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Elvis Costello was rock’s angry young man, an intense songwriter who expressed the same rebelliousness of bands like The Sex Pistols by using intelligent lyrics and a tighter pop sound that solidified his place in rock music history.

 

Elvis was born Declan MacManus in London, England. His dad was a jazz bandleader, and Declan was introduced to The Beatles, The Who, and Motown by listening to his father’s records. This motivated MacManus to pick up his own guitar and start writing his own music. While playing in local bands and sending out demos, he was inspired by the punk rock sound to express his anger, while using intelligent lyrics to drive home his strong personal and political expression.

 

In 1977, MacManus earned a record contract. He changed his name to Elvis Costello, after rock’s king and his mother’s maiden name. His debut album, My Aim Is True, was a combination of traditional rock & pop elements with fresh, honest lyrics, and was a U.K. smash. Singles such as “Alison” and “Less Than Zero” won acclaim by critics. Costello brought together a talented backing band named the Attractions, and put together a solid and entertaining live show that combined punk and legitimate musical chops.

 

Elvis went to the U.S. in 1977 and quickly became a cult favorite due to his iconic new wave style with his short, spiky pompadour and geeky glasses.  Rolling Stone magazine voted My Aim Is True as their Album of the Year. His first album recorded with the Attractions was This Year's Model, released in 1978. It was a powerful collection of pop-rock nuggets like "I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea" and "Pump It Up." In a famous appearance on Saturday Night Live that year, the band stopped their scheduled performance of “Less Than Zero” halfway through in order to plunge into the anti-corporate anthem "Radio Radio."

Costello’s first Top 10 album in the U.S. came in 1979 with Armed Forces. It was slicker and more complex than his previous outings, and contained the classics "Accidents Will Happen" and "Two Little Hitlers." He continued to produced one excellent pop album after another - Get Happy!, Trust and Imperial Bedroom. He also proved his unpredictability with the release of Almost Blue, an album of country music standards. There were few contemporaries who could match his talent and range.

 

Elvis’s first Top 40 single came in 1978 with the lyrically clever and musically complex “Everyday I Write The Book” from the album, Punch the Clock. After another pop album, Goodbye Cruel World, he picked up a roots-rock sound for his subsequent release, King of America, one of his finest albums. Featuring classic songs such as "Brilliant Mistake" and "Sleep Of The Just,” the record was recorded with a cache of talented musicians, including several musicians who used to back Elvis Presley. The same year saw the release of Blood and Chocolate, another pop music masterpiece featuring the Attractions.

 

At the end of the 1980’s, pop fans were listening to the sounds of English alternative groups like Depeche Mode and The Cure. Costello’s music found a new fan base as it was rediscovered by kids who were too young to appreciate it when it was first released. The reinvigorated interest in his music spurred the release of Spike, a collection of songs that drew from folk, jazz, and pop influences, and featured the Top 20 hit “Veronica,” a beautiful upbeat pop song co-written by Paul McCartney.

 

The 90’s saw Costello breaking away from his traditional influences, both musical and visual. He traded in his geeky look for a scruffier image, and began to work with more complex musical forms. He released the Shakespeare-inspired The Juliet Letters, a collection of chamber music pieces with the Brodsky Quartet. But always one to keep his audience on his toes, Costello also released the new wave album Brutal Youth with the Attractions as well.

 

Elvis continued to collaborate with fellow musicians on his outing with classic songwriter Burt Bacharach on the album Painted From Memory. He outdid himself with power vocal showcases such as "God Give Me Strength" and seamlessly combined traditional pop writing with new wave elements. He continues to tour internationally and both challenge and entertain his passionate fans with his enduring combination of classic pop tunes, powerful lyrics, and world class musicianship.