‘Rocket Man’ – From 1972 to Today

To date, Nigel has played drums and/or sung backing vocals on 186 studio recordings and 59 live songs released by Elton. This is more than any other drummer who has worked in the band. He has appeared on 18 of Elton’s studio albums and three live releases.

Majid studied fine art at university in Iran, and after his BA chose to Major in animation, because it combined his two passions – film/cinema and fine art. After graduating, he worked for several animation production companies, until events in his life took a different direction. For ten difficult years, he didn’t so much as pick up a paintbrush. After journeying across Europe in the midst of the refugee crisis in 2015, he arrived in the Calais Jungle. In 2016 he was granted asylum and the right to work in Britain.

Majid said, “Rocket Man is the story of a journey, and someone separated from those they love. ‘I miss the earth so much, I miss my wife’. As I listened, again and again, I heard the story of a refugee. His family, his journey, his new life. Many refugees cross borders in search of safety but find disorientation, loneliness, separation in a new world. The rocket is not just a rocket, it is a boat, a lorry, a train. The rocket is movement, Mars is London, a new city, a new world. The rocket takes him further and further away from home, but he only thinks about the people he loves and left behind. ‘And I think it’s going to be a long, long time’ I will draw on my own experiences. I hope that my video allows people to understand. I believe art can do this.”

The song has also resonated with fans all over the world for over 40 years. Nearly every full Elton concert since February 5, 1972, when he debuted the song at the Royal Festival Hall, has had Rocket Man in the set– be it a band, Ray Cooper duo, or solo show. And in 2014, Elton debuted a specially-designed Rocket Man jacket that continues to be a part of his on stage wardrobe.