After playing 234 shows on his gruelling farewell world tour, 75-year-old Elton John could be forgiven for going through the motions. But despite there still being 99 dates left, the fourth best-selling artist of all time certainly wasn’t showing any signs of flagging at his second Ashton Gate stadium gig in a week.
This was Elton’s final ever Bristol show - he told the 20,000 fans it was his 12th in the city since his debut hit 52 years ago - but he performed with as much passion and gusto as if it were his first. He walked on stage with his six-piece band at 7pm precisely and played a career-spanning set for more than two and a half hours, only stopping for a quick costume change.
The moment Elton struck the first familiar notes of opener Bennie and The Jets, the sun finally appeared and engulfed the stadium. Fans, some dressed in 70s outfits and many sporting flashing Elton-style glasses and face glitter, leapt from their seats and didn’t stop dancing and singing along until it finished.
