Q 01/05

What was Elton John's birth name?

A) Reginald Kenneth Dwight

B) Ronald Keith Dwight

C) Reginald Elton Baldry

D) Roger Kenneth Dean

Answer · why

A) Reginald Kenneth Dwight

He legally changed it to Elton Hercules John in January 1972; the 'Hercules' was a later addition.

Q 02/05

Where in England was Elton John born and raised?

A) Watford, Hertfordshire

B) Brentwood, Essex

C) Sutton, Surrey

D) Pinner, Middlesex

Answer · why

D) Pinner, Middlesex

He grew up in a council house there with his maternal grandparents and started on his grandmother's piano.

Q 03/05

Reg Dwight's stage name pays homage to two members of his old band Bluesology. Who were they?

A) Elton Dean and Long John Baldry

B) Elton Hayes and John Mayall

C) Elton Britt and Johnny Kidd

D) Elton Welsby and Long John Silver

Answer · why

A) Elton Dean and Long John Baldry

Dean was the saxophonist and Baldry the singer; the band backed touring American soul acts like Patti LaBelle and the Isley Brothers.

Q 04/05

At what age did Elton John win a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music?

A) 7

B) 14

C) 11

D) 17

Answer · why

C) 11

He had begun formal piano lessons at seven after his mother caught him picking out 'The Skater's Waltz' by ear.

Q 05/05

How did Elton John first come to work with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1967?

A) They met at a Bluesology gig

B) Taupin was his cousin's flatmate

C) A record label paired them for a jingle

D) Both answered the same advert in the New Musical Express

Answer · why

D) Both answered the same advert in the New Musical Express

Liberty Records A&R man Ray Williams handed him an unopened envelope of Taupin's lyrics at their first meeting.