Elton John’s rise from small-town boy to one of the most iconic figures in pop culture is the subject of the musical fantasy movie about his breakthrough years. Jamie Bell who shot to fame in Billy Elliot plays Elton’s longtime lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin. And Bodyguard’s Richard Madden plays Elton’s first manager, John Reid, with whom he had a spectacular falling out years back.
Reid managed Elton for almost 30 years since 1970 and was his lover for five years in the 1970s. Described by Rolling Stone as “small and short fused”, he worked initially for EMI on Tamla Mowtown and managed Queen for three years. He was a veritable dynamo and a tough negotiator as well as a lover of the high life and bad tempered when things didn’t go his way. But he remained loyal even after they split romantically and only parted company in an argument over commission and touring expenses which ended in an unseemly court battle that Elton eventually lost.
Reid, born 9 September 1949 8.35 am Paisley, Scotland, has a 12th house Sun Saturn in Virgo as befits a behind-the-scenes organiser; though with am ambitious and flamboyant 10th house Mars in Leo and an innovative Uranus on his midheaven.
He was a good fit with Elton having his 7th house Aries Moon conjunct Elton’s Sun; and both have their respective Moon’s in the other’s 8th house for a deep (and financial) connection. In both case their Moons were trine the other’s Saturn, – good for business. Elton’s Venus in Aquarius chimes with Reid’s Venus in Libra. So a good many pluses. But there were also difficulties with Elton’s Saturn conjunct Reid’s Mars and Elton’s Mars opposition Reid’s Saturn Sun – so major aggravations and unkindesses.
Their relationship chart has a needs-space though inventive composite Sun Uranus in an adventurous, risk-taking opposition to a frivolously indulgent Venus Jupiter conjunction. That opposition was sextile/trine a stabilising Saturn; though Saturn was also in a destructive square to Mars, so there would always been an underlying current of irritation and anger.
Reid has largely disappeared out of sight in recent years while Elton is playing the longest goodbye tour ever for three years.
Rocketman has had semi-OK reviews as it launches. Pop veteran Mike Batt has hit out with criticism that the film was vengeful and dishonest, a settling of old scores by Elton and his husband David Furnish, especially against John Reid and Elton’s late mother who took Reid’s side in the dispute.
David Furnish, 25 October 1962, is quite an odd match for Elton having a Sun and two other planets in Scorpio. Like Reid he has Mars in Leo in his case opposition Saturn which clashes with Elton’s Saturn Pluto and squares Elton’s Moon – so not the easiest of connections. And Furnish’s Pluto opposes Elton’s Mars. Lot of anger wrapped up in there.
The relationship chart is also not dissimilar to the Reid/Elton one with a needs-space composite Sun opposition Uranus (maybe Moon) and an aggravated, power-struggling Mars square Pluto.
Word on the street is that everything in their garden isn’t too rosy but it’s more difficult to split with children now in the mix.
Just saw that you added Furnish! Thank you. Makes total sense what you wrote, given the goings-on in their household described in the press in recent years.
An interesting Jupiter (Elton) – Venus (Furnish) conjunction in Scorpio in the synastry.
Cher’s first Goodbye Tour began in 2002! She’s now on her 2019 ‘Farewell Tour’. She beats Elton by miles for bye bye, so long, all right then, peace out, I’m out, smell you later tours.
Have you ever taken a look at Elton’s synastry and composite with Furnish?
This reminds me that Tarantino is again in the spotlight, with Brad and Leonardo. A possible topic for some other day.