'At my age, I can rant!' Bernie Taupin on Elton John, hellraising vampires and competing in full-blown rodeos
He is the outstanding lyricist who propelled the Rocket Man to 300m sales. As Taupin releases a wistfully grouchy solo album, he talks about the joy of anonymity, his LA drinking gang – and owning a prize-winning bucking bull
TL;DR
- Bernie Taupin, Elton John's longtime lyricist, describes his fame as being the 'credit card guy' due to his ability to maintain anonymity until payment reveals his identity.
- His new solo album, 'The Sea Has No Mercy,' features Taupin writing both lyrics and music, exploring a blend of folk, country, and ambient sounds, and is seen as a 'late-life manifesto'.
- Taupin reflects on his past, including his involvement in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club in the 1970s and his deep connection to American culture, evidenced by his participation in professional rodeo.
- Despite releasing a solo album and appearing on TV, Taupin anticipates no change to his cherished anonymity, believing his age makes it unlikely to impact his visibility.