Elton John Suicide Attempt: What Happened to Singer in 1975?

Elton John
Leon Neal/Getty Images

Elton John's skyrocketing career brought a negative effect on his personal life, that he almost ended it all in a suicide attempt.

The five-year "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour officially ended at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm this month, allowing John to share his legacy and career with his fans. Although his name flourished over the decades, the singer reached a breaking point in the past that almost caused him to lose his life.

Elton John's Suicide Attempt Revisited

In 1975, John had a successful stint as a musician as he released a new album, "Rock of the Westies," and had sold-out shows at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. A city was also named after him in his honor a week later, becoming a great addition to his feats at that time.

However, Elizabeth Rosenthal revealed in her book that the singer attempted to escape from everything through suicide.

In "His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John," the author recalled seeing the "That's What Friends Are For" singer approaching his friends and family who were lounging at the pool of his Benedict Canyon and told them he should die within an hour after taking 85 Valiums.

"He threw himself into the water, then struggled to come to the surface," she wrote. "[Guitarist] Caleb Quaye later remembered the arrival of an emergency medical team to pump the pianist's stomach."

Mirroring what the book said, John sat down for an interview with The Telegraph in 2010, calling the event a fruit of stress since he had been working for five years straight at that time. He then revealed that his grandmother told everyone they needed to go home after the incident.

Following the suicide attempt, John found himself playing at the Dodger Stadium and feeling one of the best days in his professional life.

Elton John Wanted To Live Offstage

Due to his continued rising popularity, the "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" attempted suicide after struggling with having a balance in his life. He opened up about living like "Elton" and not being able how to have a different life out of the spotlight.

Aside from his drug and alcohol issues, he disclosed how he lost his will to take care of himself and that he would go around his house without bathing for days. He also admitted to watching NSFW videos all the time and suffering from bulimia throughout those years.

Before his suicide attempt, he released his hit song "Someone Saved My Life," which was reportedly inspired by another attempt prior to the 1975 incident.

Tags
Elton John
Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics