Elton John has opened up about ex-wife Renate Blauel, while urging people in Australia to vote in support of same-sex marriage. The iconic musician is now happily married to long-time partner David Furnish, But prior to that, he had a short-lived union with German sound engineer Renate Blauel, which lasted from 1984 until 1988, when Elton came out as gay.
"Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration. I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret.
To be worthy of someone's love, you have to be brave enough and clear eyed enough to be honest with yourself and your partner.
Almost 24 years ago, I met the person with whom I could be fully myself. When we married in 2014, it felt like that fact was accepted by the world.
For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another, and for that to be recognised and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living. That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible and productive members of society, as well as the best parents that we can be." (Elton John)
In 1983 Elton John released the song “Kiss the Bride,” featuring lyrics such as “I want to kiss the bride, yeah.” A year later John was doing just that, kissing his new bride on the steps of St. Mark’s Anglican church in Darlinghurst, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, Australia.
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It was a Valentine’s Day wedding that captured the attention of the world. The flamboyant and openly bisexual 36-year-old pop star marrying his love, the German-born 28-year-old sound engineer, following a whirlwind courtship.
Four years later they would divorce and go their separate ways. John went on to tour and continued making chart-topping music. Blauel virtually disappeared and has never spoken publicly of the marriage since.
John and Blauel wed three days after getting engaged
The couple met in early 1983 in London. Munich-born Blauel, often described in tabloid reports of the time as a tape operator or sound technician, was introduced to John as he was finishing his Too Low for Zero album. Quiet and studious in comparison to showman John, Blauel had dreams of becoming a record producer. The duo reportedly bonded over their obsession with music.
Even in hindsight, the wedding continues to shock. John had publicly declared he was bisexual in 1976 and many of his inner circle were already convinced he was gay. His best friend and lyricist Bernie Taupin saw the wedding as John wanting to have a family. John’s mother Sheila announced she would give the newlyweds a baby stroller for a wedding gift, according to John’s former in-house publicist, Caroline Boucher. - To read the full article click here
