Music legend Molly Meldrum moons crowd at Elton John’s farewell Melbourne concert

Molly Meldrum has joined Elton John in a surprise on-stage appearance at his Melbourne farewell show, before flashing a little more skin than expected.

With the end of the yellow brick road in sight, Sir Elton John played the first of two farewell shows at AAMI Park on Friday night with a triumphant performance that was more celebratory than sentimental.

Sir Elton, 75-years-old, 50 years strong in show business, and doing a final lap of Australia before permanently retiring for the sake of family, could be forgiven for a dewy-eyed nostalgia trip.

Instead, his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour honoured Sir Elton’s legacy; an incredible career of classic songs, a larger-than-life personality, and unmatched showmanship.

“Good evening, Melbourne,” he told a packed stadium.

“I never thought we were coming back, but we are here. These are definitely the last two shows,” he added.

“We’re going to make them count, and we’re going to have the best time possible.”

He opened with Bennie And The Jets, still shining with its emphatic piano stomp, and rock-steady beat beneath.

Too rude! Molly Meldrum bares his butt on stage.

Elton said Molly was a ‘national treasure’.

Then the hits came, one after another — Your Song, I’m Still Standing, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Candle In The Wind, and much more — amid costumes changes, dazzling production, and a super-tight backing band, which includes long-time collaborators Davey Johnstone (guitars), Nigel Olsson (drums) and Ray Cooper (percussion).

He dedicated the emotional Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to guitar legend Jeff Beck and Lisa Marie Presley, who both passed away earlier this week.

His good friend Molly Meldrum was also in the crowd on Friday night, feeling “bittersweet” and “sad” about Sir Elton’s swan song.

Sir Elton paid tribute to Meldrum from centre stage. “He’s quite honestly a national treasure,” he said.

“I want to thank him for all the love and loyalty he’s shown me over the years. I love you.”

Meldrum then appeared on stage for a riotous version of The Bitch Is Back.

They hugged, kissed and Molly bared his buttocks. Showbiz, hey?

Sir Elton’s famous gold path has led him to a new dream; home life with husband David Furnish, and their children Zachary, 12, and Elijah, 10.

And after half a century creating (with lyricist Bernie Taupin) some of the most beloved songs of all time, backed by magical shows, who could deny Sir Elton’s decision to walk away while still at the top of his game?

The quandary is, he’s still standing — and commanding — better than ever.

Sir Elton John plays his second and final show at AAMI Park on Saturday.

‘This is it’ Elton’s message for fans

Sir Elton John has a message for those who think it isn’t over.

“I can tell you now that this is it,” he told Music Week.

“As far as schlepping around the world doing shows, I don’t want to do it anymore. I’ve done it since I was 17.”

He will perform two shows on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at AAMI Park on Friday and Saturday, his final-ever concerts in Melbourne.

It’s an encore performance. His farewell tour started in 2018, travelled across Australia in late 2019 and 2020.

When Sir Elton’s tour wraps in July, he will have played 333 shows.

Sir Elton has played 238 shows in Australia since his first-ever concert here in 1971.

Elton John on stage in Newcastle on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. Picture: Richard Dobson

His shows at AAMI Park will feature a different stage and bigger production than his shows three years ago.

He has also tweaked the set list. When lockdowns put his tour on hiatus, Sir Elton had one of the biggest hits of his career, Cold Heart, a duet with Dua Lipa, remixed by Australian musicians Pnau.

“I’m a 75-year-old heritage musician with a great catalogue of songs and a great track record, but that doesn’t mean to say you stay relevant,” Sir Elton said.

Cold Heart now has a place in the encore section of the show. But, for the most part, the set remains the same, including the show’s opener Bennie and the Jets, the epic Funeral For A Friend and Love Lies Bleeding, and classics like I’m Still Standing, Rocket Man and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.