Cultural WI: Elton John Gets HIV

[MerryPrankster]

http://www.accessatlanta.com/AccessAtlanta-sharing_/elton-john-lucky-to-1479438.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm

Elton John has a new memoir out that covers his anti-AIDS activism. He recounts how lucky he was to avoid getting HIV in the 1980s and how he lost many friends.

So what if Elton John got infected by HIV during this time period? I imagine he was wealthy enough to afford AZT and other such treatments, but if it was early enough, those might not be available.

And what effects might this have on wider culture?

 

[Cook]

And what effects might this have on wider culture?

To be honest, I can’t stand Elton John’s music. I’m not sure what impact his death from AIDS would have had musically; his heyday seems to have been the early ‘80s anyway wasn’t it?

We had the tragic loss of Freddie Mercury as it was. And to be honest, losing the driving force behind Queen had, to me, a far greater impact on the music scene than Elton John’s passing would have had.

 

[Peelitebkearns]

I don't mind some of Elton John's music, though he's by no means a favourite of mine. The majority of his hits were in the 1970's, long before he would have caught HIV. He did have a couple of big hits in the early 80's though.

Anyway, if Elton John gets HIV when it was in it's infancy, it's at least possible that Freddie Mercury's HIV is butterflied away. The same is true with Kenny Everet.

Assuming Elton dies (which is entirely possible), then the number one song not long after his death is almost certainly going to be the band-aid style remake of 'Candle In The Wind' that will come about as a tribute to Elton-with all proceeds going to AIDS research.

Aside from that, 'Sacrifice' (the hit he had in 1990) is not made, someone else records the Lion King soundtrack and someone else will release a tribute to Princess Dianna, in the unlikely event that her death remains the same ITTL that is.