Captain Fantastic: The Definitive Biography of Elton John in the '70s

The definitive artist of post-Watergate America, Elton John accounted for a staggering two percent of all global record sales by 1975, while his concert tours routinely broke house records set by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Combining rigorous research with critical insight -- and drawing on over ninety firsthand interviews with Elton's closest friends and collaborators -- 'Captain Fantastic: The Definitive Biography of Elton John in the '70s' is a no-holds-barred portrait of the troubled genius who helped change the landscape of popular music more than any other solo artist since Elvis Presley. 'Captain Fantastic: The Definitive Biography of Elton John in the '70s' explores in intimate detail the life of a greatly misunderstood icon during the Technicolor decade when his creative powers were at their zenith and his personal life at its most conflicted. The result is a work that provides fresh insight into a musical force nonpareil, including explorations of Elton's battles with various addictions, his suicide attempts (including one never before spoken of), his startling success as a leading icon of the era, his exploration of his sexuality, the stories behind nearly every song he wrote and recorded during the decade, and much more. This blunt yet compassionate portrait -- which features a foreword from Jethro Tull's iconic leader, Ian Anderson, and an afterword by A.J. Croce, the critically acclaimed pianist and son of the late Jim Croce -- also comes complete with many rare and never-before-published photographs, as well as a complete list of every concert (including city/date/venue) that Elton gave during the '70s, and a detailed bibliography. "Everything knows everything about me, and everyone knows nothing," Elton once said. With the publication of 'Captain Fantastic: The Definitive Biography of Elton John in the '70s, that is about to change.