ELTON JOHN AUSTRALIAN FAREWELL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED – MUSIC ICON ANNOUNCES FIFTEEN AUSTRALIAN & THREE NEW ZEALAND SHOWS IN 2019 & 2020

Sir Elton John, recently crowned by Billboard as the most successful performing male solo artist of all time, today reveals details of the epic 15-date Australian and 3-date New Zealand leg of his global Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

Between December 2019 and February 2020, Elton John will traverse Australia and New Zealand, in what will be the legendary music icon’s most extensive tour of the region to date. The tour will kick off with record breaking back-to-back appearances at Perth’s HBF Park (formerly nib Stadium) on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December 2019, a huge 48 years on from his first ever Australian show, which took place at Perth’s Subiaco Oval on 17th October, 1971.

Elton will deliver his famed songbook to spellbound audiences, on his very last tour, playing across a mammoth run that includes Capital City concerts, along with stops at some of Australia’s finest outdoor venues from the Hunter Valley’s Hope Estate to Rutherglen’s All Saints Estate, Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley, Queensland’s Sirromet Wines, Victoria’s Hanging Rock and Bathurst’s Carrington Park, with additional dates, including North QLD, to be announced later in 2019.

“Elton’s continuing love affair with Australia knows no bounds, proven by this farewell tour, and the breadth and depth of the itinerary, showing his commitment to his many Australian fans”, said promoter Michael Chugg. “On his very last tour, he wanted to return to some of his favourite cities, while also playing for fans in a couple of never-before-visited locations.”

Beginning in Pennsylvania, USA in September 2018, Elton John’s three-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road global tour has already been hailed as one of his most “energetic, dazzlingly-original and joyful celebrations”. Elton’s legendary catalogue, including beloved songs ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ and more, are showcased in a musical masterpiece that is a “reflective and stunning tribute to a great artist’s career” (NME), also celebrating his 50-plus year collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin – one of the great song-writing partnerships of all time.

The milestone itinerary comprises more than 300 shows across five continents, spanning three years, with stops in Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand, and marks the last tour of its kind by the celebrated songwriter and iconic showman.

“Playing live to other human beings is the greatest gift any artist could ever have”, said Sir Elton at his Chicago show.

Audiences will experience a rare glimpse into Elton’s life, and the deeply personal meaning behind some of his greatest hits, via mesmerising, never-before-seen images and videos displayed throughout the show from his incredible 50-year career. Complete with brand new stage production, and tour wardrobe designed by Italian fashion house Gucci, Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road global tour is intimate and personal, while also spectacular and daring.

He will be joined by longstanding band members Nigel Olsson on drums (part of Elton’s original three-piece band in 1970), esteemed musical director Davey Johnstone (who first recorded with Elton in 1971 and joined the band a year later) on guitar, virtuoso Ray Cooper on percussion, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.

Sir Elton John said, “I always love coming back to Australia. Ever since my first visit in 1971 it has held a very special place in my heart.”

Elton’s enduring history with Australia is evident across the years, notably in 2012, when he opened the Perth Arena, and most recently delivering the final performance at the Sydney Entertainment Centre [since demolished], in December 2015.

He bids farewell to the road almost fifty years on from his debut Australian show, having played 196 concerts and performing to more than 1.5 million people across the country in that time. Since his career began in 1969, he has performed a staggering 4000-plus shows in more than 80 countries.

The performer said that after the tour finishes he looks forward to “coming off the road and dedicating more time to raising my children”.

“I’m ecstatic and humbled to continue to play for audiences across the globe. I plan to bring to my final tour the passion and creativity that has entertained my fans for decades… It’s the most produced and fantastic show I’ve ever done. I want to go out with a bang…” – Elton John

Garnering rave reviews at sell-out shows across North America, Elton John’s curtain call will be the last chance to catch this legendary performer touring in Australia.

More than a concert; an unforgettable memory!

PERTH, WA
Saturday 30 November 2019 – HBF Park (formerly nib Stadium)
ticketmaster.com.au

PERTH, WA
Sunday 1 December 2019 – HBF Park (formerly nib Stadium)
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ADELAIDE, SA
Wednesday 4 December 2019 – Botanic Park Adelaide
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MELBOURNE, VIC
Tuesday 10 December 2019 – Rod Laver Arena
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MELBOURNE, VIC
Wednesday 11 December 2019 – Rod Laver Arena
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BRISBANE, QLD
Wednesday 18 December 2019 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
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SYDNEY, NSW
Saturday 21 December 2019 – ICC Sydney Theatre
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SYDNEY, NSW
Monday 23 December 2019 – ICC Sydney Theatre
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SYDNEY, NSW
Tuesday 7 January 2020 – Qudos Bank Arena
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HUNTER VALLEY, NSW
Saturday 11 January 2020 – Hope Estate
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MOUNT COTTON, QLD
Saturday 18 January 2020 – Sirromet Wines – A Day On The Green
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BATHURST, NSW
Wednesday 22 January 2020 – Carrington Park
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WOODEND, VIC
Saturday 25 January 2020 – Hanging Rock
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RUTHERGLEN, VIC
Wednesday 29 January 2020 – All Saints Estate – A Day On The Green
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YARRA VALLEY, VIC
Friday 31 January 2020 – Rochford Wines – A Day On The Green
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DUNEDIN, NZ
Tuesday 4 February 2020 – Forsyth Barr Stadium
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HAWKE’S BAY, NZ
Saturday 8 February 2020 – Mission Estate Winery
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AUCKLAND, NZ
Sunday 9 February 2020 – Mt Smart Stadium
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ABOUT ELTON JOHN
Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 38 gold records and 31 platinum and multi-platinum albums, over 50 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which sold over 33 million copies. ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, reached the Top 5 of the UK album charts on its release in November 2017, becoming Elton’s 40th UK Top 40 album in the process, reaching Gold status before the end of the year. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No.1s and 27 Top 10s.

He has also written the music for stage and screen successes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, and The Lion King, which was named the highest-grossing stage show or film release in the world. Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. Encompassing 5 continents, and over 300 dates, this 3-year-long tour started in September and marks his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. To date, Elton has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970. April 2018 saw the release of ‘Revamp’, an album of the world’s biggest musical stars covering some of Elton’s best loved Songs.

Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are five GRAMMYs along with a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony and an Oscar, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services.”

In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised over $400 million to date in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In January 2018, he received the Crystal Award for this long- standing fight against HIV/AIDS at the World Economic Forum in Davos. At the 2018 International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Sir Elton John and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, announced the launch of the MenStar Coalition; an over $1.2 billion global partnership, that seeks to engage men in new and innovative ways to break the cycle of HIV transmission and ultimately end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.