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... from the Johnstones.

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On Christmas day 2010 Elton and David became the proud parents of a son born to a surrogate in California.

The boy, named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, is celebrating his third birthday on December 25, 2013.

Earlier in 2013 Zac made "the greatest discovery" when his brother Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John was born in Los Angeles on January 11, 2013. Dads Elton and David were in the delivery room just as they were when Zac was born to the same surrogate two years earlier.

On behalf of the Hercules team and all the fans around the world, we would like to wish Zac all the best and a happy birthday!

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We would like to wish you, your families and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas season and all the best for a successful New Year.

2013 has been another exciting year with Elton performing more than 100 shows all over the planet. Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John arrived in Los Angeles on January 11, 2013 and will soon be celebrating his first birthday, while Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John will turn 3 on December 25, 2013.

For us it is time again to thank you for your loyalty and support throughout the ending year. And we would like to wish you, your families and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas season and all the best for a successful New Year.

Your Hercules Team!

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Elton's Christmas cards have failed to impress Sir David Tang, the friend of Prince Charles.

Elton John has incurred the wrath of his fellow knight David Tang for sending Christmas cards that he has not signed personally.

“There are always the common few who do not write anything in their cards and send them with stamped signatures, like Elton John,” Sir David, a friend of the Prince of Wales, writes in the Financial Times. “Just as one thought of showing it off on one’s grand piano.”

Perhaps the tycoon is just not in the musician’s inner circle? David Cameron, for example, signs some cards personally, while his signature is printed on those for the more distant.

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Elton John writes in The Independent on 20 December 2013: My two sons may never experience Africa and its wildlife like I had the chance to.

I have been travelling to Africa for many years to support the work conducted by the Elton John Aids Foundation, the charity I first established in 1992 to reduce the incidence of HIV/Aids worldwide.

While there, I have seen inspirational examples of human courage and fortitude, as we have helped fund projects across the continent to alleviate the impact of HIV and Aids and there have been wonderful examples of progress achieved.

Only this month the foundation, with the pharmaceutical company Mylan, pledged to donate $1m for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. It will provide women who have tested HIV-positive with treatment so as to be able to prevent their children being born with the virus.

My time in Africa, however, allowed me more than just to witness the important work the foundation undertakes. It also enabled me to grow to understand, and fall in love with, the natural splendour which helps make the continent so very special.

I regularly visit to wallow in the beauty of the landscape and to witness the animals that live there in their natural habitat. My favourite spot is in the shadow of the Drakensberg Mountains in Southern Africa, which I try to visit most years. That spot is how I can only imagine a Garden of Eden would be.

In the winter months you can see elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards and all the other great African fauna set against the dry, golden-brown winter bush. In the summer, the lush green foliage also brings with it migrant birds and the wonder of newborn animals.

There is little as magical as waiting in the bush as dawn rises and seeing the landscape take shape as the newly rising sun illuminates the day and reveals the elephant grazing, impalas bouncing between the trees and – when fortunate – a lion or other big cat gearing itself up for the hunt.Approximately 450,000 elephants remain in Africa.
What I witnessed there and in other parts of Africa helped inspire me when I was asked to contribute songs to The Lion King. I wanted to try to capture the majesty of the African scenery and the animals that live within it so that people could feel what I do when I witness it first-hand, and therefore appreciate its emotional impact too.

This is why I am so shocked to understand how these wild animals, particularly elephants, are once again being depleted in such numbers by poachers, and why I am so delighted to give my support to The Independent’s campaign with Space for Giants to raise awareness of this issue and provide funds to try to help combat it.

The figures are indeed shocking. It is believed some 100 elephants a day are now being slaughtered in Africa to feed the demand for ivory. Those responsible are often in hock to criminal gangs, which as well as poaching are involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Already this year more than 40 tonnes of tusks have been confiscated while being smuggled internationally, with China the top destination for the illegal trade.

I am fortunate enough to be the father of two young boys, Zachary and Elijah, who are aged two and 11 months. One of the aspects of their upbringing I have been particularly looking forward to is introducing them to Africa and its wildlife so they will hopefully grow to love it as much as I do.

With the wildlife crime epidemic having become so severe, I now realise it is possible that I may never be able to. Already it is likely that many of the animals being most actively hunted will no longer be living truly in the wild but limited to protected, highly managed populations in a limited number of wildlife sanctuaries.

