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Elton John has launched a fresh attack on Taiwan’s media, saying the photographers and TV crews at Taipei airport were the rudest he had met in his pop career.

Elton cursed at a pack of aggressive photographers and cameramen on September 23, 2004 as they mobbed him while he was trying to clear immigration. The singer shouted expletives at the media horde and called them “rude, vile pigs”.

At his concert in Taipei that night, he apologised for the airport flare-up. “It’s great to be here. As you know, we had a little incident at the airport,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He said his tirade was not directed at the Taiwanese people, and he praised them for being helpful.

But he added, “The television and photographers at the airport were the rudest people I’ve ever met. I’ve been to 60 countries, and they are a disgrace to your country.”

He said the media should not have such easy access to celebrities at the airport.

“I’m sorry if I offended anyone in Taiwan,” Elton said. “I did not mean to. And to those guys, I meant every single word I said.”

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Following is the complete set list of the Taipei show on September 23, 2004:

• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Levon
  
• Daniel
  
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• I Want Love
  
• Answer In The Sky
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Candle In The Wind (solo)
  
• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• All The Young Girls Love Alice
  
• 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
  
  
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight

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Elton John apologized for an airport scuffle with paparazzi, sang before a packed audience and left for home.

The apology was offered at a special concert at the Chungshan Stadium at Yuanshan, where more than 6,000 fans cheered the British rock star, who had exchanged abuse on arrival with the waiting press at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.

Elton John, who sang in memory of Princess of Wales Diana, arrived from Hong Kong aboard a private plane for the sole concert in Taipei shortly after midnight. The star shouted expletives as he was mobbed by photographers and TV cameramen, who had been waiting for him for hours.

The Taipei concert, his first performance in Taiwan, went smoothly after the fans had apparently gracefully accepted. Elton and his company left for the airport immediately after the concert.

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Elton John has described photographers in Taiwan as "rude, vile pigs". He arrived in the country to play the last date in his tour of the Far East.

But after touching down at Taipei's Chiang Kai-Shek airport by private jet in the early hours of September 23, 2004, he was besieged by photographers and TV crews.

A Taiwanese news channel showed Sir Elton, dressed in a royal blue tracksuit and matching sunglasses, clenching his teeth and muttering expletives as he stood with his arms crossed tightly across his chest.

"Rude, vile pigs!" he shouted. "Do you know what that means? Rude, vile pigs. That's what all of you are."

One of the photographers shouted back: "Why don't you get out of Taiwan?" Sir Elton replied: "We'd love to get out of Taiwan if it's full of people like you. Pig! Pig!"

Elton, who recently performed in Shanghai and Hong Kong, said: "We had a great tour of the Far East and then we come to Taiwan."

It is not the first time the 57-year-old singer has lost his temper in public.

A spokeswoman for Elton accused police and airport security officials of failing to protect the star but said he was "bravely" carrying on with his concert at the Chung Shan soccer stadium.

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Pop and disco diva Elton John joins world class opera diva Renee Fleming for the 50th Anniversary of HGO.

Elton John and Renee Fleming will be in Houston in January 2005 for the 50th Anniversary Season Gala of the Houston Grand Opera.

HGO officials say Renee Fleming was a natural to help the opera celebrate a milestone, since she started her career there, and Elton, well, he’s a friend of a good friend of HGO.

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Until this week, two artists were tied with the highest number of entries on the Adult Contemporary chart. Barbra Streisand and Elton John each had 63, but one of them has broken away to take first place.

Elton's "Answer in the Sky" is his 64th entry on the AC chart. The songs have charted during a period of 34 years, counting back to the debut of "Your Song" in 1970.

The meter on Streisand's hits started running in 1964, with the debut of "People." She was last on the AC survey in January 2002 with holiday song "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe."

If "Answer" can find its way to the Adult Top 40 chart, it will be Elton's eighth entry. The male artist with the most entries on this tally is Lenny Kravitz. His 10th song to appear on this chart debuts this week: "Lady" (Virgin) is new at No. 33.

