Introduction
Elton John is one of the most iconic and successful musicians of all time. His autobiography "Me" takes readers on a wild ride through his extraordinary life, from his humble beginnings in post-war England to global superstardom. With candor and humor, Elton recounts the highs and lows of his career, his struggles with addiction, and his personal relationships. This summary provides an engaging overview of the key moments and insights from Elton's remarkable journey.
A Difficult Childhood
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947 in Pinner, a suburb of London. From an early age, it was clear that young Reggie had a special talent for music. At just three years old, he could pick out melodies on the piano after hearing them only once. However, his childhood was far from idyllic.
Elton had a strained and unhappy relationship with both of his parents. His father Stanley was cold and critical, punishing Elton for the smallest infractions. His mother Sheila was volatile and prone to violent outbursts. When Elton was just two years old, she beat him with a wire brush during potty training until he bled. The constant tension and fighting between his parents created a tense, unhappy home environment.
When Elton was eleven, his parents divorced. While this brought some relief from the constant arguments, it didn't improve Elton's relationship with either parent. His father remarried and had more children, showering affection on his new family while remaining distant and disapproving of Elton. Even after Elton became a global superstar, his father never congratulated him or showed any pride in his accomplishments.
Elton maintained a relationship with his mother into adulthood, but it remained tumultuous. Sheila was controlling and prone to angry outbursts, often berating Elton's staff and criticizing his spending habits despite his immense wealth. On Elton's wedding day to his longtime partner David Furnish in 2005, Sheila caused a scene by loudly voicing her disapproval of same-sex marriage to the other guests.
The lack of love and approval from his parents left deep emotional scars that would affect Elton for much of his life. However, music provided an escape and outlet for the young boy.
A Passion for Music Emerges
Despite the difficulties at home, Elton's childhood was filled with music. He was obsessed with pop music from an early age, saving up his pocket money to buy records. At age nine, Elton had a life-changing moment when he saw a photo of Elvis Presley in a magazine at the local barbershop. The flamboyant rock star looked like an alien to the young boy from suburban London. When Elton's mother brought home Elvis's new record "Heartbreak Hotel," he was captivated by the otherworldly sound.
From that moment on, Elton was in love with rock and roll. He idolized artists like Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard. However, his father strongly disapproved of this new rebellious music, worried it would turn his son into a delinquent. This was a common fear among parents in 1950s England, where rock and roll was seen as a dangerous corrupting influence on youth.
While Elton was passionate about rock music, he also displayed prodigious talent as a classical pianist. At age 11, he won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. Every Saturday morning, he would take the train into the city for his lessons. However, his heart wasn't really in the classical training. Sometimes he would skip his lessons and just ride the subway all morning, daydreaming about playing rock and roll instead of Mozart.
Early Career Struggles
Elton's path to superstardom was not an overnight success, but rather the result of years of hard work and persistence. His first paid gig came at age 15, playing old English drinking songs on piano at a local pub. It was a rowdy environment, with drunken patrons often getting into fights. More than once, Elton had to escape out the window to avoid getting caught in the chaos.
At 17, Elton left school and joined a band called Bluesology. They toured up and down England playing small venues, but never achieved much success. Elton wrote and released two singles with the band, "Come Back Baby" and "Mr Frantic," but neither made much of an impact.
To make ends meet, Elton also worked as a session musician, recording covers of current pop hits. Some of these jobs were comical, like when he had to impersonate Robin Gibb's falsetto on a Bee Gees cover. Another time he was asked to record a version of "Young, Gifted and Black" - not exactly a natural fit for a white kid from the suburbs.
While these early experiences didn't bring fame or fortune, they helped shape Elton as a performer. The rowdy pub gigs made him fearless on stage. And all those small shows with Bluesology taught him how to put on an entertaining live performance.
A Fateful Meeting
In 1967, Elton had his first solo audition for a record label. It was a complete disaster and he was rejected. However, this failure led to a chance encounter that would change the course of his career forever.
As Elton was leaving the failed audition, the record executive handed him an envelope containing song lyrics. It was one of hundreds submitted by aspiring songwriters. By pure chance, the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, a young man from northern England.
Elton was immediately impressed by Bernie's evocative, poetic lyrics. When they met in person, Bernie turned out to be a sophisticated and handsome young man - quite different from his day job working on a chicken farm. The two hit it off immediately and decided to collaborate.
In 1968, Elton and Bernie moved in together to focus on songwriting. Bernie would write lyrics on his typewriter and hand them to Elton, who would then compose the music. At first, they struggled to write anything that interested record labels. They even moved back in with Elton's mother, sharing bunk beds in his childhood bedroom.