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On December 20, 2013 Guy Babylon would have celebrated his 57th birthday.

Guy tragically died of a heart attack while swimming in the pool on September 2, 2009. Today, we would like to remember a very gifted musician and a wonderful person.

We are thinking of Guy's family, especially his equally talented son, Ben, who is filling his father's footsteps. Ben recently released his first EP and also performed at the Elton Expo in Las Vegas in October 2013.

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J. Keith Holmes of Rockin'Art Ltd. is a huge Elton fan, but also a graphic artist. He has come up with a unique way of combining two of his passions: music and art.

Keith has created an original hand-drawn, multi-colored poster representing the legacy of Elton (and Bernie). It's a collage comprised of individual drawings that reprents 57 different songs from Elton's catalogue.

Some of the pictures are clever puns of song titles, while others are stricing depictions representing lyrics from a specific song.

The poster is 22 x 18 inches. It's a limited printing of 450, signed & numbered. Priced at 50$ plus shipping & handling. It will be sent rolled in a mailing tube. It comes with an 8 1/2 x 11 key list.



You can buy a poster from Keith by contacting him at jkholmes2468 (at) comcast.net. Or you can win a copy of the print if you can guess all 57 songs (or at least more than any other contenstant). Download the poster and this key poster as a hint. Send your result to stephan (at) eltonfan.net by December 26, 2013. Please list the song titles in alphabetical order and don't forget to include your full shipping address. Good luck!

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The Russian Embassy in London refused to take a set of Russian dolls featuring five gay icons as a gift for Vladimir Putin.

Elton John, Stephen Fry, George Michael, Graham Norton, and Tom Daley, have been immortalised by the Russian (or matryoshka) dolls, which are currently being auctioned off in order to raise money for international LGBT organisation the Kaleidoscope Trust.

Despite having a pre-arranged appointment, Alistair Stewart and Chris Price of the Kaleidoscope Trust were turned away when trying to deliver the Russian dolls. They got past the British police officers, but were refused entry at the Russian gate into the embassy.

Stewart said: “The British coppers were very friendly and helped us find our way to the second gate. Sadly the Russian official at the gate refused to accept the gift, or let us take it inside. We showed him the dolls but he wasn’t keen. The gay community in Russia is currently facing the most punitive treatment at the hands of the authorities. This was our way to show our pride and stand shoulder to shoulder with the LGBT community in Russia.”

They have not given up, however, as the dolls will now instead be sent to the Kremlin recorded delivery for Mr Putin’s express attention. There are 7 limited edition, hand-painted, sets of Russian dolls. Featuring artist’s renders of five great gay icons, they are crafted to raise awareness, and money, for the Russian gay community. Exactly the sort of thing that would get you arrested in Russia.

Six sets remain, and the bid on the current set rests at £1,950. The auction can be viewed at the ToRussiaWithLove site.

The Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK based charity working to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people internationally.

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Fan report by Filip Arijs.

Elton John performed in the new concert hall in Brussels on December 16, 2013. The set list with no less than 28 songs was very promising. My Dutch friend Arjen, who sat next to me in front row, succeeded to meet Elton backstage and had a little chat. He had asked Elton to replace "The One" by "Nikita", which has been a number one hit in Belgium and Holland.

And then Elton introduced the fabulous cello duo who played two songs ("Smooth Criminal" and "Smells like Teen Spirit") from which I didn’t know it was possible on a cello.

Elton started his part with "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and the tone was set! Elton rocked with such an enthusiasm that the whole crowd turned wild. It was clearly recognizable that Elton enjoyed the show last night and his band members, too. The highlights for me were "Levon" with an incredible solo, "Rocket Man", which was a new live version with a beautiful intro and the solo in "Sad Songs". With highlights I mean real highlights, because every song was that good and that strong performed that you cannot believe it unless you’ve seen it. Is he old? Hell no, it’s hard to find an artist amongst the young generation with that energy!

I’m sure the highlight for Arjen was "Nikita", because Elton dedicated it to him: “This next song is for my friend Arjen”! And yes, Elton did sing "Nikita", which is always a good choice in both our countries.

With "Oceans Away" Elton thanked those who gave their lifes during World War I and II, these words were very appreciated by everyone. Elton John is also thankful for the happy life he leads while the audience was very thankful for all the love that he’s giving. After every song the audience gave a thunderous ovation! Apart from the 2Cellos Elton was accompanied by four wonderful backing vocals, thanks to them, too.

