On August 25, 1970, Elton John performed his very first American show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. In the new Rocketman movie, the first song he performs is ‘Crocodile Rock’. Did he really?
The answer is NO. Elton John did not perform ‘Crocodile Rock’ at his first show in America. At the time of Elton’s first show, the song wasn’t even written. In fact, the song it was inspired by Australia’s Daddy Cool’s ‘Eagle Rock’ was still nine months away from being released.
Elton John heard Daddy Cool’s ‘Eagle Rock’ during his 1971 Australian tour. Elton was touring Australia for the first time in October 1971 while ‘Eagle Rock’ was the biggest hit of the year in Australia at the time. He bought copies of the record, not just for him but also for his friends, and took them home as gifts.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote ‘Crocodile Rock’ in France in mid-1972 at Château d’Hérouville studio where they were recording ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’.
Elton didn’t perform ‘Crocodile Rock’ anywhere on the planet until 29 September 1972 when he debuted the track live at his show at New Haven Arena, New Haven.
‘Rocketman’ was directed by Dexter Fletcher who completely fucked up the historical accuracy of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ biopic. Considering ‘Rocketman’ has gone to such great detail in presenting, for example, Elton’s first sexual experience, it is bewildering that the musical legacy of Sir Elton John has been completely thrown out in the trash.
The backstage area of the Troubadour is absolutely perfect. If that wasn’t done backstage at the Troubadour, then they did a magnificent job or recreating what it looks like. Why so much attention to detail for a few walls yet Fletcher appears to not give a fuck about history, both for Sir Elton and for Queen.
I’m sure there will be lots of conversation about this movie and lots of people saying “why does it even matter if the movie is good”. It matters because 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 years from now people will refer to ‘Rocketman’ as a historical document … and it’s a lie.
The songs Elton John did perform that first night at the Troubadour were:
Your Song (from Elton John, 1970)
Bad Side of the Moon (b-side of Border Song, 1970)
Sixty Years On (from Elton John, 1970)
I Need You to Turn To (from Elton John, 1970)
Border Song (from Elton John, 1970)
Country Comfort (from Tumbleweed Connection, 1970)
Take Me to the Pilot (from Elton John, 1970)
Honky Tonk Women (Rolling Stones cover)
Burn Down the Mission / Get Back (from Tumbleweed Connection, 1970, Beatles cover)
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