Living In Paradise, May 1979: Difference between revisions
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Elvis Costello doesn't talk to the press. This is why Costello called a news conference on March 30, the Friday afternoon before New York's "Elvis Costello Weekend"; | Elvis Costello doesn't talk to the press. This is why Costello called a news conference on March 30, the Friday afternoon before New York's "Elvis Costello Weekend"; most of the rock press was taken by shock. | ||
Of course, we had no reason to be shocked; we ''were'' shocked because we had made the assumption that Elvis might want to talk about his music, which of course he didn't. If any of us had stopped to think, we could've seen a press conference coming as we saw the infamous Bonnie Bramlett/Steven Stills incident blowing up to ridiculous proportions; a press conference to clear up the mess was logical. | Of course, we had no reason to be shocked; we ''were'' shocked because we had made the assumption that Elvis might want to talk about his music, which of course he didn't. If any of us had stopped to think, we could've seen a press conference coming as we saw the infamous Bonnie Bramlett/Steven Stills incident blowing up to ridiculous proportions; a press conference to clear up the mess was logical. | ||
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Elvis' legendary paranoia rears its bespectacled head. He apparently feels he is in good company. "I'm sure everybody's had occasion to go to absolute extremes in order to... y'know, even to say things you don't believe. Ask Lenny Bruce." (He wasn't available for comment). | Elvis' legendary paranoia rears its bespectacled head. He apparently feels he is in good company. "I'm sure everybody's had occasion to go to absolute extremes in order to... y'know, even to say things you don't believe. Ask Lenny Bruce." (He wasn't available for comment). | ||
As things wore on, Elvis' attitude towards the press began to surface. Obviously as El hasn't done any serious talking to the press in ages, his bitterness and hate towards the media must be acute. I've always held this against Elvis, but after having seen the cream of the rock press in ugly action, I can sympathize (to a degree) with Elvis. The <i>Voice</i>'s R.G. and <i>Rolling Stone</i>'s C.F. are the worst offenders. El's comment on his relationship with the press | As things wore on, Elvis' attitude towards the press began to surface. Obviously as El hasn't done any serious talking to the press in ages, his bitterness and hate towards the media must be acute. I've always held this against Elvis, but after having seen the cream of the rock press in ugly action, I can sympathize (to a degree) with Elvis. The <i>Voice</i>'s R.G. and <i>Rolling Stone</i>'s C.F. are the worst offenders. El's comment on his relationship with the press was probably the most significant statement of the afternoon. | ||
"The press is not infallible, and nor am I, so I understand there's a certain amount of misinterpretation. That's why, everybody here — I don't honestly know all your names, I know some of your faces — I know that pretty much anybody here from the music press knows that our history in the music press is one of not talking to you, for good reasons, for misinterpretation that's gone down, and if only for that reason you must understand that this seems important enough to me to want to come here, myself, and not sake a press statement that could be misinterpreted again, that's why I'm here, so you can ask me questions about it. | "The press is not infallible, and nor am I, so I understand there's a certain amount of misinterpretation. That's why, everybody here — I don't honestly know all your names, I know some of your faces — I know that pretty much anybody here from the music press knows that our history in the music press is one of not talking to you, for good reasons, for misinterpretation that's gone down, and if only for that reason you must understand that this seems important enough to me to want to come here, myself, and not sake a press statement that could be misinterpreted again, that's why I'm here, so you can ask me questions about it. | ||
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Elvis: I have American friends — I don't have an overall low view of Americans; there is a lot wrong with America, there's a lot wrong with England, there's a of wrong with the world — I'm sure I don't have to say that though. | Elvis: I have American friends — I don't have an overall low view of Americans; there is a lot wrong with America, there's a lot wrong with England, there's a of wrong with the world — I'm sure I don't have to say that though. | ||
Q: | Q: (listen closely, 'cos here's a reporter with suss). Can you give us a couple of specifics? | ||
Elvis: No, 'cos I'm not here to criticise America! | |||
