Norwich Evening News, May 26, 2005

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Norwich Evening News

UK & Ireland newspapers

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Costello fans walk out in disgust


Naomi Canton

Outraged fans walked out in disgust last night after Elvis Costello arrived on stage several hours late because he was watching the football.

He then shouted abuse at the audience and deliberately played badly.

The avid Liverpool fan had arrived on stage at the UEA at 9.40pm because he tried to catch the Champions League final on television.

Many fans had been waiting for him since 7.30pm and so when he received a hostile reaction from fans, he proceeded to shout abuse at them and under perform.

Andrew Milnes, of Wood Street, Norwich, was outraged. He said:

"At first I balked at the £25 tickets to see Elvis Costello at the UEA, but he was, after all, a hero of my youth, having written, produced and sung some of the greatest material of the late seventies.

"The tickets stated there was no support band so we arrived early and took up a good front-of-stage position. Then we heard the rumour that he was watching the football and he was.

"A support band was given the unenviable task of soothing an increasingly hostile crowd. When Elvis eventually daned to appear at 9.40pm there was loud booing.

"His reaction to this was to hurl abuse and play loudly, not very grown up, but more importantly, not very good.

"Great as he is, Elvis is not a guitar hero and this stint earned him a soaking with water from a fan.

"His band the Imposters probably knocked back by the hostile reaction, played like amateurs, the crowd knew the material better than they did and could probably have played it better too.

"The whole thing seemed to be done on the cheap and at £25 a ticket, that's not good enough."

Malca Schotten, from Norwich, was also in the audience. She said: "Some of us had been there since 7.30pm and didn't realise he was going to be late, so we were annoyed to say the least.

"Although there were some people shouting and throwing things, most people were polite.

"His reaction was completely over the top. He was swearing and gesturing to the crowd, showing a complete lack of respect - I don't care how famous you are, you should respect your fans.

"I paid £50 to take my sister for her birthday, I've always wanted to see him live and was really looking forward to it.

"His behaviour was disgusting and we were the first to walk out and plenty of people followed."

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Norwich Evening News, May 26, 2005


Naomi Canton reviews Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Wednesday, May 25, 2005, UEA LCR, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England.


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