gregorygalloway:

Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, 25 March 1947)

gregorygalloway:

23-year-old Elton John’s 2nd studio album was released on 10 April 1970 (it was his first release in the US).

According to producer Gus Dudgeon, Elton and Bernie Taupin hired Paul Buckmaster to provide the arrangements because they liked his work on David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” (1969). George Martin was offered to produce the sessions, but he agreed only if he could do the arrangements. Elton and Taupin stuck with Buckmaster and hired Dudgeon (who had also produced “Space Oddity”).

Supported by the Top Ten hit “Your Song,” the self-titled album peaked at #4 in the US and #5 in the UK.

gregorygalloway:

23-year-old Elton John’s first live album (and 5th album overall) was released on 9 April 1971.

Recorded in New York City for a live radio broadcast, the taping was never intended for commercial release, but due to the popularity of a bootleg of the performance, a 48-minute edit of the original 80-minute performance was released.

John was backed by Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson (who would officially join John’s recording band a year later).

Although the album sold well (peaking at #11 in the US), it was a disappointment compared to other Elton John releases. Some argued that the bootlegged version (which usually included 60 minutes of the broadcast) cut into sales, while others argued that John competed against himself, since his self-titled debut album (released almost exactly a year earlier), Tumbleweed Connection (released in October 1970), and the soundtrack to Friends (released 24 March 1971) were still selling, and all still on the charts. John’s 4 albums in the US Top 100 had not been achieved since the Beatles in 1965.

Testing Live Photos support on Tumblr

Tribute to l'enfant terrible herself, Claudia.

For those unaware, Claudia was based on Anne Rice’s own daughter Michele, who died at five years old from leukemia. The resulting depression led to Anne Rice publishing her first of many gothic horror novels, starting with Interview with the Vampire, in 1976. While Claudia was based on Michele, so was Lestat on her husband Stan (originally intended to be named Lestan) and Louis on herself.

The 1976 novel is unfortunately the only entry in The Vampire Chronicles from Louis’ POV, which came from a place of her own personal trauma. Lestat was obviously a far more flamboyant, fun, fanciable character for her to focus on, but ultimately not as prone to exploring the existential crises and philosophical questioning present in her original novel.

One may also notice that the doll shop owner Madeleine’s backstory is that of a mother who lost a young daughter who likewise never got to grow up. Rice’s house in New Orleans was famously filled with antique dolls, which is imagery very much associated with Claudia.

For obvious reasons, a five year old was deemed unable to handle the demanding role of Claudia, which is that of a woman’s mind driven mad trapped in a child’s body (she’s actually over eighty years old by the end of her story), and so the role was aged up for a then eleven-year-old Kirsten Dunst. There was a nationwide search that included younger actresses, but Dunst was one of the few who could handle the part. She actually didn’t get to see the film until years later, either. The 1994 film also included her first kiss, which was with none other than Brad Pitt, though neither were enthused! Dunst also wore the blue dress when she attended Rice’s Memnoch Ball in 1995.

laurenkmyers:

Rocketman+Elton John kissing all the boys. 

nomoregoldfish:

Be brave. Think big. What do you REALLY want?

zebraljb:

fyeahegerton:

We’re cut from the same cloth, and I hope I’m here for many years to come to be your touchstone — Elton John to Taron Egerton

I love how physical the two of them are…how easily they show their affection.  It makes me so happy inside.

shattxrstar:

_{The ‘guy’, the ‘bro’, the ‘stunt guy’. I’ve never been that guy. I’m just not. I’m the guy who was playing Seymour in Little Shop Of Horrors when he was 17. I always felt more at home in a gay club than at a football match, far more at home.}

_{Taron Egerton by Gavin Bond for British GQ (April 2019).}

hmmm am I going to buy the shirt he’s wearing in the last photo?

yes, yes I am

Elton John “Sad Songs (Say So Much)”

neon Taron from here omg

Close Up. Taron is singing [x]