ELTON'S FAREWELL ISN'T OVER YET

Sir Elton John was among the presenters (and performers) at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, which took place Friday night (11/3) at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

The British rock icon was on deck to induct Bernie Taupin, his songwriting partner of more than 50 years. During his speech, John revealed that he and Taupin had just finished another album "three days ago," which generated thunderous applause. He also reflected fondly on their partnership and reminisced about the early days.

"It all started when I answered an advertisement in the New Musical Express in England for songwriters, lyricists and singers wanted by Liberty Records, who were forming an independent label in England," he explained. "I answered the advertisement and got an appointment. I went up there shaking because at that time I would never say 'boo' to a goose. I couldn't believe I was actually going to London for an audition."

And the rest is history; Taupin and John began writing together in 1967 and never looked back. John's latest album, Regimental Sgt. Zippo, arrived in 2021 via Rocket/Mercury/EMI—although it wasn't necessarily "new"; comprised of material recorded in late 1967 and early 1968, the project is dubbed "the debut album that never was." Prior to that, the former Reginald Kenneth Dwight released Wonderful Crazy Night in 2016.

John recently wrapped up his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which began in 2018 and stretched through July 2023. After more than 4,000 shows in 80 countries, he has now retired from the road but has said he'd do the occasional one-off. The Rock Hall induction was one of those rare events where John gave hits like "Tiny Dancer," "Bennie and the Jets" and "Rocket Man" a few more spins. He's apparently got more fuel in the tank (whereas we're clearly on "E").