'I'VE SPENT DECADES RACING AHEAD. NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT FAMILY AND FRIENDS'

Elton John's focus has shifted, but he's still finding time to launch his own sparkling wine (alcohol-free, naturally), champion new music - and play a huge show in Rio

- MARTIN ROBINSON

I think any bonhomie that comes into your life influences what you do as a person," says Elton John, reflecting on what his social, party-throwing side has brought to his artistic life. "I've been lucky enough to meet so many great people, artistic people, interesting people, and I truly, truly believe that it helps my soul compose music.

Is this the secret to Elton John? Many artists have a natural fire-at-their-fingers talent (though the young piano prodigy Reg Dwight in Pinner must have seemed miraculous), and many work hard at becoming craftspeople in the art of songwriting. But very few in rock and pop history have been able to develop this into global success, and then maintain it, for decades. Actually surviving rock 'n' roll stardom long enough is tough and as readers of his riotously warts-and-all autobiography, Me, will know, Elton almost didn't make it himself (he recounts John Lennon stopping him from letting Andy Warhol in his room: "Do you want him coming in here taking photos when you've got icicles of coke hanging out of your nose?"). But keeping up an artistic renewal is another, the difficulty of sustaining relevance through active engagement.

It may well be that the secret to Elton is his interest. Interest in music and interest in people, a sociable interaction with an ever-changing world that is critical to maintaining drive and energy. He famously consumes an extraordinary amount of music and goes out of his way to champion new artists, saying today, "I'm completely obsessed with Blood Orange's album Essex Honey. Dev Hynes is a phenomenal talent who somehow keeps getting better... There's also an incredible group of new-ish artists creating brilliant music right now - Nectar Woode, Sienna Spiro and Royal Otis are all truly talented. Irish music is having a real moment too, with some genuinely exciting acts, and I'm especially excited by the music of Florence Road."