Glam Slam Guide

The bespectacled piano man who turned camp into rocket fuel and made the 70s sparkle brighter than his wardrobe.

He didn’t just play glam – he detonated it in feather boas, 12-inch platforms, Donald Duck outfits, and glasses that could blind aircraft. One minute he’s a shy session musician, the next he’s the biggest pop star on the planet, outselling everyone with heartbreak ballads and honky-château boogie.

The Glam Slam Essentials

1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) – Album Release (1973) – UK/US #1The double-album masterpiece – “Candle in the Wind”, “Bennie and the Jets”, “Saturday Night’s Alright”.

2. Honky Château (1972) – Album Release (1972) – US #1Where the rocket really took off – “Rocket Man”, “Honky Cat”.

3. Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player (1973) – Album Release (1973) – UK/US #1“Daniel”, “Crocodile Rock” – pure glitter-soaked joy.

4. Caribou (1974) – Album Release (1974) – US #1“The Bitch Is Back”, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.

Where to Start Listening Today (5 tracks)

1. Rocket Man – the ultimate space-glam anthem

2. Bennie and the Jets – that electric boot stomp

3. Crocodile Rock – shameless, brilliant fun

4. Tiny Dancer – the ballad that breaks hearts

5. Saturday Night’s Alright for—for fighting!

Elton John didn’t do glam half-heartedly – he did it in a duck suit, standing on the piano, while selling 300 million records.

Turn it up, grab the feather boa, and remember: the bitch is back.

Deep Dive:

Early 1970s: Elton John began to embrace glam rock around the time of his album "Honky Château" (1972). This period was marked by a shift towards more theatrical and flamboyant performances, influenced by the likes of David Bowie, Marc Bolan of T. Rex, and the broader glam rock movement in Britain.

Visual Transformation: Elton's stage presence became increasingly extravagant. He adopted flamboyant costumes designed by prominent figures like Bob Mackie and Annie Reavey, featuring sequins, feathers, glasses with outrageous frames, and sometimes even elaborate headgear or outfits that played into the androgynous aesthetic popular in glam rock.

Key Albums and Singles:

"Honky Château" (1972): This album included hits like "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat," which started to showcase a more theatrical side of Elton.

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973): Often considered the pinnacle of his glam period, this double album featured classics like the title track, "Bennie and the Jets," "Candle in the Wind," and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." The album's artwork itself was a nod to the glam aesthetic, with Elton depicted in a fantastical, theatrical setting.

"Caribou" (1974): With singles like "The Bitch Is Back" and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," this album continued his glam rock flair, though musically it was somewhat more diverse.

Live Performances:

Theatrical Shows: Elton John's live shows during this era were spectacles. He would change costumes multiple times during a concert, perform with elaborate stage setups, and his band, including the flamboyant drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone, would match his energy and style.

Dodger Stadium Concerts (1975): These concerts in Los Angeles are often cited as the climax of his glam period, where he performed to an audience of about 55,000 each night over three nights. The shows were broadcast on HBO, further cementing his status as a glam rock icon.

Cultural Impact:

Fashion Influence: Elton John's flamboyant style during this period influenced fashion, especially in rock music. His choice of eyewear, in particular, became iconic.

Musical Innovation: His music combined pop, rock, and theatrical elements, making songs memorable and visually engaging. The fusion of catchy tunes with dramatic performance elements was characteristic of glam rock.

Transition:

Post-Glam: By the late 1970s, Elton began to move away from the glam rock persona towards a more subdued, ballad-focused style, although elements of his theatricality would always remain. Albums like "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1975) started to show this shift, though still with a touch of his previous glam flair.

Elton John's glam rock period not only defined a significant part of his career but also contributed to the broader narrative of rock music, where performance became as crucial as the music itself. His influence during this time can be seen in the way music and visual identity are intertwined in contemporary pop culture.