Sir Elton John just paid tribute to the late icon Brian Wilson at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday night.
He crocodile rock the hitmaker performed the Beach Boys concert Only God knows as part of a tribute to the singer, who died in June aged 82, and also shared his memories of his former friend, including how terrified he was when they first met in Los Angeles.
Speaking on stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Sir Elton said: “We were very scared because he was my idol. He was the one who influenced me more than anyone when it came to writing songs on the piano. It was a night we would never forget.”
“Meeting someone who was a true genius doesn’t happen very often,” the pianist added.
The 78-year-old star told the audience how he and Brian became friends over time and worked on each other’s records over the years.
He added, “We loved each other. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather pay tribute to than Brian Wilson and his family with this incredible song,” and then gave a sentimental rendition of the Beach Boys classic.
When Brian passed away earlier this year, Sir Elton remembered his friend as the person who had “the biggest influence on my songwriting”.
“He sang Someone saved my life tonight at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. “He played on his solo albums, sang on my album, The Union, and even performed for my AIDS Foundation,” he said. rocket man wrote the singer.
“I came to love him as a person and, for me, he was the biggest influence on my songwriting; he was a musical genius and a revolutionary. He changed the goals of songwriting and shaped music forever. A true giant,” concluded Sir Elton John.
