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Birkenhead singer Elvis Costello is teaming up with his old pal Burt Bacharach to write a new musical.
Former SFX schoolboy Elvis is back in the studio working on the project with legendary songsmith Burt and Chuck Lorre, creator of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
“It’s sounding great,” Burt told the Sunday ECHO. “We’ve taken some of the songs from Painted from Memory, the album we did in 1998, and we’re adding more all the time. I’m so pleased to be back working with Elvis. He’s a great guy and someone I’ve always enjoyed working with.”
Chuck Lorre, who also wrote Grace Under Fire, Cybill and Dharma & Greg, is one of TVs most successful sitcom writers.
Elvis, born Declan MacManus, moved to Birkenhead with his mum Mary, who became an usherette at the Philharmonic Hall, in 1971. It was while living on Wirral that he formed his first band, a folk duo called Rusty.
To support himself, he worked at Elizabeth Arden – immortalised in the lyrics of I'm Not Angry – where he worked as a data entry clerk and played regular gigs at the Temple Bar off Dale Street.
“I've never felt sentimental about London, but Liverpool, well, that’s a different matter,” Elvis said of his hometown. “I was christened at Holy Cross in Birkenhead, I was dunked and given my name there. It’s where my mum and dad are from. I feel at home and it’s is where my family are from.”
Burt will be back in the city for a gig at the Empire on August 3.
The trio are keeping the plot of the musical under wraps until it’s finished, but early rumours suggest it’s based around a bittersweet love story.
“We’re having a lot of fun,” said Burt. “It’s great to be back working with Elvis again.”
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