Elton John is still standing, but with a little discomfort.
In September Elton announced that he would have to postpone his remaining 2021 tour dates to 2023 due to a hip injury. The singer suffered a fall late in the summer which left him “in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since.”
“Despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving,” Elton wrote in a statement back in September. “I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications. I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to full mobility without pain.”
At the time Elton said he would be having an operation to ensure he could continue touring in January 2022.
Elton has now provided an update on his condition, and it isn’t great news.
Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on her ITV show, Elton said he is still suffering pain and has trouble getting in and out of a car.
“I wouldn’t be 100 per cent fit – I wouldn’t be 100 per cent confident because I’m in pain most of the time,” he said of his decision to postpone his European shows. “The decision had to be made because I wouldn’t want to go on stage and give less than 100 per cent. I don’t know, with a year and a half of touring, how long my hip would last – it probably wouldn’t.”
Elton promised his fans that he will “make it up” to them when he’s in “much better form.”
The singer also told Lorraine how he has passed his love of music down to his sons, Zachary (10) and Elijah (8).
“They love music,” he said. “And it’s great – I bought them all CDs by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles and Elvis, and all the old stuff. The Who, all those great English artists. They’ve got Bowie, they’ve got everything. They’ve got the history and they love all sorts of music. So for me to have a hit at the moment with Dua Lipa, they’re very proud. Not as proud as I am, but they’re very proud.”
Elton previously said that his current tour would be his last, as he wishes to spend time with his family.
“They’re going to be teenagers soon. I need to be with them,” he said of his boys. “I’ll be 76 [when the tour is over]. I don’t know how much time I have left on this earth after that. You know, I’ve had enough applause. I don’t want to keep travelling. I don’t want to be away from my family.“
