since 1988 THE MAG inside this issue: Review of our 2001 convention at the Cavern Club in March PLUS: News, Trivia, Quizzes, Your Letters & more! June 2001 Issue No: 55 Fanzine of the Elton John THE MAG Fan Club Issue No. 55 FAN CLUB INFORMATION JUNE 2001 Annual membership fee for the UK is £14 if paid by HERCULES Chief Editor David Wright Standing Order/VISA/Mastercard. By Cheque/Postal 100 Winkworth Road, Order it is £15. For the rest of Europe it is £14, and Banstead Surrey SM7 2QR, U.K. for the USA it is 17£/US$30. Please note that your [email protected] renewal date is printed on your address label in Assistant Editor: European format day/month/year. Tammi Law Hercules is a registered member Editorial Assistants: of the National Association of Membership passes are available from your local George Matlock, Barbara Turner Fan Clubs HERCULES department: send a small photo of Design: Turnstyle Design yourself when requesting your pass. Translations: Sabine Asenkirschbaumer Please don't send enquiries or fan mail to the Elton Mireille Mölbert For subscription details, please John management, but to HERCULES Coordination. write to your local HERCULES Letters will be passed on if necessary. department or to HERCULES CONTENTS Coordinaton: HERCULES is a quarterly publication released in HERCULES Coordination FEATURES March, June, September and December. In event of c/o Stephan Heimbecher Orleansstr. 59 Elton & Billy in Chicago circumstances beyond our control, there is no Concert report ..............8 D-81667 München, guarantee for punctual shipment. It is published in GERMANY John Jorgrnson - Tel. +49 (0)89 48900369 an emotional concert..9 English and German. Fax +49 (0)89 48900370 Roger Pope [email protected] talks about his early Printed articles do not necessarily reflect the editors' HERCULES Fan Adviser years with Elton ..........12 opinions. All information is based on the best of c/o Mireille Mölbert Kiki Dee knowledge and belief. Reproductions permitted only Zaunweg 11 chats to George D-80805 München, Matlock ........................14 by prior arrangement with HERCULES. GERMANY Tel. +49 (0)89 3244146 Blues for My Baby & Me Member participation is always welcome. We are [email protected] Stewart A Brown & thankful for your submissions of any kind: reports, HERCULES USA/Canada Mick Inkpen ................16 articles, photos, drawings, and suggestions. Please c/o Sharon Kalinoski School Report 2 P.O. Box 398 Schoolday memories send them to the Editor, David Wright. Please La Grange, IL 60525, USA of fan Judy Williams 18 understand that we cannot always publish all [email protected] Clive Live contributions. All photos will be returned. HERCULES U.K. Part 4 of our exclusive c/o George Matlock interview with Clive P.O. Box 315 Franks ..........................20 UK Hotline 0906 888 20 20 (60p per minute) Richmond Dieter Graham Surrey TW9 3QX, UK talks about his USA/Canada Hotline 815/293 3843 Fax: 0870 130 7752 Elton act ......................22 [email protected] Web site http://www.eltonfan.net Sweet Painted Lady HERCULES Benelux talking tattoos..............24 c/o Tim Blezer COPYRIGHT: HERCULES Pastoor Pendersstraat 8 6262 PA banholt OFFERS, PROMOS & Netherlands CONVENTIONS Deadline for Issue No.56 is 10 August 2001 Tel. +31 (0)43 4571703 Liverpool Convention [email protected] No. 56 will be released Reviewed ....................10 HERCULES Italy Kiki Dee September 2001 c/o Luca Zerbini signed CD offer ..........15 Via Scheiwiller n.9/A I-20139 Milano, ITALY [email protected] REGULARS HERCULES Francais Club Information ............2 Francoise Linden-Gilles Kaleidoscope Eyes ........25 BP-22, B-4900 SPA Belgium Letters to the Editor......12 [email protected] Lyric Quiz..........................7 HERCULES Nordic News Bullets ....................4 Urpu Kallio Uudenklänpolku Small ads ........................27 05200 Rajämaki Tour Dates ......................27 FINLAND email: [email protected] 2 Hercules. The Elton John Fan Club FROM THE EDITOR... ello and others who would have dared! have caught up with another old Hwelcome Read John Michie’s personal school pal of Reg, Jud Williams. to another account on page 10. See page 18 for more. packed issue. We have reports and Finally I must apologise for The highlight of recent times interviews with all our guests the tardiness of this issue. Work for Hercules was our convention from the Cavern. commitments have meant the at the Cavern Club in Liverpool Elton has kept himself in the delay was unavoidable. in March. This saw a reunion of news as always, continuing to Remember, Hercules is by the Bluesology, the entertaining tour with Billy Joel and solo, and fans, for the fans and sometimes company of Roger Pope and a selling an impressive collection other pressures