# Davey Johnstone
**Davey Johnstone** (born David William Logan Johnstone, 1951, in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist who has played on most of [Elton John](https://www.edgepedia.org/elton-john)'s albums and tours since 1971, serving as guitarist, backing vocalist and, since 1988, musical director of the Elton John Band.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83174973.html) • [2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) • [3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/) He joined at age 20 after session work on *Madman Across The Water* and has been associated with the band across more than half a century, playing everything from the mandolin figure that anchors the song "Madman Across the Water" to the riff rockers of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting".[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) • [4](https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/exclusive-interview-davey-johnstone-my-career-with-elton-john-413589) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name, birth | David William Logan Johnstone, born 1951 in Edinburgh, Scotland; Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83174973.html) |
| Joined Elton John Band | August 1971 sessions for *Madman Across The Water*; recruited full-time alongside drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) |
| Stage instruments | Electric 6-string and 12-string, electric sitar, double-neck slide guitar, acoustic 6-string and 12-string, banjo, mandolin, and a G-Sharp small-scale guitar[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) |
| Shows with Elton John | His 3,000th performance came at a concert in Saskatoon, Canada, during the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) |
| Musical director | Appointed in 1988[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/) |
| Songwriting | Co-writer of "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", written with Elton John in about 20 minutes[7](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-guitarist-davey-johnstone-on-their-history-and-final-tour-720041/) |
| Solo albums | *Smiling Face* (1973), *Crop Circles* (1999, Solid Air Records), *Deeper Than My Roots* (Spirit of Unicorn Music)[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) |
## Early life and folk beginnings
Johnstone was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1951.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83174973.html) By age 15 he was playing banjo, mandolin, violin, guitar and sitar, a multi-instrumental range that later supported his London session work.[8](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/davey-johnstone-top-tips)
**London and folk sessions.** He moved to London in 1968 and got his first album credit that year on the Noel Murphy LP *Another Round*; Murphy and Johnstone then formed the band Draught Porridge in 1969.[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) In 1970 he played on the album *Seasons* by [Magna Carta](https://www.edgepedia.org/magna-carta) and in 1971 joined that group as second guitarist. Magna Carta's next album, *Songs From Wasties Orchard*, was produced by Gus Dudgeon, Elton John's producer, and that connection led to his first Elton-related work.[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone)
## Joining the Elton John Band
The route ran through Dudgeon. The producer asked Johnstone to play on [Bernie Taupin](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernie-taupin)'s self-titled 1971 solo album, on which he played guitar, sitar, banjo, mandolin, and lute; that session resulted in a meeting with John and work on his 1971 album *Madman Across the Water*.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) • [2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone)
In August 1971 Dudgeon called on him to play acoustic guitar and mandolin parts on four songs on *Madman Across The Water*, including the intricate harmonic part that anchors the title track. Shortly afterwards Elton invited him to join the band full-time, alongside drummer [Nigel Olsson](https://www.edgepedia.org/nigel-olsson) and bassist [Dee Murray](https://www.edgepedia.org/dee-murray).[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) Johnstone's own account of the first session: "I turned up with an acoustic guitar, a mandolin, a sitar, and a banjo. I came up with the intro riff" for the title track.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/) The second song he cut with Elton was "Holiday Inn", on which he played mandolin and two sitars on the solo.[8](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/davey-johnstone-top-tips)
## Role in the band and studio work
Johnstone's contribution spans instruments, vocals and arrangement. In live performance over the years, his instruments have included a 6-string electric, a 12-string electric, an electric sitar, the double-neck slide guitar, a 6-string acoustic and a 12-string acoustic, along with banjo, mandolin and a G-Sharp guitar.[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) He sings backing vocals and holds the musical director's post.[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) • [3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
AllMusic characterizes his studio value as range: his playing could adapt from serene ballads ("Candle in the Wind"), to pop ("[Crocodile Rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/crocodile-rock)"), and even raging riff rockers ("Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting").[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) Beyond the core albums, he has worked with John on *The Lion King* soundtrack and the music for productions such as *Aida* and *Billy Elliot*.[4](https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/exclusive-interview-davey-johnstone-my-career-with-elton-john-413589)
