Elton John used to lure Rod Stewart onto the dance floor with poppers. Yes, really
Elton John and Rod Stewart (Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty)
Poppers are usually the preserve of gay and bisexual men, but Elton John has revealed that he used to lure Rod Stewart onto dance floors by giving him some of the legal high.
In his new autobiography Me, John revealed that Stewart “always needed a little encouragement” to get onto the dance floor on nights out – but he would “spring into life after a whiff” of poppers.
“Rod used to carry on as if dancing was against his religion,” John wrote, according to the Daily Star.
“Poppers had become big hit in gay clubs, you sniffed it and it gave you a brief, legal, euphoric high.
“The brand I had was called, I regret to inform you, Cum, and it seemed to have a particularly transformative effect on Rod.”
Elton continued: “I offered some to him and suddenly after hours of not budging from his seat he was up and dancing for the rest of the night.”
Elton John revealed that he had Rod Stewart’s advertising blimp shot down as a prank.
Elton writes extensively in his memoir about his relationship with Rod Stewart, and also revealed that they used to pull pranks on each other.
Once, upon finding out that Stewart was advertising a concert with a blimp over London, Elton decided it was the perfect opportunity for a practical joke.
The brand I had was called, I regret to inform you, Cum, and it seemed to have a particularly transformative effect on Rod.
“I called my management and they hired someone to shoot it down,” Elton revealed.
“Apparently it landed on top of a double-decker bus and was last seen heading toward Putney.
Marc Piasecki/Getty
“About an hour later, the phone went. It was Rod, spluttering about the disappearance.”
The famous singer-songwriter recently opened up about his relationship with Freddie Mercury.
Elton has recounted various stories in recent weeks on the press circuit and in his autobiography about his famous friends.
Last month, he spoke about his relationship with late Queen singer Freddie Mercury, and reflected on their time performing at Live Aid.
“I had a huge area that I kind of decorated,” Elton told The Guardian. “I made sure there were seats for everyone, so that people who were playing could sit down and have a natter.
“Freddie came over after Queen had stolen the show. I said, ‘Freddie, nobody should go on after you – you were magnificent.’ He said: ‘You’re absolutely right, darling, we were – we killed them.’ He was so excited.
“Then he said, ‘You, on the other hand, dear – you looked like the f**king Queen Mother when you were on stage. Where did you get that absolutely awful hat?’”
