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He won a junior scholarship to attend the UK’s oldest conservatoire at the tender age of 11.
And Elton John returned to his old stomping ground, Marylebone’s Royal Academy of Music, to promote his new memoir, Me, during a Q&A in London on Tuesday afternoon.
The singer and songwriter, 72, cut a typically dapper figure as he sported an oversized grey suit during his discussion with the school’s principal, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood.
In his element: Elton John returned to his old stomping ground, Marylebone’s Royal Academy of Music, to promote his new memoir, Me, during a Q&A in London on Tuesday afternoon
Maintaining his signature kooky style, the Your Song hitmaker paired a pale blue shirt with glossy red trainers.
The musician rounded off his look with his trademark yellow-lens glasses as he shed light on his book to an audience.
The Royal Academy of Music holds a special place in the singer’s heart as he refined his vocal talent as a teen at the institution, and later received a Honorary Doctorate in Music from the school in July 2002.
Me – released last month – details his impressive journey to stardom, as well as his dependency struggles and high-profile friendships.
Style savvy: The singer and songwriter, 72, cut a typically dapper figure as he sported an oversized grey suit
Kooky display: The musician rounded off his look with his trademark yellow-lens glasses as he shed light on his book to an audience
In an excerpt from the book, Elton revealed his husband David Furnish ended up in rehab with a serious alcohol problem because he could not cope with his partner’s worldwide fame.
The producer, 57, took to drink after struggling to live in the public eye and suffering loneliness as the musician was away on tour.
Realising the extent of his drink problem, former advertising executive David checked into a clinic in Malibu, California.
In good company: The Rocketman star was joined by the school’s principal, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
Off he goes: Maintaining his signature kooky style, the Your Song hitmaker paired a pale blue shirt with glossy red trainers
Achievement: The belter refined his vocal talent as a teen at the institution, and received a Honorary Doctorate in Music from the school in July 2002 (pictured)
In his racy new autobiography, Me, award-winning belter Elton writes: ‘I always thought David had slipped into Elton John World with remarkable ease and confidence, but it turned out that a lot of things I was completely used to living with, that I just saw as a fact of life, made him completely anxious.
‘He didn’t like being photographed all the time, or being under press scrutiny, or public speaking at [Elton John] AIDS Foundation events.’
The media personality – who entered into a civil partnership with David in 2005 and married him in 2014 when gay marriage became legal – said his partner’s drink demons became apparent when he found empty wine bottles scattered throughout the homes they shared around the world.
On one occasion, Elton discovered David passed out in front of his computer. Four years after the couple adopted their sons Elijah and Zachary, the boozing had become so severe that the singer feared they would split up.
‘It all came to a head in Los Angeles in 2014, two days before I was due to start a US tour… David was feeling low and wanted me to stay the extra night with him. I said no. We had a huge row, I went anyway,’ he writes.
‘The next morning, David called and we had a row that made the previous day’s row look like a light-hearted disagreement over what to have for lunch.
Promotional trail: Me – released last month – details Elton’s impressive journey to stardom, as well as his dependency struggles and high-profile friendships
Supportive: The media personality was joined by husband David Furnish, who he revealed ended up in rehab with a serious alcohol problem over Elton’s fame
All in the details: The pianist complemented his appearance with a dainty hooped earring
‘The kind of argument where you come off the phone teary and reeling, where things are said that make you wonder whether the next time you communicate it’ll be through lawyers.
‘In fact, the next time I heard from David, he had checked himself into a rehab clinic in Malibu. I was pleased he was getting treatment.’
When David left rehab, Elton – who has endured his own well-publicised battle with drink and drugs – joined him at his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Elton John’s official autobiography was published by Macmillan on October 15, just months after his biopic Rocketman was released.
An open book: Elton’s official autobiography was published by Macmillan on October 15
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