Arise Sir Elton - more than 22 years since his last Wellington gig, 35,000 Elton John fans packed into Westpac Stadium last night for a trip down a yellow brick memory lane. Arriving on stage in a black-tail sequined jacket and with blue tinted glasses, Sir Elton - who landed in Wellington on a private jet late yesterday - launched into Funeral For A Friend followed by Bennie and the Jets and Philadelphia Freedom, the latter played to a backdrop of stars falling from the American flag. Sir Elton told the audience it was great to be back in Wellington after 22 years and he hoped he would return. Minutes before the concert began Weta Workshop's Richard Taylor and his partner Tania Rodger presented Sir Elton with a mini statue - of himself. Taylor said Sir Elton seemed genuinely taken aback by the 10-inch high figurine, presented in a Weet-Bix box. Two giant video screens on either side of the stage showed close-ups of the band and Sir Elton pounding the keys on his black Yamaha grand piano as he belted out all his hits. Audience participation peaked with Candle in the Wind and created its own special lighting effects with swaying cellphones and glowsticks. He raised the roof with I'm Still Standing and encored with Your Song, then wished the crowd a wonderful Christmas. Lower Hutt fan Sharon O'Halloran called the concert "a magical night" while Linda Bates, from the Gold Coast, said the show was "fantastic," her only lament being "I wish he wasn't gay". Weather conditions for the concert were perfect. Sir Elton was last night flying back to Melbourne to continue the Australian leg of his tour, which finishes in Perth on Monday. Ref: stuff.co.nz (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 7th December 2006 - 12:00pm