Bernie Taupin’s ‘Nonlinear’ Memoir ‘Scattershot’ Out This Summer

Taupin met John in 1967 after they both answered the same Liberty Records ad placed in the New Musical Express seeking new songwriters. John failed the audition, but after explaining he could write music instead of lyrics, A&R man Ray Williams gave him a batch of poems written by Taupin. Impressed with his work, John reached out to the budding songwriter, beginning one of the most successful partnerships in music history.

Taupin — who has written the lyrics for most of John's songs, dating back to his 1969 debut album Empty Sky — will release Scattershot on Sept. 12. It's available for preorder now. From the sounds of it, he won't be following the traditional music memoir structure either.