Elton John had to learn to walk again after his surgery for prostate cancer
SIR Elton John had to learn to walk again after getting an infection following surgery for prostate cancer.
The singer, 72, was also terrified he would not live to see his sons Zachary and Elijah grow up.
On new TV show Elton John: Uncensored, he tells interviewer Graham Norton about his “annus horribilis” as he struggled with his health, including being rushed to hospital in London where he was “24 hours from snuffing it”.
Elton said: “I had to learn to walk again. I was extremely sick.
“I said, ‘Don’t let me die, I want to see my children grow up.’”
Elton also tells Graham he is going to retire hits including Crocodile Rock and Benny And The Jets, because he is fed up with singing them.
He said: “I’d like to do a residency like Kate Bush at Hammersmith Odeon. When I do, I will not be doing all the hits and I will tell people beforehand. I’d like to give my other repertoire a go and still do some of the well-known songs — the ones I’m not so fed up with.”
- Elton John: Uncensored is on BBC1 on November 28 at 9pm.
Photoshoot me, I'm only piano player
FOR his final project, iconic photographer Terry O’Neill has published a book of photos of one of his favourite subjects – Sir Elton John.
O’Neill, who died on Saturday aged 81, captured some extraordinary – and ordinary – moments of the singer’s life and career.
Elton said: “I’m so glad he was with us throughout the madness. His evocative and stylish photos captured those moments as no other photographer could.”
Here are Terry’s favourites.
- Elton John: The Definitive Portrait, with Unseen Images, Cassell Illustrated, £30 ).
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