A ‘WONDERFUL Crazy Night’ in Newcastle on Saturday confirmed that pop music fans are in for a treat when Elton John performs in Widnes next summer.

The legendary singer-songwriter and his band of merry men continue to prove that age is just a number as they had a packed house at the Metro Radio Arena cheering from the rafters following more than two hours of non-stop mesmerising musicianship.

Most of them may be eligible for free bus passes nowadays but they are masters of their crafts and it was one of the best gigs I have ever seen – and I have seen a lot.

Showcasing a few of the top tunes from Elton’s impressive new Wonderful Crazy Night album and the vast majority of the international superstar’s most famous hits to an impeccable standard, you couldn’t help but be blown away like a candle in a gale-force wind.

It was falsely reported in the national press hours before the gig that 69-year-old Elton’s stellar career would be coming to a close in April.

Elton took great delight in rubbishing the story midway through his set, with his colourful description of the journalist who broke it one of the many highlights of the night.

Others included Elton proving himself to be in a league of his own as a pop music piano player with a jaw-droppingly good, five-minute long intro to Rocket Man, a cute young boy being brought on stage to jam with the ageing but brilliant band as a rookie tambourine player and, ironically, a scrap breaking out in the audience just moments before Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting was sung.

But with Elton having admitted publically he wants to spend more time with his two young sons, it is fair to say that fans should catch him live while they still can.

If you haven’t bought your tickets yet for when the Wonderful Crazy Night Tour comes to Widnes’ Select Security Stadium on June 18, I would strongly advise you to do so.

Whether you are a big Elton fan or not, he puts on one hell of a show and unless you have been living in a cocoon you are bound to know most of the songs.

The likes of Your Song, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, I’m Still Standing, Bennie and the Jets and Crocodile Rock are as well-known as you can get – and they are all on the setlist.

My only criticism is that none of his Lion King songs feature.

Circle of Life and Can You Feel The Love Tonight surely should be on there.

One thing is for sure, the Geordies were feeling the love for Elton on Saturday night – and deservedly so.

When it comes to the standard of entertainers you usually find appearing in Newcastle and Widnes, the Rocket Man is on a different stratosphere.

To buy tickets for the Widnes show go to bit.ly/2hjlODV.