Radar reveals Elton John’s heartbreaking life after blindness

Since then, the singer and songwriter has been spending more time at home with his family, listening to recordings from across his career while dealing with the physical and emotional toll of his deteriorating eyesight.

Friends say the change has been difficult for an artist whose life has been defined by spectacle, movement and connection with audiences around the world.

Speaking recently about how he deals with his music now, John said, “Well, (record producer) Andrew Watt came over and stayed with us in the summer, and you can get this app on the Internet where you can just listen to Rock of the Westies and pull out isolated strains of music, so he could just get the piano track from things like Street Kids. And I never listened to anything again, but that’s such a great record. That band was just amazing.”

Sources said such listening has become both a comfort and a coping mechanism for John as he approaches total blindness.

“Elton is no longer able to experience music the way he once did visually or physically, so sound has taken on an even deeper meaning for him,” said an insider.

“There is something utterly heartbreaking about him revisiting his life’s work at a time when his world has become physically smaller, even as his memories feel louder than ever.”

John has reflected on his music catalog with unusual candor, saying: “I’m a lot more fond of my old catalog than I used to be, because I hadn’t listened to it, but I realize now how musical it was. I mean, we did three orchestral albums – Elton John, Tumbleweed (compound) And Crazy (across the water)and then Davey joined the band and we went completely in the band direction and made Honky Chateau, Don’t Shoot Me, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Caribou and Captain Fantastic.”

Those close to him say the listening has become ritualistic.

“He brings his life together through sound, as he can barely see now,” the source said.

“Each album represents a different era, a different version of himself, and that reflection is both joyful and painful given what he is physically confronted with.”

John explained: “And then I changed bands and we made Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves, which was also one of my favorites. And every album was different – I never made the same album twice… it gives me joy, because the stuff was actually really good musically, and that’s all I care about.”