Elton John has opened up about his experiences with Michael Jackson in his forthcoming Me memoir, labelling the King of Pop as being “genuinely mentally ill”.
Throughout his 50 years on this earth, Michael Jackson was the subject of a lot of acclaim, criticism, and confusion by many who couldn’t quite understand the way he conducted himself.
Having risen to fame as a child with The Jackson 5, Michael soon found himself thrust into the spotlight as an acclaimed solo artist, releasing classics like Thriller when he was just 24 years old.
However, aside from his music, Jackson became known for his eccentric behaviour, with tabloids soon labelling him “Wacko Jacko” for his frequent headline-grabbing antics.
While most people would write off any of this behaviour as being the result of a life lived in the public eye, Elton John has since claimed in his new memoir that Jackson gradually changed over the years, stating his belief that the musician was “genuinely mentally ill” in the years leading up to his death.
Check out ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson:
As TMZ reports, Elton John is set to release his new memoir, Me, this week, which sees him sharing a number of tales from his storied career, However, in addition to touching on topics like his own addictions to drugs, Elton explains that Michael Jackson’s mental state gradually deteriorated over the years.
“I’d known Michael since he was 13 or 14 … He was just the most adorable kid you could imagine,” Elton begins. “But at some point in the intervening years, he started sequestering himself away from the world, and away from reality the way Elvis Presley did.
“God knows what was going on in his head, and God knows what prescription drugs he was being pumped full of, but every time I saw him in his later years I came away thinking the poor guy had totally lost his marbles.
“I don’t mean that in the light-hearted way. He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around,” Elton concludes, noting that “for whatever reason, he couldn’t seem to cope with adult company at all.”
In related news, Elton John is set to visit Australia for the final time next month, kicking off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in the country on November 30th, and staying on our shores until its conclusion on February 1st, 2020.
Check out ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ by Elton John:
Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Australia 2019-2020
Saturday, November 30th, 2019
HBF Park, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, December 1st, 2019
HBF Park, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Wednesday, December 4th, 2019
Botanic Park Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
Botanic Park Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Tuesday, December 10th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Wednesday, December 11th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, December 14th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Sunday, December 15th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Wednesday, December 18th, 2019
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, December 19th, 2019
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, December 21st, 2019
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Monday, December 23rd, 2019
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Tuesday, January 7th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, January 9th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, January 11th, 2020
Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Sunday, January 12th, 2020
Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Tuesday, January 14th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, January 14th, 2020
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, January 18th, 2020
A Day On The Green
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, January 19th, 2020
A Day On The Green
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020
Carrington Park, Bathurst, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, January 25th, 2020
Hanging Rock, Woodend, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, January 26th, 2020
Hanging Rock, Woodend, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Wednesday, January 29th, 2020
A Day On The Green
All Saints Estate, Rutherglen, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Friday, January 31st, 2020
A Day On The Green
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Saturday, February 1st, 2020
A Day On The Green
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
