Elton John certainly knows his way around the music industry. Selling more than 300 million records worldwide, the EGOT winner, 77, is preparing to release a duets album with Brandi Carlile on April 4. So when the “I’m Still Standing” crooner shares his well-earned wisdom, up-and-coming artists should take note. And his latest advice for those trying to find their footing in music? Skip American Idol, and instead, play for no one.
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Elton John Says Early Live Performances Gave Him “Backbone”
At just 15 years old, Elton John got his start playing piano in a pub near his Middlesex, England home. After forming the band Bluesology with some friends, the “Rocket Man” singer answered a newspaper ad placed by Ray Williams, then an executive at Liberty Records.
As fate would have it, Bernie Taupin had answered the same ad. Williams handed John (then still known by his real name, Reginald Dwight) an unopened envelope of lyrics that Taupin had written. John wrote music for the lyrics, which he then sent to Taupin. Thus began one of the most influential songwriting partnerships in musical history.
In a recent cover story interview for Rolling Stone UK, John emphasized that live performances are the best way to discover early on who you are as an artist. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing to 40 people,” said the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” artist. “The more experience you get playing to nobody, the better. Because when I played in Musicology, we played to hardly anybody sometimes. That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone. And backbone is so important.”
[RELATED: 3 of the Best Ear-Catching Opening Lines From Elton John Songs]
Why Sir Elton Cautions Against Going the Reality-TV Route
Singing reality competition shows, like American Idol and The X Factor, have proven an effective launching pad for artists like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. However, Elton John insists that the overnight fame can be detrimental for someone who has no experience performing live.
“You get put on stage, you go, and you can’t do it. That’s the worst thing,” John said. “American Idol — just the worst. Take risks. Go and play in a pub.”
Featured image by Noam Galai/Getty Images for TIME
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