Sir Elton John is one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
He’s a generational musical talent as both vocalist and pianist. He’s also a world-class showman whose renowned stage performances have left indelible marks on audiences and rock ‘n’ roll history alike.
One of his greatest shows – arguably the greatest – is still being talked about and commemorated nearly 50 years later.
Books have been written about it. The Los Angeles Dodgers commemorated it this past season with a souvenir bobblehead. Walmart has even gotten into the act with a limited-edition frame to venerate it.
An Event for the Ages
The year was 1975. The venue was Dodger Stadium. The scene was historic.
An estimated 110,000 screaming fans packed the venerable baseball cathedral during the two-day event in the fall of ’75. They were the lucky ones.
Advertisement
Photographer Terry O’Neill was on hand to capture the moment on film.
“At the time, they were the largest outdoor concert events ever done by a single artist,” O’Neill said in an interview with eltonjohn.com a few years ago. “On the first night, I went all the way to the top of the back of the stadium so I could get shots of what it looked like from above. I couldn’t believe it when I got there – how enormous the stadium was, what 55,000 people looked like.
“But even before the shows began, I knew it was going to be special. Elton was at 150% form – all I had to do was press the button. It all unfolded in front of me.”
O’Neill’s book Two Days that Rocked the World: Elton John Live at Dodger Stadium includes photographs of the two shows and a rehearsal the day before.
According to a story on the British online culture site Far Out Magazine, John played “31 songs over a three-hour set” the first night of the show, including his hit ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ perfectly timed “with the beautiful setting California sun.”
It is the stuff of rock ‘n’ roll legend. It is now part of rock ‘n’ roll lore. Elton John at 28 already was a huge star before the concerts. He and the sequined Dodgers outfit he wore during portions of the shows went interstellar after them.
Advertisement
Elton John played before nearly 110,000 fans during a two-show concert series in 1975 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. During the shows he wore a pair of Sir Winston O C 132 in white. (Courtesy)
Iconic Star, Iconic Frames
The frames he wore on those late October days all those years ago also were a hit.
“Elton was wearing my Sir Winston O C 132 in white,” wrote Ray Winston in an email with INVISION Magazine.
Winston, now a sales rep for German eyewear brand OWP, is the founder and designer behind Sir Ray Winston Eyewear. He has, in his own words, a “beautiful collection” of vintage eyewear to show for his decades-long career in the profession. The collection includes “all the frames I provided for Elton John in the seventies.”
Winston reached out to the Dodgers when he learned of the Elton John bobblehead promotion. The team mailed him one in recognition for his part in the historic event.
A Fond Farewell
John, now 75, has returned to Dodger Stadium for one last hurrah. He says his three shows there – part of a three-concert series on Nov. 17, 19 and 20 – will be the final U.S. performances of his career.
Advertisement
His farewell tour kicked off in 2018. It was postponed for a bit due to the pandemic. It will continue in Australia before concluding in Europe.
To mark the occasion of his final U.S. stop, Walmart.com is selling limited-edition commemorative sunglasses. Elton John formed a partnership with the retail giant in 2021 with the Elton John Eyewear collection.
The limited-edition “L.A. ’22” frames are touted as an updated version of the iconic Sir Winston frames he wore in 1975. Included with each of the 600 numbered sunglasses are: a commemorative case, keepsake cleaning cloth and packaging featuring the image of Sir Elton performing in the original frames. They are available online for $99.
More on the Final Concerts
– Tickets remain for those looking to take part in rock n roll history. The Nov. 20 performance also will be livestreamed on Disney+.
– The Los Angeles Times penned an excellent feature on Elton John, his relationship with the city and his final shows in the U.S. It is a fitting L.A. story.
– Enjoy a few videos we found of the 1975 performance below:
