. Favourite Elton John album?
   Hard to choose just one, of course, but if I have to pick, it’s “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player”.
   
   
2. Favourite Elton John song?
   Virtually impossible to choose just one, but “High Flying Bird” is just incredible. The voice, the lyrics, the bass and drums – just perfect!
   
   
3. First Elton John concert that you attended?
   Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1976, I was 15. I wanted to go to the Nassau Coliseum show so much (I grew up on Long Island) in 1974, which was a night or two before the John Lennon show. But my parents wouldn’t let me go!
   
   
4. Favourite Elton John tour (so far)?
   I just loved the “Peachtree Road” tour, but the orchestra tour in July 2004 was awesome. Five nights at Radio City Music Hall – I went to all five!
   
   
5. Favourite Bernie Taupin lyric?
   The white walls of your dressing room are stained in scarlet red
   You bled upon the cold stone like a young man
   In the foreign field of death
   Wouldn’t it be wonderful is all I heard you say
   You never closed your eyes at night and learned to love daylight
   Instead you moved away
   
   
6. What is the one song you feel Elton should include on “The Final Curtain” tour?
   “High Flying Bird”, or maybe “Bad Side of the Moon”.

Interview with Rich Joline

Rich Joline – the third interviewee in my “super fan” series – always loved music. In the 1960s, when he was growing up on Long Island, AM Radio was always on in the house. It was with the advent of FM that, he says, “we heard so much more”.

“I always loved music. While I always knew “Your Song”, it was hearing “Rocket Man” that really hooked me on Elton John. It wasn’t rock and pop – it was Elton. I only knew what he looked like because a friend of mine had the “Madman Across the Water” LP in his collection. I thought it was so cool. They were the only black family in our suburban Long Island neighbourhood, and all the rest of their records were things like Marvin Gaye, Sly and Family Stone.”


Gotta get a concert ticket: Rich has been to nearly 200 Elton shows across the US and abroad.

Growing up immersed in his love of music, it might be hard for someone so dedicated to neatly some up the influence that Elton and his music had on them, but Rich puts it like this: “So many people will tell you that Elton’s music is the soundtrack to their lives, and I’d have to agree. So many of his songs have so much meaning in my life, from love songs to memories of my youth. His talent and compassion have been an inspiration to me forever.”

Rich earns the mantle of a “super fan” deservedly. He’s followed Elton on tour across the US and abroad to an incredible extent. Rich Joline has visited over 30 states and 4 countries to see Captain Fantastic perform live.

“Of course, the music comes first,” he says, not losing sight of the root of his love for Elton, “but seeing him perform live has been just about the greatest experience of my life. Aside from things like becoming a father, seeing Elton live is basically my greatest joy. I love sports and have had some wonderful experienced as a sports fan, but nothing compares to Elton.

“Living in or near New York City all of my life has given me an advantage. Elton’s played Madison Square Garden 64 times [at the time of writing] – I’ve been to 44 of those. He’s played at least eight other New York City venues that I can count where I’ve seen him – Central Park, the Beacon Theatre, Radio City, Rose Theatre [for the 2006 “Captain and the Kid” debut show], the Sony Theatre, Waldorf Astoria [about which, more later…], Capital, the Palladium…


Road warrior: Seeing Elton perform live has provided Rich with some of the most joyful experiences of his life.

“Plus places like Hartford, Bridgeport, Philly, Albany, Providence, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Haven, New Jersey, the Byrne Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Redding, Boston and Worcester are all within driving distance of my home. If he’s been in those places over the past 30 years, I’ve been to almost all of them.”

If Rich sounds like a dedicated Elton John “road tripper”, then that’s because he is. He’s a hard core follower of the man himself on stage. Other states he’s visited to see Elton in concert include Virginia, Georgia, both North and South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Nevada, Maine, Colorado, Tennessee, Delaware, Utah and Louisiana. He’s travelled to Canada three times, the UK (for his 50th birthday celebrations) and even Puerto Rico. But it is that first show in Madison Square Garden back in 1976 that still provokes some of the strongest memories.

“I was in the last possible row!” he says. “As time has gone on, and with the advent of the Internet, I have basically been able to sit I the front row almost exclusively. I’m not kidding when I say that of the last 100 shows, I’ve been on the front row 95 times. With that comes autographs – as we all know, Elton signs at almost every show. I’ve lost count, but I have his signature almost 100 times. I have never sold any of them, but most of my close friends and family have something that’s been autographed.”

How does it feel, then, coming face to face with your idol? Has Rich ever been, well, lost for words?

