-Welcome back. The one and only Elton John is joining us.
We love you! [ Cheers and applause ]
The new album, "The Lockdown Sessions,"
is out now.
Did you ever think
such a shy child would end up being you, Elton John?
[ Light laughter ]
-[ Laughs ]
Never in a million years could I have expected
what's happened to me in my lifetime, Jimmy.
-Really?
-The fact that I was a child and I was a very shy child
when I started playing the piano, and it's all
down to Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.
When they started jumping up and down and playing it standing up,
then that changed my whole life completely.
And that's what I wanted to do and I wanted to make music.
I didn't ever intend to become Elton John.
I just wanted to be involved in music and play it.
And I got gratification from that and love from doing that.
-Yeah. -And so, I thought, yeah.
This is -- I like this.
-Yeah, well, you did it better than most people.
I want to say, your "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,"
I was ready to go see you.
'cause this is your farewell tour.
It got cut short because of the pandemic,
and also maybe a sign that we don't want you to say farewell.
[ Cheers and applause ] We want you to keep going.
Don't stop!
But you're coming back.
-Yeah, I'm coming back to New Orleans in January.
I've just had my hip replaced, on the right leg.
So I'm rehabbing in London at the moment.
And it's all going well, and I just wanted to make sure
that I could actually get through the whole tour.
Because before the operation,
I don't think I would have been able to.
So, we pushed some dates back,
and I start again in New Orleans.
And I cannot wait, because we were here,
we were roaring like an express train.
-Yeah. -And then, of course, COVID hit.
And everyone was just ground to a halt.
But I did a concert in Paris recently
in front of 20,000 people.
And I haven't played a concert in front of that kind of crowd
since March the 7th, 2020.
And it felt really good.
And, you know, I love my fans and I want to go out
and give them the best thing possible,
and you know, I can't wait. -Yeah.
For a lot of people, this will be their first concert back.
I mean, if you go to eltonjohn.com,
if you want to see Elton, you're coming to New York,
February 22nd and 23rd at the Garden.
Madison Square Garden.
You're also playing Barclays Center in March.
But Madison Square Garden and Elton John go together
like peanut butter and jelly.
I mean, it's the greatest combination.
We -- New Yorkers love you.
-Well, you know, I have to say New York is,
Madison Square Garden in particular
is the finest place to play in the world.
I mean, you get really excited.
You never lose the excitement of going backstage
and playing to that crowd.
I've done so many memorable concerts there.
I played my 60th birthday concert there,
the concert for 9/11. -Yeah.
-And there's something about that New York crowd
that's just quite astonishing.
And I've never done a show at Madison Square Garden
where I didn't think -- it didn't do well.
And, you know, it's a magic place.
I'm so glad they never moved it.
Because if they'd have moved it, the atmosphere would have gone.
It's just a magic place.
-Yeah, the house has good bones, yeah.
-It's great in New York because New York's a magic place
and you got the best show in the world right in front of you.
[ Applause ]
-I want to ask you -- I've always wanted to ask you
this story about -- 'cause I've always heard this story,
but about John Lennon performing with you at the Garden.
He -- This is post-Beatles.
I think, actually,
it might've been the last time he played live.
-It was.
-You had a bet with John.
-Yeah, well, I played on John's record
"Whatever Gets You Thru the Night," and sang on it too.
And I said, "Okay, if this record gets to number one,
you've got to come on, play live with them."
And he said, "Okay, you're on."
And by Jove, it did get to number one,
and then he had to keep his promise, which he did,
at Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving.
And it was one of the most magical moments in my life.
Probably for me, the memory of him coming onstage
and getting so much applause,
I think all the band, and myself, were moved to tears.
And it was such a wonderful occasion.
I don't think he'd played in New York
since the Beatles at Shea Stadium.
-Yeah, that's correct. -And it just --
You know, it was just a magical moment in one's life
to see someone so loved getting that so much acclaim.
And, you know, I had such a great time with John
for two years,
and it's one of the highlights of my life and my career.
-I can't wait to see you when you come back around.
I will be screaming from the crowd.
I love you. Elton John, everybody.
"The Lockdown Sessions" is available now.