Members of 'Elvis Costello and the Attractions':
'Elvis Costello and the Attractions' History:
AboutCostello’s outlook and sound toughened considerably when he recruited the Attractions - keyboardist Steve Nieve (born Steve Nason), bassist Bruce Thomas, drummer Pete Thomas (no relation) - in June 1977. His persona would be henceforth described with such adjectives as “coiled” and “angry.” He would, in a rare early interview, allow that his principal songwriting motivations were “revenge and guilt.” Costello’s fourth single, “Watching the Detectives,” was edgier than anything on the British version of My Aim Is True. It was appended to the American edition of the album, which appeared late in 1977. Following the Live Stiffs tour - which introduced British audiences to Stiff Records rockers Costello, Lowe, Ian Dury, and Wreckless Eric - Costello and the Attractions worked their way across America in November 1977, generating media attention and controversy. In his early-1978 appearance on Saturday Night Live, Costello spontaneously substituted “Radio Radio,” a venomous attack upon the co-optation of commercial radio, for the song he’d been scheduled to play. Costello suddenly found himself on the covers of British music magazines, and My Aim Is True won Rolling Stone’s Critics Poll for best album of 1977. He was, in his words, “an overnight success after seven years.” |
