Elton John for Granaries concert

An agreement has been reached between the management of singer Elton John and NnG Promotions for the staging of the Rocket Man's concert at The Granaries, Floriana on July 6.

"A performance by a mega star of global fame, who has regaled the music world with hits for over three decades and whose fans span more than three generations, is unprecedented in Malta and is sure to be the most talked about musical experience that the country has ever witnessed," said a spokesman for NnG Promotions, which has been negotiating to get Elton John to Malta since November.

Elton John needs no introduction. No musician has managed to equal his mid-1970s run of seven consecutive American number one albums, four of them at number one simultaneously in America and Britain.

Of the 30 or so albums he has released since 1969, 24 have been certified platinum, with sales of more than one million copies. Elton John's total record sales are estimated at over 100 million and it is calculated that he accounts for three per cent of the sale of all singles and albums sold annually throughout the world.

Nigel Camilleri and Gianni Zammit of NnG Promotions have always felt "a need for something to start happening on the music scene in Malta". They are contributing in style.

It is their "love for music" that has spurred them to take on the challenge and bring one of music's all-time greats to the island.

"It's worth the financial risk that every concert is," Mr Camilleri said.

It was because he knows Elton John's tour manager that the ball got rolling in November. The tour manager visited Malta last month and gave the thumbs up to all preparations - from the sound to the lighting and the venue, Mr Camilleri said.

The Malta concert will form part of a European tour, which is marked by a host of "exotic" locations. That is what Elton John is after and that is why the Fosos - the Granaries - were chosen. Other venues on the tour include Hampton Court Palace, in Surrey, the UK, the Kremlin Palace, in Moscow and the Teatro Greco Romano, in Taormina.

His web site, www.eltonjohn.com, is headlined "Elton John to play in Romania, Sweden, Malta, Spain, Italy". It lists venues and provides details on the tour.

Elton John is said to be flying in on a private jet on the day of the concert and has a room reserved at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, in Attard.

His 17-strong crew arrive a few days before to set up - even though sound, lighting, the stage and other technicalities are being provided locally, the manager having decided that what was available in Malta was good enough to work with, Mr Camilleri said.

Elton John is bringing over his own piano and backline.

Asked what the hardest part of concluding the major deal was, the NnG Promotions spokesman pointed - obviously and in jest - to Elton John's fee, which remains confidential. But sponsors have been willing to support the one-off, exclusive event.

NnG Promotions is confident that Elton John has a huge following not only worldwide but also in Malta and that no one would want to miss out on the opportunity to hear the legend sing live.

Pre-launch information on tickets is available via e-mail at info@nngpromotions.com.