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As already announced here earlier, Elton and the band will perform a special promo show at MTV Italia in Milano on September 29, 2004. Furthermore, Elton will also be a guest at MTV Italia Total Request Live (TRL) that same day.

Elton will be in the heart of Milano at Piazza del Duomo from 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm for the TRL show. Usually, the show is aired live from a balcony just above the square at the side of the cathedral, and usually hundreds fans gather there to celebrate the show's special guest.

Later that day, Elton and band will record a special promo show at the MTV Italia studios. The concert will start at 9.00 pm (gates open 7.45 pm). Hercules has secured a number of invitations for the fan club. If you have already registered for these free tickets, you will receive an e-mail shortly. Please note that we have already received far more requests than we can serve.

If you won't win one of the free tickets, make sure to be at Piazza del Duomo at 2.00 pm for TRL.

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Elton John has hit out at Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez, accusing them of courting publicity.

He complains newspapers and magazines are rife with stories about the same celebrities, and he's urging aspiring stars to take on a more mysterious persona - because it will help make them interesting.

Elton says: "There is no charisma any more. We know everything about everyone.

"If I see one more photo of Britney or J.Lo or Ben Affleck, I'm going to spit. I want mystery.

"That's why Morrissey has had some success again, he's a bit of an enigma.

"I know I've cultivated this image of myself having tantrums and spending all this money and having nice weekends in my big house in the south of France ... but I really don't think I court publicity like I used to. And I don't want it."

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Elton John will perform a special promo show at the MTV studios in Milano, Italy, on the September 29, 2004 in order to promote the fothcoming album, "Peachtree Road".

The concert, which is expected to last one hour, will be recorded for broadcast by MTV Italia just before the release of "Peachtree Road".

Hercules has been able to secure a limited number of tickets for this show. However, we already received quite a large number of request for those tickets - far more than we can handle.

We will contact you in a few days with more details. Since there are more requests than tickets, we will assign the tickets on a first come, first serve basis. Please note that this show is "by invitation only" and that tickets will be free of charge!

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Elton refuses to promote a "cool" image these days because it's more important for him to remain true to himself.

Elton insists it is inevitable his career will have ups and downs after being in the music industry for the past 34 years, and no longer strives to present himself in a false light.

Elton says, "Well, in the beginning I was cool. But I'm not interested in being cool now, I just want to be me.

"The music has fluctuated, it's been great, it's been ordinary and sometimes it's been downright bad. That's going to happen over a 34-year career."

As for his critics, Elton comments, "I'm not everybody's cup of tea. But sometimes criticism can be hurtful. Be respectful, I'm a good piano player, I can sing well, I write good songs.

"If you don't like it, fair enough. But give me a break. I know I'm dismissed sometimes as 'Elton the MOR (middle of the road) rocker' but it's hard to be anything else on piano.

"It's not an instrument you can throw into an amp or into the audience."

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Elton has been confirmed to appear on Germany's most popular TV show, "Wetten, dass..?", which will broadcast live from Neue Messe in Leipzig on November 13, 2004.

Other musical guests include Tina Turner.

Tickets for this show are hard to come by. If you are a German resident, you can try your luck by sending a request to ZDF-Zuschauerservice in 55100 Mainz. Remaining tickets will be raffled on September 5, 2004. Tickets cost Euro 40 per person.

Furthermore, Elton will be a guest at "50 Jahre Rock" (50 years of rock) on November 27, 2004 - also on ZDF (German channel 2).

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Elton John, who owns one of the world's greatest private collections of photographs, is to sell some of the images on which he has lavished a fortune.

He has decided to prune his collection and sell more than 100 photographs, which are expected to fetch up to £600,000 at Christie's in New York on Oct 14, 2004.

They represent only a fraction of his 4,000-photograph collection. "He collects with unbridled enthusiasm," said Philippe Garner, international head of Christie's photographs department. "Because of this he really has got more material than he needs in certain areas."

The sale will include work by some of the finest photographers of the 20th century including Edward Steichen, Bill Brandt, Ansel Adams, Robert Mapplethorpe, Norman Parkinson and Irving Penn.

