As we go to press a tired and emotional Thrills asks to bend your ear — so to speak. Pull up your bar stool, fix another slug of Jack Danny, and we'll tell y'a shtory. Hic...
Picture this ... Our old friend Elvis Costello is propping up the counter at his favourite Chicago hostelry, during his current American bonanza, when who should mosey in? None other than Stephen Stills, ably supported by the shapely Bonnie Bramlett, female session singer and former sidekick of wheezing Delaney and croaking Clapton.
Naturally enough, 'tain't long before E.C. is setting up the round: "Make mine a coke man," says Stephen. "Mine's a light," chirps Bonnie. "Well you'd better put it out then," replies Costello, quick as a flash.
After a while, the three get into a heated tete-a-tete vis-a-vis that perennial topic ... is the new the same as the old wave? And soon the conversation has degenerated to the "I don't talk to people with steel noses" standard.
Suffice to say, a frank exchange of views ensued, and Thrills is disturbed to learn that in the resulting fracas blows were struck and various diverse opinions were somewhat forcefully aired.
Finally, to cool his ardour, we hear that Ms Bramlett stuck one on last year's model — after politely removing his spectacles. This may or may not be true. It's also not beyond the realms of possibility that some of Stills' employees, who happened to be sinking a few in the self same bar, leapt into the fray to protect the aging Americans from the wrath of the slight but surly Irishman.
Elvis was shaken but not stirred. He incurred minor injuries to his arm in the process.
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