Ah! Just what I was waiting for — the angry Elvis. I personally thought Elvis was at his best when he got pissed; maybe because that's the Elvis I've come to expect and love. This happened about three or four times during the press conference, most of the time to scold the camera people. At one point El stood up, loomed over the desk, and glared at a reporter. "Listen, I don't really care that much, I can leave right now," he threatened, with a spectacular glaze to his eyes, looking like the vintage Elvis on the "Watching The Detectives" pic sleeve, or the ''This Year's Model'' cover. The definitively demented, possessed Elvis I adored. | |||
But for the most part, particularly towards the end, Elvis seemed well-at-ease and happy with his showing, almost cheerful. It's bizarre to see him smile — I hope someone got pictures. He even managed to garner some laughs from the press, as in this exchange: Q: What if somebody called you a "sod-all limey poseur?" | |||
Elvis: Pardon me? (question is repeated). I think that was something said that night, actually. I think several things along that line were said. The only things that were printed was stuff said about black artists. Oh, I said numerous things about white artists. That's not my fault it wasn't reported, 'cos it doesn't make good copy. They don't print the things I said about Crosby, Stills & Nash. And they didn't print the things where Bonnie said that "All limeys were lousy fucks and couldn't get it up." | |||
The press conference ended in a very interesting and revealing manner. As I mentioned before, Elvis was totally calm; it was Jake who did the sweating, and I'm not joking. In a move barely noticed (I know of only two people present who picked it up), while Elvis was in mid-sentence, Jake gave El the "cut" sign — index finger slashed across throat — and El mumbled a quick goodbye and fled the room. Is Riviera Global moving into mind control? | |||
I've left Elvis' most mysterious, and maybe, important (in my opinion) remark for the end. Whether it was a slip of the tongue (nothing is accidental, Freud sez), or something that Elvis meant to mean something else entirely, is totally judgemental at this point. I'll leave the interpretation up to you: "I don't want to be known for (Ohio incident). ''I don't want the last the last I ever do in America'' to be that I'm a racist." | |||
In conclusion, the conference was bullshit. Necessary bullshit perhaps, but bullshit nonetheless. There were no questions about the Bramlett/Stills incident that I had to ask Elvis. Here are the questions I was dying to ask: "Are you Wally?" (the name Elvis was supposed to have when he was alleged to be the guitarist for the rehearsal-only pre-Rotten Sex Pistols), "What ''is'' the first line to 'Watching The Detectives'?," and finally, "Will you ever record an album with your father?" (Ross MacManus, a 50's big-band vocalist who bears a striking resemblance to his real-life son, Declan Patrick MacManus). But none of these questions got asked. | |||
That [[Concert 1979-03-30 Passaic|night]], at the Capitol Theatre, El opened the set with his spectacular cover of the obscure 1964 Merseybeats tune "I Stand Accused." I've always admired a man with a sense of drama. | |||
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'''Living In Paradise, No. 5, May / June 1979 | '''Living In Paradise, No. 5, May / June 1979 | ||
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[[Tim Sommer]] reports on the press conference following the Columbus incident. | [[Tim Sommer]] reports on the press conference following the Columbus incident, and notes EC's concert with The Attractions, Tuesday, [[Concert 1979-04-10 Hempstead|April 10, 1979]], Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead, NY. | ||
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<br><small>Page scan.</small> | <br><small>Page scan.</small> | ||
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<center><h3> Special overseas bulletin </h3></center> | |||
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<center> Tim Sommer </center> | |||
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Urgent To Jake Riviera: | |||
The clone you sent to represent your client, Elvis Costello, at the Calderone really messed your artist over. If he'd gotten any sweeter he would have put the entire audience into diabetic coma. The clone, not having Elvis' fire or intensity, looked bored silly. And, after all the time and energy you've spent developing that angry Elvis posture, the clone did nothing but smile every other minute. He was even heard to say thank you and make nice on the audience. Jake — PLEASE recall this year's model and replace him with the Elvis of 1977. | |||
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[[image:1979-05-00 Living In Paradise cover.jpg|x120px|border]] | [[image:1979-05-00 Living In Paradise cover.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
<br><small>Cover.</small> | <br><small>Cover.</small> | ||
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[[Category:Living In Paradise| Living In Paradise 1979-05-00]] | [[Category:Living In Paradise| Living In Paradise 1979-05-00]] | ||
[[Category:Fanzine articles]] | [[Category:Fanzine articles]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:10, 21 February 2020
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