Mapplethorpe's Calla Lily is expected to fetch £16,000 to £26,000, Penn's Mermaid Dress 'Rochas' Lisa Fonssagrives is estimated at £13,200 to £18,500 and Adams's Tetons and the Snake River should sell for £18,500 to £23,800.

Parkinson's portrait of Elton, Bouquet for a Fan, is estimated at £1,000 to £1,600.

Elton became interested in photography after receiving treatment for alcoholism. He said: "It was like my eyes were suddenly open and I started noticing things that I had not noticed in years. I wanted to surround myself with beautiful things that I can afford and that I love."

In the years that followed Sir Elton, always one of the world's big spenders, paid a series of record prices at auction for photographs by big names, including £357,353 at Christie's for a unique pairing of a positive and negative print of Man Ray's 1926 photograph Noire et Blanche.

Highlights from the sale can be found at Christie's website.

Photographs from the Collection of Sir Elton John
Sale 1541
14 October 2004, 6:00 pm
20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York

Viewing
09 October 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
10 October 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
11 October 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
12 October 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
13 October 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
14 October 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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Elton John answered questions during a press conference in Shanghai, September 18, 2004. Elton John will debut his performance there September 19 and 21, 2004.

Elton John said he was delighted to perform in China for the first time, saying it was always his ambition to play music here.

"I'm delighted to be here, this is a culturally electric city, full of life, full of creativity, and I'm very honored to be here," he told reporters.

Dressed in a bright red robe with a black jacket, he looked visibly tired, having just arrived in Shanghai earlier in the day. He said he visited Shanghai in 1988 and 1984, but had never performed in China.

"It's always been my ambition to come to China to play music," said Elton. He will perform in two concerts on Sunday and next Tuesday at the 12,000 seat Shanghai Stage, the city's prestigious venue.

He was presented with a yellow imperial robe, similar looking to ones that used to be worn by Chinese emperors, at the press conference.

A word of advice from Sir Elton John to up-and-coming musicians in China: Pay your dues.

"Bands today have to learn their craft by putting the hard work in that we did when we were young performers," said Elton.

"We didn't just make a video, then go out on the road. We were on the road before we had got a record contract," he said, who started out in the early 1960s toiling on the British pub circuit with the soul act Bluesology.

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Following is the complete set list of the Seoul show on September 17, 2004:

• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Levon
  
• Daniel
  
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Singing In the Rain
  
• I Want Love
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Are You Ready For Love
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
• Pinball Wizard
  
  
• Your Song
  
  
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

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While "Answer in the Sky" has already been released to US radio stations, fans outside the US will be treated with the release of "All That I'm Allowed".

Elton's new single, "All That I'm Allowed", will be released in the UK and the rest of the world (outside of the US) on November 1, 2004. Elton's forthcoming album, "Peachtree Road", is scheduled for November 8, 2004 (outside the US). It will be released in the US on November 9, 2004.


"All That I'm Allowed"
Elton John/Taupin

Breaking down never seems to be that hard
Falling short is always in the cards
I'm on the road sunrise is at my back
Lost it all somewhere between the cracks.

I always hoped that I'd do better
That I'd come out on top for once
We all get what we deliver
Then there are the lucky ones.

And I got all that I'm allowed
It'll do for me, I'm thankful now
The walls get higher every day
The barriers get in the way
But I see hope in every cloud
And I'm thankful - Thankful,
I'm thankful, So thankful
I'm thankful
I've got all that I'm allowed

Laving town gets to feel just like a job
My desire never winds up on top
I can say now I didn't want the moon
It's out of reach
Somewhere beyond this room

I always hoped that I'd do better
That I'd come out on top for once
We all get what we deliver
Then there are the lucky ones.

And I got all that I'm allowed
It'll do for me, I'm thankful now
The walls get higher every day
The barriers get in the way
But I see hope in every cloud
And I'm thankful - Thankful,
I'm thankful, So thankful
I'm thankful
I've got all that I'm allowed

And I got all that I'm allowed
It'll do for me, I'm thankful now
The walls get higher every day
The barriers get in the way
But I see hope in every cloud
And I'm thankful - Thankful,
I'm thankful, So thankful
I'm thankful
I've got all that I'm allowed

Meanwhile, another song from "Peachtree Road", "Answer in the Sky", has already been released to US radio stations. Elton has also performed this song live during his current Asia tour.

