Sir Elton John had surgery to remove his kneecaps and used his creativity and the help of a talented jeweler to come up with a way to keep them.
Sir Elton John Made a Necklace Out of His Bones
Drying out your kneecaps after a double-kneecap surgery is not something you hear of often, but this is something that the “Rocket Man” musician did. His most recent operation was in January 2024.
John’s new documentary, “Touched By Gold,” gives insight into his life. In a clip obtained by Us Weekly ahead of the film’s premiere on Monday, September 15, John discusses how his jewelry pieces were created. The singer recruited the help of jewelry designer Theo Fennell and discussed how they dried up the bones to make a necklace from the right patella and a brooch from the left.
“When I had my kneecaps removed, the left one first and then the right, I asked my surgeon if I could keep the kneecaps, which he was rather startled about — then I rang you,” he said.
He also commented on why he had the surgery, saying, “My surgeon said I had the worst knees he’s ever operated on. That hole was actually in my kneecap. It looks a bit like an old artifact from Egypt.” There is gold encasing the bone on the necklace, and it has an inscription on the back in Latin. It reads: “I will no longer bow to any man,” Us Weekly reports. This is a powerful quote but also comical because Fennell shared, “You can’t do with a kneecap missing.”
Sir Elton John Jokes About His Surgeries
At the New York Film Festival premiere of his film, “Elton John: Never Too Late” on October 1, 2024, John spoke about his surgeries. “To be honest with you, there’s not much of me left. I don’t have tonsils, adenoids, or an appendix. I don’t have a prostate,” he said, People reports.
He continued, “I don’t have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip. But I’m still here.” He then thanked the crowd, his husband, and their sons.
Most recently, the beloved musician revealed that he “rocked too hard” and ended up in the hospital with two bedazzled casts on his legs. In an Instagram post on September 13, he shared several photos of himself in the hospital. Fans were immediately concerned for his health. Thankfully, John is in good health and teased why he was in casts with his caption.
“Rocked too hard… ended up in a cast! Backstage with Spinal Tap,” he wrote in the caption. “The new film, ‘Spinal Tap II,’ and album are out today, featuring me on ‘Listen To The Flower People’ and ‘Stonehenge’. Thanks for having me be a part of it!”
