ELTON’S WONDERFUL, CRAZY NIGHT IN L.A.

Last night, L.A.'s Wiltern hosted Island Life Presents Elton John and His Band. In conjunction with KOST 103.5, Team Massey welcomed lucky Los Angelenos to the 1,850-capacity venue for an intimate experience with the iconic singer/songwriter.

In support of his upcoming, 33rd studio album, Wonderful Crazy Night, which streets globally 2/5 via Island Records, a selection of labelmates, apparently hand-picked by the star, joined him on stage.

The move obviously echoes Taylor Swift’s 1989 Tour, during which she invited an array of famous friends to perform with her.

Shawn Mendes, whose current single “I Know What You Did Last Summer” is now Top 15 at Pop radio, bravely took on the challenge of singing “Tiny Dancer” with Elton. Demi Lovato, later, stepped into Kiki Dee’s saucy shoes for classic duet “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” And naturally, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump brought the rock for an energetic performance of “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”

Guests got a blast of classic hits like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Levon,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “The Bitch Is Back,” “Your Song” and more, including a heartfelt rendition of “Rocket Man,” which John dedicated to the late, great David Bowie.


My heart does ache from not being soothed by my ultimate favorite, “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” but I’m told it will beat on.

Considering the main purpose of the show was to celebrate a new chapter, the night, of course, turned out to be a cocktail of both staples and unheard material.

As for new gems, highlights included title track “Wonderful Crazy Night” and “Blue Wonderful,” which was apparently the first song written for the album. Elton’s still got it; there’s no doubt. At the show’s start, he told the crowd that he wanted to make a rock album like rock albums used to be. “No one rocks out anymore. They’re all bed-wetters.” he announced cheekily. And if last night was an accurate inclination of what’s to come, his sentiment certainly seems to ring true.

L-R: Island EVP/GM Eric Wong, The Vamps' Bradley Simpson, Island chieftan David Massey, Shawn Mendes, The Vamps' James McVey

Biz players seen singing along like it was drunken karaoke included UMG ruler Lucian Grainge, UMG EVP Michele Anthony, UMPG Chairman/CEO Jody Gerson, Island chieftan David Massey and EVP/GM Eric Wong, Apple’s Jimmy Iovine, Larry Jackson, Julie Pilat and Zane Lowe, iHeart’s John Ivey and Andrew Jeffries, Dick Clark Productions’ Mark Shimmel, Pandora’s Jeff Zuchowski and ABC’s Scott Igoe.

Meanwhile, Johnny Depp, Incubus, Cameron Diaz, Paul Stanley, Sharon Osbourne, Benji and Joel Madden, Nicole Richie, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Kimmel, Kelsey Grammar, Neon Trees, Mike Posner, Kiesza, Taylor Lautner, Keke Palmer, Heydaze and That Poppy were among the celebrities and artists spotted in the crowd.

All in all, The Wiltern shined brighter than Elton’s sequined coat, as he threw L.A.’s hottest party of the year so far.

Stay tuned for album updates as 2/5 approaches.