Tantrums & tiaras

Footage shows bumpy road to 'best record yet'

- TOM BRYANT

SIR Elton John broke down in tears, clashed with his team and tore up music in a strop as he invited cameras into the studio for the first time in his career.

After more than 50 years in the business, Elton yesterday shared the turbulent creative process as he made his surprise new record Who Believes in Angels? - his first all-new set since 2016's Wonderful Crazy Night.

Insiders say the album, a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, may be his best ever but as the candid footage reveals, it was far from straightforward.

Static cameras captured thousands of hours of raw footage at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound Studios, in which the star clashes with Brandi and with producer Andrew Watt.

Slamming down a pair of headphones, the Crocodile Rock singer snaps "f****** nightmare", before later ripping up a sheet of music and declaring: "I'm going home." Speaking in a voiceover to promote the album, Elton, 77, explains there was tension in the studio during the sessions in October 2023.

He adds: "The reality is... I was exhausted, I had a lot of doubt, I was a nightmare.