get in the way of wonderful performance by John of cars – report and photos on an enjoyable hobby. Thanks for Jorgenson. Not only was George page 4. your patience. Matlock behind the organisation We have the fourth and final Cheers! of the event, but he also stood in part of George Matlock’s epic for Reg himself by playing interview with Clive Franks – keyboards with Bluesology. Elton read more on page 20. need not feel threatened but well Following on from last issue’s done, George – there’s not many interview with Dick Morgan, we SAD NEWS Just a few days after his 50th birthday there was shocking news for Davey Johnstone as he learned about the sudden death of nine- year old son, Oliver, while performing with Elton and Billy in Chicago on May 7. Elton, who was visibly shaken up, announced it at the show just before he did Candle in the Wind. Davey was absent for the final part of the show. Oliver Johnstone drowned in the swimming pool of the family home in California. Hercules sent its heartfelt sympathies to Davey and his family, and we passed your messages on which were sent to us. We received the following from Davey: To: Hercules Readers, From: Davey Johnstone Re: Condolences for Oliver Kay and I have been deeply moved by your statements of love and support for our family in this very sad, difficult time. It's incredible how such a tradgedy can change so many peoples lives, but thanks to our dear friends, we are trying to find a way to deal with our pain, so that maybe someday the pain will become a part of our everyday life. We will miss Oliver so much! Thank you again for your kindness. Love, Davey Quarterly Fanzine. Issue 55. June 2001. 3 Full details of the following news items have appeared on our Website and Hotline HEAVY TRAFFIC FACE-TO-FACE TOUR CONTINUES Elton auctions 20 of his prestige car collection at Christies Elton and Billy continued their Face-to-Face tour with a Southern The sale of the biggest ever confirmed there was interest flavour in Atlanta on April 24. As collection of a celebrity's cars from football personalities, but Elton is a part time Atlanta was held in at auctioneers none from the Royal Family. resident - he spoke about several Christie's in London on June 5, The highest bids were mostly 2001, when Elton auctioned 20 for the older limos, but the local things/places/friends, and of his prestige collection. The 20 highest price was struck, with how he usually comes back to cars up for sale went for a total commission, for the Jaguar XJ220 Atlanta after most of his concerts of £1.705 million, plus London 1993 model which went for in the eastern US. During Your auctioneer Christie's £234,750 (US$330,763). Only Song, Elton used his best southern commission, which took the final 80 were ever produced of this accent, changing the lyrics to say figure to £1,951,725 model. The price estimate had 'This One's for y'all', drawing a (US$2,749,981). Buyers for been £130,000 to £160,000. huge response from the crowd. Elton's fleet of cars were Elton's 1973 Rolls-Royce The Face-to-Face tour is now worldwide, but the right-hand Phantom VI Limousine, the one finished for the time being, but drive of most of the cars meant with the 36-speaker stereo Hi-Fi, most went to UK buyers, was the next highest, at we hope that more dates will be Christie's deputy chairman £223,750. It's estimate was announced soon. In the Dermot Chichester told a news £110,000 to £150,000. The 1987 meantime, Elton continues his conference after the auction, to Bentley Turbo R Four Door Solo tour in Europe this summer which Hercules was invited. He Saloon, which carried Gianni (see page 27 for details). Versace, but also Elton to Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral in 1997, went for £49,350, far VIENNA LIFE BALL exceeding the estimate of Elton declared Vienna's ninth £18,000 to £25,000. At the annual Life Ball a success, after news conference, Elton phoned from Atlanta to say he was opening the event on June 18th. thrilled with the result, and He made a speech at the gala, realised there was a "lot of one of Europe's biggest Aids money to be made in second- charity events, and accepted a hand cars"! cheque for £250,000 for his Aids A spokesperson for Christies foundation to support projects in said that Elton made the decision Africa. He said: "We have to look to sell the cars before his costly reality in the eye. Aids affects not High Court hearing and that it only the health of individuals, but was unconnected with his legal also the economy, politics and costs. society itself." NB Pic available of EJ accepting the cheque FAN TO MEET ELTON One lucky concert goer at Elton’s show in the Baltic state of Latvia will get to meet Elton just before the show - just for having the winning concert ticket.