“My first autograph came in 1977 when Elton and Bernie were appearing at a record store in New York City (Sam Goody). I waited almost six hours in the cold to get “Greatest Hits Volume 2” autographed. When I finally came face to face with the man, I froze – I couldn’t even speak a word! He looked at me, smiling, and waited for me to say something, but I couldn’t get a word out. I then moved over to Bernie and I was able to thank him and shake his hand. It took me over 30 years to meet Bernie again.”

Without doubt, one of Rich’s greatest live experiences came in the Spring of 2010 in Austin, Texas. The kind of thing that fans can only dream of.

“I had won two front row seats to any Elton concert in a charity auction. I wanted to go somewhere new, so I chose Austin. My wife and I made a weekend out of it. We were right in front of the piano and, after Elton introduced the band, he said he’d like to dedicate “this next song to Miss Goucher and Miss Howard and also, there’s a guy down there that comes to so many of our shows. What’s your name?” I thought, “he’s talking to me?” I say, “Rich, and this is my 167th show!” His response: “Rich, 167 shows he’s been to and I’ll tell you what, when he comes to the show, I have so much fun because I just look at him all night! Thank you Rich, you’ve been fantastic and now that I know your name, I’m going to mention you more often!”


The line's been signed: Rich's extensive collection of signed Elton memoribilia... including his copy of "Greatest Hits Volume 2" which he waited in the cold for six hours to get autograped!

Rich invited me to check out the recording of the show, (released in 2010 by SimfyLive). It’s all true, and he’s now memorised Elton’s dedication to him word for word.

Rich has also made generous and regular contributions to Elton’s Aids Foundation. Ironically, it was during one of his “An Enduring Vision” events in New York City that he came upon his second opportunity to meet his idol.

“The event was being hosted at an odd location in Chinatown, back in 2003. Knowing he was going to perform, I was determined to get in. I hung around by the red carpet entrance and watched all the celebrities, including Elton and David, arrive. Events like these don’t require a ticket to get in, but you do need to “check in” at the entrance against a guest list. Since my name wasn’t on the guest list, I thought, what was I to do? The interesting thing about New York is that no one is permitted to smoke in any building, so the smokers usually step outside. I went around the corner to a bar, had a couple of “vodka and tonics” to steady my nerves, bummed a cigarette and walked back to the entrance. This is about an hour after the event started, so folk were already stepping outside to smoke. I lit a cigarette (I don’t smoke), coughed and blended in with the other smokers. A minute later, I snuffed it out and walked right in like I had been there all night!”

You have to admire the sheer bravery of such a feat. Most people wouldn’t attempt such a thing, much less succeed. And when he made it inside?

“I hung around until Elton came to the stage and then I assumed a position in front of the piano, no more than ten feet from Elton. For the next hour, as Elton played a spirited solo set, I was right there, dancing and singing along. Of course, virtually everyone else was seated and I stuck out like a sore thumb – but no one said a word! After the set, and much eye contact with Elton, he came off the stage and shook my hand. Later in the evening, I had my picture taken with Elton and Sting.”

For many, a face to face meeting with Elton would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but Rich has exceeded his own expectations.

“Elton was at the Waldorf Astoria for the “Enduring Vision” event in October 2006, just after “The Captain and the Kid” was released. He performed and, as the event was ending, he was working the crowd and thanking the guests for coming. Seizing a once in a lifetime opportunity, I approached Elton with a big smile. I told him how much I loved the new record. He thanked me and said he was proud of the LP, but was pissed at the way the record company was promoting (or not promoting) the new disc. He then asked me if I was the guy he sees at a lot of shows. I said I was indeed and that I’d see him again. I got a big smile, a hug and a handshake. I was a pretty happy man!”

Is the key to meeting the man himself being able to steel your nerves and seize the moment, then?

“Elton was helping Elvis Costello with a TV programme in Harlem at the Apollo Theatre a few years back [2008’s “Elvis Costello’s Spectacle”]. Elton interviewed Diana Krall and sang a few songs with her. About 200 of us were in the theatre via invite only. After the taping of the show wrapped up, virtually everyone left. I went around the block to the back of the theatre and hung around for a whole as I saw that Elton’s limo was still there. About five other fans had clued in on it as well. At some point, Jimmy the bodyguard poked his head out to survey the scene. Seeing that there was only a small handful of us, Elton came out and graciously spent a few minutes talking and posing for pictures. He was as laid back and friendly as could be, actually he was asking us questions!”