"Answer In The Sky"
Elton John/Taupin

Well they say that it's a fact
If you watch the sky at night
And if you stare into the darkness
You might see celestial light
And if your heart is empty
And there's no hope in sight
There's a chance you'll find an answer in the sky

Well they say that it's a shame
If you have nothing to believe
And if you can't hold onto something
You might as well die where you sleep
You don't need a prayer
And there's no price to ask why
Sometimes you'll find an answer in the sky

And it's all so much bigger than it seems
And it all overwhelms us now and then
And I'm banking on a chance we believe
That good can still control the hearts of men

Sometimes you'll find an answer in the sky

And it's all so much bigger than it seems
And it all overwhelms us now and then
And I'm banking on a chance that we believe
That good can still control the hearts of men

This life's a long old road
We shouldn't have to walk alone
But if you find the right companion
You won't feel so worn out when you've grown
All life is precious
And everyday’s a prize
And sometimes you'll find an answer in the sky

All life is precious
And everyday’s a prize
And sometimes you'll find an answer in the sky
And sometimes you'll find an answer in the sky
And sometimes you'll find an answer in the sky

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Following is the complete setlist of the Hong Kong show on September 14, 2004.

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

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Elton John and Warren Beatty will be among six entertainers to receive the annual Kennedy Centre honours this year, the centre says.

The other recipients will be the husband and wife team of actors and producers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, soprano Joan Sutherland, and composer and conductor John Williams.

The 2004 honourees will be feted at a gala performance in the Kennedy Centre's Opera House on December 5, 2004, expected to be attended by President George W. Bush and his wife, the centre said on September 15, 2004.

"This year the Kennedy Centre honours not the usual five but six extraordinary individuals whose unique and abundant artistry has contributed significantly to the cultural life of our nation and the world," Kennedy Centre Chairman Stephen Schwarzman said.

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By David Wright

There has been much anticipation of the 4 DVD set Dream Ticket both among fans and on eltonjohn.com.

Rumours abounded since the release was announced. It was to be “wealth of live and archival Elton John footage, stretching right back to the very early days of his career and right up to the present.”

We expected a concert from New York (one of the Radio City shows from July?), an orchestra concert from London (1972 at the Festival Hall?), the solo show from Turkey that was the infamous webcast and a compilation of footage of Elton throughout his career.

Instead we get three concerts from a recent two and a half year period.

Let’s look at each disc in turn.

Disc 1 – Madison Square Garden, One Night Only, October 21st 2000.

This is the biggest disappointment of all. Die-hard and casual fans alike already have this.

Having already been repackaged with the Greatest Hits 1970-2002 cover, this is its third release.

Oh, and this was the show Elton regretted doing. Apparently his management don’t regret it one bit. Its inclusion can only due to sheer laziness, indifference and ignorance of what fans want.

That’s one quarter of this product, one quarter of our money, wasted.

Disc 2 – The Royal Opera House December 1st 2002

This was a special concert and well worthy of inclusion. It’s still surprising that a DVD of the full concert hasn’t been released.

But why only 11 tracks? This is simply what was broadcast on television.

I assume the reason is that nobody could be bothered. They have re-used the edited highlights and they didn’t have the idea or the inclination to use the recording of the whole concert.

Disc 3 - Ephesus, Turkey July 17th 2001

This is the highlight of the set. The solo shows of the past five years have been a joy and to have one on DVD is overdue.

Some of this was released on a video to eltonjohn.com members but that was very disappointing quality. So, assuming a nice widescreen production with Dolby Digital surround sound (I can hope), this is great.

Disc 4 – Elton In Four Decades

It’s only fair to reserve judgement on the final disc. We are promised “new interviews with Elton and with other key people from his career, and with live and archival film clips.”

