Elvis does an in-store promotion in London
BBC 6 Music, 2002-04-16
- Mark Sutherland

 

MUSIC EDITORIAL

Elvis lives

Mark Sutherland, Features Journalist


Today, Elvis Costello will do something unusual: he'll pitch up at Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street and do a free gig and a signing session for the fans.

So often the preserve of boy bands and Nu-Metal muppets like Slipknot, the idea of a signing session by a, er, mature artist who might actually have something interesting to say is an intriguing one.

The real question is not so much 'Why is Elvis doing this?' as 'Why aren't other proper bands doing it too?'

Serious artists seem to make a habit of sealing themselves off from the public, happily taking the money they spend on records and gigs but far from keen on actually staring them in the face.

But now, with much of the media no more than another cog in the PR machine, bands should be getting face-to-face with their fans as often as possible.

How much better would Oasis' new album be if Liam and Noel had had to face down their fanclub after the last one?

Would Radiohead have made Kid A if they'd had to meet a queue of people demanding a proper follow-up to The Bends?

Would Ian Brown even be able to show his face in public if he'd gone straight from that last Stone Roses gig at Reading to a signing session?

So good on yer, Elvis. He may not be Pop Idol material, but at least he's brave enough to face his fanbase …

Published: 16 04 02

Please note that the 6 Music Editorial is the opinion of the author only.