Sir Elton John has been on the music scene for some time. However, while he is certainly a household name, his name is not necessarily what many would think. It turns out Sir Elton actually took inspiration from various people in his life for his new name, and his real name is something quite different.
Sir Elton was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947.
However, after what Sir Elton called “unhappy memories,” he wanted to change his name as he grew to “dislike” his old name.
In a 1987 interview, Sir Elton said: “When I became Elton John, it was like a new lease on life.
“I didn’t particularly like being Reg Dwight. It had too many unhappy memories.
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In Rocketman Sir Elton (played by Taron Egerton) told one of his bandmates in backing group Bluesology about his intended name change to Elton Dean.
It turns out, one of those bandmates is called Elton Dean, and in the film that bandmate responded with some concern.
Later in the film, however, when Sir Elton was asked about his stage name, he chooses Elton, but then, on looking at an image of the Beatles’ John Lennon, chooses John as his last name.
This, according to various interviews, is not entirely accurate, as his name change came from other sources.
In fact, the band which Sir Elton began his life, Bluesology, was the support act for performer Long John Baldry, which is believed to be where his surname came from.
Baldry’s obituary in The Guardian reads: “Baldry formed Steam Packet with organist Brian Auger, and later hired, as his backing group, Blues-ology, whose pianist Reg Dwight chose the stage name of Elton John by combining the first names of Baldry with that of the group’s saxophonist, Elton Dean.
“Baldry’s sage advice, when Dwight was experiencing a sexual identity crisis, is commemorated in the Elton John song, Someone Changed My Life Tonight.”
Bluesology became Long John Baldry’s supporting band in 1966, and they played 16 times at the Marquee Club with Baldry.
As for his new middle name, Smooth Radio reported his middle name of Hercules was named after a horse in British sitcom Steptoe and Son.