With only 12 tracks it doesn’t seem likely to make use of the capacity of a DVD. Let’s hope the interviews are enjoyable and interesting.

A further problem is repetition. "Your Song", in case you’d forgotten how it goes, is included four times.

"I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues", viewed by some fans as Elton’s most overplayed song, can be heard three more times.

"Rocket Man", "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "Sacrifice", "Philadelphia Freedom" and "I’m Still Standing" are all here three times.

Where are the rarities we all hoped for? The footage from that legendary night at The Troubadour – no matter how long or short, no matter how poor the quality, we want to see it. What about all those concerts that have been broadcast on TV over the years – solo in Edinburgh 1976, Christmas at Hammersmith in 1974 or 1982? What about a DVD release of Live in Australia?

There is so much that could have been included. There may be some gems in Disc 4 but they will be snippets rather than the full concerts we crave.

I hope no fan is ever criticised for buying a bootleg again.

What a wasted opportunity.

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Fan report by Julio from Spain.

If I had to put a name to Elton John´s concert of last Friday, September 10, 2004 in Gibraltar, it would be "Elton On The Rock", for reasons of playing in front of the grand rock and for the rock music that he made tremble the Victoria Stadium ... Hard Rock!

I am from the North of Spain, and I had to travel across all of Spain, by bus, by airplane and lastly by car, to cross the border of Spain to Gibraltar, but all this was worthwhile.

The truth, I can say that Elton gave two shows, since the soundcheck lasted almost two hours! In the sound tests Elton´s played "Answer In The Sky", "Are You Ready For Love", "Pinball Wizard", I think that he also play a part of "Texan Love Song", and also part of "Sixty Years On", and two songs that I think that they were of his next album, "Peachtree Road"!

After waiting 8 hours at the doors of the stadium, we entered the Victoria Stadium, the stage crowned by
the Rock of Gibraltar, and we placed ourselves in the front row, in front of Elton's piano. I had a sign that said "Rocket Man" and "Elton Play Piano!", to encourage the athmosphere!

The stadium was filling and at 10:00 pm the first chords of "The Bitch Is Back" sounded and made their victorious entrance to Sir Elton John!

The repertoire was total rock, excluding some songs as "Candle In The Wind" or "Sacrifice", and extending others as "Bennie and The Jets" or "Levon".

It didn't rain, but some drops from the fog could be seen on the stage, this didn't prevent that the concert was developed without any problem. During "Funeral For A Friend", it was not necessary to blow the artificial fog, since the natural fog that came from the Crag gave a perfect atmosphere for this song!

In conclusion, a great concert, a great set list, and hoping Elton puts dates of his 2005 Tour for Spain!

Following is the complete set list of the Gibraltar show on September 10, 2004:

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

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Elton John kept his red top on during the NFL's first on-field musical show since part of Janet's Jackson's black top came off at the Super Bowl.

Elton was part of an hour-long performance at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2004 before the two-time champion New England Patriots began the 2004 NFL season against the Indianapolis Colts.

There was a 10-second delay on the live, hour-long telecast to give the NFL and ABC a chance to pull the plug on anything too racy.

Elton joked during a news conference before singing two songs that he would keep his shirt on when he sang from a stage set up behind one end zone. And he did.

During the halftime show in Houston last February 1, 2004, where the Patriots beat Carolina 32-29 for their second title in three years, Jackson's right breast was exposed when Justin Timberlake pulled off part of her top during their duet.

The Federal Communications Commission received more than 500,000 complaints about the broadcast. The commission is reportedly considering a fine of $550,000 against CBS for violating broadcast decency standards.

The league tightly controlled Thursday night's show.

It appealed to a cross-section of music fans with Elton John, country star Toby Keith, rocker Lenny Kravitz and rhythm and blues group Destiny's Child.

Mary J. Blige, who sang the national anthem in the rain with backing from the Boston Pops, was conservatively dressed in a long, dark black jacket with white trim. But as she finished, the wind, blowing up to 19 mph, opened part of her jacket to reveal her navel.

