Elton John Takes Yellow Brick Road to Roblox

As Sir Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour could reach new milestones in both Australasia and globally, the piano man is launching Beyond The Yellow Brick Road on the popular online game Roblox.

It is created by John’s Rocket Entertainment, Universal Music Group and 20 Roblox community creators.

Players walk down the Yellow Brick Road experiencing a series of ten-minute virtual performances made up of his best-loved songs and their accompanying fashion statements through stage costumes and eyewear, with challenges, trivia quizzes and scavenger hunts.

Throughout, they can also earn and collect yellow bricks, the currency used in Beyond The Yellow Brick Road, allowing them the chance to gain VIP access to hear a dedicated message and have their avatar appear on stage with John. 

“I’ve seen the joy that Roblox has bought to my boys, and the possibility it creates by the ability to interact with fans in such an exciting and forward looking way has been mind-blowing to me,” he said. 

“I’ve always been myself and used my image, eyewear, and music to express myself, and Roblox really encourages that self-expression. “Now my fans can do the same, and that’s really exciting.”

John expanded on his latest move, “At every step of my career, I’ve always wanted to push forward and look to the future.

“Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is the next step on that journey as I prepare to step away from live touring after 50 years on the road. 

“It’s genuinely thrilling, and I can’t wait to see the response from my fans and the Roblox community.”

On November 17, Sir Elton will perform a concert that will replay hourly through to November 20. 

These dates coincide with his performances at the 56,000-capacity Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, his first shows there since 1975.

David Furnish, CEO of Rocket Entertainment, added: “Elton is a visionary creative with a life full of major music and fashion moments significant to the culture of then and now and lived his life like an avatar! 

“Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is an extraordinary collection of some of these moments that we have had a lot of fun recreating with the Roblox community since Rocket Entertainment began this project.”

Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group, stated “In the decades we’ve worked together, my commitment to Elton has been to build the largest global audience for his creative genius, spanning his recorded music, songwriting, fashion and performances. 

“As Elton wraps up his monumental final tour, we are extremely excited to help bring Beyond the Yellow Brick Road to life so that new generations of fans, now and for years to come, will continue to be entertained and inspired by his songs and music.”

Roblox has previously hosted immersive experiences and/or virtual concerts with the likes of The Chainsmokers, Charli XCX, Lizzo, Gayle, Lil Nas X, Twenty One Pilots, 24kGoldn, Royal Blood, David Guetta and Ava Max.

Elton John’s 10-date Australian and New Zealand run in January 2023 has the potential to reach over 1 million, which would make it the biggest of all-time.

It then heads return to 40 European arenas, winding up at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena on July 8, 2023.

Globally the three-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is already the third largest in history.

Billboard Boxscore shows that by October 9, it grossed US$661.3 million and sold 4.5 million tickets across 257 shows around the world. 

It is beaten by Ed Sheeran’s The Divide Tour, which earned $776.4 million from 2017 to 2019 and U2’s 360 Tour, which grossed $736.4 million in 2009-11.

Will Sir Elton passes them, as a farewell gift to his touring days?

Billboard reported, “Across his career, John has grossed $1.7 billion and sold 19.1 million tickets, becoming the highest grossing solo act in Billboard Boxscore’s three-decade-plus history.”