Elton John and Brandi Carlile celebrate the release of their Who Believes In Angels? album with stunning London Palladium event

Forget the National Concert Hall – if it’s posh venues you’re after look no further than the London Palladium.

From Louis Armstrong, Shirley Bassey and Miss Piggy to Tom Jones, Judy Garland and The Beatles, everyone who’s anyone in the world of showbiz has graced the revolving stage at the 125-year-old Grade II-listed theatre, often with kings and queens gazing down on them.

The rock royalty in attendance tonight is Elton John who’s celebrating the release of his new Who Believes In Angels? album with its co-creator Brandi Carlile and 2,300 of his other closest friends and fans.

The celebrity count is high with Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Sasha Baron Cohen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jason Momoa, Sam Fender, Daphne Guinness, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Ronnie Wood and, most impressively, Marty Whelan also wangling their way on to the guest-list.

Despite the recent eye infection which has caused sight loss in his left eye, the 79-year-old looks hale and hearty in his neon pink suit and lime green runners.

With CBS picking the show up in the States - UK and Norn Iron viewers can catch it on April 19 on ITV - Schitt's Creek star and Elton mega-fun Dan Levy has flown in to take care of public interview duties.

While eager to get to the performing part of the night - you would be too if your band included Red Hot Chilli Peppers members past and present, Josh Klinghoffer and Chad Smith, and superstar producer Andrew Watt - Elton quickly explains that the collaboration is born out of twenty years of close friendship and him wanting to help make Brandi as big a star here as she is in the States where she has eleven Grammy awards and two Emmys on her very long mantlepiece.

He takes responsibility for the Who Believes In Angels? recording sessions being fraught at first - see the Stories From The Edge Of Creation video below for a sample temper tantrum - and credits Carlisle with eventually turning them into one of the most rewarding experiences of his almost sixty year career.

For all of his benevolence towards the younger singer, the partnership is clearly a 50/50 one with both of their musical fingerprints on Who Believes In Angels? 's ten songs, all of which you'll be able to hear on Friday April 4 when after much build-up it hits the racks.

After Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Chappell Roan and Ed Sheeran pay recorded tribute to Elton, the talk turns to family.

“On my tombstone, I want nothing to do with Crocodile fucking Rock,” he jokes. “I just want it to say ‘He was a great dad.’”

Brandi later reveals one of her daughters to be the inspiration for 'You Without Me', a gorgeous ballad which is among Who Believes In Angels?'s gentler standouts.

The already released title-track and 'Swing For The Fences' point to an album that rocks in no uncertain terms, which is borne out when Elton gets his wish and the throne-like seats at the front of the stage are cleared away.

The record company word had been that Elton and Brandi would be performing a few intimate songs, but what follows is a full fast 'n' furious 90 minute gig, which is as heavy on Elton John classics ('Tiny Dancer', 'Your Song', 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', 'I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues', 'I'm Still Standing') as it is ... Angels? newbies (wait till you hear the riotous boogie woogie piano on 'Little Richard's Bible'!)

There's also a deep dive into the Reg Dwight back catalogue with 1970 album track, 'I Need You To Turn To', and lovingly perform covers of 'He'll Have To Go' and 'Crazy' which Carlile, a Patsy Cline devotee, absolutely nails.

There's another mea culpa when Elton halts 'Bennie & The Jets' halfway through and apologises to the band for, in his excitement, playing it too fast.

It's another very human moment in a night that genuinely gladdens the heart and will be reported on fully in the next issue of HP.

Who Believes In Angels? is out on Friday April 4 with https://umi.lnk.to/EJWBIA the place to go for pre-orders.

The full Who Believes In Angels? track-listing is:

'The Rose Of Laura Nyro'
'Little Richard’s Bible'
'Swing For The Fences'
'Never Too Late'
'You Without Me'
'Who Believes In Angels?'
'The River Man'
'A Little Light'
'Someone To Belong To'
'When This Old World Is Done With Me'