On our way home I said I hoped we won’t have to wait too long to see him back … and my mother (80!), who came with me, shared that idea! Thank you for the music, thank you for being such a warm person, thank you Elton John!

Following is the complete set list of the Brussels show on December 16, 2013:

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. Nikita (solo)
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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Gary Barlow and Elton John teamed up for an extra special performance on the X Factor Final results show 2013 on December 15, 2013.

The musical superstars gave a world exclusive performance of duet "Face to Face," recorded for Gary’s album "Since I Saw You Last." The perfect pair played grand pianos, surrounded by an army of wonderful dancers. Afterwards, Elton John praised finalists Sam Bailey and Nicholas McDonald.

He said: “It was so much fun watching the show. I have to say, the two finalists, what incredible humble people they are and what incredible singers they are.” Speaking of his first time on The X Factor, he said: “I did it basically 'cause Gary is a real friend of mine and when he picked up the phone I said 'yes' cause I love him.”

What a perfect way to say goodbye to the judge, who is bowing out of the series on a high to concentrate on his own music.

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Following is the complete set list of the Stockholm show on December 13, 2013.

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. The One (solo)
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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The EJAF is very pleased to share a wonderful story about David Furnish that recently ran in The Guardian, which highlights David’s leadership as chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

"Everyone should be tested," David told The Guardian. "Whenever they have a checkup, they should test for HIV, because if we can get to a point in our society where everyone is automatically tested, nobody will fall through the net. In strictly medical terms, there's no difference between HIV and diabetes; they're not curable, but they're very, very highly treatable, and early information is power. The only thing – literally the single only thing – that is different is the stigma. And we have to overcome it, because it is now the only reason people are dying.”

EJAF is tremendously proud of David’s national and international leadership on this critical issue.

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Tom Hardy is singing "all the time" as he prepares to play Elton John.

"The Dark Knight Rises" actor will portray the legendary musician in new musical biopic, "Rocketman", and he admits he has been taking extensive singing lessons to get ready for the film's numerous musical numbers.

Quizzed whether he's had vocal training, he said: "Oh, all the time. I'm always singing." The star also revealed production on the film is still in the early stages but Elton, who is co-producing the feature through his Rocket Films production company, has been in touch.

Hardy explained to BANG Showbiz: "It's all sort of under the radar at the moment, to be honest, but yes, I am [talking to Elton]." "Rocketman", which is being directed by Michael Gracey, will tell the singer's story from young child prodigy to musical icon. Elton will re-record some of his classic songs for the film's soundtrack, but it's not yet known whether Hardy's favourite song will make the cut.

He added: "My favourite Elton song, I think it's 'Honky Cat'." Hardy was speaking at The Sun Military Awards, which took place last night on December 11, 2013 at the National Maritime Museum in London. The ceremony honours the bravery and courage of Britain's servicemen and women and the 36-year-old star is a staunch supporter.

He said: "I think it's very important to celebrate our soldiers and get behind them and our navy personnel." The Sun Military Awards air on Monday, December 16, 2013, at 9pm on ITV.

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Elton reflects on his recent trip to Russia where he performed two concerts, and met with grantees of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, saying that people in Russia had found it harder to get information about HIV since new Russian legislation, and reiterating why he thinks it is important for celebrities not to boycott the country:

There was a lot of speculation about whether I would go to Russia this year.

Many people outside the country thought I should boycott Russia because of its new homophobic legislation. Others said I must go to challenge the government.

I decided in the end to be guided by what Russian people wanted me to do. The message, from even the most marginalised Russian groups we work with at the Elton John AIDS Foundation, was ‘please come. If you don’t come’, AIDS workers and LGBT activists told us, ‘we will feel isolated. We will miss having your voice in our debate. It might be interpreted that you don’t care. Or we may be blamed for keeping you away.’

In Moscow I spent hours with gay activists, Federal doctors, human rights lawyers and people living with HIV. They told me that since the new legislation has been adopted it’s getting harder and harder to deliver basic HIV information or healthcare to gay men for fear of seeming to ‘promote’ homosexuality, which is against the law. Gay people lie even to their children about their sexuality, in case it jeopardises their families.