Part of Elton’s phenomenal international appeal is the resilience of his touring band. For Rich, those players hold as much appeal and he’s had his share of encounters with them too.


A birthday Rich will never forget - when he turned 50, Nigel dedicated a signed drum head to him!

“Meeting the band members has been cool. I’ve met Nigel, Davey, John Mahon, Ray Cooper, Guy Babylon, Bob Birch, Kim Bullard and Matt Bissonette. The first encounter I had was in Kansas City. Travelling around the country, I figured I was bound to stay in the same hotel as them at some point, and that happened in Kansas. Hours before the show with their bus idling outside, I patiently waited in the lobby. Bob Birch was first – when I approached him and told him that I’ve been to so many shows, he said “I know, I see you out there all the time, I love your passion.” He signed my “Captain and the Kid” LP and boarded the bus. Davey asked me if I was the guy “who keeps popping up in the front row?” Nigel was next and it blew me away to be able to talk to him so comfortably. I met Guy that day as well, although I had met him in New York City earlier during the Radio City shows. He was a nice, quiet man whose talent always amazed me.

“The most meaningful encounter that day was John Mahon. John hung around for a good 20 minutes, chatting with me and a few others. I expressed to him my condolences on the recent passing of his mother. He seemed genuinely appreciate and we developed a bit of a relationship. Not sure I could say friends, but certainly friendly. He has offered me backstage passes dozens of times, but the greatest gesture occurred at Madison Square Garden for Elton’s 60th birthday show. During “Crocodile Rock”, he came round from his kit and handed me a drum stick. It was autographed and dated “MSG 60/60”.”

Like the others I have interviewed, Rich has a selection of items in his collection that he cherishes above others. Two of his most prized pieces are Nigel’s signed drum head from a show in England he attended on his 50th birthday. Nigel played the drum during the show, signed it, drew on it and wrote the words “Happy 50th Birthday Rich, Northampton 2011”.

But the most treasured piece of all is Rich’s handwritten letter from Elton himself. So how does a super fan come to own such a unique and personal item?

“Back in 2011, my wife and I were blessed with a surprise pregnancy. It was late in life, so it was a shock when I first heard the news and it took me a while to embrace the situation. On Valentine’s Day 2012, my son was born and he is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I wrote a letter to Elton, explaining how thrilled I was and how I looked up to him and David becoming parents later in life. About a week later, an envelope appeared in my mailbox. There was no return address but I recognised he handwriting. Sure enough, Elton sent me the sweetest, handwritten letter saying he had seen me in the crowd recently, read my letter and was thrilled to hear “the wonderful news”. On Cartier stationary! It is framed and hangs above my desk. Barely a day goes by when I don’t read it.”

Despite the red carpet meetings, the autographs and the travelling, it is the music which remains at the heart of the love this road-tripping “super fan” has for Elton.

“There is so much of it and it is great. I was so happy when he came back to form with “Songs from the West Coast”. I love that record. I am not a musician, which is all the more reason I think what he and the band do is so cool. The music hasn’t influenced me as much as it’s just always been there and I get so much joy from listening to it.”

And how do Elton’s later albums compare to the “classic years”, in his view?

“Albums like “Peachtree Road” and “The Captain and the Kid” are just as important to me as “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Honky Chataeu”. It amazes me that Elton has been able to do this for so long. It’s very cool for him to have made a record with Leon Russell, and there are some killers on that disc. “The Diving Board” to me is more of a straight-through listen, as opposed to picking any particular song. I just put it on and play the whole thing.”

There’s only one disappointment that Rich can turn to, though, when he looks back on the T-Bone Burnett produced records of recent years. “My only disappointment about those albums – and I feel very strongly about this – is that Elton did not use the bad. Nothing wrong with T-Bone’s guys, but Elton’s band could easily have done just as well. I am thrilled that they are on the soon-to-be-released record, which I hope we hear more about real soon. I can’t wait!”

The enthusiasm that first blossomed in 1976 at Madison Square Gardens doesn’t show signs of fading fast. It’s heartening to interview someone who is still palpably enthusiastic about what Elton has accomplished, and (perhaps more importantly) what is still to come. I close with the question I have asked all my other interviewees – can Captain Fantastic ever have a number one album again?

“Yes, I think he can,” says Rich. “The music business is so different than it used to be, but I still believe.”

If you’re reading, I’d take those words to heart. Keep on believing. The best may be yet to come.

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The “Super Fan” Interview Series
    Wednesday, July 29 2015 at 10:02:15