Elton John’s decade of huge highs and despairing lows

SIR Elton John turned 70 on Saturday.

Acclaimed music writer Tom Doyle has just released a book, Captain Fantastic, about the songwriter’s career in the ’70s, the decade which made him and very nearly broke him.

Tom told Murray Scougall the Honest Truth about a monumental chapter in Elton’s life.

What’s your background?

I’ve been a writer since I was 17, on magazines in Scotland and then for Smash Hits in London. I went freelance in 1990 and I’ve written mostly for Q and Mojo since. I’ve been lucky enough to meet and interview loads of my heroes including Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Kate Bush and U2.

What made you decide to write a book about Elton’s ’70s?

I did these long interviews with him for Mojo and realised I had much more material than I could use in even a 6000-word cover feature. For instance, I couldn’t even include his story about meeting Elvis Presley in 1976, when both of them were suffering declines in different ways. That’s when I thought to myself, this is a book.

How forthcoming was Elton with stories and could he recall a lot about the decade?

He was hilariously funny and a great storyteller. Very lucid when it came to the details of his incredible tales from the ’70s, when he found himself becoming friends with his heroes, such as John Lennon, or old Hollywood stars including Mae West and Groucho Marx.

Who else did you speak to?

His long-time songwriting partner, lyric writer Bernie Taupin, was a key one. And then there were certain people I felt were hugely important to his story like costume designer Annie Reavey, who helped develop his flamboyant look, and former Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band tap dancer “Legs” Larry Smith, who performed with him onstage in the early ’70s and whose wild, camp appearance encouraged Elton to go further with his outlandish image.

Any surprising stories?

There’s one that involves Stanley Baxter, Katharine Hepburn and a dead frog. Stanley and Elton are sitting in his garden in Surrey on a summer’s day in 1973 and Katharine comes cycling up his drive – to Baxter’s astonishment, since she was one of his idols.

Elton had casually told the film star, who was 66 at the time, that she could use his pool. But there was a dead frog in it. She dived in and fished it out…

How influential was his 70s period?

Massively influential, both visually as a pioneer of the glam rock look, and musically. Kate Bush used to play his albums over and over as a teenager. These days you can hear his influence strongly in the music of artists such as Father John Misty.

The book also looks at his personal demons. How bad were they?

Really bad at times. He suffered from conflicted relationships with his success, his sexuality and drugs.

His story in the ’70s is really one of massive highs and plummeting lows. It all happened so fast for him.

How much of a struggle was it to fight through those issues?

In the latter part of the decade, he announced more than once from the stage that he was quitting touring. I think it was just burnout. But his love of music and inherent work ethic pushed him through.

Do you think he remains shy despite his years in the spotlight?

In some respects, absolutely. When you talk to Elton, for all his legendary mouthiness, shy Reg Dwight is never far away.

Elton has turned 70 – what is next for him?

He’s always threatening to quit performing and never does. There’s certainly still an enormous drive there and huge passion for music.

I think he’ll keep on making albums and playing shows for as long as he possibly can, and long may he continue.

Captain Fantastic by Tom Doyle is out now from Polygon.