Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inducts Gay Metal God, Eminem on Same Night
The annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is always an amazing spectacle of music, pride, and occasionally controversy, and this year after a decades long wait, British heavy medal band Judas Priest — complete with out and proud gay lead singer Rob Halford — was inducted into the Hall of Fame, as was Eminem, the rapper known for antigay lyrics that, despite his avowed support for the LGBTQIA+ community and public friendship with Elton John, dehumanize LGBTQ+ people.Alice Cooper introduced Halford and the band at the Saturday ceremony in Los Angeles. “They’re electrifying on stage and one of the hardest-hitting live bands in the history of rock and roll,” Cooper said. “[Judas] Priest has carried the flag of hard rock and heavy metal proudly for something like 50 years, never wavering or following trends or pretending to be anything but exactly what they are,” Cooper said, in reference both to their remaining true to their musical soul as well as Halford’s courageous coming out in the '90s. “They are flying high tonight.
Much deserved and long overdue.”Judas Priest is one of only a small handful of heavy metal bands to be recognized by the organization, and after playing a medley of their three best known and most beloved songs — “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin,’” “Breaking the Law,” and “Living After Midnight” — they took the time to speak the audience.Halford was the last to speak. “I’m the gay guy in the band,” he said when he took the mic. “We call ourselves the heavy metal community which is all-inclusive, no matter what your sexual identity is, what you look like, or what you believe in or don’t believe in.
