Sir Elton John, 77, breaks down in tears during heated exchange in recording studio: ‘F*****g nightmare!’
Sir Elton John has been captured suffering a series of emotional breakdowns during the recording of his new album, with footage showing the music legend shouting and tearing up sheet music in the studio.
The 77-year-old star allowed cameras into the recording studio for the first time in his career whilst making “Who Believes In Angels?” with American singer Brandi Carlile amid mounting health concerns.
The dramatic scenes, filmed at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles last October, reveal thousands of hours of what his team described as “emotionally turbulent” raw footage.
In one explosive moment, the veteran performer can be seen slamming down his headphones and shouting “f***ing nightmare” before storming off.
The behind-the-scenes footage documents the entire creative process, including what his camp called “breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, torn up lyric sheets and all.”
Producer Andrew Watt bore the brunt of John’s frustration during several tense exchanges captured on film.
When Watt asked if the star was ready to record, John snapped back: “Why do you think I am sitting here?”
The producer later confronted the singer’s impatience, shouting: “I am just trying to make the song as best as it can be…you are so impatient.”
In one particularly dramatic moment, the 77-year-old is seen ripping up a sheet of music whilst declaring “I’m going home.”
The singer later acknowledged his behaviour, saying: “I was exhausted, I had a lot of doubt, I was a nightmare. I was angry, I was tired, I was irritable…I felt I don’t want to do it.”
Collaborator Brandi Carlile revealed she struggled to form a connection with Sir Elton during the recording sessions.
“Elton is prone to bouts of insecurity especially where the stakes are high. I am having a hard time connecting to Elton,” she explained.
The American singer-songwriter added: “There were times when I thought why does he want to do this.”
Despite the initial tensions, John said the “fog started to lift” as the project progressed.
“I felt there were other people involved, I can’t abandon it…finally it all started to flow,” he added.
The music legend expressed his determination to improve, stating: “I wanted to play better, sing better, write better and challenge myself at the age I am.”
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The album, Who Believes in Angels, was completed in just 20 days at the iconic Sunset Sound Studios.
John has declared this album marks the beginning of a new era in his life, stating: “This is the start of my career Mark 2. I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing. But this is the new start for me.”
The album is described as mixing multiple genres, where “ballads co-exist with raw rock and roll, pop songs and country-hued Americana rub shoulders with synth-heavy psychedelia.”