An Elton John megafan will enjoy his 100th concert at Vicarage Road after decades following the Rocketman.
Mark Underwood, 61, has been to 99 Elton John gigs since his first in Earls Court, London, May 1976.
Having seen Sir Elton perform across the UK, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the USA, and the UAE, Mark will fittingly reach a century in Watford.
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Mark, who works in financial technology and now lives in Dubai said: “I’ve been following Elton’s career for the best part of 50 years.
“I bought my first LP, Madman across the Water, in around 1973 and it’s gone from there really, 99 shows over four to five decades.
“It just coincided that the number of shows now brings me to Watford, which Elton has been so loyal to, for the 100th show.”
Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour spans across the world and is intended to be his final ever tour, with Elton having made a point of playing Watford for shows on July 3 and 4.
Sir Elton said: "I simply had to play Vicarage Road a final time as part of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour."
“My relationships with the club, with the fans, the players and the staff over the years have meant the world to me.
"Through the good times and the bad, Watford has been a huge part of my life.”
Mark, who is married with two sons, has amassed a huge collection of music and memorabilia over the years.
He has also met Elton twice, by chance at a motorway service station in 1976, and at a fan club meeting in 2000.
Mark added: “What first drew me to Elton John's music was the stunning composition of the songs.
“I consider myself very lucky to have had my teenage years in the 1970s at the peak of Elton and Bernie's musical output.
“These songs have lasted the test of time and sound as fresh on stage in 2022 as they did back then.”
Mark is now in the process of writing a book about his memories from 100 concerts.
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