That night at my concert I made a statement, directly to the audience, about how sad, shocking and isolating this new law seemed to be. A young woman with a rainbow banner cheered. I realised then, with thousands of Russians cheering for a man they knew to be gay, that I had made the right decision. I believe the Russian people are decent and will be persuaded – but they need to hear us, and see we are human. They can’t do that from a distance of two thousand miles.

A number of celebrities have recently declined to go to Russia, some for fear that it is unsafe. But I say to my friends – we all owe our freedoms to people who took risks with their safety for us, and faced far greater dangers than those confronting a Western artist in Russia. Freedom is worth taking a risk for. Saving people from HIV is worth taking a risk for, and there is nothing that fuels the AIDS epidemic more effectively than stigma and isolation. We’ve learnt that over 20 years of funding HIV programmes around the world, including Russia.

As the Winter Olympics approaches, I know lots of sportsmen and artists are facing the same choice that I faced. I realise not everyone will share my view.

But personally I hope and pray that prominent people will go to Russia and challenge the wrong thinking of this law. It breeds isolation, mistrust and hate, and cannot be how Russia wants to be known by the world.

Thank you to everyone who came to my concerts. And thank you to the people who gave their time to talk to me about HIV and gay rights while I was in Russia. We will continue to support your important, life saving work.

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Following is the complete set list of the Paris show on December 9, 2013.

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. The One (solo)
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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For quite some time I have been thinking about giving the eltonfan.net website a facelift, however, it never worked out so far due to heavy workload.

So I am wondering whether there are any talented web designers out there, who would be willing and able to help me out. What I am looking for is an easy to use content management system as well as a possibility to transfer the existing news database to the new system. And as this website is a free service, there is not much of a budget for any of that ...

Any kind of support will be very much appreciated. Please contact me at stephan@eltonfan.net. Thanks!

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Following is the complete set list of the Kazan show on December 7, 2013.

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. Nikita
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock
    
29. Circle Of Life
    
30. Can You Feel The Love Tonight

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During his Moscow show Elton criticized the Russian government’s recent passage of anti-gay laws, calling them “inhumane” and “isolating.”

In a statement read on stage, Elton dedicated his concert to the memory of Vladislav Tornovoy, a 23-year-old Russian man who was beaten, sodomized with a beer bottle, and murdered earlier in 2013 after his attackers allegedly learned he was gay.

“You took me to your hearts all these years ago and you’ve always welcomed me with warmth and open arms every time I’ve visited. You have always embraced me and you have never judged me. So I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the LGBT community here in Russia.

“In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating. People have demanded that because of this legislation, I must not come here to Russia. But many, many more people asked me to come and I listened to them. I love coming here.

“I want to show them and the world that I care and that I don’t believe in isolating people. Music is a very powerful thing. It brings people together irrespective of their age, their race, their sexuality, or their religion. It does not discriminate.

“Look around you tonight. You see men, women, young and old, gay and straight. Thousands of Russian people enjoying the music. We’re all here together in harmony and harmony is what makes a happy family and a strong society.

“The spirit we share tonight is what builds a future of equality, love and compassion for my children and for your children. Please don’t leave it behind when you leave tonight. Each and every one of you please, keep this spirit in your life and in your heart. I wish you love and peace and health and happiness.

“And this show is dedicated to the memory of Vladislav Tornovoy.”



Ealier this year, Elton has said he wanted to perform in Russia to support the Russian LGBT community. “As a gay man, I can’t leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’ve got to go,” he told British media.

In Russia, groups such as the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods and the Ural Parents Committee have publicly spoken out against Elton performing in the country, either through a petition or a letter to Mr Putin. Russia decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, but its medical institutions continued to class homosexuality as a mental disorder until 1999.

A survey by Levada independent polling centre in March 2013 found that 34% thought homosexuality was an illness that should be treated. With the 2014 Winter Olympics due to be held in Sochi in Russia, the current law has attracted attention around the world. However, Mr Putin said in October 2013 that gay "athletes, fans and guests" would be made to feel welcome during the games.

In addition to the Moscow performance, he is scheduled to perform in Kazan on December 7, 2013.

Following is the complete set list of the Moscow show on December 6, 2013.:

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. Nikita
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) celebrated Elton John 's return to Madison Square Garden by commemorating his 64th performance, which also marks the "Most Performances By Any Artist" to play at "The World's Most Famous Arena."

