Oh, how the mighty (like a rose) hath fallen.
Okay, Elvis Costello. I’m not as much of a fan as a I might be, or as might be expected. Partly it’s to do with his voice, which I often find off-putting. But certainly I respect him for the best of his songwriting, particuarly his great skill with lyrics.
I also know that every once in a while, he goes dramatically off the rails in public. It’s been years since his last great flame out, when he got drunk with Bonnie Bramlett and others and started referring to Ray Charles and James Brown as “ignorant niggers.”
(When I say off the rails, I mean…)
He kept the inulgence of the world press and rock fans then by apologizing and claiming he was out of his head and just trying to say the most offensive thing possible. Good work.
Anyway, since then, all has been mostly quiet. Until…
It seems that Costello’s own fans walked out of a show recently. The singer/songwriter had arrived several hours late for one of his own concerts. With the very good excuse that he was watching the football. He then proceeded to shout abuse at the audience.
Courtney Love? When Elvis divorces Diana Krall, be ready…
