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The world's second most famous Elvis... Elvis Costello is also marking his own 25th anniversary in 2002.
For punk rock and New Wave's best singer-songwriter is recalling his 1977 roots, with a raucous return to blazing band work outs and some typically bitter and twisted songs of deceit and disappointment.
Like some Dorian Gray picture unleashed from the attic, Costello's new album, When I Was Cruel is an updated Portrait of The Artist as an angry middle aged man.
Back in 1977, when a spindly legged, nerdishly spectacled character called Costello appeared in the midst of the punk rock/New Wave scene, he was immediately acclaimed as a man for all musical seasons.
His opening shot, My Aim Is True was stuffed with immaculately crafted, but furiously fuelled musical outings. The follow-up, This Year's Model amazingly bettered that, with its vividly intelligent word play and grasp of melody.
Then 1979's commercial peak, Armed Forces, with its Abba influenced Number Two hit single, "Oliver's Army," served to underline pop's Mr Angry's wicked ways.
Costello's creative strength came complete with an awesome versatility — moving from the country music sounds of Almost Blue to the blue eyed soul joy of Get Happy.
But as his career developed, his refusal to become pigeonholed as a mere punk pop master, also hindered his place as a regular chart topping star.
Since 1996's rock inflected, All This Useless Beauty, the man born Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus has journeyed into the worlds of classical music, jazz, and even middle of the road tinklings.
But in 2002, Costello has finally chosen to revisit his new Wave roots on the commercially attractive, but still musically adventurous 16-track When I Was Cruel set.
With that voice, which can sneer, snarl and croon within seconds of each other, When I Was Cruel fires off barbed arrows in the deserved directions of ageing critics, sleazy music Svengali's and others.
However, Costello is not merely retreading old ground. Songs such as "45" and "Tear Off Your Head (It's A Doll Revolution)" may recall his Farfisa keyboarded, guttural guitar style of old.
But there's an older, wiser head at work now to add an extra dimension to the songs.
There's a more middle aged fatalism on display here too, especially on the brilliantly-vocalled, cool-rhythmed "Oh Well" and "Dust 2."
The title track, "When I Was Cruel No. 2" is a simply stunning seven minutes, utilising an Italian pop song sample, with a choice Abba lyric steal, to create a groovy Portishead twangy-guitared piece of film noir tinged mastery.
Constantly clever and forging ahead into new creative territory, Costello undoubtedly proves that his aim is true after all these years.
But although, he exudes lyrical intelligence and musical craft throughout Cruel, the one blackspot in Costello's career remains.
For somehow, his music remains something to be admired, rather than work which emotionally moves.
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