Rusty: Difference between revisions
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Prior to joining Rusty, Declan had been writing and performing his own song at folk clubs for about two years, first in London and then in Liverpool after he'd moved there with his mother, usually for free at open-mic nights clubs and occasionally for a little money. Joining Rusty meant he was performing in front of the audience regularly for the first time. The band played 88 gigs in 1972 alone, although their typical audience numbered in the dozens rather than hundreds. | Prior to joining Rusty, Declan had been writing and performing his own song at folk clubs for about two years, first in London and then in Liverpool after he'd moved there with his mother, usually for free at open-mic nights clubs and occasionally for a little money. Joining Rusty meant he was performing in front of the audience regularly for the first time. The band played 88 gigs in 1972 alone, although their typical audience numbered in the dozens rather than hundreds. | ||
Rusty played pubs, social clubs, schools, community centers, and poetry readings. On a good night, they might earn as much as eight or ten pounds, but more typically they were paid much less or even nothing. For about seven months starting in early June 1972, they organized a regular Tuesday night gig at a place called Temple Bar, where they played their own sets and hosted other groups. Although the vast majority of Rusty's gigs were in the Merseyside area, they booked a few gigs further afield, including a long-weekend trip to London in July 1972. | Rusty played pubs, social clubs, schools, community centers, and poetry readings. On a good night, they might earn as much as eight or ten pounds, but more typically they were paid much less or even nothing. For about seven months starting in early June 1972, they organized a regular Tuesday night gig at a place called Temple Bar, where they played their own sets and hosted other groups. Although the vast majority of Rusty's gigs were in the Merseyside area, they booked a few gigs further afield, including a three-gig, long-weekend trip to London in July 1972. | ||
Allan realized right away that his new bandmate was a gifted and prolific songwriter, able to quickly come up with good songs in a variety of styles. Allan also reports that Declan already had some of the intensity as a performer that would eventually make him famous. For his part, Declan regarded Allan as a better singer and guitarist than himself, and much more confident in from of a crowd. Allan was also highly organized, keeping notes of their gigs, set lists, and song lyrics. | Allan realized right away that his new bandmate was a gifted and prolific songwriter, able to quickly come up with good songs in a variety of styles. Allan also reports that Declan already had some of the intensity as a performer that would eventually make him famous. For his part, Declan regarded Allan as a better singer and guitarist than himself, and much more confident in from of a crowd. Allan was also highly organized, keeping notes of their gigs, set lists, and song lyrics. |
Revision as of 02:06, 6 March 2017
Rusty was Elvis Costello's first band. He and Allan Mayes performed together under that name from the beginning of 1972 through the middle of 1973.
Rusty: Before Declan
Allan Mayes formed the band Rusty in October 1971. Then nearly 18, Allan was a veteran of the Liverpool scene, having already played in a music-and-poetry group called Medium Theater for a couple of years. Allan broke from Medium Theater, along with that group's bass player, Alan Brown, with the idea of forming a more mainstream folk-rock group along the lines of Crosby, Still & Nash. Rusty was initially a three-person group that featured Allan Mayes on guitar and vocals, Alan Brown on bass and vocals, and a singer named Dave Jago.
Rusty: Allan and Declan
Allan met 17-year-old Declan MacManus at a party on New Years Eve 1971. Neither young man was much for partying, and both had brought their guitars, so they soon found an unoccupied room and started trading songs. Allan was delighted to find the Declan shared many of his musical interests, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, Van Morrison, and The Band. A few days later, Allan called Declan and invited him to join Rusty.
Declan debut with the group a few weeks later, adding his guitar and vocals to the original three-piece lineup. Singer Dave Jago left the group a few weeks after Declan joined. Bassist Alan Brown gradually became a less frequent participant through the summer of 1972, when he quit to attend university in Coventry. Allan and Declan continued as a duo until Rusty disbanded in 1973, after Declan moved away from Liverpool.
Throughout the lifetime of the band, Rusty largely remained true Allan's original concept: a folk-rock outfit that played original songs, some popular songs of the day, and more obscure covers that were favorites of the band. Heavily represented in the last category were Brinsley Schwarz, an importantly early influence on Declan that continued even when he became Elvis Costello. Allan claims, credibly, to have introduced Declan to Brinsley Schwarz's music.
Prior to joining Rusty, Declan had been writing and performing his own song at folk clubs for about two years, first in London and then in Liverpool after he'd moved there with his mother, usually for free at open-mic nights clubs and occasionally for a little money. Joining Rusty meant he was performing in front of the audience regularly for the first time. The band played 88 gigs in 1972 alone, although their typical audience numbered in the dozens rather than hundreds.
Rusty played pubs, social clubs, schools, community centers, and poetry readings. On a good night, they might earn as much as eight or ten pounds, but more typically they were paid much less or even nothing. For about seven months starting in early June 1972, they organized a regular Tuesday night gig at a place called Temple Bar, where they played their own sets and hosted other groups. Although the vast majority of Rusty's gigs were in the Merseyside area, they booked a few gigs further afield, including a three-gig, long-weekend trip to London in July 1972.
Allan realized right away that his new bandmate was a gifted and prolific songwriter, able to quickly come up with good songs in a variety of styles. Allan also reports that Declan already had some of the intensity as a performer that would eventually make him famous. For his part, Declan regarded Allan as a better singer and guitarist than himself, and much more confident in from of a crowd. Allan was also highly organized, keeping notes of their gigs, set lists, and song lyrics.
Although Allan and Declan typically wrote songs separately, Allan recalls that they worked on two together, one of which Declan, by then Elvis Costello, recorded as Ghost Train, after many revisions. Allan also recorded a version of this co-composition as Maureen and Dan on his 1986 album Stumbling In The Aisles.
In November 1972, Rusty made a lo-fi home demo of six of their songs, four of Declan's and two of Allan's. As far as either man can recall now, the tape garnered no response, perhaps partly because they had forgotten to clean the heads of the cassette recorder before making it.
By early 1973, Declan realized that the music scene in Liverpool as too small to support his ambition to become a professional songwriter and musician. He would have to move back to London to have a real chance at making it. Allan never seriously considered going with him because he had a good day job in Liverpool and booked regular gigs as a solo act between Rusty gigs. Declan played his last gig with Allan and Liverpool on February 9, but kept a few out-of-town commitments that band had scheduled. The last of these was June 24, 1973, gig at the University of Warwick, booked courtesy of former Rusty bassist or current Warwick student, Alan Brown. This two-set gig earned Rusty their biggest payday ever, 17 pounds.
Declan and Allan: After Rusty
After moving to London, Declan worked as a solo act under the name Declan Costello, then formed a band called Flip City, then worked solo again as D.P. Costello, and finally became, of course, Elvis Costello.
Allan continued to work solo, played in Liverpool-based bands called Restless and Severed Head, and, in the mid-'80s, moved to Austin, TX. His career has included a stint as a ship's musician for Princess Cruises, which took him all over the world. He is currently living in Austin again, working as a solo act and in the duo Allan and LaDonna.
Allan lost touch with Declan, now Elvis, after Allan moved from Liverpool to the US, but they reconnected while Elvis was working on his memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Allan still had the notes he kept while in Rusty, which provided Elvis with a wealth of information for his book. Rusty reunited to play one last gig for the Austin stop of Elvis's book tour, on October 15, 2015.
Repertoire
Originals
Covers