Jessica Simpson appeared on a hookup from Jacksonville, wearing a Byron Leftwich No. 7 jersey. The next Super Bowl will be played there.

She had her wardrobe checked to ward off a potential exposure like Jackson's that occurred in front of 90 million viewers.

Toward the end of the show, emceed by comedian George Lopez, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the crowd, "Nothing is more powerful than 53 men working together for a common purpose and goal."

Then a red fabric was lowered from in front of the team's second championship banner, hanging next to the first one from high in a conrer of the end zone.

Elton John said he's friends with Kraft and thought this season's team is better than the last one.

"I think they'll be awfully hard to dislodge," he said at his news conference. "They're a young team and they play as a team, which is really important. It's like how the Florida Marlins won the baseball last year. They played as a team."

Elton said he has been a baseball and football fan since he began performing in the United States in the 1970s. His favorite teams are the Patriots and Atlanta Braves.

"Robert's been after me to write a song about the Patriots," Elton said. "I've just got to talk to my lyricist, because I can come up with the melodies, but it's the lyrics that are really important. There could be a possibility."

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Best Buy will release the 4 DVD set "Dream Ticket" on November 9, 2004. Following is the track list. Decide for yourself whether this is a dream ticket or a blank.

DVD 1
New York City, Madison Square Garden
Greatest Hits--One Night Only
October 21st 2000

1 Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)
2 Candle In The Wind
3 Bennie And The Jets
4 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John with Billy Joel)
5 Someone Saved My Life Tonight
6 Little Jeannie
7 Philadelphia Freedom
8 Tiny Dancer
9 Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
10 Daniel
11 Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be a Long, Long, Time)
12 Club At The End Of The Street
13 Blue Eyes
14 I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (Elton John with Mary J. Blige)
15 The One
16 I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That
17 Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
18 Sacrifice
19 Come Together
20 Your Song (Elton John with Ronan Keating)
21 Sad Songs (Say So Much) (Elton John with Bryan Adams)
22 I'm Still Standing
23 Crocodile Rock
24 Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (Elton John with Anastacia)
25 The Bitch Is Back
26 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
27 Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John with Kiki Dee)

DVD 2
London, The Royal Opera House
December 1st 2002

1 Rehearsals/Interviews
2 Sixty Years On
3 Take Me To The Pilot
4 This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
5 Carla Etude
6 Tonight
7 Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
8 Philadelphia Freedom
9 Burn Down The Mission
10 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
11 Your Song
12 Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

DVD 3
Ephesus, Turkey
The Great Amphitheatre
July 17th 2001

1 Introduction
2 Your Song
3 Someone Saved My Life Tonight
4 Daniel
5 Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters
6 Honky Cat
7 Rocket Man
8 Philadelphia Freedom
9 Nikita
10 Sacrifice
11 Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
12 I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
13 This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
14 Burn Down The Mission
15 The One
16 Blue Eyes
17 I'm Still Standing
18 Crocodile Rock
19 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
20 Circle of Life
21 Candle In The Wind

DVD 4
Elton In Four Decades

1970s
1 Your Song
2 Rocket Man
3 Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters

1980s
4 I'm Still Standing
5 I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
6 Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)

1990s
7 Sacrifice
8 Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
9 Believe

2000s
10 I Want Love
11 This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
12 Are You Ready For Love

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Elton John is scheduled to be in the line-up for an all-star tribute to Ray Charles at the Staples center in Los Angeles on October 8, 2004.

Details are still being worked out. Mary J. Blige will perform at the show which will be hosted by Jamie Foxx, who plays Charles in an upcoming bio movie.

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Elton John thinks fellow British rocker Robbie Williams is a bit of an ingrate.

Elton is angry that Williams disses the rehab center he sent him to after the "Millennium" singer passed out from drug use in his mansion in 1997. In his dishy new memoir, "Feel," Williams writes:

"Elton tried to do a lot for me and I didn't thank him enough. But what he did was weird."

Elton had clinicians waiting for Williams when he woke up, and they immediately carted him off. Williams says he was "kidnapped" and that the London center treated him like he was "a naughty boy."

"Elton is furious," a friend said. "He went out of his way to stage the intervention. This is the thanks he gets?"

