Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Elton John describes “the greatest ovation I’ve ever heard for anybody in my whole life.”

SHARE

Elton John speaks about a performance he gave with John Lennon at Madison Square Garden, which turned out to be Lennon’s last. Elton John describes what he says is “the greatest ovation I’ve ever heard for anyone in my whole life.”

TRANSCRIPT

- But John had really lost touch with sound systems and light shows and whatever, and never went to shows.

And so he said, yes, and it was, thank God he did, because I have that memory, New York has memory for people who were there.

And it got him back with Yoko.

I'm sure he will be no stranger to anybody who is, I'll say it's our great privilege, and your great privilege to see and hear Mr. John Lennon.

(audience cheers) He came on stage at Madison Square Garden after being physically sick in the toilets beforehand and came onto the greatest ovation I've ever heard for anybody in my whole life.

It makes me very emotional when I think about it.

Even now I get goosebumps every time I talk about this, but for 10 minutes the New Yorkers stood up.

- It was like everybody had been hit by lightning.

I mean, they were, and I was like, 'Oh my God, John Lennon's here, with Elton John.'

And it was super, super exciting.

Everybody jumped up and I remember the blast of energy everybody felt.

- It was an incredible moment.

The whole place is like an earthquake.

♪ Whatever gets you through the night ♪ ♪ It's all right, it's all right ♪ ♪ It's your money or your life ♪ ♪ It's all right, it's all right ♪ ♪ Don't need a sword to cut through flowers ♪ ♪ Oh no, oh no ♪ ♪ Whatever gets you through your life ♪ ♪ It's all right, it's all right ♪

© 2024 WNET. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.