Greg, first of all, it's a huge pleasure to have you here. Your channel is practically a theme park for any Elton John fan — and also a true history lesson.
There are fans… and then there are collector fans. And within that universe, there are those who like to collect records, magazines, rare items, posters, guitar picks… and then there’s you, who decided to dive deep into audio.
There are special fans on the web who do true archaeological work on Elton John — like you. Specifically, many stand out for this dedication, such as:
David Bodoh (http://www.eltonography.com)
Paul Maclauchlan
Cornflakes & Classics – A musical history of Elton John
https://web.archive.org/web/20100726025929/http://www.whizzo.ca/elton/ej1965.html
Ronnie Friend (https://youtube.com/@ronniefriend?si=Jya0pnPEOsrEC0do)
Phillip Anness (https://youtube.com/@reginaldk6522?si=JXt8Ga97-kuOBVUa)
...among others. These are people who don’t just seek out rare information, but above all, share the results of their individual research. I deeply identify with that.
I’m not sure people fully realize the cultural and historical value of this kind of work. Maybe it’ll only be truly appreciated 300 years from now — but I’m well aware of its importance, and you’re part of that legacy.
Robson Vianna Question 1:
Do you consider yourself a “traditional fan” who became a collector by chance, or did you know from the start that you wanted to build this true treasure trove of sound? And besides the audios, do you also collect other types of materials — physical or digital?
GREG BARNES: “Oh, that is a great first question and I’ll be happy to answer! First of all, thank you for reaching out to me about this interview. It’s going to be fun and I look forward to the adventure! To answer the question, I fall more into the “traditional fan who became a collector” camp. When I was getting into Elton’s studio material, I had no idea on just how entertaining and amazing Elton’s live material was, so it was almost an accident when I really started getting interested in his live concerts. While I was getting myself more familiar with Elton’s studio output, I stumbled upon various videos from his 1984 tour (Sydney and Wembley) and I was so intrigued, entertained, and fascinated by what I heard and saw - that I wanted to explore some more of his live stuff. I had no idea that this would lead to collecting Elton’s live material and communicating with so many fellow fans. I mainly collect digital files of his shows (FLAC and MP3), but I have a small collection of physical CDR bootlegs that I acquired back in the 2011-2012 time frame.”
Robson Vianna Question 2:
Now let’s go back in time: how and when did your journey with Elton John begin? Was there a specific moment, song, or album that completely hooked you?
GREG BARNES: “We’ll take the DeLorean back to 1995 when I first got exposed to Elton’s music. My parents had bought The Lion King on VHS and if I wanted to be specific, it was watching that movie that I first heard an Elton song. During my formative years, I started getting exposed to a wide variety of bands since both of my parents were music lovers. My mother used to take piano lessons and my Dad would play guitar with his friends in a cover band. It was around 5th grade during 2000-2001 when I heard an Elton John song that wasn’t anything Lion King-related. My teacher would bring in a binder of CDs that she would play throughout the day and I recall hearing “Rocket Man” on one of them. A lot of her CDs were various compilations, so I heard multiple different artists on so many of these discs. Between my parents and my 5th grade teacher, I really started to soak in all of this different music. In terms of seriously getting into Elton’s music. I want to say around the mid 2000s is when I heard a lot more of his classic hit singles. Songs like “Tiny Dancer,” “Your Song,” “Candle In The Wind,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” and “Daniel” were introduced to me and I have my history of rock teacher to thank for that. During one of the classes, we were on the subject of the 1970s, and Elton’s name kept being brought up. In addition to those songs listed earlier, I can recall “I’m Still Standing” and “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” getting mentioned as well. At this point, I was interested enough with the Elton songs I did hear to ask my parents if they had any albums of his. My mother had a cassette copy of “Too Low For Zero” and that was the very first Elton John album I heard. I really liked it and by 2008, I had purchase my own CD copy of the album and the Greatest Hits 1970-2002 compilation. Ever since then, I have acquired all of Elton’s official studio albums and got hooked into the live material. I have my parents and two of my favorite school teachers to thank for the introduction to Elton!”
Robson Vianna Question 3:
Here comes the question every hardcore fan loves to answer: what are your favorite songs? Feel free to name three or four, no fear of being unfair!
GREG BARNES: “Thanks for being nice to me and letting me select up to four of my favorites! Let’s see… in no particular order: “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” “One More Arrow,” “Have Mercy On The Criminal,” and “Tonight.” I picked those four songs because I can listen to them over and over and never get tired of them. I love the singing on the songs and the musicianship is amazing. There’s also so much emotion on the tracks that you really FEEL Bernie Taupin’s lyrics through Elton’s vocal deliveries.”
Robson Vianna Question 4:
And what about the albums? Is there one (or more) that you consider perfect — the kind you can listen to from start to finish without skipping a single track?