Following two extraordinary concerts on December 3 and 4, 2013, a new banner honoring this achievement was raised to the rafters replacing Elton's 62 performances banner, which the legendary artist earned in 2007.

"Madison Square Garden is honored to welcome back one of the greatest artists of all time, Elton John," said Melissa Ormond, president, MSG Entertainment. "With 64 performances, Elton has performed more concerts than any other artist in the history of Madison Square Garden, and we are thrilled to pay tribute to this extraordinary achievement."

With an unmatched 134-year history, Madison Square Garden has embraced generations of fans worldwide whose pride and passion for teams, athletes, performers and statesmen have brought them to "The World's Most Famous Arena" for thousands of historic events. With its ability to inspire the best performances, the most unforgettable moments and the chance to make history on any given night, Madison Square Garden is often viewed by artists as the pinnacle of their career. Countless contemporary artists-from Katy Perry to Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber to One Direction-talk about performing at MSG as being a "dream come true" in interviews, on-stage, in song lyrics and on their social handles.

October 2013 marked the completion of an unprecedented, three-year Transformation of Madison Square Garden, which today, continues to welcome more than four million people to over 400 events each year. That Transformation, which was designed to benefit everyone who walks through MSG's doors, has made The World's Most Famous Arena, also the most state-of-the-art, ensuring that The Garden continues its legacy of delivering celebrated moments for generations to come.

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Following is the complete set list of the New York show on December 4, 2013.

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. The One (solo)
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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Following is the complete set list of the New York show on December 3, 2013.

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. The One (solo)
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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Zen, of Castle Hill, owns Elton John's former Ferrari that was given to him as a 40th birthday present. Zen is now looking the sell the car.

This hot-red sports car once sat proudly in Elton's driveway, but after being painstakingly important from the UK it's now in need of a new home here in Australia. The 1987 Ferarri Testarossa, which can go from 0-100 km in just five seconds, was originally given to the flamboyant singer by his record company as a 40th birthday present.

It's currently on the market for $169,000 and comes with a certificate of authenticity - complete with Sir Elton John's signature. The car's current owner Zen, who asked to have his last name withheld, purchased the car from a UK dealership after it was sold as part of a charity auction.

"I just stumbled on it and fell in love with it straight away," Zen, of Castle Hill, said. "The fact Elton John used to own it makes it extra special and adds to its presence on the road. It can be a bit surreal taking it for a spin, especially if I play one of his songs at the same time. I've picked up my son a few times from school in the car and people definitely do a few double-takes."

Zen, who works in IT, said it would be hard to part with his piece of rock 'n' roll history but looked forward to reclaiming his garage space. "Unfortunately I just don't have the time or space to enjoy it as much as I should," he said. "I saw it as somewhat of an investment because of its history so hopefully someone else will do the same."

The car, which has done just over 10,000km, has been on the market since September 2013. It has a five-speed manual transmission and 12 cylinder petrol aspirated engine. Zen, a self-confessed car fanatic, said he had no immediate plans to purchase another luxury vehicle but would love to one day own a Daytona Spyder if he gets a green light from his wife.

Visit carsales.com.au for more information.

Elton John's former Ferrari.

WHAT: 1987 Ferrari Testarossa
FORMER OWNER: Elton John
CURRENT OWNER: Zen
FROM: Castle Hill
COST: $169,000 (excluding on-road costs)
KILOMETRES: 10,082
TRANSMISSION: 5 speed manual
ENGINE: 12 cylinder Petrol Aspirated 4.9 L (4943 cc)

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... after singer makes 50 pages of demands and pledges to show solidarity with persecuted gay community.

Elton is due to perform in Russia on December 6 & 7, 2013 – but the concerts could be called off by local officials if they believe his performances will break their ‘gay propaganda’ laws. Despite Elton being one of the most famous performers in the world, having sold more than 250 million records worldwide, if officials suspect he’s going to use his appearances to rail against Russia’s new rulings, they will pull the plug, according to The Times.

Quoting Russian paper Your Day, it reports that preparations for the concerts – in Moscow's Crocus City Hall and Kazan - have already been a considerable expense. The rider – a list of requests – apparently runs to 50 pages and includes his hotel dressing room in Moscow being turned into a ‘paradise garden’ populated by ‘decorative birds’ and trees.

