The performance Elton John called ‘the greatest moment of my career’
Elton John has been one of the few musicians who could justifiably claim to have done it all. From becoming one of the biggest pop stars of the 1970s to soundtracking cinematic classics like The Lion King to lending a hand to the occasional new record now and again, John has built up a catalogue of performances and songs that have yet to be surpassed in his league. Although he may have a firm grasp on what it takes to make a good record in the studio, the ‘Rocketman’ thought that one of his finest performances was reserved for the stage.
Before he had even tried to turn the studio into his home, though, John was known for playing in the rough-and-tumble pubs in England. Throughout his first gigs as a sideman for various artists, John was known to play various gigs where the party could quickly spark into a brawl, inadvertently providing the lyrics to songs like ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’.
After getting the chance to work alongside lyricist Bernie Taupin, though, John had found his calling as a sonic craftsman, being able to take the words that Taupin had supplied and turn them into musical wonders like ‘Tiny Dancer’ and ‘Your Song’. Once he started to hone his craft on albums like Honky Chateau, he had quickly become one of the most in-demand artists in the world.
Outside his circle of glam rock aficionados, John also had a friend in ex-Beatle John Lennon. Noting that ‘Your Song’ was one of the finest compositions of the 1970s, Lennon would be found out with John on various occasions, including becoming close when working during Lennon’s supposed “lost weekend”.
During the recording for Lennon’s album Walls and Bridges, John suggested that the former Beatle join him onstage for a tune, saying that he should come on if the song ‘Whatever Gets You Thru the Night’ reaches number one. Once the song rocketed the charts, Lennon eventually joined John onstage at Madison Square Garden, tearing through his latest hit and Beatles tunes like ‘I Saw Her Standing There’.
When discussing the performance with Howard Stern, John would recall holding the gig in high regard, saying, “He decided to come and play with us at Madison Square Garden, and that was probably the greatest night of my professional career. I remember how the audience reacted because he hadn’t been onstage in New York since Shea Stadium…It was like the stars were aligned. He came on to the loudest roar I’ve ever heard at Madison Square Garden.”
While John would see this as a highlight for his career, it also became the catalyst for the former Beatle to get back to where he once belonged. Reuniting with Yoko Ono for the first time since his time in Los Angeles, Lennon would enter the next phase of his career, spending his time raising his son Sean before returning to music with the album Double Fantasy.
Although Lennon could not enjoy his later success for very long, this one John gig is a testament to how much the world admired his music. Outside of the various hangups that went on in his personal life, John provided a service to the rest of the music world by letting fans see one of the gods of rock take the stage one last time.
