Entertainment

Sir Elton John to get keyboard handstand waxwork at London’s Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds said the figure is one of its most complex to date, and is currently in its first construction stage.

Sir Elton John is to be honoured with a waxwork of himself performing a keyboard handstand
Sir Elton John is to be honoured with a waxwork of himself performing a keyboard handstand

Singer Sir Elton John is to get a waxwork at Madame Tussauds in London of him performing his signature keyboard handstand.

The figure, celebrating his 50-year career, is the first of its kind, showing the 77-year-old with his legs in the air and his hands on his keyboard.

Madame Tussauds said the waxwork is one of its most complex to date and is currently in its first construction stage, the clay sculpt, which is wearing a toile outfit and stand-in statement glasses in place of the final costume.

Steve Blackburn, general manager at Madame Tussauds London, said Sir Elton has “always inspired us to go above and beyond in our creations” since he sat for his first figure in 1976.

It became the museum’s first talking and smiling waxwork, with the Daniel singer recording his voice for the work.

Blackburn said: “We’ve been creating figures of Sir Elton John since the beginning of his legendary career, and he has always inspired us to go above and beyond in our creations.

“Back in the 1970s, his first figure was our first talking figure, and in 2024 we’re determined to go big again.

“The figure’s iconic, gravity-defying pose will capture the essence of Elton’s legendary early performances in a way that only Madame Tussauds London can.

“This will be our most structurally complex figure to date in our centuries-old history and it is going to be a real showstopper when we unveil it later this year.”

It comes after Sir Elton sat for his his first Madame Tussauds waxwork in 1976
It comes after Sir Elton sat for his his first Madame Tussauds waxwork in 1976

The model will be displayed in the attraction’s Impossible Festival exhibition, which will launch later this year and showcase waxworks of musicians from throughout history.

Figures will include Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Amy Winehouse, and Queen singer Freddie Mercury.

It comes after the Elton John: Never Too Late documentary, directed by RJ Cutler and the star’s husband, David Furnish, was released on Tuesday.

During his 50-year career, Sir Elton has notched up 36 UK top 10 singles and eight UK number one albums, and he joined the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) group in January this year after receiving an Emmy Award for his Disney+ concert special Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.