Mark Bego’s “Elton John: The Bitch is Back” is a somewhat drawn out tale of the Rocket Man, beginning with his modest upbringing as the shy Reggie Dwight from Pinner, England, who loved collecting records and then meticulously putting them in alphabetical order. Spurred on by his Grandmother, Reg began playing piano at the age of three. Over the years Reg won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, which he would later leave to pursue his dream of becoming a rock and roll superstar. While Reg was growing up, he witnessed first hand the arguments between his parents, which led to their subsequent divorce and remarriage to different people later on.
One of the most important parts of Reg’s budding career as an entertainer almost didn’t happen. He almost didn’t meet Bernie Taupin, the man who would become not only a great friend to him but also his lyricist for the next forty years.
Fortunately, Bernie’s mom would intervene. The two didn’t meet right away. At first Reg was given a stack of Taupin’s lyrics to look through and see if he could compose music to them. Soon after, they went for coffee together and decided to give working together a chance. In 1967, Reg Dwight was 20 years old and Bernie Taupin was 17. Music history was about to be made.
Reg officially changed his name to Elton John in 1972, after using it as his stage name for a few years. The book follows Elton through his extensive four decade career with all of its highlights, including a string of number one albums, singles, and his induction into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as being knighted by the Queen of England.
It also follows some of Elton’s low points: his split with Bernie, drug use, bulima, a string of boyfriends, throat surgery, and the loss of two people very close to him: John Lennon in 1980 and Princess Diana in 1997. However, through it all, even the tantrums, Elton remains one of the most beloved singer-songwriters of all time.