San Francisco Chronicle - Friday, October 18, 2002
Catherine Bigelow, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sir Reginald Kenneth Dwight, a.k.a. Elton John, a knight of the British Empire and unabashed honky-tonk man, was both guest of honor and entertainer at the "An Enduring Vision" fund-raiser Wednesday night in San Francisco.

The $2,500-a-plate event was hosted by AT&T President David Dorman, Scient founder Eric Greenberg and his wife, Carmel, Ambassador James Hormel and Timothy Wu, and Sharon Stone (who's married to Chronicle Executive Editor Phil Bronstein) and benefited the Elton John AIDS Foundation, in collaboration with the National AIDS Fund, which funds community resources for AIDS/HIV prevention and care. Locally, UCSF's AIDS Research Institute will receive 25 percent of the evening's $1.1 million take.

"Private money lets us be edgier in our research," said UCSF's Tom Coates. "Tonight we honor Elton's staying power because he reminds us that AIDS is the world's tragedy."

Inspired by the work of Elizabeth Taylor, Larry Kramer and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, John's foundation has raised $35 million in its 10-year history.

"I'm lucky to be alive," said the 55-year-old performer, who spent most of the '80s in an oblivion of drugs and drink. "I was so self-absorbed. I decided if I survived, it was up to me to do something for others."

The 400 seats at the event, a glowing supper club bathed by the light of votive candles and warm orange spotlights, afforded ample stargazing and bird's-eye views of the piano man's charming gap-toothed grin.

Tuxedo-clad waiters delivered plates of delectable victuals: fromage tart flambe, salad of baby greens, beef short ribs and a chocolate tart souffle.

Local luminaries such as Dede Wilsey, Harry and Ellen Parker, former Mayor Art Agnos and wife Sherry, Al Baum, Dick Goldman and Judy Edwards, Denise Hale and Seth Matarasso, Kamala Harris, Yurie and Carl Pascarella, Supervisor Mark Leno, O.J. and Gary Shansby, Rick and Darian Swig and David and Emily Pottruck rubbed elbows with musician Neil and wife Pegi Young, filmmaker David Furnish (Elton's beau), Sammy and Kari Hagar, Catherine Martin (Luhrmann's creative, and marital, partner) and Justine and Elon Musk (PayPal founder), who zipped up from L.A. in their new plane.

The evening's second-best act was the live-auction antics of Mayor Willie Brown and Stanlee Gatti -- channeling the spirits of Abbott and Costello with their good-natured bickering. Gatti, nervous about his auction duties, received pointers from Luhrmann: "Humiliate and force," said the director. Fortunately, Paul Pelosi was a good sport.

But a snafu occurred when Johns' "Oscar Party" table package was won by Laine and George Garrick (Placeware CEO) for $70,000. Frank Gangi (Global NAPs founder) thought he'd won it. As quick as you can say "budget impasse," Brown got John to throw in a second table and "gave" it to Gangi . . . for 70 grand.

John then took his seat at a Yamaha grand on the raised stage, and it was just a man and his piano -- albeit one dressed in a modified black Versace tuxedo with rhinestone-trimmed collar, pants cuffs and iconic Medusa head on the jacket's back.

Kicking off with "Your Song," this was not the wild John of yore. Gone are the kooky glasses, crazy hats and tremulous falsetto. Still distinctive, the voice has mellowed into a rich, smoky caramel sound -- and one that knew exactly what the audience wanted to hear.

And they responded with numerous standing ovations and wild cheers. But like John, the audience, too, has grown up. A few guests discreetly rocked out in their chairs, and for a very brief moment, votive candles from the tables were held aloft.

The 10-song set included favorites such as "Daniel," "Honky Cat," "Rocket Man," "Tiny Dancer" and a cover of Ryan Adams' "Oh My Sweet Carolina." Encore? "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" hit the spot.

Luhrmann provided emcee duties for the singer, whom he's dubbed the "godparent of 'Moulin Rouge.' " It was over the use of "Your Song" in the film that they first met. John immediately gave his blessing, and other musicians then followed suit. But for Luhrmann, that song will always be key.

" 'Your Song' was being played in cheesy piano bars," he said. "But I realized I knew all the words. So I listened again to the original version, with string quartet -- and it hit me: The body of Elton's work is the soundtrack to our lives."

E-mail Catherine Bigelow at cbigelow@sfchronicle.com.
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