Sir Elton named as first winner of the Brits Icon Award

The Rocket Man and Your Song star is to be given the Brits Icon Award at a show in September which will be broadcast later by ITV.

The new prize, created by the BPI, music industry’s trade body, will stand alone from the main Brit Awards each year and will be presented to a notable artist whose writing, recording and performances have made a “lasting impact on the nation’s culture”.

Sir Elton has recently been treated for appendicitis which resulted in his shows being cancelled including a headline appearance at Hyde Park this month.

But he is expected to be recovered in time for the inaugural event on September 2 at which he will perform and welcome a number of guests.

Tickets for the show – at which he perform classic hits as well
as songs from forthcoming
album The Diving Board – will
go on sale tomorrow at 10am, with proceeds going to the
Brit Trust and the Royal Academy Of Music, at which Sir Elton trained.

He said: “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.”

Tickets can bought at www.brits.co.uk and www.seetickets.com