Sir Elton John has reportedly secured a multi-million pound agreement for an unlimited residency in Las Vegas in a show that will continue long after his death, using state-of-the-art hologram technology. The Rocketman legend, 79, will be preserved as a hologram so audiences can experience his live shows for many years to come.
Details of the Hologram Residency
Elton, whose eyesight is deteriorating, stepped away from touring in 2023 after his farewell Yellow Brick Road tour but is still scheduled to take part in exclusive one-off performances, according to The Sun. Dua Lipa, 30, who featured on the No1 hit Cold Heart with Elton in 2021, will also feature as part of the residency. They will be joined by Kiki Dee, 79, who reached the top of the charts with Elton with Don't Go Breaking My Heart in 1976.
The groundbreaking show is planned for the new Hard Rock Hotel and will launch next summer. Elton is scheduled to record his performances with Dua and Kiki at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire this autumn.
Technology and Inspiration
A source told The Sun: "Elton, Dua and Kiki will be holograms. It's similar to the Abba Voyage show in London, but far more advanced as the technology has come on so much. Elton signed a seven-figure deal with Hard Rock. It's a shift away from a traditional residency and is billed as a fully immersive experience. It's going to look phenomenal."
This marks a significant change for Elton, who previously expressed discomfort with the idea of a hologram tour. In a 2018 interview with NME, he told his eldest son Zachary: "When Daddy dies promise me there won't be a hologram going around the world doing concerts." He added: "It's like doing a duet album with someone who's dead – it's so spooky. Who knows – they may go broke and then put me back on the f***ing stage, but I think that's a bit freaky."
Shift in Perspective
However, eight years on, hologram concerts are no longer a novelty as technology has rapidly advanced. The phenomenal success of ABBA Voyage has proven that music fans are more than happy to pay to watch hologram versions of their favourite artists, even when the real stars are still alive. Elton is now the latest star to follow in their footsteps, embracing the technology for his Las Vegas residency.
