Elton John Honors Victims at Germany Show

ERFURT, Germany (German Press) - Elton John paid tribute to the victims of a deadly April school shooting in this city by holding a concert whose proceeds will help care for those affected by the tragedy. "We cannot play the music without thinking of why we are here tonight" John told a sold-out crowd of more than 7,500 packed into a concert hall in Erfurt for the latest stop on the German leg of the British star's "Songs from the West Coast" tour.

Robert Steinhaeuser, a 19-year-old loner who had been forced out of the school the previous fall, fatally shot two students, 13 teachers and a police officer in a 20-minute rampage April 26 at Johann Gutenberg Gymnasium before turning the gun on himself.

"This is our tribute to those people. We're very proud to be here and we hope we can do justice by playing our very best" John told a cheering audience at the beginning of Sunday's 2 1/2-hour performance.