Davey Johnstone

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Lore & Background

Johnstone's path to Elton John began when he caught producer Gus Dudgeon's attention during his stint with the acoustic folk group Magna Carta, which he joined in 1970 after guitarist Lyell Tranter left. Johnstone recorded several albums with them, including *Seasons* (1970) and *Songs from Wasties Orchard* (1971) — the latter named after the street where he lived in Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire. Dudgeon asked Johnstone to play on Bernie Taupin's 1971 solo album, leading to a meeting with Elton John and Johnstone playing on *Madman Across the Water* (1971). He was then invited to join the Elton John Band as a full member, replacing the previous lineup of just John, bassist Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson. His debut as a full-time member was 1972's *Honky Chateau*, where he played electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and sang backing vocals alongside Murray and Olsson. On 1 October 2019, Johnstone performed his 3,000th show with Elton John at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. On 25 June 2023, he performed with Elton John at the Glastonbury Festival, billed as John's last live UK performance.

In Their Own Story

In 1970, Lyell Tranter left the acoustic British folk group Magna Carta, and Davey Johnstone took his place. During his time with the band, Johnstone played a wide variety of instruments including guitar, mandolin, sitar, and dulcimer. His work caught the ear of producer Gus Dudgeon, who asked him to play on Bernie Taupin's eponymous 1971 solo album. That session led to a meeting with Elton John, and soon Johnstone was playing on John's 1971 album *Madman Across the Water*. After that, he was invited to join the Elton John Band as a full member. Previously, the band had consisted only of John, bassist Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson. Johnstone's debut as a full-time member was the 1972 album *Honky Chateau*, on which he played electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and sang backing vocals. In 1972 he also worked with Joan Armatrading and Pam Nestor on their debut album *Whatever's for Us*, playing acoustic and electric guitar on several tracks and sitar on "Visionary Mountains." Johnstone released a solo album, *Smiling Face*, in 1973 through The Rocket Record Company and created a short-lived band called China that released an eponymous album in 1977. Even while playing alongside Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper during the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was never far from Elton's projects, and following his reunion with Olsson and Murray full-time for 1982's "Jump Up" tour, has rarely been absent from an Elton John album or tour.

Reader's Guide

Davey Johnstone's role in the Elton John Band is that of guitarist and vocalist, a position he has held since joining as a full member in 1972. His primary contributions include playing electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, banjo, and mandolin, as well as singing backing vocals. He has been a constant presence on Elton John albums from *Honky Chateau* (1972) through *Wonderful Crazy Night* (2016), and has rarely missed a tour since the 1982 "Jump Up" tour. Beyond Elton John, Johnstone has collaborated extensively, including playing on Stevie Nicks' *Bella Donna* (1981) and *24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault* (2014), Alice Cooper's *From the Inside* (1978) and *Flush the Fashion* (1980), and Joan Armatrading's *Whatever's for Us* (1972). He also worked with Bob Seger, Meat Loaf, and many others during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Johnstone lives in Los Angeles with his wife; the couple have seven children.

Did You Know?

• Davey Johnstone took violin lessons from age seven and by age 10 was playing it 'sideways like a guitar'.
• He joined the folk group Magna Carta in 1970 after guitarist Lyell Tranter left, and recorded the album *Songs from Wasties Orchard* (1971) named after the street where he lived in Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire.
• Johnstone played sitar on the Joan Armatrading song 'Visionary Mountains' from her 1972 debut album *Whatever's for Us*.
• He performed his 3,000th show with Elton John on 1 October 2019 at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• Johnstone played on Stevie Nicks' albums *Bella Donna* (1981) and *24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault* (2014).