GREG BARNES: “For me, Elton has made many great albums and I try not to skip any tracks - even if I don’t personally dig a song all that much. I want to at least give every song a chance. I do have my favorite Elton albums and least favorite albums, but going back to the question, there are three Elton albums that I would consider perfect for me. They are “Madman Across The Water,” “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player,” and “Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy.” If I was in the “Desert Island” scenario of taking one Elton album that I couldn’t live without, I would struggle between those three albums specifically.”
Robson Vianna Question 5:
Now for that classic fan-to-fan question: why Elton John? With so many talented artists out there, what was it that connected you so deeply with his music?
GREG BARNES: “I think it just comes down the chemistry between Elton’s music, his voice, Bernie’s lyrics, and the musicians that Elton played with. There’s something about the way that Elton’s music is arranged that it just draws you in. Elton’s one of my favorite vocalists and I still to this day think that he’s underrated in that department. He has a great melodic flow to his vocal style and really knows how to use his voice to deliver Bernie’s lyrics. The music is also amazing. With all of Elton’s melting pot of influences and the sheer diversity of his material, he just draws you into his work. I guarantee you that you can find ten random people out on the street who aren’t familiar with Elton’s material and they would like at least one of his songs. There’s something for everybody.”
Robson Vianna Question 6:
Tell us: when did the idea to create the channel come up? Was it something you planned or did it start gradually, like a hobby that just grew?
GREG BARNES: “I started to get the itch to post Elton’s live material in 2010 and in October of that year, I officially created the “GregsynthWizard” Youtube channel. The channel came about almost by accident since I originally wasn’t planning on making one. Throughout 2010, I slowly started finding these unofficial live recordings and I was blown away on just how fun and energetic they were. I can remember my first few recordings like it was yesterday. Outside of watching videos from Sydney 1984, Wembley 1984, and Sydney 1986, my first few unofficial recordings were Kansas City 1982 (2nd night), Boston 1979 (2nd night), Wembley Arena 1985 (Lord Choc Ice Goes Mental bootleg from December 14th), and a compilation bootleg called “Red Spectacles.” I showed a couple of my friends this material and they also were intrigued by what they heard. They encouraged me to keep searching for more live material and it was then when I got the bug to start the Youtube channel. Ever since then, it’s been a never-ending journey and I’m having a blast with the concerts. I love talking about them, discussing them with fellow fans/friends, and promoting them in order to get more people interested in Elton’s music. I plan on working with these shows for as long as I can.”
Robson Vianna Question 7:
You didn’t record these performances personally, but gathered material from various sources. What was the process like to find, select, and organize all that? Was it hard to access certain shows?
GREG BARNES: “It all depends on the show, but there’s usually a story behind first hearing it. Sometimes, these shows just pop up on the internet and it’s a very easy click and download action. Other times, I’m sent shows from cassette tapes and I have to transfer them to a digital format before they show up on Youtube or another website. There’s also times where I’ve bought tapes or CDs of the shows off of websites, I’ve been given shows in person before, and then there’s times where some shows are being used for trading purposes in order to acquire more material and there’s sometimes a long waiting process when it comes to that. In the end, it’s worth it because everybody benefits. I’ve personally recorded six Elton shows (Grand Rapids 2016, Detroit 2018 both nights, and all three Detroit shows from 2022), and I love contributing to the pool of material that’s floating out there. Seeing people happy enjoying Elton’s live material and reading comments on concert memories puts a big smile on my face and I love it.”
Robson Vianna Question 8:
Was there any particular show or recording that was especially difficult to get or restore? Any behind-the-scenes story from these searches that really stood out?
GREG BARNES: “There’s one recording that sticks out in that regard in terms of being difficult to acquire and it was Columbia from the Reg Strikes Back Tour (September 13th, 1988). I first came across a potential lead for that show at the beginning of 2013 and nothing happened. It was somewhat frustrating to see a couple of trade lists have that show on it, but the emails linked to them either were obsolete, or the person in question had stopped trading shows. It took almost two years until I finally was able to hear and transfer a copy of the show and I had lucked out since that trade list had a working email. I felt really satisfied once I transferred that show and my friends loved it. Just recently, we got a huge upgrade of that show from the master tape and it’s one of the best-sounding tapes from the entire Reg Strikes Back Tour. On the subject of difficult to restore, I sometimes run across recordings that are running at the wrong speed where Elton sounds like he’s on helium or Barry White and I have to adjust the playback speed. Since analog recordings are unpredictable, you don’t know how the playback speed will be. I remember fixing an older copy of Zurich 1989 from over a decade ago and the playback speed jumped all over the place (ranging from 3 semitones fast to a semitone slow)!
