NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Capturing 50-year career is a herculean task. Good thing his husband, David Furnish, and filmmaker R.J. Cutler were up for the challenge.
one of The Associated Press' picks for the best was inspired by John's final U.S. tour in 2022 鈥� but quickly became a celebration of his life and work. It is filled with insight into his music, relationships 鈥� including a fiery friendship with 鈥� troublesome childhood and struggles with addiction. It is bookended by myth-making performances at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in 1975 and 2022.
For fans 鈥� and even John himself 鈥� it is revelatory viewing.
鈥淚 was struck by how good the music was in those first five years, because I very rarely listened to my music. I was very proud of that,鈥� John told the AP this week. 鈥淎nd also, it brought back the incredible struggle that I had with success, having no foundation underneath it. I turned to alcohol, drugs and then had redemption by getting sober.鈥�
Success and satisfaction are not one in the same, a fact that's quickly established in the film. John had fame but hungered for connection. Having a family changed him.
鈥淭he greatest things in my life are my two kids and David. And the music comes secondary to them,鈥� he says.
鈥淭he title 鈥楴ever Too Late鈥� sums it up for everybody, not just me. You can change things. It鈥檚 never too late to change anything. Thank God I did. Because when I got sober, my whole life completely changed." He's now been sober for 34 years.
鈥淚t's been glorious compared to what it was for about 10 years, 15 years," he says of his past struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. "You know, I was still playing and touring while I was doing drugs. I never stopped. Because music kept me alive. Music kept me alive. It nearly killed me, but it saved me, if you get what I mean. I am just so proud because now I have a family.鈥�
He views 鈥淣ever Too Late鈥� as not only a celebration of that journey, but an effective 鈥減iece of advocacy,鈥� as he describes it. 鈥淵ou can have children, and you can be gay, and you can have a happy family. I couldn't be happier.鈥�
鈥淣ever Too Late鈥� is also the title of an uplifting theme song written by Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, John and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, currently Carlile was the catalyst; she paid John and Furnish a visit to their home in France, saw a rough cut of the documentary and felt moved to write a song.
鈥淭his song was about my life, and I found it very easy to write to,鈥� he said of the collaboration. And its message is simple: 鈥淚've been through hell,鈥� John says. 鈥淎nd I still come out fighting the other side. So, you know, it鈥檚 very true to what I am.鈥�
And while his days of touring are behind him, the song 鈥淣ever Too Late鈥� is part of a 鈥渘ew era,鈥� as John explains it. Fans can expect new music in the future. 鈥淭here will be a new album sooner or later,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 dying to record new stuff.鈥�
A project like 鈥淣ever Too Late鈥� allows for reflection. When asked what John hopes his legacy becomes 50, 100 years from now, he says simply: 鈥淚 just want, on my tombstone to say, 鈥楬e was a great dad.鈥� That鈥檚 what I want. The musical legacy will speak for itself. But from a human point of view, 鈥楬e was a great dad and a great husband.鈥欌��
Last month, John revealed he had after contracting an infection. 鈥淭he eyesight is a problem. But we鈥檙e looking into treatment for it. I鈥檓 a huge optimist. I basically lost the eyesight in my right eye for the time being. My left eye is not the greatest,鈥� he says.
He's been adjusting to the condition for six months. "I've had, since this happened, such an empathy for sight- impaired people and blind people... When you see so many other people who just can鈥檛 see at all 鈥� I鈥檓 very blessed."
John's positivity is felt throughout 鈥淣ever Too Late." He's uninterested in looking backwards; in the same way his record-breaking accomplishments are celebrated on film, so too are contemporary moments that spotlight his enthusiasm for his family and younger talent.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 all about what鈥檚 going to happen in the future, not what鈥檚 happened in the past," he says. "With this documentary, we leave certain time behind. And now it鈥檚 all about starting again.鈥�
鈥淓lton John: Never Too Late鈥� is available to stream now on Disney+.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
