Here's the scoop on Elton's concert in Laramie, Wyoming, at the University of Wyoming's Arena/Auditorium on 6/1/99:
The concert was billed as a "concert against hate". It was to benefit several anti-hate/pro-tolerance organizations in Wyoming. Towards the end of the concert, Elton announced that the show has raised $250,000 for those organizations. The concert was sold out and the crowd was very reactive. The make up of the audience varied, it kinda' looked like a family reunion. There were gray-haired ladies, bikers, young children, entire families, you name it..
Elton came on stage to the strains of his Aida instrumental (the one at the end of the CD) and the crowd went beserk! The Governor of Wyoming and Matthew Shepard's parents were in the audience as Elton's guests.He was wearing a black suit with a sequined design on the back right shoulder and was wearing his blue-tint "John Lennon" glasses.
He began the show with Your Song. After that, he read a statement about the purpose of the show, Matthew Shepard's death and the need for tolerance in the world. He dedicated the show to all hate-crime victims, including Matthew Shepard, James Byrd and the Columbine High School victims. This was a VERY emotional concert.
He then proceeded with Skyline Pigeon, The Greatest Discovery and so on. He played for three hours. Highlights of the show included the cool Lion King videos shown on the big screens on stage, rousing extended versons of Rocket Man, Bennie and the Jets, and Crocodile Rock. He dedicated Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me to Matthew Shepard, and finished with The Last Song.
Oh yeah, here's a small bit of news: towards the end of the concert, Elton introduced his next song by saying something like "I haven't played this next song in a long time but, considering the nature of this concert, I think it would be appropriate to play it now... if I can remember it." He then played Candle in the Wind (old lyrics). OUTSTANDING!!!
As I mentioned, it was a very emotional evening for all and show unlike any other Elton will do on his tour.
Return to concert information.