Elton John condemns Putin at NJ concert, dedicates song to Ukraine

Before continuing with his performance at Prudential Center Friday night, Elton John took a moment to address the Newark crowd.

The rock icon said he’d like to dedicate his next song, the 1974 hit “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” to “the people of Ukraine,” referencing Russia’s invasion of the neighboring country earlier this week after decades of tension.

John, 74, noted how he’d visited Ukraine many times over the years in relation to his AIDS foundation.

John then said “some people are appalling, aren’t they?” referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin. “Absolutely appalling. There is no justification for this. Little bastard, I hate him. Here we go.”

Many in the crowd of roughly 15,000 fans cheered John’s words.

Friday’s performance was part of John’s ongoing “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” farewell tour, which began in 2018 and played Prudential Center in 2019. A second date at the venue, in April 2020, was rescheduled for Friday.

The massive, 311-date tour has not played nor was scheduled to play shows in Ukraine or Russia.

John famously toured the Soviet Union in 1979, playing four nights each in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and Moscow — one of the first western pop acts to play in the country. He last played Russia in 2017, again in Moscow. He last played Ukraine in 2012, in Kiev.

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Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook.