Elton John says it took a ‘Herculean effort’ to get his cocaine use noticed in 1970s Los Angeles

Singer said there were moments in his biopic Rocketman that made him ‘sob’ remembering his former addiction struggles

Elton John has joked that it took a “Herculean effort” to get his cocaine use noticed in 1970s Los Angeles, but he was “prepared to put the hours in”.

The singer made the comments during a watch party of his biopic Rocketman.

Posting a GIF of Taron Egerton, who played him in the film, John tweeted: “It took a fairly Herculean effort to get yourself noticed for taking too much cocaine in the music industry of 1970s LA, but I was clearly prepared to put the hours in.”

John also said he was moved to tears by a scene in Rocketman where his longtime musical partner, Bernie Taupin, warned him about his cocaine use. “Seeing this scene for the first time also set me off sobbing again,” he wrote, alongside a picture of him and Taupin.

“Bernie was one of the people who tried to tell me to stop doing drugs and I wouldn’t listen, but he stuck by me and never gave up on me.”

John has spoken candidly about his struggles with drugs and alcohol over the years, and in July 2019 he celebrated almost three decades of sobriety. He wrote on Instagram: “29 years ago today, I was a broken man.

“I finally summoned up the courage to say three words that would change my life: ‘I need help.’”