Davey Johnstone

Davey Johnstone, 2008

Davey Johnstone (born May 6, 1951 in Edinburgh , Scotland ) is a Scottish guitarist . With a few interruptions, he has been a member of Elton John's band since 1971 .

From 1968 to 1969 Johnstone worked as a studio and live musician with Irish folk musician Noel Murphy . In 1969 he joined the band Magna Carta , initially as a studio musician, and was involved in three record productions. At that time he played numerous instruments (including guitar , banjo , mandolin and sitar ).

In 1970 the producer Gus Dudgeon became aware of Johnstone and hired him for the first solo album by Elton John's songwriter Bernie Taupin . In 1971, on the album Madman Across the Water , Johnstone first played guitar in Elton John's band. Along with Nigel Olsson (drums) and Dee Murray (bass) he also sang the backing vocals on Elton John's very successful albums in the early 1970s.

In 1973 he released the solo album Smiling Face . In the late 1970s and early 1980s he worked with renowned musicians such as Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper .

Since 1982 Johnstone has been working at Elton John's side almost all the time. In 1990 he recorded the album Holes in Heaven together with some of John's accompanying musicians under the band name "Warpipes" . In 1999 he released an album with instrumental pieces together with John Jorgenson , then also a guitarist in Elton John's band.

Since 2000, Davey Johnstone has also been musical director of Elton John's recordings and tours.

On June 10th, 2009 Davey Johnstone played in his Scottish homeland Glasgow for the 2,000 times at the side of Elton John.