Elton, who reminisced in an interview in September 2013 about having sex on a Moscow rooftop with a translator during his 1979 Soviet Union tour, said he wanted to perform in Russia to support the gay community.

"As a gay man, I can't leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don't know what's going to happen, but I've got to go," he said in the interview. One of the world's most prominent gay celebrities, he lives with his partner David Furnish, with whom he is in a civil union, and they are bringing up two children together. He has campaigned for gay rights in Britain and in Ukraine where he was denied the right in 2009 to adopt a child because of his age and marital status.

This summer, anti-gay campaigners warned Elton not to wear 'flamboyant' clothes at his planned concert in Krasnodar in July 2013. The concert was later cancelled when the singer fell ill. 'Promoting homosexuality' is an offence in several Russian regions, including Krasnodar, St Petersburg, and Novosibirsk.

In September 2013 a Russian parents' committee asked President Vladimir Putin to cancel the planned concerts, saying he intended to violate a ban on 'homosexual propaganda'. In an open letter to Putin, the local parents' group in central Ural region was reported by media as saying: 'The singer intends to come out in support of local sodomites and break the current Russian law, directed at protecting children.'

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Fan report by Brendan Green.

This was Elton’s first show in Chicago without Billy Joel since April of 2010, so the Windy City was very much looking forward to it.

The “Two Cellos” started at exactly 8:00pm and went until about 8:10pm when Sir Elton arrived and took over. As always, "Funeral For a Friend" was an excellent way to start, and followed with the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" tracks "Bennie and the Jets", "Candle in the Wind" and the not played nearly often enough "Grey Seal".

Elton seemed to really be enjoying singing the lesser sung songs ("Holiday Inn", "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", "Believe", "Hey Ahab", etc.). This was the first time in 13 shows I had the chance to hear “The One” live, and it really is an excellent, very underrated song. In my opinion, he should sing that much more often.

In the past reviews I have written (April 22, 2005 and April 23, 2005) one of the things I questioned was Elton’s set, and the decisions he makes as to what order the songs appear. Towards the end, while it is always a big finish, it was odd to be standing for "Sad Songs" and "Alice", then sitting for "Home Again" and "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me", and then be back up for "I’m Still Standing", "Bitch is Back", "Your Sister Can’t Twist" and "Saturday". Also, I wonder if "Your Sister Can’t Twist" wouldn’t be better placed prior to the bigger hits. I was standing at the stage, and of the fans around me, I was the only one who recognized the song. It seemed to take some people out of it.

Overall it was an awesome show by Elton (as it always is!) Here’s hoping he doesn’t wait three more years until he comes back!

Following is the complete set list of the Chicago show on November 30, 2013.:

1. Funeral For A Friend
   
2. Love Lies Bleeding
   
3. Bennie And The Jets
   
4. Candle In The Wind
   
5. Grey Seal
   
6. Levon
   
7. Tiny Dancer
   
8. Holiday Inn
   
9. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
   
10. Believe
    
11. Philadelphia Freedom
    
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    
13. Rocket Man
    
14. Hey Ahab
    
15. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
    
16. The One (solo)
    
17. Oceans Away
    
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
    
19. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
    
20. All The Girls Love Alice
    
21. Home Again
    
22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    
23. I'm Still Standing
    
24. The Bitch Is Back
    
25. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
    
26. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
    
    
27. Your Song
    
28. Crocodile Rock

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Music legend Elton John, Katy Perry and The Killers have been announced to perform on the X Factor live final at Wembley Arena.

X Factor judge Gary Barlow will be joined by platinum-selling artist Elton John to perform their new single "Face to Face" in an exclusive performance. The track has been kept under lock and key - with Barlow revealing that he would be quitting X Factor to return to music career.

Roar singer Katy Perry will also sing at the singing competition event, with her latest track "Unconditionally."
Also to join the extensive cast of A-listers, "Best Song Ever" crooners One Direction will return to the show which launched their career into a global phenomenon. The boys will sing their new track "Midnight Memories," in a celebration of their 35 million worldwide music sales and their host of awards.

"Mr Brightside" rockers "The Killers" will play a variety of their top hits, including "Human." And last but not least, BRITs Critics Choice Award winner Tom Odell will be performing at the arena. His debut album "Long Way Down" reached number one in the official UK chart earlier this year.

