Me (book)

Autobiography of Elton John

Author| Elton John
Audio read by| Taron Egerton
Language| English
Genre| Autobiography
Published| 15 October 2019
Publisher| Macmillan Publishers
Publication place| United Kingdom
Pages| 350
ISBN| 1-509-85331-6

Me is the autobiography of the English singer, pianist and composer Elton John. It was released on 15 October 2019 by Macmillan Publishers. It was ghostwritten by journalist Alexis Petridis,[1] who worked on the book with John for three and a half years.[2]

## Overview

[edit]

The book recounts events from John's childhood in Pinner through to his final tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road.[3] He describes his depression and suicide attempts as well as drug addiction and his prostate cancer diagnosis.[4] He admits he spent his whole career "trying to show my father what I'm made of".[5] He explains the reasons behind his advocacy against AIDS.[6]

### Comments on Michael Jackson

[edit]

In the book, despite being good friends with him, John said that the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson was "genuinely mentally ill" and "disturbing to be around".[7] The comments arose from a lunch John hosted to introduce his husband David Furnish to Jackson in 1993.[8][9]

## Publication

[edit]

Me was released by Macmillan Publishers on 15 October 2019. Excerpts read by Taron Egerton (who portrayed John in the biographical film Rocketman) aired on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week in the first week of its release.[5]

## Reception

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Hadley Freeman, a writer for The Guardian, called the book "racy, pacy and crammed with scurrilous anecdotes", saying: "Elton makes fun of no one more than himself. He is utterly, astonishingly, hilariously self-lacerating."[2]

Variety dubbed the book "deeply dishy".[10]

A Time review said: "Like John’s songs, Me overflows with whimsical characters, twisted humor, winking self-aggrandizement and stark pathos. True to his spirit, it's a little silly and over the top, but it's also an absorbing and unfettered joy."[3]

In The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said: "If you are in the market for an autobiography crammed with sex, drugs and rock and roll, Elton is clearly your man."[11]

In The Times, Will Hodgkinson said that John's "sad, funny memoir reveals the insecurities that drive his needy behaviour."[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Aizlewood, John (14 October 2019). "Me by Elton John: cocaine, mummy issues and dinner with Michael Jackson". inews. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
2. ^ a b Freeman, Hadley (16 October 2019). "Me by Elton John review – hilariously self-lacerating". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
3. ^ a b Chow, Andrew R. (15 October 2019). "Elton John's Autobiography 'Me' Is a Cautionary Tale of Modern Fame—With Gossip to Boot". Time. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
4. ^ "Elton John's autobiography is full of warmth and candour – review". The Independent. 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
5. ^ a b Savage, Mark (15 October 2019). "Elton John: 'I still want my dad's approval'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
6. ^ Maslin, Janet (10 October 2019). "Elton John Puts Down in Words How Wonderful (and Weird) Life Has Been". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
7. ^ Dicker, Ron (15 October 2019). "Elton John Calls Michael Jackson A 'Disturbing Person To Be Around'". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
8. ^ Ryan, Patrick (16 October 2019). "Elton John calls Michael Jackson 'mentally ill,' Tina Turner a 'nightmare' in new book". USA TODAY. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
9. ^ Curto, Justin (15 October 2019). "Elton John Describes a Bizarre Lunch With Michael Jackson in New Memoir". Vulture. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
10. ^ Willman, Chris (16 October 2019). "Recappin' Fantastic: The Most Fascinating Reveals From Elton John's Memoir". Variety. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
11. ^ McCormick, Neil (9 October 2019). "Elton John, Me review: all the sex, drugs and showbiz gossip you could want". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
12. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (10 October 2019). "Me by Elton John review — fame, sex and bad potty training". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 17 October 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Elton John

