Elton John’s guitarist Davey Johnstone says vitamins and herbal tea are order of business on tour

Elton John‘s guitarist has told how the days of boozing and taking drugs while on tour are long gong and its vitamins and herbal teas that keep him going.

The singer, 75, is currently on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour  and his guitarist Davey Johnstone told how travelling for gigs is ‘difficult business’ when you’re older.

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: ‘I take tons of vitamins. Tons of vitamin C, turmeric, primrose, and lots of probiotics. I also take lots of my own tea on the road, I try to eat healthily.

Change of pace: Elton John’s guitarist has told how the days of boozing and taking drugs while on tour are long gong and its vitamins and herbal teas that keep him going

‘I drink healthy tea, it’s supposed to be amazing for your system. It tastes like s*** but it seems to work. Touring is a difficult business. Elton is 75 and I just turned 71, it gets difficult on your body.’

Davey added that both he and Elton feel ready for retirement after decades in the music business.  

He said: ‘This time next year we will do our very last shows, smaller arena shows and, quite honestly, we are both ready. Elton is ready for the same reason.

‘You can’t keep doing it for ever. It’s a job for guys in their 20s and 30s.’

Health: The singer, 75, is currently on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and his guitarist Davey Johnstone told how travelling for gigs is ‘difficult business’ when you’re older (pictured in 1975)

Davey first joined The Elton John Band in 1971, with the group performing 3,800 times over the years.

If a key member of the band is struck with Covid, then a concert faces being cancelled.

Elton is in a Covid bubble with his security guard, driver and hairdresser while Davey is in another with The Elton John Band.  

Davey told how members of the band try not to interact with each other when off stage to keep things running smoothly.

Davey said: ‘I drink healthy tea, it’s supposed to be amazing for your system. It tastes like s*** but it seems to work. Touring is a difficult business. Elton is 75 and I just turned 71, it gets difficult on your body’ (pictured in 1976)

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Elton has been sober since 1990 after a cocaine addiction while Davey also no longer drinks.

Although he will soon stop touring, Davey insisted Elton is still the same as when he first met him and called him a ‘special individual’.

Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour began in 2018 and is scheduled to end in July 2023 with a performance in Stockholm, Sweden.  

Icon: Although he will soon stop touring, Davey insisted Elton is still the same as when he first met him and called him a ‘special individual’