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Elton John has donated $18,000 (GBP 10,000) to an appeal aimed at alleviating the pain of families involved in the recent Russian hostage crisis.

The generous star and his partner David Furnish were horrified by the tragic school siege in Beslan last week, in which 335 people - many of them children - lost their lives at the hands of Chechen terrorists.

And Elton admits the tragedy left them so devastated, they immediately leapt into action to help the victims' families in the aftermath of the killing spree.

He says, "This is the most devastating and upsetting thing we have seen in all our lives. We are very pleased to help in any way."

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Paul McCartney and soccer ace David Beckham are just a few of the stars who have written out cheques for the cause.

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Anna Kournikova will make her second appearance at the 12th annual WTT All-Star Smash Hits, presented by ADT Security Services, scheduled for October 11, 2004, at the Bren Events Center on the University of California, Irvine campus.

Hosted by Sir Elton John and tennis legend Billie Jean King, this evening of tennis will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The event is expected to raise more than $1 million for the organization.

Kournikova, a two-year WTT veteran and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, has numerous singles wins over players like Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis. She is one of the world’s most recognizable and marketable athletes and was recently featured in the 2004 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Kournikova will play women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the pro-celebrity match for the event.

A singles showdown between top ranked players, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick will be the evening’s highlighted match.

Tickets for the 12th annual WTT All-Star Smash Hits range from $40 to $105 and are available at all Ticketmaster ticket outlets and the Bren Events Center box office. For more information, please call Ticketmaster at 1 714 740-2000 or the Bren Events Center box office at 1 949 824-5000.

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Elton John presented Ozzy Osbourne with the Editor's Special Award during the 7th annual GQ Men Of The Year Awards at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, central London Tuesday September 7, 2004.

Elton's partner, David Furnish, also attended the event. The seventh annual awards honour everyone from sportsmen, comedians, writers and fashion designers to TV presenters, entrepreneurs and singers.

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After 54 months, Elton John and Tim Rice Broadway musical, Aida—the third Broadway musical fostered by Disney—will play its final performance on September 5, 2004 at the Palace Theatre, it's home since March 2000.

Aida will have played 1,852 regular performances, overcoming a rocky developmental period, mixed reviews and the loss of the 2000 Best Musical Tony Award (though it did win for Best Score) to earn back its investment in 99 weeks' time. To date, the show has generated profits of $12 million.

The musical — which was once titled Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida — was pop superstar Elton John's first attempt to write directly for the musical theatre stage. He teamed with veteran English lyricist and Lion King collaborator Tim Rice. The libretto is by Linda Woolverton and Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang. Wayne Cilento is the choreographer. Falls directed in a rare departure from his usual work, which included award-winning revivals Death of a Salesman beforehand, and Long Day's Journey Into Night afterward.

The musical, based on Verdi's opera, tells the story of a forbidden love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess forced into captivity, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love. The Broadway production created two stars: Heather Headley, who dazzled critics in the title role, and Sherie Rene Scott, who played Amneris, and has since played roles in the musicals The Last Five Years and Debbie Does Dallas and will soon appear in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Headley surprised many by winning the Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award, beating out Marin Mazzie, Rebecca Luker, Audra McDonald and Tony Collette. Unlike Scott, she has not followed up her achievement with further stage roles, but has instead focused on a recording career.

The show's third star, Adam Pascal, who played Ramades, had already achieved notice through his portrayal of Roger in Rent. Pascal returned to the show on June 28, 2004 and has spent far more time in the production than either of his two original co-stars. Also in the cast at present are Deborah A. Cox (Aida), Lisa Brescia (Amneris) and Micky Dolenz (Zoser).

The musical also won Tonys for Best Lighting Design (Natasha Katz) and Best Set Design (Bob Crowley).