Everything changed one morning in 1969 when Bernie handed Elton the lyrics to "Your Song" over breakfast. In just 15 minutes, Elton composed the music that would become one of his most beloved hits. Soon after, they received a £6,000 advance from a record label to make an album - a huge sum at the time.
That album became the self-titled "Elton John" released in 1970. It was an immediate hit and was even nominated for a Grammy Award. The partnership between Elton and Bernie would go on to span five decades and produce dozens of hit records. Their chance meeting proved to be one of the most fortuitous events in pop music history.
Rise to Superstardom
Elton's rise to global fame happened remarkably quickly after the release of his debut album. In 1970, he arrived in Los Angeles to find a red London bus waiting at the airport with "Elton John has arrived!" emblazoned on the side. A few days later, he played a career-defining show at the famous Troubadour nightclub. Rock legends like Neil Diamond and members of The Beach Boys were in attendance. The next day, the LA Times declared that rock music had found its newest star.
Suddenly, Elton John was everywhere. His flamboyant stage costumes and electrifying live performances made him one of the most exciting new artists of the 1970s. Hit singles like "Your Song," "Rocket Man," and "Crocodile Rock" dominated the charts. His albums sold millions of copies worldwide.
By 1976, Elton had reached the absolute pinnacle of pop stardom. That October, he played to a crowd of 55,000 adoring fans at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The city had even declared it "Elton John Week." Looking out at the sea of fans, Elton realized he had reached the peak of his career. Rather than feeling disappointed that it could never get bigger than this, he felt a sense of satisfaction. He understood that this level of phenomenal success couldn't last forever, and he was grateful to have experienced it.
Celebrity Encounters
As one of the biggest stars in the world, Elton found himself in some truly bizarre social situations over the years. His memoir is filled with outrageous anecdotes about his encounters with fellow celebrities and even royalty.
There was the time he mistook Bob Dylan for one of his gardeners at a house party. High on cocaine, Elton didn't recognize the legendary singer-songwriter and tried to throw him out for crashing the party. On another occasion, he hosted a quiet lunch party so his mother could meet his new boyfriend David Furnish. At the last minute, one guest asked to bring along his psychiatric patient - who turned out to be Michael Jackson. The King of Pop insisted on sitting indoors with the curtains drawn, barely spoke, then disappeared for hours before being found playing video games with the housekeeper's son.
Elton's friendship with Princess Diana led to some particularly surreal moments. At one dinner party he hosted for Diana, Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere nearly got into a fistfight in the hallway, apparently competing for the princess's attention. But perhaps Elton's strangest royal encounter was dancing with Queen Elizabeth herself at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party. The DJ had turned the music so low out of respect for Her Majesty that Elton had to concentrate on not making the floorboards creak as they danced.
These celebrity anecdotes highlight the often absurd nature of fame. Even as one of the world's biggest stars, Elton found himself in situations that were comically awkward or bizarre. His down-to-earth personality and self-deprecating humor shine through as he recounts these encounters.
Struggles with Addiction
While Elton's career was soaring in the 1970s and 80s, he was battling serious addiction issues behind the scenes. Despite his immense success, he still felt like the insecure little boy who was afraid of his parents. Cocaine seemed to offer a solution to his anxiety and shyness. Under the influence, he felt confident and euphoric.
However, the combination of cocaine and alcohol made Elton destructive and irresponsible. He would black out and trash hotel rooms, with no memory of it the next day. Once, he woke up from a cocaine binge to a phone call about arranging delivery of a tram carriage he had apparently purchased, which would require two helicopters to lower into his garden.
Food was another addiction for Elton. Terrified of becoming overweight, he developed bulimia, binging on ice cream and then forcing himself to vomit. The cycle of addiction was taking a serious toll on his physical and mental health.
The turning point came in July 1990. Elton had locked himself in his house for two weeks straight, existing on a diet of whisky, cocaine, and pornography. He realized he needed help and checked himself into a rehab clinic in Chicago. However, after just six days, he walked out. The clinic expected patients to do their own chores like making beds and doing laundry - all things Elton was used to having staff do for him. Embarrassed at not knowing how to use a washing machine, he left.
But standing in the parking lot, Elton had a moment of clarity. Where was he going to go? Back to the drugs and isolation? He turned around and went back inside. This time, he committed fully to the recovery process. For the first time in years, he felt like a normal person rather than a megastar. In rehab, he was just another addict working on getting healthy.