* Songs
* Albums
* Singles
* Concerts
* Videos
* Awards

Studio albums|

* Empty Sky
* Elton John
* Tumbleweed Connection
* Madman Across the Water
* Honky Château
* Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
* Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
* Caribou
* Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
* Rock of the Westies
* Blue Moves
* A Single Man
* Victim of Love
* 21 at 33
* The Fox
* Jump Up!
* Too Low for Zero
* Breaking Hearts
* Ice on Fire
* Leather Jackets
* Reg Strikes Back
* Sleeping with the Past
* The One
* Duets
* Made in England
* The Big Picture
* Songs from the West Coast
* Peachtree Road
* The Captain & the Kid
* The Diving Board
* Wonderful Crazy Night
* Regimental Sgt. Zippo
* The Lockdown Sessions

Live albums|

* 17-11-70
* Here and There
* Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
* Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits
* Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden
* Live from Moscow 1979
* Live from the Rainbow Theatre

Soundtrack albums|

* Friends
* The Lion King (1994)
* Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
* The Muse
* The Road to El Dorado
* Gnomeo & Juliet (soundtrack)
* Rocketman
* The Lion King (2019)

Compilation albums|

* Greatest Hits
* Greatest Hits Volume II
* Lady Samantha
* Greatest Hits Vol. 3
* The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
* To Be Continued
* The Very Best of Elton John
* Rare Masters
* Greatest Hits 1976–1986
* Chartbusters Go Pop
* Classic Elton John
* Love Songs
* Greatest Hits 1970–2002
* Elton John's Christmas Party
* Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits
* Diamonds
* Elton: Jewel Box

Extended plays|

* "I've Been Loving You"
* The Thom Bell Sessions
* Remixed

Other albums|

* Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
* The Union
* Good Morning to the Night
* Revamp & Restoration
* Who Believes in Angels?

Video albums|

* Night and Day Concert
* Live in Australia
* The Very Best of Elton John
* Live in Barcelona
* Love Songs
* Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits
* Dream Ticket
* Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden
* The Red Piano

Concert tours|

* 1970 World Tour
* Rock of the Westies Tour
* Louder Than Concorde Tour
* 1979 tour of the Soviet Union
* 1980 World Tour
* Jump Up Tour
* Too Low for Zero Tour
* European Express Tour
* Breaking Hearts Tour
* Ice on Fire Tour
* Tour De Force
* Sleeping with the Past Tour
* The One Tour
* Face to Face 1994
* Face to Face 1995
* Made in England Tour
* Face to Face 1998
* An Evening with Elton John
* Medusa Tour
* Stately Home Tour
* Face to Face 2001
* Songs from the West Coast Tour
* Face to Face 2002
* A Journey Through Time
* 2003 Tour
* Face to Face 2003
* 2004 Tour
* Peachtree Road Tour
* 2006 European Tour
* The Captain and the Kid Tour
* Rocket Man: Greatest Hits Live
* Face to Face 2009
* Face to Face 2010
* 2010 European Tour
* Greatest Hits Tour
* 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man
* The Diving Board Tour
* Follow the Yellow Brick Road Tour
* All the Hits Tour
* The Final Curtain Tour
* Wonderful Crazy Night Tour
* Farewell Yellow Brick Road

Concert residencies|

* The Red Piano
* The Million Dollar Piano

Miscellaneous
performances|

* List of Elton John and Ray Cooper concert tours
* The Union Tour

Musicals|

* The Lion King
* 1994 film
* 2019 film
* 1997 musical
* The Road to El Dorado
* Aida
* Billy Elliot the Musical
* Lestat
* The Devil Wears Prada
* Tammy Faye

Documentaries|

* Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras
* Elton John: Me, Myself & I
* The Union
* Elton John: Never Too Late

Related articles|

* Bernie Taupin
* Elton John Band
* Gus Dudgeon
* Paul Buckmaster
* John Reid
* Ray Williams
* Dick James
* DJM Records
* David Furnish
* Kiki Dee
* Elton John AIDS Foundation
* Watford F.C.
* Bluesology
* Hookfoot
* Woodside, Old Windsor
* Rocket Pictures
* Elton John: The Classic Years
* Rocketman (film)
* Me

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

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