Despite Recent Health Scare, Elton John Closes Out Outside Lands Festival
A recent health scare didn’t keep Elton John from serving as the closing act for the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this weekend.
The legendary performer hit all the high notes and highlights from his illustrious career. John performed “Bennie and the Jets,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Rocket Man,” “Your Song,” “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”
In a nearly two-hour concert, Elton also sang “Tiny Dancer” and “Crocodile Rock” to the delight of the 70,000 fans in attendance and thousands more outside the park.
Elton performed despite a health scare that happened nearly two weeks ago. The 68-year-old was playing tennis when a health ailment made his leg swell. John, who was at his home in Nice, France, at the time, went by ambulance to a nearby hospital to seek treatment. The treatment included several injections, including a steroid shot.
This wasn’t Elton’s first bout with illnesses before a performance. In 2013, John cancelled several tour dates as he was diagnosed with appendicitis. Elton had worked through the pain of appendicitis for at least one tour stop before John sought treatment.
Prior to his performance in San Francisco, Elton also took the stage in Lake Tahoe as a part of his extended farewell tour. According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, John said he wants to be able to see his family more.
“The simple truth is I want to spend more time with my family and less time touring. I am all too aware of how precious the time ahead is. My sons are growing up so quickly, their early years are just flying by and I want to be there with them.”
Elton wasn’t the only well-known name on the third day of the festival. John was accompanied by Grammy-winning artist Sam Smith, Fun. lead singer Nate Ruess, disco and pop blend band Hot Chip, and pop sensation Sky Ferreira.
Smith played mostly covers of famous songs and new material for the audience instead of hits from In the Lonely Hour. Despite a potential disappointment for fans, Smith told the audience how elated he was to share a stage with Elton John.
“San Francisco is my favorite place to go in America, and being able to play before Elton John is a dream come true for me.”
Prior to Elton John’s performance on Sunday, individuals were trying to get into the concert for free. Gatecrashers — as they are commonly known — injured one police officer during their attempt to skimp on paying for the tickets. You can view some individuals attempting this in tweeted video below.
Check out these fence crashers at Outside Lands concert, SFPD caught some of them. pic.twitter.com/vvqxuXwEWn
— Cornell Barnard (@CornellBarnard) August 9, 2015
[Image by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images]
