How Molly Meldrum and Elton John’s friendship stood test of time

Molly Meldrum may have bared his butt at Sir Elton John’s farewell show in Melbourne but their mutual respect has stood the test of time.

Molly Meldrum’s butt-baring antics at Sir Elton John’s farewell show in Melbourne might be the perfect footnote — or, for some, bum note — to their ever-loving, always-unpredictable friendship.

“I’ve known Molly ever since I’ve been coming to Australia,” Sir Elton said at his AAMI Park show on Friday night. “He’s helped me so much, he’s helped every single musician.

“He’s honestly a national treasure. I want to thank him for the love and loyalty he’s shown me over the years. He’s an amazing man. Molly, thank you so much. I love you.”

As tributes go, it didn’t get much better or heartfelt.

However, a few songs later, Meldrum appeared side of stage, then walked into Sir Elton’s spotlight during a riotous version of The Bitch Is Back.

Sir Elton, ever the professional, powered through the song, as Meldrum stood, with beaming smiles, near the Rocket Man’s grand piano. There were hugs, kiss, and then, out of nowhere, Molly’s rear. It was the moment of Rocketmoon.

The crowd gasped, social media lit up, but for the most part, Melbourne knew it was their beloved Molly being Molly. Some on the tour wish it hadn’t happened, but such is the uncertain nature of Molly and Elton’s sideshow.

Molly Meldrum drops his pants on stage at an Elton John concert.

The duo first met in 1971, when Elton played his first-ever Melbourne show at Kooyong Stadium.

That friendship sparked some of the best-ever Countdown moments, all filmed in Melbourne, topped off by Elton’s caustic wit and zingers.

It also inspired Elton’s strong connection to Melbourne.

In 1971, Elton arrived at the airport, met by two policemen who said the four badges he was wearing would be “damaging to our society”. One said “Bitch, bitch, bitch”. Another was a zodiac sign with a sexual intercourse position.

Elton stopped, put a few Band-Aids over the badges, and kept walking.

During the 1971 tour, Elton fell in love with Daddy Cool. According to legend, he was inspired to write Crocodile Rock after hearing Eagle Rock.

It was also the start of Elton championing Melbourne music to the world.

He also supported, and signed to his record label, Eran James, a soul singer from Altona, and gave massive props to Frankston’s Tones And I on his Apple Music radio show.

After the 1971 tour, Elton savaged Australia, telling a British newspaper: “Everything (in Australia) is controversial, even Coronation Street. They have a sign flashing on the screen during the show: ‘Not suitable for children’.

“They are so archaic. We’re still ‘Limeys’ to them. Since I found that out, I have willed every Australian team to lose.

“My cousin lives there and he had to accept the principles of a beer-drinking idiot to survive. It was a nightmare being there, but we’ll go back. Why not?”

Elton returned to Australia three years later.

Elton John and Molly Meldrum on Countdown.

Molly organised a party for Elton at Silvers nightclub in Toorak, and arranged to take him to the venue in a Rolls Royce. Unfortunately, the car crawled up Toorak Rd, with the exhaust pipe backfiring every few minutes. Elton was furious. “Whose idea was this?”

An embarrassed Molly whispered to minders: “Don’t tell him it was my idea, say it was someone from Sydney.”

Elton, who is godfather to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, Sean, was in Melbourne the day John Lennon was murdered.

Molly had arranged a Christmas-theme dinner at his home for Elton, but the event became a wake.

Molly interviewed Elton many times for Countdown, which was beamed around the country from the ABC TV studios in Elsternwick.

In a 1978 interview, Elton was on fire, and bagged Boney M (“I can’t stand them, they’re dreadful … my mum likes them”) the Rolling Stones (“I liked Miss You … I thought the rest of the album was abysmal, I thought they should give up”) and Billy Joel (“I always felt sorry for the bloke because everyone said, ‘Poor man’s Elton John.’ (If) you listen to Big Shot — it’s Bennie and the Jets backwards.”).

Elton John and Molly Meldrum in 1984.

Two years later, chatting to Molly, Elton had Bruce Springsteen in his sights. “I like (him),” Elton opined, “but all his stuff sounds as if it was recorded on the lawnmower.”

In 2012, with so much history between them, Elton told Molly: “You’re a legend and you’re a friend and you’ve stuck by me through the good times and the bad. You’re an institution … a mental institution but you’re an institution”.

There’s an inscription on a wall at Molly’s house, which Elton wrote after Meldrum asked him over for a barbecue. “Dear Molly,” it reads. “So many years, So many tears, But so many great times. Your friend Elton. Love you.”

But their friendship suffered a seven-year rift after Channel 7’s Sunday Night program aired off-the-record comments made Sir Elton during an interview with Meldrum.

Sir Elton buried the hatchet by phoning Molly.

“The call came out of the blue,” Meldrum said. “I picked up and this voice said: ‘How are you?’ I said: ‘Who are you?’”

“It’s Elton,” the voice at the other end said.

“Oh, for f---s sake. Get real,” Molly shouted.

“Who is it?”

“Listen, you silly old queen, it’s me!”

Molly, laughing: “That’s when I knew it was him and we were going to be OK.”