Robson Vianna Question 9:
Your channel also stands out for showcasing the evolution of Elton’s voice over the decades. This really grabs the attention of more attentive fans. How do you perceive those changes? Is there a vocal era that you consider special or underrated?
GREG BARNES: “Elton’s voice has changed more times than the wind direction and that’s one of the really unique things about listening to his live concerts throughout the decades. You can pick 10 different years of his live career and none of them will sound exactly the same. Having Elton’s voice change so much throughout the years has led to some really interesting discussions and some fans love certain years more than others. No matter how his voice changed from age, vocal technique, vocal surgery after-effects, or wear and tear, Elton’s voice is always getting discussed and I love hearing everybody’s thoughts on it. There’s been some great videos on Elton’s voice on Youtube (Brady Love’s video on Elton’s vocal surgery for example), and having all of this information really helps paint the picture on things. If I had to name one special vocal era from Elton, it would be the years of 1979 through to early 1986. This is strictly relating to his live performances during that time frame and it’s been called the “prime live” era. During that time frame, Elton was a very consistent live singer that more or less was nailing all of his vocals live and was reaping the benefits from his vocal coaching that he had with Thom Bell back in late 1977.”
Robson Vianna Question 10:
The Wizard and The Kid series on your YouTube channel, where you talked with another young fan at the time, was a multi-episode conversation about each Elton album or specific tracks. I used to watch it a lot and had a blast! Tell us more about how that idea came about, what were the details of that phase, and how the public reacted. And where is your co-host nowadays? It would be great to hear his take on that time too.
GREG BARNES: “Ah… I loved that series. It’s currently on hiatus right now because Stan is always super busy and scheduling things is difficult, but the last time I spoke with him, he was doing well. I hope to someday revive the show with him because I had a great time talking with him about the Elton John albums. I always wanted to talk about Elton’s studio work and I was just throwing ideas around with reviewing the albums with some people and Stan brought up the idea of us collaborating on a project. We have great chemistry on the episodes and we liked pushing each other’s buttons to try and get reactions out of each other. There was a review where we were discussing the “Jump Up” album and I mentioned that “I Am Your Robot” was a classic Elton song and rated it 4 & 3/4 stars out of 5. Stan just about blew his top and started berating me on the review and it was one of the funniest things I witnessed. It carried over into the next review for “Too Low For Zero” and I knew that this was something that wouldn’t fade quietly! I hope that we revive the series because I always look forward to working with Stan. He’s awesome.”
Robson Vianna Question 11:
What has it been like for you to receive this recognition from the community? Did you imagine the project would reach this far?
GREG BARNES: “I never expected to receive recognition at all! I just wanted to post some Elton John live recordings, but I didn’t realize the journey that I would be on! If you told me 15 years ago that I would be collecting hundreds and hundreds of Elton recordings and forming friendships with fellow fans around the world, I would laugh at the idea! It’s been a very fun time so far, and I have no plans of slowing down anytime soon. I enjoy all the interactions I have with other Elton John fans and I look forward to the next chapters on this journey.”
Robson Vianna Question 12:
Have you been in contact with other fans or collectors who helped you on this journey? Any interesting collaboration stories — whether with rare material or fun trivia?
GREG BARNES: “Absolutely. Without the friendships and collaborations I’ve had with other fans and tape traders, I likely would not be doing this project right now. There are some great people in the Elton community that have been really helpful in helping me clean up the recordings and making sure that I keep everything organized. I could not do this myself, it’s a big team effort. Without the tapers, collectors, and contacts that I’ve met, I likely would not be in the position I am in now. At best, I’d be an Elton John fan that mostly knew the studio albums and a handful of live material. These interactions with fellow fans have turned me into a super fan and a live recording enthusiast. I’ve collaborated with the “EltonStuff” channel on Youtube in which he would send me his copies of shows to clean up (usually speed correction) and I’ll try to sweeten the sound up if I can. He’s been a big help to me in which he has kept me organized with the recordings and makes sure that I don’t have really bad copies of shows!”
Robson Vianna Question 13:
Is there a specific moment on the channel that you consider unforgettable? Could be a viral video, a special comment, or even a discovery that surprised you.
GREG BARNES: “I wish I could remember the channel name, but on my original Kansas City 1982 upload, somebody had reached out to me saying that he had a list of Elton shows that he wanted to send to me in order to help start growing my collection. While the Kansas City upload is long gone since much better copies have circulated on Youtube, I still remember the comment. It was actions like that which really led to me sticking around and enjoy the hobby of collecting live concerts.”
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Robson Vianna Question 14:
And of course, let’s talk about the present: how do you see Elton John today? After so many years in his career, how do you evaluate this more recent phase of his life and music?
