Elton John Skips Out on Show
September 14 -- The bitch backed out — that's the tune organizers of an Elton John concert in Portugal are singing, after the star walked out on a show just moments before it was supposed to begin.
The 53-year-old rock diva was to appear at the Estoril Casino near Lisbon Wednesday. But shortly before the program's 11 p.m. kick off, John — reportedly concerned that the hall was only half-full — told organizers he was going to take a drive to relax … then made like a candle in the wind and disappeared.
"He never came back and he never gave any explanation," Casino manager Mario Assis Ferreira told Portuguese radio, adding that he believed John had simply flown home on his private plane.
The 1,250 fans — including prominent government officials, bank presidents, and national newspaper editors — had shown up for the gig, but apparently were lingering in the dining room and not moving into the concert hall fast enough for the star. Attendees were understandably irked by John's disappearing act, having paid up to $215 per ticket for dinner and the concert.
Ferreira says the venue is planning to sue the singer, who has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, for "several tens of thousands of dollars."
"It was a tantrum, but this kind of behavior has consequences," added venue spokesperson Lim De Carvalho.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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