Elton John's 'Secret Weapon', Bernie Taupin Drops Memoir: Get to Know Who Wrote These Greatest Hits

Elton John has gained massive success and recognition throughout his career, and he wouldn't have made it without the help of Bernie Taupin.

Taupin has been a constant companion of John since the early days of his career, with the release of his debut studio album in 1969, "Empty Sky."

But now the multi-awarded lyricist is going to step into a spotlight of his own to release his memoir titled, "Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton & Me."

According to reports, this memoir won't be like usual, as it won't be following the traditional memoir structure, which is chronological.

"I began a few years back composing essays and observations on my life that ultimately gained momentum and started to look like a book," Taupin explained.

"From then on, it became a long, arduous task that was both exhilarating and liberating. It was also a lot of fun and immensely beneficial in blowing the dust off a lot of what I'd forgotten about."

Fans are in for a treat, he hinted, since the memoir won't be purely about Taupin's work relationship, history, and friendship with John; it will also explore his own story.

"Hopefully, there's something in it for everybody," he continued. "It's contemplative, self-assessing and attempts to stay off the beaten path in not regurgitating what's already been written."

Rollingstone reported that readers will be transported with the talented duo as they traveled and toured the world-including some pretty wild stories like their late-night talks with John Lennon, Bob Marley, and Frank Sinatra.

Taupin also covered his encounters with Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, and Graham Grene, as well as some drug and alcohol-laced nights which probably inspired him to write some of John's greatest hits.

"I loved writing. I loved chronicling life and every moment I was cogent, sober, or blitzed," he explained. "I was forever feeding off my surroundings, making copious notes as ammunition for future compositions. The thing is, good, bad, or indifferent, I never stopped writing. It was as addictive as any drug."

The first major success John and Taupin scored was the 1970s hit song "Your Song," but the flow did not stop there.

Taupin went on to write some of John's greatest hits like "Rocket Man," Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Skyline Pigeon," and more.

The 72-year-old and John met by chance. Taupin answered an ad that was looking for talent, the very same ad John also answered, but ironically, none of them passed the audition.

Decades later, they are still thick as thieves and have collaborated on over 30 albums to date.

Tags

Elton John, Memoir