ELTON JOHN TO SING IN OUR CITY

rock legend Elton John has chosen to perform at Worcestershire County Cricket Club next summer.

It will be the biggest pop concert ever to be held in the city, with up to 20,000 people expected to pack the venue on Sunday, June 11, 2006.

The Rocket Man - renowned for his eye-popping, extravagant costumes - will be flying into the New Road venue by helicopter.

Audiences will be treated to a two-hour long feast of his hits, including the likes of Your Song, Candle In The Wind, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Pinball Wizard and Daniel.

The event is a major coup for the club, which has been working to stage more concerts following the success of the XS music events it

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staged in 2003 and again in 2004.

It is not the first time Sir Elton has been to the ground as he visited it in the 1990s with Cream star Eric Clapton and former Beatle George Harrison to watch their their pal, England and Worcestershire big-hitter Ian Botham, in action.

At the time, Sir Elton said: "I really like Worcester and I hope to come back here."

Now he's on his way.

Mark Newton, club chief executive, described his joy at securing the services of the legendary rocker.

He said: "We're absolutely delighted to have such a huge name - it's a great coup not just for the club but for the city.

"I think he's been looking for venues with a bit of a difference and obviously, with the cathedral in the background, it's a fantastic place for a concert."

One Worcester fan who'll be looking forward to June 11 is 29-year-old Chris Barlow, of Droitwich Road.

The engineer has about 30 of Sir Elton's albums, plus one of his shirts and hats, which he bought at a sale in London about 10 years ago.

He said: "I think it's great I can't believe such a superstar is coming to a place like Worcester. I never thought I'd see the day - it's wonderful. I've bought every album of his since 1970 and this is like a dream come true.

I just hope I get a ticket.

FANS of Elton John can expect nothing less than an extravagant show from the legendary rocker when he lands in Worcester next summer to perform.

The 58-year old - who was told to curb his spending earlier this year - is renowned for his lavish lifestyle.

It was revealed during a multi-million pound court battle in 2000 that Britain's richest celebrity who made £33m in 2004 alone, once spent £30m in just two years - an average of £1.5m a month.

The flamboyant star, whose love of feather boas and outrageous clothing have thrilled fans since the 1970s, once reportedly spent £300,000 on flowers - another passion of his - in just over two years.

He also forked out almost £10m on property. Homes in Windsor, London, Atlanta, Nice and Venice are among his many possessions, as well as private jets and 22 dogs.

He has also been reported to have worn diamonds worth £5m - a small fraction of his £185m fortune.

But he also does not scrimp when it comes to charity

and was named Britain's most generous charity donor earlier this year, having handed out a whopping £22m during last year.

Sir Elton is also known for his rock star tantrums. The Oscar-winning musician, who was also knighted for his services to music in 1998, once demanded that hotel staff in Los Angeles stop

the wind from blowing.

Not surprisingly for one of rock's richest men, the Rocket Man's backstage demands are equally extravagant.

His list of demands are reported to have been up to 12-pages long, detailing his every preference, from the species of dressing room flowers (no chrysanthemums, lilies, carnations or daisies) to the buffet table (absolutely no cold cuts).

He has previously asked for 74 towels, demands his room is kept at a comfortable temperature and does not like his staff wearing backstage passes, expecting security to be briefed as to who they are.

New Road staff will have their work cut out when Sir Elton breezes in on June 11.

But the big question is: will there be anywhere to park?

WHEN Elton John's helicopter touches down in Worcester on June 11, it will be the culmination of months of preparation to ensure the concert runs smoothly.

Not least among the logistical headaches troubling the organisers will be finding parking spaces for the 15,000 to 20,000 fans expected to descend upon Worcestershire Cricket Club's famous New Road ground to see the

58-year-old star perform his hits.

Cricket club chief executive Mark Newton said the club would be working with Worcester City Council to ensure sufficient parking was in place.

On previous occasions the club has used The King's School, Worcester's playing fields and other sites around the ground for major cricket matches.

Club bosses will be keen to avoid any problems as they campaign to turn the ground into an established venue on the concert and festival circuit.

New Road is no stranger to big names - in 2003, and 2004, the venue played host to the XS Concerts, when Blue, Atomic Kitten, Petula Clark and Busted all performed - but an Elton John concert is in a completely different league.

Mr Newton said: "I've always wanted us to play a bigger part in the community because the perception of a cricket club is it's a closed shop.

"The concerts in 2003 and 2004 opened up the ground to new people so to have an event like this is great for us."

ELTON JOHN FACTFILE

Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Greater London, he started playing piano at the age of four.

A 227lb chocolate model of him was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in June this year, which took 1,000 hours to make.

The star has recently been writing tunes with New York band The Scissor Sisters.

The lyrics of his televised funeral tribute to Princess Diana were sold at auction for $442,500 in February 1998.

He was twice chairman of Watford Football Club during the 70s and 80s.

He accused Madonna of lip-synching at a London music award show last year.

The 58-year-old is set to tie the knot with his partner David Furnish this Christmas, after the laws recognising homosexual civil partnerships come into force in the U.K.

Sir Elton joined a group of musicians earlier this year to record a tribute song to the late radio DJ John Peel, singing and playing piano on a cover of The Buzzcocks' Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)

He wrote music for the stage version of Billy Elliot and won an Oscar for his songs for hit film The Lion King.

He was the first western rock star to perform in Israel and the USSR - in 1979.

His song Empty Garden was a tribute to former Beatle John Lennon, whose son Sean he is godfather to.

He has had six number ones: Don't Go Breaking My Heart, with Kiki Dee (1976), Sacrifice (1990), Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, with George Michael (1991), Candle In The Wind (1997), Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - with Blue (2002), Are You Ready For Love? (2003)

He has appeared in

The Simpsons as himself.

The singer started wearing glasses to copy one of his idols, Buddy Holly and has worn them ever since.

Elton became Sir Elton when he was knighted in 1997.