Is this a sacrifice too far for Sir Elton?
Robson Vianna
Is this a sacrifice too far for Sir Elton?
By Tim Walker, edited by Richard Eden
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While Brian Paddick is no doubt grateful for the active role that Sir Elton John is playing in his battle to become the Mayor of London, Hillary Clinton may come to regret the flamboyant musician's role in her campaign. Mandrake hears that the Federal Election Commission is examining whether Hillary is breaking US law by allowing Sir Elton (right) to perform a fundraising concert on her behalf. According to the commission, the Federal Election Campaign Act "prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any.?.?. election in the US, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who.?.?. engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment." Only a handful of tickets remain on sale, at £1,150 and £500, for the concert, which is due to take place next week at Radio City Music Hall in New York. "The campaign is confident the concert is legal," says its spokesman Blake Zeff. |
Elton John concert to break Liberty Stadium record
Apr 3 2008 by Robin Turner, Western Mail
SIR ELTON JOHN will set a Liberty Stadium attendance record when he performs at the £27m Swansea venue in June.
The Rocket Man will be in Swansea on Sunday, June 29, supported by Swansea based band The Storys and former Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman, and almost 24,000 tickets for the gig have been snapped up by music fans from across the UK.
Stadium officials say there are now fewer than 1,000 tickets for the show still available, with almost all hospitality spaces already snapped up.
They are urging anyone who still hasn't bought a ticket to do so as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
Andrew Davies, general manager of the Swansea Stadium Management Company, said, "It is going to be the biggest day in the short history of the Liberty, that much is guaranteed.
"The response has been incredible.
"To have sold almost 24,000 tickets for the concert with almost three whole months remaining is remarkable, and it means we will have a new record crowd present when Sir Elton performs.
"To bring such a talented and world-renowned artist to the Liberty Stadium for his only Welsh performance this year is a major coup and we are delighted that the music fans of South-West Wales and beyond have recognised this.
"Following on from last year's successful Who concert, this will really help to cement our growing reputation as one of the best new music venues in the UK and will lead to other top names wanting to come to Swansea on a regular basis.
"Obviously, such big concerts bring with them the economic benefits to the city as a whole, not just Liberty Stadium, so Swansea in general benefits from the growing success of the venue."
Sir Elton will perform more than two hours of hits from an incredible back catalogue spanning more than four decades, including the classic hits Your Song, Are You Ready For Love, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me and Daniel.
Still in the charts after 37 years, Elton's great hits are featured on the current CD, Rocket Man – The Definitive Hits, and on the Number One DVD Elton 60, the recording of Elton's 60th birthday concert at New York's Madison Square Garden.
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Robson Vianna.