Elton John

Lore & Background

The 1998 leg of their joint touring history marked a distinct geographic shift, moving beyond the North American circuit that had defined their previous two successful runs. The production expanded its footprint to include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and various European cities, yet intentionally excluded any North American stops for this specific year. A defining characteristic of this tour was the flexibility required when Billy Joel fell ill. On 6 June at Wembley Stadium in London, Joel withdrew from the concert, leaving Elton John to perform solo. John did not merely play his own catalog; he specifically played several of Joel's songs to honor the absent collaborator. This dynamic repeated on 30 June at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland. This date marked the absolute conclusion of the 1998 tour. The collaboration eventually came to an end, with Joel stating in 2012 that he would no longer tour with John because it restricted his setlists.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of the 1998 tour is defined by specific dates and locations where plans changed due to health. On 6 June, the concert at Wembley Stadium in London, England, proceeded without Billy Joel after he pulled out due to illness. Elton John took the stage alone for this performance, adapting his set to include several of Joel's songs. The situation mirrored itself weeks later on 30 June at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland. Joel was absent again, and John performed the show solo, once more playing Joel's material. This Zurich date served as the final night of the entire 1998 tour. The partnership continued for a time after this leg, but by 2012, Joel publicly stated he would no longer participate in joint tours with John, citing that the arrangement restricted his setlists.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking the history of Elton John and Billy Joel, the 1998 tour is notable for its specific international scope and the instances where John performed solo. When researching this era, note that the production visited Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe while skipping North America entirely. Two key dates are essential: 6 June at Wembley Stadium in London and 30 June at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich. On both occasions, Billy Joel was absent due to illness, and Elton John performed the entire show, including several of Joel's songs. The Zurich concert on 30 June was explicitly the last night of the 1998 tour. If looking for the conclusion of their joint touring history, Joel's 2012 statement is the definitive reference point where he noted that touring with John restricted his setlists.

Did You Know?

• The 1998 tour visited Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe while avoiding North American cities.
• Elton John performed several of Billy Joel's songs on 6 June at Wembley Stadium after Joel withdrew due to illness.
• Billy Joel pulled out of the final night of the 1998 tour on 30 June at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich.
• In 2012, Billy Joel stated he would no longer tour with Elton John because it restricted his setlists.