Wh en Paul Bacon was a wee young lad of 12 in the 1970s, he came across Elton John’s seventh studio album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road . The hugely popular record was playing at a party and Bacon felt a connection. Little did he know that that would last a lifetime. The 50-something singer has for most of a decade been travelling the world, impersonating the successful singer with his popular tribute band. And now Ultimate Elton and the Rocket Band have come to India for a six-show tour. “I’ve gone from playing in Indian restaurants in the UK to India which is fun,” says the singer who talks softly in an even tone only after weighing his words carefully.
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The singer has always been creative, he says, even pursuing a degree in performing arts; drama and music in the UK. His foray in the tribute business has been, for lack of a better way of saying it, quite matter of fact. When working in event production, Bacon observed the burgeoning market for tribute bands. “There were some very big tribute bands for Abba, The Eagles, the Beatles and Queen,” he says. “I thought there might as well be a market there for an Elton John [tribute band].” Bacon has always been a big fan of Elton John’s music, growing up listening to his records. “Being a fan, one thing led to another,” he says. “I used to sing along to the music and I’ve performed with different bands and people kept saying ‘you sound like Elton and you do look a bit like him’.”
When he did put together a tribute act, people kept asking him to perform more. So much so that Bacon’s current manager, Stuart Epps has previously worked on and off with Elton John for several decades. The manager has been quoted in the Daily Mail as saying shivers went up his back when he saw Bacon onstage and Epps knew he had to work with the impersonator. And in 2015, Bacon performed for his idol’s mother Sheila Farebrother’s 90th birthday to much acclaim.
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Bacon’s attention to his act onstage is striking. The singer goes as far as to acquire Elton John’s previously worn clothes at charity sales. Plus, it helps that he can sing eerily similar to the superstar and mimic his mannerism. But certainly, there’s a deep love for his idol. Though, Bacon is quite resolute about his identity: there’s no blurring of the lines. “I’ve done a lot of acting and drama at university,” he says. “I see it as an act and obviously when I perform as Elton, I put on a costume and step into that role that I am playing.” And what about after he’s come off-stage and changed, “I go back to being me,” says Bacon. “It’s compartmentalised.” Perhaps those boundaries help make the band’s shows successful. Also, it’s the opportunity to experience an Elton John-like concert at a reasonable price. Now that Ultimate Elton is here, we can only hope the superstar makes his way to India someday.
Ultimate Elton and the Rocket Band will perform this evening at 7 p.m. at St Andrews Auditorium, Bandra, see bookmyshow.com for more details