Though he is 55 years old and a knight, Elton John is edging further and further away from the mainstream. Following revelations about past addictions to cocaine, cockles and wigs and a disturbingly honest TV portrait, Tantrums and Tiaras, last week saw a two-hour radio programme discussing his latest outrage. Prompted by the singer's tirade against a photographer - as Tantrums suggested, Elton's tirades should not be taken entirely seriously - listeners phoned up in fury. "He's a disgrace," shrieked one Angry of Purley. "Strip him of his knighthood." Elton did not comment, but may have been delighted to be seen as dangerous.
It may be a mid-life crisis, or - as he suggests - sheer boredom with the manufactured modern music industry, but Elton is clearly having fun. Last year's Songs from the West Coast was an acclaimed return to his 1970s roots. Tellingly, he was reunited with his original drummer Nigel Olssen and guitarist Davey Johnstone, with whom he worked in the 1970s. Together they look like a Bad News pastiche of a hard rock group, and make a fearsome noise. It comes to something when the loudest gig I've seen this year is by Elton blessed John. Over an enthralling two and a half hours, he ignores his MTV years and mixes the new album with songs from Madman Across the Water and Honky Chateau, once the staple diet of pot-smoking, glam students. At one point, he even performs a song by Ryan Adams - the modern staple diet of pot-smoking, glam students.
This Elton seems different from the boring or barmy figure depicted in the tabloids. He rounds on Reagan ("He did bugger all for Aids. I hope he has a conscience"), dedicates the sublime I Want Love to his Auntie Rita, and wanders around grinning, signing autographs. Take away the thousands he has spent on properties and flowers and he's a regular bloke. Possibly.
A sublime solo section reminds everyone that whatever his excesses, no one articulates regular emotions quite like Elton, with Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word particularly stunning. Towards the end, there are raucous renditions of I'm Still Standing (although, technically, he is sitting down) and Pinball Wizard. He leaves the stage to house music. It is alarming to report, but at this rate Sir Elton may soon be hip.
