Bernie Taupin learned to let Elton John’s touring tantrums pass, saying an attempt to step in could escalate them. He would just roll his eyes, because if you intervened it would make Elton worse.
The songwriter also remembers exactly which stage costume tested his patience: Elton’s Donald Duck outfit for his 1980 Central Park performance in New York.
“And he knew about which outfits made me want to kill him,” Taupin said, recalling the costume.
The longtime songwriting partners still keep in regular contact. Taupin said Elton often already knows about his plans by the time he calls to share them.
“When I told him I was doing a keynote address in Nashville, he said: ‘Oh yes, with Brandi.’ I’d only just found out myself,” Taupin said.
With Elton left blind in his right eye and able to see only partly out of his left because of his eyesight problems, they’ve also had to adjust their musical partnership. Taupin said Elton can no longer read lyrics placed on his piano, changing how they put songs together.
For a record made with Andrew Watt, Elton sent Taupin 3 or 4 instrumental tracks and asked him to write for them. Taupin contributed, and Elton also worked with other writers. Taupin said he thought the record would arrive at the beginning of the following year, but didn’t know its release date.