Elton John’s team reportedly feared he had been targeted in an assassination attempt when he was left bloodied onstage and then blacked out, according to the singer.
The Rocket Man was taken off from his piano amid fears that shots had been fired in the middle of a concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, according to a report published Thursday by RadarOnline. It was later revealed that a person in the crowd allegedly threw a metal pipe onto the stage that struck the legendary singer in his temple. John recalled that he had blood streaming down his face from the shocking incident and said he blacked out as a result of the injury.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: Sir Elton John Performs live on stage during his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” Tour at The O2 Arena on April 02, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
“Fans have often thrown things onstage when I’m playing, but usually it’s been something reasonably soft. Not in Greensboro,” John said, according to RadarOnline.
“As we plowed through a rendition of Burn Down the Mission, someone hurled a metal hash pipe toward the stage from the crowd. I didn’t see it coming,” he continued.
“The silver pipe smashed against my temple, drawing blood, and I completely blacked out. The band kept playing because it took them a second to realize what had happened. They told me later they thought I’d been shot because they saw blood pouring down my face,” he said as he detailed the incident.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 05: Elton John, wearing Gucci, performs onstage during the 2022 LACMA ART+FILM GALA Presented By Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for LACMA)
The iconic star sad he was dragged to the side of the stage by his bodyguard, Jim Morris, according to RadarOnline.
“There were feathers everywhere. A paramedic was bandaging my head,” John said. He went on to say that despite the injury and the frightening circumstances, he now considers this to be one of his “favorite” tour memories. (RELATED: Elton John Says He Lost Vision In His Right Eye)
The famous singer wrote about the scary situation in his new book, “Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” according to the publication.
