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Elton John’s mum walked out of son’s legendary gig after solely three songs

Sir Elton John has revealed his mum walked out of one of his concerts becuase she didn’t know the songs he was singing – Mum Sheila left the gig with Beatles drummer Ringo Starr

Honoree Elton John attends the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, which was broadcast live on FOX on May 27, 2021
Sir Elton revealed his mum marched out of one of his gigs(Image: Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

Sir Elton John’s mum walked out of her son’s legendary concert after just three songs – because she didn’t know them.

The 77-year-old Rocket Man put on a huge day-long show at Wembley – called the MidSummer Music – on June 21, 1975.

As well as his ‘classics’ – like Rocket Man, Bennie and the Jets and The Bitch is Back – he also played all ten songs from his new Captain Fantastic and the Dirt Brown Cowboy album, released in May 1975.

Among them included Tower of Babel – the only performance he’s ever done of the song – Bitter Fingers, and Curtains.

Elton John with his mother Sheila Farebrother, his stepfather and his partner David Furnish, after receiving his knighthood in 1998
Elton John with his mother Sheila Farebrother, his stepfather and his partner David Furnish, after receiving his knighthood in 1998(Image: Getty Images)

Speaking this week, it was revealed how mum Sheila – who died aged 92 in 2017 – couldn’t be bothered watching her son after just three of his new songs, and promptly walked out of the gig, escorted by Ringo Starr.

The rest of the 82,000-strong crowd had already watched performances from The Eagles, The Beach Boys, Joe Walsh, Chaka Khan before Elton took to the stage.

A concert ticket for the Midsummer Music At Wembley Stadium concert (featuring Elton John, The Beach Boys, Eagles, Joe Walsh, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and Stackridge) at the Empire Stadium, Wembley for March 19, 1977 in London, England
A concert ticket for the Midsummer Music At Wembley Stadium (Image: Getty Images)

He played 10 classic songs – his own and two covers of Beatles songs – before launching into all 10 songs from his new album.

After playing three tunes – Captain Fantastic and the Dirt Brown Cowboy, Tower of Babel and Bitter Fingers – however, Sheila decided she’d heard enough and left.

 Elton John on stage
Sheila decided she’d heard enough and left(Image: Redferns)

She missed the remaining seven songs from her son’s new album as well as a cover of The Who’s Pinball Wizard and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.

Ringo Starr, 84, this week revealed how he had accompanied Elton’s mum to the gig, and escorted her out when she got sick of his new tunes.

Sir Elton John and his mother Sheila Farebrother during Thec - Dinner at Elton John Residence in Windsor, England, United Kingdom
Sir Elton with his mum in 2003(Image: WireImage)

He said: “I was with his (Elton’s) mother (at the MidSummer gig). He came on and said ‘I’m only going to do the new album’ (for the second half of the gig).

“Me and his mother left after three tracks because we didn’t know them.”

This week, Elton received yet another Oscars nomination for original song for his music documentary song Never Too Late for the Disney+ film Elton John: Never Too Late, about his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert tour.

English singer Elton John on stage circa 1975
Elton has received yet another Oscars nod(Image: FilmMagic)

He was previously nominated for The Lion King, winning for Can You Feel The Love Tonight, and also snapping up the gong for a second time with Sir Elton biopic Rocketman’s (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.

He will face competition from Emilia Perez, who has two songs El Mal, and Mi Camino up for original song, along with Sing Sing’s Like A Bird, and The Six Triple Eight’s The Journey.

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Sir Elton hailed his latest Oscar nod as an “incredible honour” on Instagram,

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