ENTERTAINMENT: Elton bows out in April
February 3, 2009 - 4:46 pm
The lid goes down on “The Red Piano” April 22, when Elton John closes out his once-exclusive show at Caesars Palace.
Tickets for the last batch of April dates go on sale Thursday.
You wonder why the pop legend would give up such a cushy gig in favor of touring all over the place, but it sounds like he’s getting a little bored with it. Besides, according to figures from the producers, he took an 18-month commitment for 75 shows and stretched it to five years and 241 performances by the time he wraps it up.
Elton never had time to talk to the Review-Journal, but you can perhaps gauge his declining interest from the transcripts of two Larry King interviews.
In 2005, he was all gung-ho: “It's a really exciting place to be. I never thought I'd say that. I never thought I'd say I really enjoyed playing in Vegas and staying there, but I actually do, and they look after me so well.”
But in February 2008, King called him out on the fact that he plays at least two and a half hours in his regular concerts, but only 90 minutes in Las Vegas. Elton did not argue the fact: “And I guarantee you, I'm onstage in Las Vegas for only an hour-and-a-half and halfway through the show, I think, oh, God, I need to (words missing in transcript) parliamentary elections. And it's like I don't know why that happens.”
Ah well, he may be back. And there’s always the live concert DVD.