Me
Elton John Official Autobiography
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4.4 • 890 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
In his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life, from his rollercoaster lifestyle as shown in the film Rocketman, to becoming a living legend.
Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt, and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.
His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with song-writing partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation to conquering Broadway with Aida, The Lion King, and Billy Elliot the Musical. All the while Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.
In Me, Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble, and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you by a living legend.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
We never expected Elton John’s autobiography to be rated PG. But the jaw-on-the-floor stories from the rock legend’s 50-year career just keep coming and coming. One minute Katharine Hepburn’s pulling dead frogs out of his pool, the next minute Elton’s shooting down Rod Stewart’s blimp or holed up in a hotel room doing drugs with John Lennon. But it’s not all scandal and excess. Me also details the megastar’s sexual awakening, his hard pivot to sobriety, and his path to becoming an AIDS advocate and a devoted husband and father. His uncensored account of a journey filled with creative genius, pure luck, and absolute chaos is refreshingly self-aware—Elton strips away the sequins and spectacle to reveal music nerd Reg Dwight, the London boy who took us down the Yellow Brick Road and back again.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The legendary pop star looks back cheerfully on a melodramatic life in this rollicking autobiography. John recounts his ascent from toiling pub pianist to becoming the biggest singer-songwriter of the 1970s with hits such as "Rocketman" and "Bennie and the Jets," to elder statesmanship as one of the first openly gay stars and Britain's griever-in-chief with his "Candle in the Wind" tribute at Princess Di's funeral. Beyond a vivid account of his flamboyant showmanship and outfits (think pink suit with Eiffel Tower headdress), he gives an unusually candid look at his insecurities his unrelentingly critical mother haunts the book and at the bubble of celebrity entitlement that enabled his rock-star excesses, including childish tantrums, controlling and callous behavior toward a string of boyfriends, and rampant drug use. (After ingesting much vodka and cocaine with Duran Duran, he "returned to the video set, demanded they begin running the cameras, took off all clothes and started rolling around on the floor naked.") John keeps his good humor throughout, treating even his suicide attempts as farces and poking fun at his own vanity. ("However much a hair transplant hurt, it was a mere pinprick compared to the sensation of hitting your head on a car door immediately after having a hair transplant.") John's fans will love this funny, down-to-earth, and openhearted self-portrait. Photos.
Customer Reviews
Elton John’s book: Me
This book offers a captivating and intimate portrait of one of the great masters of his craft. I came away with a deeper respect for his artistry and a renewed understanding of the perseverance it takes to succeed as both a musician and a person.
Overrated!
Honestly, it was just chapter after chapter of him just talking about how great he is. He may be talented, but he’s no lady Gaga
Good book
Well written, like he was talking to you. No trying to change facts, warts and all come through as an honest portrayal of his life.