And it looks like British music icon Elton John might soon be taking a break from his life of constant touring. This is what he had to say shortly before taking to the stage for an intimate gig to launch Apple Music Festival 10, London 2016.
Speaking backstage at London's Roundhouse, 69-year-old superstar Elton John described his current hectic schedule of live concerts.
"I'm going to America tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the morning and I start my tour on Wednesday in Savannah, Georgia. And I do some east coast dates, then I go to Vegas and it's just part and parcel of what I do, I play about 100 shows a year. I'm a working musician, I'm not someone like Bruce Springsteen or the Rolling Stones or Coldplay who do a tour every two years. I'm more or less on the road throughout the whole year, give or take a few months in the summer. And that's what I love to do and I like playing. I don't want to take two years off, from, not doing anything, I'd go crazy," said Elton John.
But it can't last forever, he acknowledges, especially with a young family. The musician has two sons with husband David Furnish.
"I'm touring less, actually. I used to do 120 shows a year, now it's getting down to 100. And eventually I will stop because I want to spend time with my boys and I will have to decide where and when that will be, but it won't be long before I suddenly think, you know, I've had enough," said Elton John.
Those who won tickets for the Sunday show got to enjoy a comparatively cosy gig for the star, at the 3,300 capacity Roundhouse.
John took to the piano in a black and glittering red jacket to sing hits including "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer" and "Bennie and the Jets".
He was joined on stage by some of the acts he has been championing on his Apple radio show: Christine and the Queens, Parker Millsap, Gallant and Rosie Lowe.
"I wanted these four people because I'd been supporting them and we chose them quite a while ago and it's really going to be exciting because not only they are great makers of records, but they're great live. They're great artists, they're great singers and they're great songwriters and they have depth," said Elton John.
Britney Spears, Alicia Keys and Calvin Harris are among the other performers set to play the 10-night Apple Music Festival 10, London 2016, which concludes on September 30.
Bastille, Robbie Williams, Michael Buble, OneRepublic and The 1975 are also due to participate, with all concerts taking place at the Roundhouse in Camden.
The performances will be made available live and on-demand to Apple Music subscribers in 100 countries.