## Solo career and other collaborations
**Solo records.** AllMusic lists three solo releases: the obscure 1973 release *Smiling Face*, *Crop Circles* (1999, Solid Air Records) and *Deeper Than My Roots* (Spirit of Unicorn Music).[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) *Deeper Than My Roots*, recorded with the Davey Johnstone Band during the Covid-19 break from touring, is his first solo effort since 1973's *Smiling Face*; it features his sons Elliot, Charlie, Jesse and Tam and daughter Juliet, with guest drummers Nigel Olsson and Denny Seiwell.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
**Side work.** During the late 1970s and early 1980s he played with [Alice Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/alice-cooper), touring and recording from 1977 to 1982 and appearing on *From The Inside* and *Flush The Fashion*, and with [Meat Loaf](https://www.edgepedia.org/meat-loaf), touring and appearing on 1981's *Dead Ringer*; he toured the United States with [Kiki Dee](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiki-dee) in 1978.[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) AllMusic adds guest appearances for Joan Armatrading, Kiki Dee, Leo Sayer, the Who, Stevie Nicks, Yvonne Elliman, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, George Jones, Belinda Carlisle and Vonda Shepherd.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) Vintage Guitar adds the Pointer Sisters, Olivia Newton-John and Judy Collins, plus movie music for composers James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/) His rock band Warpipes released the album *Holes in the Heavens* in 1991.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
## Touring eras and the Farewell Yellow Brick Road years
Johnstone, Olsson and Murray reunited with Elton John in 1982 for a world tour.[2](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone) In 1988 he became Elton's musical director.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
The length of his absence from the band in the late 1970s and early 1980s is reported differently by credible sources. Rolling Stone states that, with the exception of a brief 1980 summer tour, Johnstone has been a sole constant presence in Elton's band,[7](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-guitarist-davey-johnstone-on-their-history-and-final-tour-720041/) while Vintage Guitar says that except for four years in the late '70s and early '80s he has been a constant, an account consistent with his documented 1977 to 1982 Alice Cooper tenure.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
**Farewell Yellow Brick Road.** A concert in [Saskatoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/saskatoon), Canada, during the [Farewell Yellow Brick Road](https://www.edgepedia.org/farewell-yellow-brick-road) tour marked the 3,000th time Johnstone performed with Elton John as guitarist, backing vocalist and Musical Director.[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) He wrapped the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, bringing an end to his half-century-plus tenure in the singer's band.[8](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/davey-johnstone-top-tips) After the tour he has said he will not retire: "I'm not going to tour, per se, but I might do live stuff." At the time of the interview, he said he planned a 50th anniversary reissue of *Smiling Face* and a new reissue of *Holes in the Heavens*.[3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
## By the numbers
The figures quantify a career of unusual continuity. More than 20 Elton John albums carry his playing.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) His performances with Elton John passed 3,000 during the farewell tour.[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) His tenure in the band exceeds half a century, from 1971 to the tour's end.[8](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/davey-johnstone-top-tips) On stage he has covered nine instruments, from electric 6-string to G-Sharp guitar.[6](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000) Against that, his solo output is small: one album in 1973, one in 1999, and *Deeper Than My Roots* decades later.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) • [3](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
## Legacy and reception
AllMusic regards Johnstone as one of rock's most versatile players, and notes that he has always made working with Elton John his top priority.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248) His one documented songwriting credit with Elton John is substantial: he co-wrote "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", recalling that "We wrote the song right there in about 20 minutes. He said, 'That's it. Let's record it.'"[7](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-guitarist-davey-johnstone-on-their-history-and-final-tour-720041/) His multi-instrumental folk training, including the sitar, is credited by the guitarist himself as benefiting his guitar playing.[8](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/davey-johnstone-top-tips)
## References
1. [Johnstone, Davey, Library of Congress Authorities](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83174973.html)
2. [Davey Johnstone, The Band, Elton John official site](https://www.eltonjohn.com/the-band/davey-johnstone)
3. [Davey Johnstone, Vintage Guitar magazine](https://www.vintageguitar.com/40517/davey-johnstone/)
4. [Exclusive interview: Davey Johnstone, my career with Elton John, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/exclusive-interview-davey-johnstone-my-career-with-elton-john-413589)
5. [Davey Johnstone, AllMusic biography](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davey-johnstone-mn0000630248)
6. [Davey Johnstone Celebrates his 3,000th Show, Elton John official site](https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/davey-3000)
7. [Elton John Guitarist Davey Johnstone on Their History, Final Tour, Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-guitarist-davey-johnstone-on-their-history-and-final-tour-720041/)
8. [Elton John guitarist Davey Johnstone reveals how learning the sitar benefited his guitar playing, GuitarPlayer](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/davey-johnstone-top-tips)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Folk rock and singer-songwriter bands*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license