Las Vegas Weekly

April 23, 2009 · 8:21 AM

Photo Gallery & Video: Elton John says ‘I will be back’ in sendoff

By Robin Leach

Sir Elton John.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

It ended as it began -- at full throttle! Sir Elton John’s contract-closing concert at Caesars Palace last night had even famous fans giving him a standing ovation for every one of his 16 final songs. Ozzy Osbourne told me: “Absolutely amazing. No different tonight than he was the night he opened here. I was here then, and tonight he was incredible. He didn’t let up for a second. The man is a genius.” Sharon Osbourne added, “We were all dancing in our seats. Just the greatest.”

Once again, The Rocket Man hinted strongly that he will be back: “We’re going out with Billy Joel, and I’ll see you along the way, but one day I will be back in Vegas. I love you all.” As he glad-handed front-row high-rollers and walked the stage from right to left, Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner told me: “The door is open whenever he wishes to return. It has been a very successful run for both of us.”

British actress and supermodel Elizabeth Hurley had flown over from England with her husband, Indian textile mogul Arun Nayar, just for the show. She told me: “Wouldn’t have missed it. He had us dancing right from the start.” Elton dedicated his third song, “Believe,” to Elizabeth.

Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs, who also was among the emotional crowd, then told me: “I was in the video he uses for his ‘ Philadelphia Freedom’ song, so I had to dance to that one.”

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue shot this extraordinary gallery of final-night photos especially for Vegas DeLuxe.

The legendary and award-winning singer, songwriter and performer took his final bow at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace after 241 performances of his hit show The Red Piano, which debuted Feb. 13, 2004. Sir Elton was originally booked for 75 shows over three years, but because of heavy ticket demand, Caesars accelerated the number of shows presented each year, completing the original commitment in only 18 months. Caesars execs then extended the agreement for an additional 166 shows.

The celebrity-studded crowd was on its feet hollering and applauding as Elton opened with “Bennie and the Jets” and told them: “Tonight is the last performance at Caesars Palace of The Red Piano after five years of great fun and really happy memories.” Elton continued by saying, “The problem is now who you gonna get to fill in our shows? Now Celine’s gone, and I’m gone. You’ve got Bette Midler and Cher. It’ll be The Village People next.”

Elton wore a black frock-length coat with red trimmed collar as he walked onstage 12 minutes later than planned. “I have so many happy memories from this engagement,” he said. “ I have enjoyed every single moment, and the Caesars people have been fantastic.” With all the standing ovations, the show ran 30 minutes longer than usual!

Elton told us: “It’s the final show. Now this will be known as the ex-home of Elton John. Let’s party like … whatever.” During the show, he both sat and stood on his trademark red piano. He explained the color choice: “We wanted it to be extra special. We didn’t want it to be safe or boring. We thought silver was too gauche and Mariah Carey had a white one -- enough said! Orange? No! Green? Horrible. Blue? Nah! Pink? Too close to home!

“Red? Great big and it looks like a Ferrari. In fact, it’s built like a Ferrari. Red is the color of love!” This week, the red piano gets packed up as he’s taking it with him, and it will next be seen at concerts he’s performing in Moscow!

In his final 16 song set, he included “Rocket Man,” “Pinball Wizard” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” For “I’m Still Standing,” many of the fans left their seats for one last time to rush the stage and stand around him as he played. Although Pamela Anderson was a no-show, her striptease imagery -- along with massive blow-up breasts and phallic peeled bananas for David LaChapelle’s creative videos -- was fully present.

They were deflated for the final time as silver balloons were bounced by the audience, and silver confetti stars rained down from the ceiling.

Sharon Osbourne summed up: “There were a lot of us with tears in our eyes tonight. It was all very memorable.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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