GREG BARNES: “I see Elton today as a living legend who has earned his (semi)retirement from the road. He has given so much to so many people over the last six decades that he deserves all the admiration and respect he has earned. I saw six fantastic shows from him and got to meet many amazing people due to shared interests in his music. I’m happy that he’s still relevant today with his music reaching younger generations and I’m also glad that he’s still working on new music and not just resting on his laurels.”
Robson Vianna Question 15:
To wrap up this section — but not the interview! — if you could send a message directly to Elton John himself, knowing everything you’ve heard, edited, preserved, and shared… what would you say?
GREG BARNES: “I would just say thank you to him for all of the wonderful music and for creating great memories for me. I would also thank him for having his music help create some wonderful friendships in my life.”
Robson Vianna Question 16:
One Elton show you wish you could’ve seen live, but didn’t get the chance to.
GREG BARNES: “I would say the Troubadour 1970 show. I would love to be there right at the beginning and witness Elton’s first gig in the United States. I wish that show existed in full so every fan can enjoy such a historical show in all of its glory.”
Robson Vianna Question 17:
An underrated song that deserved more recognition.
GREG BARNES: “The first song that comes to mind is “Elton’s Song” off of “The Fox.” It has such a beautiful melody and Elton’s vocals are fantastic. It’s one of my favorite songs he’s done during his 1980s era.”
Robson Vianna Question 18:
A dream duet: Elton John with whom?
GREG BARNES: “Elton John & Freddie Mercury. They are my two favorite singers and I think their voices would compliment each other really well. I could see them working on a piano ballad-type song and their voices getting highlighted.”
Robson Vianna Question 19:
If you could relive only one era of Elton’s career live, with him at his vocal peak, which would it be?
GREG BARNES: “The 1979 tour with Ray Cooper. You have just Elton and his piano (along with Ray’s percussion during the second half) with his vocal prowess being put out front and center. His live singing during that time ranks among his very best and some individual performances are just incredible to listen to.”
Robson Vianna Question 20:
Vinyl, CD, cassette, or streaming: what’s your favorite music format?
GREG BARNES: “I would have to pick the CD overall. I love having a physical copy of my music and as long as I take care of the discs, I won’t have to worry about sound issues popping up. I can also rip the discs into lossless files for a non-physical digital copy of the music.”
Robson Vianna Question 21:
One surprising Elton-related fact you discovered because of the channel and found unbelievable.
GREG BARNES: “Back in the late 2015 time frame, I had discovered through comments and discussions that Elton’s first gig post-rehab was going to be released through a “Rocket Gift” event. I was super intrigued and up to that point, I never heard about that show. I always thought that he went to rehab, took the rest of 1990 and 1991 off (bar some one-off appearances), then start doing regular/proper gigs in 1992. I didn’t know that he played a special charity gig at the Grosvenor Hotel in London. When I first heard the show, I was blown away. Elton sounded fresh and completely inspired. Free from his demons, he was reborn at that show.
Robson Vianna Question 22:
Bernie Taupin has released three solo albums — one of poetry and two where he sings — and honestly, I like his voice! I think it’s got a unique, intimate style. I often wonder why he and Elton never did a proper duet. Elton only did backing vocals on tracks like Citizen Jane and others, but never a duet like with George Michael. I’d love to see them on stage singing that kind of song together, even as a simple B-side.
Since we’re talking about Bernie, there’s a huge difference between their net worth: Elton John is estimated to have around $470 million, while Bernie Taupin has around $70 million. Of course, that makes sense when we consider Elton gets everything from performances, shows, and contracts, while Bernie gets only the songwriting portion.
In fact, I found this info in an interesting Quora post:
It explains exactly that: according to a well-informed user, Elton doesn’t directly “share” his income with Bernie — each one receives what’s in their contract. The songwriting royalties are split between them (likely 50/50), but when Elton takes the stage or sells tickets, that’s 100% his.
Do you enjoy Bernie Taupin’s singing? Some people don’t!
GREG BARNES: “Admittedly, I’m not as familiar with Bernie’s material or singing compared with Elton’s, but the stuff I have heard is pretty good. I quite liked “Citizen Jane” in particular.”
Robson Vianna Question 23:
And to close: if you could watch just one Elton John show in perfect soundboard quality, which one would it be?
GREG BARNES: “I’ll have to go back to the same answer I used for question 16 and say the Troubadour show from 1970! I think for historical importance, this show would be the one I would want most in a complete soundboard. Just imagine hearing an extremely raw and hungry Elton at his first gig in the United States!”
Robson Vianna:
Greg, it’s been an immense pleasure talking with you. Your work is inspiring and, for many fans, essential. Thank you for keeping this sonic history alive and for sharing it with such care. May there be many more audios, livestreams, and who knows — maybe even an official archive with your name on it in the future!
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