Sir Elton John has revealed former England boss Graham Taylor ‘saved his life.’
The singer, 76, reflected on their friendship in his new book, Watford Forever: How Graham Taylor and Elton John Saved a Football Club, a Town and Each Other, which will be published on Thursday.
Graham worked under Elton during his two spells as Watford manager and the singer shared how an encounter at a board meeting on Boxing Day in 1981 helped him as he battled alcoholism.
Elton recalled that he poured himself a whisky at the morning meeting, which led to Graham calling him in the following morning for a private talk, during which time he slammed a bottle of brandy down on the table and told the singer: ‘That’s what you have for breakfast, isn’t it?
‘What the f**k do you think you’re doing? You’re letting yourself down and you’re letting the club down. If you ever turn up looking like this again, that’s f***ing it, as far as I’m concerned.’
Looking back: Sir Elton John has revealed former England boss Graham Taylor ‘saved his life’ after he confronted him about hi drinking (pictured in 1996)
Elton shared: ‘I’ve no doubt that Graham saved my life. Without him, I would have been lost.’
Elsewhere in the book, Elton said the Watford manager was ‘like a brother to me and I loved him dearly.’
Graham previously spoke about confronting the Rocket Man singer about his drinking, recalling: ‘Elton was a bit stunned and looked at me so seriously that I wondered if we were about to have a major falling out.
‘But it seemed to register with him. If it wasn’t a turning point, I think it made him address that aspect of his lifestyle.’
For a time Elton and Graham were one of football’s great double-acts as the chairman and manager who put Watford on the football map.
In 2017, Graham died of a heart attack at the age of 72, a shock to family, friends and many others in the football community.
Elton paid tribute at the manager’s funeral, telling mourners: ‘We were an unstoppable force of nature.
‘We were Batman and Robin. And when Batman left for Aston Villa, Robin floundered without his mate.
‘I missed him and I made some bad decisions but I had to let him go. He had done the work of a thousand men at Watford.
‘It is because of him I have the name of Watford Football Club etched in my soul. I have memories that are sublime and a sense of achievement that no-one else can ever take away.
‘He is a legend in this community, in football and in life. I love you my friend. Thank you for everything.’
Reflection: The singer, 76, reflected on their friendship in his new book, Watford Forever: How Graham Taylor and Elton John Saved a Football Club, a Town and Each Other
Elton has been very open about his battle with alcohol and drugs which nearly derailed his career and cost him his life.
Reflecting on his wild past, he admitted to Variety: ‘The life I was leading, flying on the Starship, living in beautiful houses, buying things left, right and center — it was not a normal life.
‘I used to have spasms and be found on the floor and they’d put me back to bed and half an hour later I’d be doing the same. It’s crazy.
‘I am a survivor. I’ve survived a lot of things. Life is full of pitfalls, even when you’re sober. I can deal with them now because I don’t have to run away and hide’, he added.
The star also blamed his reputation for being a diva on his past cocaine use.
He told the Awards Chatter podcast: ‘I saw someone doing cocaine and didn’t know what it was. They said it makes you feel good. So I thought “I will have a go”. Worse decision of my life.
‘I shouted at people. I wasn’t proud of that behaviour because it is not really who I am.
‘It lead a lot of people to say I’ve always been a diva. I am not. Now I don’t take drugs,’ he added.
If you need help with a drinking problem contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0800 9177650, contact us by email: [email protected]
Dynamic duo: For a time Elton and Graham were one of football’s great double-acts as the chairman and manager who put Watford on the football map