London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Elton John at the O2 review: the Rocketman is bowing out in a blaze of glory

Elton John at the O2 review: the Rocketman is bowing out in a blaze of glory

The first of 10 London gigs as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was a joyful celebration of a true legend
Elton John didn’t need to prove his status as a legend but his extensive Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, billed as his last, is doing that repeatedly.

As he took to the stage for the first of 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena, John thanked the crowd for their patience following years of delays caused by Covid and a hip operation. “The only way we can repay you is by giving you a really good show and here we are,” he said, confident as always.

For the next 150-minutes, John refused to wallow in the past. From the opening piano blast of Bennie and the Jets to the smirking grand finale that saw him disappear into the heavens via a sparkling chairlift, John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road gig was deliberately and positively joyful.

Timeless anthems of defiance like Border Song and I’m Still Standing were fiercely pertinent as the star performed them to a multi-generational audience that featured everyone from long-term fans to newcomers who were watching their very first gig.

Further proving he’s still got it, 2021’s poptastic No 1 single Cold Heart received one of the biggest reactions of the night, even if Dua Lipa didn’t make a surprise appearance, before his first hit, Your Song, showcased a perfect declaration of love.

Despite being 286 shows into a tour that originally began in 2018, things never felt rigid or tired. John and his “kick ass” band comfortably switched between freewheeling rock and roll (Levon) and unruly karaoke (Crocodile Rock) with a mischievous flair.

After almost every song, the showman triumphantly stood up from behind the piano with a beaming smile and his arms outstretched like he couldn’t believe he was still getting away with it. Later this summer, John will play his final UK show ever as a first time Glastonbury headliner, breaking new ground to the last.

Sure, there were moments of heart-wrenching reflection throughout the night as John paid tribute to friends who had passed away over the years while Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me and Rocket Man took on another jagged meaning against the backdrop of a farewell tour.

“I won’t ever forget you but I want to spend the rest of my life with my family,” John told the crowd, direct as ever. It was hard for things to get too melancholy though, especially when a chunk of the audience wore garish light-up glasses and John was hellbent on getting everyone dancing.

The show was sprinkled with countless nods to John’s impressive career highlights while clips from The Simpsons, Rocketman and a John Lewis Christmas ad drove home his wider cultural impact. Archive footage may have played out alongside the flawless greatest hits set but the audience were never left longing for the glory days. They were too busy watching them unfold.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×