Tag: elton john

• Memoir: One day in 1975

  

  When South Oak Park’s David Bowie passes us on the school playground, my friends smile and shake their heads in judgment. “Would you get a look at that fag? He’s wearing his mom’s makeup!”

  abendelow

  October 9, 2025

  memoir

  1975, am radio, consumerism, Creem magazine, david bowie, elton john, ginger baker, homophobia, homosexuality, john bonham, keith moon, oak park, pop culture, popular music, quadrophenia, sexuality, south oak park, the who

• Memoir: Musical Madeleines (1970-73) (1983-85)

  

  “… in that time Taupin’s protagonists grew dark with a growing awareness of corruption and human depravity–strong stuff for 12-year-old me.”

  abendelow

  October 17, 2024

  memoir

  1970s, bernie-taupin, bob dylan, elton john, keith jarrett trio, madeleine, memoir, music, pop, pop music, toxic masculinity

• Memoir: from Captain Fantastic (1974) to Quadrophenia (1980)

  

  The music hadn’t changed a bit. But I had.

  abendelow

  November 6, 2023

  memoir

  alice cooper, am radio, british pop, captain fantastic, Circus magazine, Creem magazine, david bowie, elton john, gary glitter, homophobia, memoir, music, oak park, pop music, quadrophenia, t-rex, the beatles, the who

• Memoir 1973: stepping into adult responsibilities and the counter-culture

  In what will be one of the most formative experiences of my young life, the summer after 6th grade, our across-the-alley neighbor Debbie and her family go on vacation to Europe and take my sister Sharon with them. Unexpectedly, they have chosen me to dog sit for their dim but affectionate beagle, Tara.  Yes, the…

  abendelow

  November 24, 2022

  memoir, Uncategorized

  dog-sitting, elton john, house-sitting, memoir, oak park, paul simon, rolling stone magazine