Rocket Man Falls and Returns

Music was not the focus of Elton's life during the late '80s and the first few years of the '90s. Rather, he was fighting to find his way through a dark and difficult time in his life. In 1992, one of the ways Elton found hope was by starting an AIDS organization. Partly because of his touching experience with Ryan White, as well as his sexual orientation, Elton felt his fame could be used for a meaningful cause.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation, with offices in England and the United States, was that cause. With Elton as the chair of the foundation, the organization provides educational AIDS-prevention programs and funds health-care services for AIDS/HIV patients all over the world. The foundation directs 90 percent of its profits to direct care and 10 percent to AIDS prevention. Elton adds to the $22 million the foundation dispenses each year by pledging all of his profits from singles released after “The One” to the foundation. “The One” reached number eight on the charts in 1992.

Elton soon found himself in the fulfilling role of AIDS activist. In 1992, he performed at the Freddie Mercury Memorial and AIDS Benefit concert at Wembley Stadium in England, alongside Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses. Freddie Mercury was the lead singer of the band Queen who died from AIDS in 1991. Elton and Axl performed Freddie Mercury's most popular song, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” to thousands of supporters and fans.