The X Factor Live Final will take place across two days, on December 14 and 15, 2013. The Killers and Tom Odell will perform on Saturday (December 14), with Gary Barlow and Elton John, Katy Perry and One Direction performing on Sunday (December 15).

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In the Los Angeles Times Chelsea Clinton writes that in the battle against HIV and AIDS, compassion is vital, as Elton John says in 'Love Is the Cure.'

By Chelsea Clinton

November 30, 2013, 8:00 a.m.

This past summer, in a small village outside of Phnom Penh, not far from the Mekong River, I met an 8-year-old boy named Basil. He couldn't stop laughing, playing, racing around the village like any boy his age.

Visiting him meant something special to me because my father had met Basil too, in 2005. At the time, Basil was a tubercular baby ravaged by AIDS and abandoned by his family, with little hope for survival. Back then, infants who had gotten the disease from their mothers were 25% of the cases in Cambodia.

Now, with the widespread availability of first-line antiretroviral drugs in Cambodia, more than 80% of people living with HIV and AIDS receive treatment. The country is poised to effectively eliminate new HIV infections by 2020, partly because the government has prioritized the fight.

Meeting Basil reminded me of another boy with AIDS, one I never had the chance to meet. His name was Ryan White.

Elton John's book, "Love Is the Cure: On Life, Loss and the End of AIDS," newly released in paperback, opens with Ryan White's story. The moral of Ryan and Basil's stories are the same, but the endings are tragically different.

Ryan was infected with AIDS through a treatment for his hemophilia and driven out of school after school by ignorance, prejudice and fear. John reached out to White and his family. A friendship formed and White's struggles inspired the creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation 21 years ago.

What binds Basil to Ryan across continents and generations is something all too human: stigma, even against a child.

This is a disturbing theme that rings out of "Love Is the Cure": the blunt recognition that the fight against AIDS, even today, remains a fight against indifference. The communities experiencing an increase in HIV prevalence are those on the margins of society, the people too often ignored: people who are poor, people of color, victims of trafficking, drug users, victims of abuse — groups that society, almost anywhere in the world — too often would rather look away from. The shame, as John recognizes poignantly, is not in being, it is in those who look away.

Indifference is a theme echoed in the book's new foreword, authored by the international public health expert Dr. Paul Farmer. Farmer tells another remarkable story, this time in Rwanda, where in 1994, after a mass genocide, the nation's health infrastructure was in tatters and thousands lived in disease-ridden refugee camps. Rwanda, he writes, had to fund hospitals and medicine, yes. But the real breakthrough came because the government faced down prejudice.

"Rwanda's rebirth," Farmer writes, "has come to pass most of all … because some of Rwanda's leaders, including its health minister, have joined civil society groups to fight discrimination with legal remedies, with activism, and with an effort to realize the right to care."

Shame, prejudice, homophobia and sexism all fuel the stigma of AIDS in developing and developed countries alike. As John describes his own reckoning with the new faces of the global AIDS pandemic through travels for his foundation, he makes it clear that these matters are both personal and political.

Yes, the politics of election years — but equally the politics of communities, of neighborhoods, of families. John's journey is often about the frequent casualties of stigma — access to information (a crucial ingredient in prevention) and access to treatment, often for those who need it most. The stories in John's book are crucial reminders that policy, progress and real change often depend on people initially overcoming indifference and confronting a challenge. And then doing the right thing.

All of which brings me back to Cambodia. In Cambodia, change has come through a seemingly obvious shift in policy: The country normalized HIV, focusing on the people with the disease, not the disease itself. One way this manifested was through treating HIV-positive pregnant women as pregnant women, not as separate, stigmatized patients. The country faced down its crisis of indifference. As a result of that and other interventions, Cambodia has seen tremendous progress in combating HIV and AIDS and eliminating mother-to-child transmission.

Change is hard. "Love Is the Cure" recognizes that. As John has said in poetry and prose, compassion is the key — for individuals, and for our global community. His book provides examples of incredible compassion — matched by economics and politics — that collectively are helping to change the trend lines of the AIDS epidemic. John could have provided a theme song but decided to do so much more: to reach out to Ryan White, to help Basil's story have a different ending than the one that seemed inevitable when he was a baby — and to help truly end the AIDS epidemic for children and marginalized people everywhere.

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