Elton John's new wax figure is Madame Tussauds' 'most ambitious ever' as the iconic singer defies gravity over his rhinestone piano
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Madame Tussauds have unveiled a new wax work of Elton John and it's their most structurally ambitious figure ever.
The statute features the iconic musician in his 1970s heyday as he defies gravity as and is suspended mid-air over his rhinestone piano in his signature handstand move from the era.
Celebrating Elton's out-of-this-world stage presence, this brand-new show-stopping figure is styled from his legendary 1975 Midsummer Music one-day festival at Wembley Stadium.
He gave the Madame Tussauds London team access to the original bejewelled blue Bob Mackie jumpsuit worn for the performance, which they have expertly recreated along with his signature flamboyant glasses and platform shoes.
The attraction worked with Yamaha to create a bespoke baby grand piano that is covered in 24,000 thousand rhinestones to complete the gravity-defying spectacle.
Steve Blackburn, General Manager at Madame Tussauds London, said: 'Elton John is a true living legend and a dazzling personality to behold, so we knew we had to go above and beyond for this figure.
Madame Tussauds have unveiled a new wax work of Elton John and it's their most structurally ambitious figure ever
Celebrating Elton's out-of-this-world stage presence, this brand-new showstopping figure is styled from his legendary 1975 Midsummer Music one-day festival at Wembley Stadium
The statute features the iconic musician as he defies gravity as and is suspended mid-air over his rhinestone piano in his signature handstand move from the era (Elton pictured 1975)
Capturing Elton's phenomenal stage presence – and that iconic keyboard handstand – in figure form is quite the challenge, and the result is one of our most technically ambitious figures to date.
'It feels fitting to unveil this one-of-a-kind figure for the festive season and showcase the expert craftsmanship that's gone in to deliver a pose that we have never done before! Elton is a star deserving of the grandest spotlight, and we've made sure that his figure captures the attention of everyone in the room – much like the icon himself.'
It comes just days after Elton revealed his unlikely collaboration with Cara Delevingne as the model transformed herself into the singer in his latest music video.
The actress, 32, looks the spitting image of the legendary musician as the pair unveiled the brand new video for Elton's Triple Platinum certified Christmas classic Step Into Christmas.
The new video reimagines what it was like behind the scenes for the now iconic original 1973 visual with Cara stepping into young Elton's shoes.
With her locks scraped back, the star embraced her inner rockstar in the Rocketman hitmaker's iconic shades.
Cara’s star-turn in the video sees her fulfilling a lifetime ambition to step into Elton’s high heeled boots after the pair have become firm friends over the years.
And revealing how the collaboration came to be, Eltonexplained the pair saw each other last summer at Glastonbury and chatted about working together if the right project arose.
He gave the Madame Tussauds London team access to the original bejewelled blue Bob Mackie jumpsuit worn for the performance
The experts have expertly recreated along woth his signature flamboyant glasses and platform shoes
The statute (L) looked exactly like the singer (right in 1976)
Steve Blackburn, General Manager at Madame Tussauds said: 'Elton John is a living legend and a dazzling personality to behold, so we knew we had to go above and beyond for this figure
The attraction worked with Yamaha to create a bespoke baby grand piano that is covered in 24,000 thousand rhinestones to complete the gravity-defying spectacle
He said: 'She’s hilarious to spend time with, we both have quite a self deprecating sense of humour.
'When someone suggested the idea of her playing me in a riff on the 1973 Step In to Christmas video, I just thought it was the perfect opportunity.'
He added: 'Thank God Cara thought the same, because it came out great.'
Meanwhile Cara gushed: 'Elton has always been an idol of mine, to say his music has had a deeply profound effect on me is an understatement.
'To be asked by him to PLAY him in this recreation was a dream that I didn’t know I had until it happened.'
She continued: 'Honestly I wish I could pretend to be Elton every day. I hope that Elton may one day return the favour and agree to play me in my not yet developed, written, pitched or funded biopic. Fingers crossed.’
Over 50 years after Elton’s classic performance, the gloriously kitsch new video finds the video production team frantically trying to get the set ready for his arrival as they attempt to make it 'Christmassy enough'.
Despite the addition of a festive feather boa, balloons and confetti, chaos reigns as they wrangle an escaped turkey, fail to book a real reindeer and tackle a deranged fan who storms the set.
It comes after Cara Delevingne (L) looked unrecognisable as she transforms into Elton John (R)for his brand new Step Into Christmas video
The new video reimagines what it was like behind the scenes for the now iconic original 1973 visual with Cara stepping into young Elton's shoes
Cara brilliantly mirrors Elton’s choicest dance moves and iconic facial expressions from the original video.
It's not the first time Elton has had a famous cameo in one of his videos after Justin Timberlake transformed into the singer for his 2001 hit This Train Don't Stop There Anymore.
Directed by David LaChapelle, the video saw the popstar dressed as a younger version of Elton wearing typical ensembles from his wardrobe during the 1970s.
Originally released on November 23, 1973, Step Into Christmas peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart in the US and No. 24 during its initial seven-week run on the UK Singles Chart.
A seasonal favourite tune, it has spent a total of 44 weeks to date on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart and, in the UK has charted each December since 2011.
