Photo: John Marshall
Sir Elton John has been named the winner of the first ever BRITs Icon award, and performed an intimate gig of new tracks and greatest hits, which will be broadcast on ITV next week.
The star performed an intimate gig of classic hits and tracks from his upcoming new album, The Diving Board at an event in Lonson, which was filmed for broadcast on ITV at 9pm on Friday 13 September, 2013. Elton John will perform on Sunday night at Bestival this weekend, closing the annual Isle OF Wight event after headline slots from Fatboy Slim and Snoop Dogg.
The London event, hosted by Dermot O'Leary included video messages from Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Ed Sheeran, Annie Lennox, Emilie Sandé, Mumford & Sons, Billie Jean King, David Furnish, Bernie Taupin and many others. He was joined on stage by Rod Stewart to perform 'Sad Songs (Say So Much)', while audience members included actress Liz Hurley, Irish rockers The Strypes and washing-up liquid guru, Nanette Newman.
"It's a tremendous honour and a real thrill for me to have my work acknowledged in this way, and I'm really looking forward to participating in what promises to be a very special occasion," Elton John said in a statement about the event.
Sir Elton John performed hits for a celebrity audience, filmed for TV broadcast
BPI and BRIT Awards Ltd Chief Executive, Geoff Taylor said, “We’re proud to be launching our first ever BRITs Icon Award with an artist of Sir Elton’s incredible stature. He represents the very embodiment of what the BRITs Icon is all about, having achieved a level of creativity, originality, critical acclaim and global success that few others can match.”
Elton John's BRITs Icon performance will be broadcast on ITV at 9pm on 13 September, 2013. His full setlist is below:
I’m Still Standing
Your Song
Philadelphia Freedom
Bennie And The Jets
Tiny Dancer
Home Again
Rocket Man
Mexican Vacation
Sad Songs (Say So Much) with Rod Stewart
For more information about Bestival, visit Gigwise gig tickets.
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