Elton raises roof at new Leeds Arena

The arena – whose protracted development had been the subject of much controversy – had its official opening yesterday followed by the two-hour-plus set last night by the Rocket Man.

Walking on stage amid roaring cheers, Sir Elton launched into The Bitch is Back, before leading his band into Benny and the Jets, showcasing some virtuoso piano work.

Acknowledging the crowd, he said: “Good evening Leeds, it’s great to play this wonderful new place, especially as this is my first gig back for a while.”

The prolific artist, who releases his 30th solo album this month, was performing just days after he was awarded the inaugural Brit Icon Award, to add to his six Grammys, four Brits, Golden Globe and Oscar.

Among the fans who had been first through the doors was Clare Powers, from Garforth, who was seeing Sir Elton perform for the first time. “He’s a real legend,” she said. “I’m so excited to see him.”

Having been given a spectacular “dress rehearsal” in July by Bruce Springsteen, last night represented the 13,500-seat venue’s official opening night, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier in the day by council leader Keith Wakefield.

Review, by Mark Casci

Something to clarify before we start; anyone attending a gig and expecting to hear the performer play 1970s hits, exactly as they sound on his 1970s records, is fooling themselves on a ridiculous scale.

No-one can do what they did when they did 40 years ago as well as they do today.

Except, in the case of Sir Elton, who can still command a stage like a three star general commands a battlefield - except nobody dies and everyone leaves happy.

Sure the 66-year-old musician behind 30 studio albums and millions of record sales has lost a few notes of his upper register when it comes to his singing but tonight, watching him screw his face up as he tears into Crocodile Rock, he’s lost nothing of his verve and passion - surely the most key of all artistic ingredients.

The truth is, as all of us who were lucky enough to see his performance to one Leeds’ First Direct Arena this week, is that Sir Elton is the last of that great breed of true British working musical legends. Those who have perfected stage craft and songsmanship, worked themselves to death in bars and pubs, achieved the stardom they so craved and then learned with the consequences such fame brings - all the while using it as fuel to the fire of an unbelievable catalogue of songs that has enraptured and entranced music lovers for generations.

For a city with such a proud tradition of musical innovation, Sir Elton could not have been a more perfect choice to open its new arena.

“It’s a privilege to play for you all,” he tells the crowd. “I love doing this, I have so much fun doing it.”

As he strikes up songs such as That’s Why They Call It The Blues and Funeral for a Friend it’s obvious to all that a rock n’ roll concert isn’t an exercise in hitting the right notes but more the pursuit of happiness.

And, as generations of women from their teens to their sixties fall into their men’s arms, and see them hold them close during set-closer Your Song, it’s obvious that the man who has won everything from Brits to Oscars has achieved his goal.

As a footnote it’s worth noting the Leeds First Direct Arena is a first-class musical auditorium and tonight’s opening show will be the first of many unforgettable nights.