{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O163637"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O163637/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY1402/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY1402/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BY1402","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009BY1404","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009BY1375","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009BY1339","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX6033","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX6032","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX6031","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX6030","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX6029","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AG8905","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O163637","accessionNumber":"S.231 to S.233&A-1977","objectType":"Rock and pop costume","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Elton John started performing as a pub singer at the age of 15, working his way up the music industry ladder by playing in bands with his friends, eventually becoming a staff songwriter for DJM Records. On gaining a record contract in 1970, at the age of 23, his live performance became bigger and more flamboyant. Backed by a large catalogue of ballads and piano rock, his scintillating stage shows involved him performing in wild costumes such as this one.  \r\nDesigned by Bill Whitten, this costume was known as 'Bicycle John' and John wore it on his 1974 American tour. The lurex fabric is decorated with a bicycle bell, mudguards, reflectors, and handlebar covers and the platform soles and four inch heels of the boots are covered with multi-coloured glass rhinestones. A matching bicycle was also created, covered in rhinestones corresponding with those of the platform soles.\r\n\r\nBill Whitten is a costume designer to pop stars and for Hollywood film. His designs have included iconic costumes for Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire and Lionel Richie and movies including the 1980 remake of <i>The Jazz Singer</i>, and tend towards the camp and flamboyant .","physicalDescription":"'Bicycle John' costume worn by Elton John, ca.1974-75","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Whitten, Bill","id":"A23855"},"association":{"text":"costume designer","id":"AAT163428"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009BY1402","2009BY1404","2009BY1375","2009BY1339","2006AX6033","2006AX6032","2006AX6031","2006AX6030","2006AX6029","2006AG8905"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343070"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343070"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343089"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343089"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"Rock and pop costume","id":""}],[{"text":"Jacket","id":""}],[{"text":"Theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"Rock and pop costume","id":""}],[{"text":"Trousers","id":""}],[{"text":"boots","id":"AAT46057"}],[{"text":"boots","id":"AAT46057"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1974","earliest":"1969-01-01","latest":"1978-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Reginald Dwight (Sir Elton John)","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"160","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"65","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"35","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Jacket and trousers measured on mannequin","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Elton John is believed to have worn this outfit on his 1974-75 American tour","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Bicycle John' costume worn by Elton John, ca.1974-75","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bicycles","id":"AAT212636"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"‘Bicycle John’ stage costume worn by Elton John\r\n1974–5\r\n\r\nElton John, famed for the flamboyance of his stage costumes, is believed to have worn this outfit as part of his 1974–5 American tour. Made of Lurex, it is decorated with a bicycle bell, mudguards, reflectors and handlebar covers. The platform soles and heels of the boots are covered with multi-coloured glass rhinestones.\r\n\r\nLurex, metal, plastic and glass\r\nDesigned by Bill Whitten \r\nGiven by Reginald Dwight (Sir Elton John)\r\nMuseum nos. S.231 to 233&A-1977","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["S.231-1977","S.232-1977","S.233-1977","S.233A-1977"],"accessionNumberNum":"231","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1977,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Theatre costume [1]","Theatre costume [2]","Theatre costume [3]","Theatre costume [4]"],"assets":["2019LX0823","2019LV8962"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-04","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-16","availableToBook":false}}