Scottish Daily Record, April 9, 1999

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Scottish Daily Record

UK & Ireland newspapers

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Elvis back in the city of the banned


Daily Record

Elvis Costello is still bemused at being banned from playing in Glasgow two decades ago ... but luckily for his Scots fans, he doesn't bear a grudge.

The singer, who burst on to the pop scene with his band The Attractions in 1977, suffered from being likened to punk bad boys The Sex Pistols.

Glasgow councillors feared trouble after riots at venues in England and introduced a blanket ban on punk bands performing in the city.

Elvis — real name Declan McManus — admits: "I thought it was strange. Glasgow had this reputation for being a tough city, so how in the world could music ever be a threat?

"But we were banned, so we had to play in Paisley at a venue called The Silver Thread. But within six months of being banned, I was playing the Glasgow Apollo."

Elvis will be back in the city on April 23 to play a one-off show with former Attractions partner Steve Nieve at the Royal Concert Hall.

Before then, though, he'll perform some of the tunes and show the style that has made him one of the world's most respected songwriters, at a tribute to Linda McCartney at London's Royal Albert Hall tomorrow.

Proceeds from the special show, which also includes performances by George Michael, M People's Heather Small, Des'ree and Tom Jones, will go to Linda's favourite animal charities.

Elvis first met Linda, who died of breast cancer last year, when he went to the McCartneys' Sussex farmhouse to write with ex-Beatle Paul.

And he says he'll never forget the warmth she displayed in a bid to make him feel at home.

"I really dug Linda," Elvis admits. "She is a great spirit. She made me and my wife feel very welcome when I went down to work with Paul, which is an intimidating thing because of who he is.

"Though he is a friendly chap, Linda made that special effort and was always really encouraging. I still think the world of her."

He adds: "I think it's going to be a good evening of music. Money will be raised for animal welfare charities and I can't think of any better reason to get together. But I'm sure it will be too emotional for Paul to play."

Recently, Elvis has collaborated with 1960s songwriting legend Burt Bacharach on an album, Painted By Memory. A single, "I Still Have That Other Girl," picked up a Grammy, while another, "Toledo," is released on April 19.

That's just before Elvis is due in Glasgow, after which he'll go back to enjoying his home comforts on the outskirts of Dublin.

He admits: "I tend to treat this as a place I can escape away to, to do my writing and get some time to relax between tours and making records.

"I don't socialise a lot when I'm here. I like to spend time with my wife and I try not to answer the telephone.

"We get up in the hills or drive to the coast and walk down the beach and get good air in our lungs — I spend so much time on planes that it's good to taste fresh air."

Copyright 1999 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday

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The Daily Record, April 9, 1999


The Daily Record profiles EC ahead of his concert with Steve Nieve, Friday, April 23, 1999, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Scotland.


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