NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Elton at Dodger Stadium: A Timeline

Elton John's concerts at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 17, 19, and 20, his last-ever tour stops in the United States, both continue and conclude the artist's storied association with the iconic venue.

Perhaps no other musical act is so singularly associated with an American sports location than the Rocket Man and “Blue Heaven on Earth”. You do not necessarily have to have been an Elton fan in, or even born in, 1975 to be aware of his iconic concerts that October. The sparkly Dodgers outfit he wore at, in front of, and atop his stage piano remains the avatar for Elton’s live concerts 47 years later.

We hope to see you at the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour concerts this Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Or viewing the global Livestream on Disney+ on the final evening! To give these events a bit of context, we are happy to include some stats about the stadium...and Elton's extraordinary success in it.

By John F. Higgins

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TIMELINE

 ★  September 17, 1959: Construction begins on Dodger Stadium in the Elysian Park area of Los Angeles.

 ★  April 10, 1962: The stadium opens as the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball team, previously the Brooklyn Dodgers.

 ★  August 28, 1966: The Beatles play the venue before 45,000 people. A near-riot ensues at the end, prompting stadium management to put a halt to any future concerts there.

1975

 ★  January: Discussions begin for Elton to possibly perform at Dodger Stadium later in the year.

 ★  July 4: Elton's first concert, to take place on October 25, is announced. The $10 general admission (field) and assigned seating (stands) tickets are sold by mail order only. On this same day...

  • The Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy LP is in its 4th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, having already been the first album by any artist to enter that chart at the top position.
  • Captain Fantastic has joined three other Elton albums - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Caribou, and Greatest Hits - on the Top 200 chart as well. This is the second time this year that there are four Elton John albums on the US chart at one time.
  • The No. 1 single Philadelphia Freedom continues its run on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
  • Elton and the band are in the midst of recording Rock Of The Westies at Caribou Studios in Nederland, CO.

 ★  July 6: Elton attends the Beach Boys/Chicago concert at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, CO. He sits in with both bands, much to the surprise of those in attendance.

 ★  July 7: Elton is on the cover of Time magazine with the headline, “Rock’s Captain Fantastic”.

 ★  July 20: Elton and the band attend the Rolling Stones concert at Fort Collins. Elton sits in on Honky Tonk Women and other songs.

 ★  July 30: Just one week after Philadelphia Freedom leaves the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Someone Saved My Life Tonight begins its 13-week run.

 ★  August 7: Elton co-hosts, with Diana Ross, the Rock Music Awards at the Santa Monica (CA) Civic Auditorium.

 ★  Mid-August: Elton is interviewed by Playboy magazine at his home in the Hollywood Hills.

 ★  August 16: Someone Saved My Life Tonight peaks at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 ★  August 18: Elton is the People Weekly magazine cover story - “His new look: everything’s slimmer but his wallet."

 ★  August 22: Elton's second Dodger Stadium show (October 26) is announced after the first sells out.

 ★  August 23: Elton plays with Billie Jean King at the RFK Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament at Forest Hills Stadium, NYC.

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 ★  August 24-25: Elton and his 10-piece band rehearse at midnight, 2 AM, and 6 PM (just before the first show) at the Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood.

 ★  August 25-27: Elton and his band perform five shows in three nights at the Troubadour.

  • These club concerts serve as a warm-up for Elton’s new band's upcoming stadium tour. Most of the group are playing just their second show together, two months after the first one.
  • The 8 and 11 PM shows on the 25th benefit the Jules Stein Eye Foundation at UCLA.
  • Benefit tickets cost $250. All other shows are ticketed at $25. All shows sell out.

  ★  August 30: Captain Fantastic... returns to the No. 1 position in Billboard for one week.

 ★  September 15: Elton’s Island Girl single is released in the US.

 ★  September 19: Tour rehearsals begin in Los Angeles.

 ★  September 27: Island Girl 45 enters the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 48. It stays on the chart for 15 weeks, reaching No. 1 on November 1st, staying there for 3 weeks.

 ★  September 29: Elton begins his sold-out Rock Of The Westies tour at the San Diego (CA) Sports Arena. It covers 15 shows in 11 cities in the western US and Canada, ending with the concerts at Dodger Stadium.

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  ★  October 11: Neil Sedaka's single Bad Blood, with Elton on uncredited but prominent backing vocals, peaks at No. 1 where it remains for 3 weeks.

  ★  October 22: Rock Of The Westies is released in the US. It enters the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 1; the second consecutive Elton LP to do so. At this time, Elton is still the only artist to have an album release straight at the top of the chart.

  ★  October 23: At a morning ceremony, Elton receives his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame as part of Elton John Week in LA.

  • Elton and the band rehearse at Dodger Stadium in the afternoon.
  • A chartered plane with Elton's family, friends, and management staff arrives from the UK in the evening.


 ★  October 24: Elton and the band hold another rehearsal and sound check at the stadium.

 October 25 - Show No. 1:

  • The crowd is a sellout of 55,000 people; parking gates had to open at 6:30 AM, hours before they were supposed to, to accommodate the early-arriving throng.
  • The concert runs over 3½ hours and is divided into two parts. Elton changes stagewear during the brief intermission, returning to his piano in a Bob Mackie-designed sequined Dodgers baseball outfit.
  • The band consists of Elton (piano and vocals), Kenny Passarelli (bass), Roger Pope (drums), Davey Johnstone and Caleb Quaye (guitars and backing vocals), James Newton Howard (keyboards), Ray Cooper (percussion), Cidny Bullens, Jim Haas, Jon Joyce (backing vocals), and the James Cleveland Choir (choir).
  • Bernie Taupin and Billie Jean King sing backup vocals on Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) and Pinball Wizard.

★  October 26 - Show No. 2:

  • Elton's UK friends and family attend this sellout concert - another powerhouse, multi-hour performance for the second night in a row.
  • Amazingly, this show has an even more dramatic feel, due to Daylight Savings having kicked in at 2 AM last night. Now the final 90 minutes take place after the sun sets during...wait for it...Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
  • British television presenter Russell Harty captures both performances, wonderful behind-the-scenes activities, and morning-after interviews with Elton and Bernie, in a timeless documentary.

Set List

Your Song
I Need You To Turn To
Border Song
Take Me To The Pilot
Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)
Country Comfort
Levon
Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)
Hercules
Empty Sky
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Bennie And The Jets
Harmony
Dixie Lily
Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Bitter Fingers
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
The Bitch Is Back
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
I Saw Her Standing There
Island Girl
Philadelphia Freedom
We All Fall In Love Sometimes/Curtains

Encores:
Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Pinball Wizard

1992 - 2022

 ★  August 28-29, 1992: In support of his album The One, Elton co-headlines two shows at Dodger Stadium with Eric Clapton. Eric joins Elton for their duet on the album, Runaway Train, during the first show. To add to the fun, George Michael makes a surprise appearance that night to sing Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me with Elton.

 ★  November 20, 2022: Elton welcomes even more guest stars to the stage on his final night in America: Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlile - all three of whom he has recorded and enjoyed close friendships with over the years.

 

(All photos by Terry O'Neill except where noted)