Elton has maintained his sobriety since then, calling it one of his greatest accomplishments. He's even helped other celebrities like Rufus Wainwright get clean. Overcoming his addictions allowed Elton to find genuine happiness and stability in his personal life.
Reinvention and New Directions
After reaching the pinnacle of rock stardom in the 1970s, Elton's career entered a new phase. Rather than trying to recapture his peak commercial success, he branched out in new creative directions.
One of his most successful new ventures was writing the music for Disney's animated film "The Lion King" in the 1990s. At first, Elton was skeptical about composing songs about flatulent warthogs. But the soundtrack became a massive hit, and Elton even won an Academy Award for the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."
A more somber project came in 1997 when Elton was asked to perform at Princess Diana's funeral. Diana had been a close friend, and her death was devastating to Elton. He and Bernie Taupin rewrote the lyrics to "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Diana. Elton performed it at the funeral, broadcast to billions around the world. It was an immensely emotional experience, and Elton was terrified of messing up the lyrics on such a massive stage. He never performed that version of the song again after the funeral.
In addition to his musical projects, Elton became a prominent activist for AIDS research and LGBTQ rights. His Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for HIV prevention and treatment programs around the world.
Finding Personal Happiness
While Elton's career continued to flourish in new directions, he also finally found stability and joy in his personal life. In 1993, he met advertising executive David Furnish. The two fell in love and entered a long-term relationship. They entered a civil partnership in 2005 and officially married in 2014 when same-sex marriage became legal in England.
Elton and David adopted two sons together, Zachary and Elijah. Becoming a father in his 60s brought Elton immense happiness and a sense of purpose. After his difficult relationship with his own parents, Elton was determined to create a loving family environment for his children.
Fatherhood also helped Elton find a healthier work-life balance. While still passionate about music and performing, he scaled back his touring schedule to spend more time at home. He found great fulfillment in everyday domestic life - reading bedtime stories, helping with homework, and cheering on his sons at school events.
Reflections on an Extraordinary Life
Looking back on his long and eventful life, Elton expresses deep gratitude for the incredible experiences he's had. From playing with his musical heroes to performing for royalty, his career has far exceeded his wildest childhood dreams.
At the same time, he's refreshingly honest about his flaws and mistakes. He takes responsibility for the pain his addictions caused himself and others. He expresses regret for some of his more outrageous behavior during the height of his fame.
Elton credits his lasting success to always being willing to evolve and try new things. Whether it was incorporating new musical styles or branching out into film soundtracks, he never allowed himself to stagnate creatively. His partnership with Bernie Taupin has been crucial, providing a steady stream of fresh lyrical inspiration over five decades.
Above all, Elton emphasizes the importance of authenticity. Early in his career, he tried to fit the mold of a typical 1970s rock star. But he truly found his voice when he embraced his natural flamboyance and theatricality. His over-the-top costumes and energetic stage presence set him apart and delighted fans.
This commitment to being himself extended to his personal life as well. Coming out as gay in the 1970s was a risky move for a pop star, but Elton refused to hide who he was. He's proud to have helped pave the way for greater LGBTQ acceptance in the music industry and society at large.
Final Thoughts
Elton John's autobiography "Me" offers an intimate, no-holds-barred look at one of music's most colorful characters. From his troubled childhood to global superstardom to his battles with addiction, Elton recounts the key moments of his life with honesty and humor.
His story is one of incredible talent combined with relentless drive and hard work. Success didn't come easily or quickly for Elton - it was the result of years of persistence and honing his craft. Even at the height of his fame, he continued to push himself creatively and expand into new areas.
The book also provides fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses into the music industry and celebrity culture over the past five decades. Elton's A-list social circle led to some truly outrageous encounters, which he recounts with self-deprecating wit.
Perhaps most compelling is Elton's personal journey of self-acceptance and finding happiness. Despite achieving unimaginable success, he struggled for years with insecurity, addiction, and his sexuality. It was only later in life that he found true contentment through sobriety, a loving marriage, and fatherhood.
Elton John's life story is ultimately one of triumph - not just professional success, but overcoming personal demons to become comfortable in his own skin. His resilience, creativity, and authenticity have made him not just a musical icon, but a cultural icon as well. "Me" allows fans to see the man behind the dazzling costumes and hit songs, in all his complex, flawed, but utterly captivating glory.
For music lovers, Elton John fans, or anyone who enjoys a wildly entertaining celebrity memoir, "Me" is an absolute must-read. It captures the voice of a singular artist reflecting back on an extraordinary life lived to the fullest. Equal parts hilarious, poignant, and inspiring, it's a fitting autobiography for one of pop music's most larger-than-life figures.