Aida has a bumpy road to success. The musical that opened on March 23, 2000, was far different from the one that tried out at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre on October 7, 1998. Of that show's stars, only Heather Headley, as Aida, and Sherie Rene Scott, as Amneris, remained. Newly added in a subsequent Chicago tryout, which begin in late 1999, was Pascal as Radames. Tony winner Robert Falls took over as director in Chicago, replacing Robert Jess Ross, and acclaimed set designer Bob Crowley supplanted Stanley A. Meyer. Also part of the new Chicago team was choreographer Cilento. The book credit for Aida was revised with the New York bow; director Robert Falls and playwright David Henry Hwang now shared credit with original book writer Linda Woolverton.

The Chicago run at the Cadillac Theatre also had its share of drama. On November 13, 1999, a set mishap during the final moments of the performance felled stars Headley and Pascal. According to an eyewitness report, while the two actors were being conveyed in a suspended boxlike "tomb" at the climax of the show, the set piece broke from its support and plunged approximately eight feet to the stage. A subsequent press release from the show's publicist stated that Headley and Pascal sustained minor injuries and were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for examination. Both were released from the hospital a few hours later.

Since opening, the show has seen several leading players come and go. Among the various Aidas were Toni Braxton, Deborah Cox, Maya Days, Saycon Senqbloh, Simone, and Michelle T. Williams. Idina Menzel, Jessica Hendy, Felicia Finley, Taylor Dayne and Lisa Brescia all played Amneris. Ramades has been portrayed by Richard H. Blake, Matt Bogart, Patrick Cassidy, Will Chase and William Robert Gaynor.

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Elton John said on September 1, 2004 he had been forced to reschedule his Glasgow show later this year.

Elton was set to play the SECC on Friday, December 3, 2004, but due to the expected birth of guitarist Davey Johnstone's baby by his wife Kay, it has been decided to rearrange the date.

So the show has been pushed back to Sunday December 12, 2004.

Davey, originally from Scotland, has been playing with Elton for more than 30 years. A spokesman for Elton said: "It was agreed it just wouldn't be right to come to Scotland and not have Davey perform with the band.

"No-one wants Davey to miss the birth of his child - so the date has been rescheduled."

Tickets for the gig at the SECC are valid for the new date. But anybody unable to attend should return to their point of purchase for refunds.

Fans will hear tracks from Elton and the band's new album, as well as classics from the star's vast back catalogue of hits.

Also see Elton John Tour News.

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Riverfronttimes.com has chosen -- with the help of a secret, eleven-man panel -- to implement a graded system in which they voted the ten most hated men in rock:

1. Paul McCartney
2. Carlos Santana
3. Jimmy Buffett
4. The Adams Family (Ryan & Bryan)

5. Elton John
Bernie Taupin's not-so-tiny dancer was way better in the Studio 54 era, when he was as high as a Rocket Man and actually cranked out adventurous pop hits with gusto. Now sober, Sir Elton seems content to belt out cheesy power ballads for animated-feature soundtracks, host garish awards-show afterparties and retrofit "Candle in the Wind" to cash in on the It-Dead Princess of the Moment. Leavin' Levon far behind, indeed, and much the worse for it. Heaven hope the sun goes down on this pasty, toupee-wearing key tickler ASAFP.

6. Johnny Rzeznik
7. G.E. Smith
8. Conor Oberst & Chris Carrabba
9. Fred Durst
10. Bob Weir

Rounding out the Top Twenty: 11. Glenn Frey & Don Henley. 12. Scott Stapp. 13. Rod Stewart. 14. Phil Collins. 15. Lenny Kravitz. 16. Steve Miller. 17. John Cougar Mellencamp. 18. Michael McDonald. 19. Max Weinberg. 20. Lars Ulrich.

Honorable Mention: Eric Clapton, Anthony Kiedis, Kid Rock, Scott Weiland, Liam & Noel Gallagher, Zack de la Rocha, Peter Gabriel, Kenny Loggins, George Thorogood, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bruce Springsteen, Axl Rose, James Hetfield, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Winwood, Bruce Hornsby, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews, John Popper, Julian Casablancas, Jack White, Rob Thomas, Huey Lewis, Jackson Browne, Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell, Mark McGrath, Melissa Etheridge and the lead singer of Maroon 5 (we're too indifferent to even bother learning his name).

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