Bernie Taupin in conversation with Cameron Crowe at Live Talks Los Angeles

Bernie Taupin in conversation with Cameron Crowe at Live Talks Los Angeles discussing his memoir, "Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me." The talk took place on September 19, 2023.
An evocative, clear-eyed, and revealing memoir by Bernie Taupin, the lyrical master and long-time collaborator of Elton John
Bernie Taupin has worked in partnership with legendary singer, composer and pianist Elton John since 1967-one of the most successful and long-running musical collaborations in music history. Taupin wrote the lyrics for most of John’s famous hits, including “Rocket Man,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Your Song,” “I’m Still Standing.” John and Taupin received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a lifetime achievement Grammy, an Academy Award, and many more. In 2022, Taupin was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music.
In "Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me," Taupin grants access to history-making events from his singular perspective. As a child growing up in the East Midlands of England, Taupin’s imagination was sparked by the American mytho-poetics of country music and cowboy culture. Before long, he found himself in the center of the glittering, star-studded fishbowl of ’70s and ’80s Beverly Hills. Readers visit Los Angeles with Bernie and Elton on the cusp of global fame; spend time in Australia at an infamous rock ‘n’ roll hotel in an endless blizzard of drugs and spend late-night hours with John Lennon, Bob Marley, and Frank Sinatra. And beyond the world of popular music, he shares memorable encounters with writers like Graham Greene, painters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and scores of notable misfits, miscreants, eccentrics, and geniuses, known and unknown. And of course, even if they’re not famous in their own right, they are stars on the page, and we discover how they inspired the indelible lyrics to songs such as “Tiny Dancer,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and The Jets,” and so many more.
“In Bernie Taupin’s miraculous memoir Scattershot you’ll meet legends, cowboys, geniuses, unforgettable faces in the night, shady purveyors of outrageous fortune, warriors of the heart, and most of all, Taupin himself. Hilarious and so emotionally true, Scattershot is like a letter from a cherished friend. You’ll want to keep it close, so you can read it again and again.” -Cameron Crowe
Cameron Crowe is a journalist, author, writer, producer, director, actor, lyricist, and playwright. He has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Grammy Award as well as a nomination for a Tony Award. Crowe famously began his career as a teenaged journalist covering rock bands on tour for Rolling Stone magazine in 1973.

[@LiveTalksLA]

Signed copies of the book can be purchased in this link: livetalksla.square.site/product/bernietaupin/594

[@heydavemyers1]

I have a huge admiration for Bernie and Elton as artists who evolved from humble beginnings. Bernie still sounds quite humble despite his success, fame and wealth.

[@JamesMacready-gn5xt]

Lyrical genius's like Bernie and Dylan don't exist anymore. Modern music is hideous garbage.

[@bohoxplorer840]

Omg love Cameron - crew member on Almost Famous❤❤❤

[@kenmartin5299]

Still my favorite movie. Have followed Patrick fugit s career closely. He's always been very solid soul

[@villanelle8888]

I really enjoyed Bernie's book. I recommend it.

[@tommeredith7462]

Both of these men were very successful as Teenagers. Cameron was a writer for Rolling Stone magazine as early as 15 year’s old. Bernie was only 17 when he wrote one of Elton Johns best selling song’s. Both of these men in their respective careers went on to mega success and accomplishment.

[@revk-squared9046]

Very good intriguing

[@mattmorris2141]

Seems like a humble craftsman. Like the guy who fixes your front door or your plumbing, except he fixes songs.

[@lynnturman8157]

Cool, now Bernie interview Cameron

[@exills]

I read the book and he’s right it’s all over the place . I was expecting an in-depth view of his relationship ship with Elton and how their partnership took off .I suppose after seeing Rocket Man .I was expecting some more insights into the nitty gritty of the times ,he actually is reserved and that’s why I believe he held back on most of the stories . Reverences to bars restaurants and hotels around the world is a bit boring. More back stories related to the many smash hits they had would have been brilliant,ie what really inspired him to write all those magic lyrics , a lot of the vocabulary he uses is in the book is also way to formal . I really like this interview it shows him in a different light compared to the book .

[@balmpatchvideos]

I thought Amoreena was taken from the name of the daughter of Ray Williams?

[@SagaLarton]

were they buming each other then?

[@joesamm1190]

Sorry Bernie, Elton is not a better singer now than he was then

[@paulhorgan6152]

The most boring book I've ever read. Bloody horse's 😢