ELTON JOHN - ELTON JOHN GEARS UP FOR BIRTHDAY GIG

Sir Elton John is celebrating his 60th birthday in style tonight – with a concert at Madison Square Garden (MSG).

Tonight's gig, in front of 20,000 of his closest and dearest friends, will – rather fittingly – be the 60th time the Rocket Man has performed at this most respected of venues.

Sir Elton has held the record for the most number of concerts at the MSG since 2001, when he overtook the Grateful Dead's tally of 52 separate dates.

The sexagenarian will return there yet again to increase his tally tonight. Those of a similar age may remember his many notable performances there, including in 1974 when a guest appearance from John Lennon proved to be the ex-Beatles last ever outing on a stage.

Sir Elton, who was propelled to fame in 1971 with his hit Your Song, will hold a birthday bash at the gothic St John's The Divine cathedral in Harlem prior to the gig.

Unsurprisingly the guest list is all As. Among those expected to attend are former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, newlyweds Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar and Whoopi Goldberg.