Elvis Costello Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticEarlier this year, Elvis Costello released an album titled “The Boy Named If.” Now, as a follow-up, he’s putting out an EP of songs that really were conceived or covered when he was a boy.His first band, in 1972, was called Rusty, and now he and another principal from that group, Allan Mayes, have joined forces to record and release the very first Rusty EP — or, as Costello says of it, “the record we would have cut when we were 18, if anyone had let us.”The six-song release, “The Resurrection of Rust,” is already being released, exclusively for now, at Costello’s tour stops in the U.K.; it showed up at his merch table Sunday night in Leeds, much to the puzzlement of fans who wondered what a “Rust” was. It comes out for everyone else on June 10, digitally and on CD in territories except the U.S.; July 1, on CD in the U.S.; and on vinyl worldwide later in the summer.

Beck, Animal Collective and Jeff Tweedy are among the artists that will appear on a new birdsong-inspired compilation album.‘For The Birds: The Birdsong Project’ is set to be released in five monthly stages between now and September, with the first volume arriving yesterday (May 20).Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Karen O, Kamasi Washington, Terry Riley, Mary Lattimore, Tyondai Braxton, and Elvis Costello are among the other artists that feature on the expansive compilation.Costello said of the project: “This should be so very obvious: without birds we would be knee-deep in worms, swarmed by bugs, the trees bereft of song. The least we can do is raise our voices in praise or lament.”In addition to the musical selections, the project also includes spoken-word pieces from the likes of Florence Welch, Matthew McConaughey, Bette Midler, and Natasha Lyonne. Randall Poster produced the entire collection, with Lee Ranaldo serving as one of the set’s executive producers.All proceeds from ‘For The Birds: The Birdsong Project’ will be donated to the National Audubon Society.Listen to the first volume of ‘The Birdsong Project’ below:The project will be also be released in a massive vinyl set, spread across 20 LPs.

In the early noughties, Levon Helm began hosting live shows he called Midnight Rambles in a studio at his home in Woodstock, NY. It was a rare bright moment in the story of what happened to the members of the Band who weren’t Robbie Robertson in the years following the quintet’s split, a grim saga involving bitter enmity, addiction, suicide, bankruptcy and jail.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticIn paying tribute to Bob Dylan at a concert held during the opening festivities for the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elvis Costello sang an epic, rip-roaring “Like a Rolling Stone,” apparently the first time he’s covered the signature song of his most obvious influence in full in concert. But earlier in the set Costello also did a lesser-known balladic chestnut from the Dylan catalog: “I Threw It All Away.” Of course, that title was the very opposite of the message being sent out by the new museum.

Sasha Urban editor“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” is canceling the taping of new episodes “until further notice” after its host exhibited COVID-19 symptoms. The news comes only a few weeks after Colbert’s COVID diagnosis paused taping from April 21 to May 2.“Stephen is experiencing symptoms consistent with a recurrence of COVID,” “The Late Show’s” official Twitter account posted on Monday.

Elvis Costello, Patti Smith and Mavis Staples will be among the dignitaries expected in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this weekend for the opening of the Bob Dylan Center, the museum and archive celebrating the Nobel laureate's work. Dylan himself won't be among them, unless he surprises everyone. The center's subject and namesake has an open invitation to come anytime, although his absence seems perfectly in character, said Steven Jenkins, the center's director.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRic Parnell, who played the fictional band Spinal Tap’s drummer Mick Shrimpton in the classic 1984 heavy metal “mockumentary” “This Is Spinal Tap,” has died at the age of 70, according to a post from the group’s Harry Shearer and Yahoo News. No cause of death was initially reported.Ric Parnell, our drummer in This is Spinal Tap, passed away today.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticWith its grand opening less than two weeks away, the Bob Dylan Center has announced Steven Jenkins as its director. He’s moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to oversee the museum’s exhibitions, public programs and daily operations, following more than three decades of work with nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay areaThe hiring announcement comes as the BDC prepares for an opening weekend May 5-8 that will include a gala invitational dinner and celebratory concerts by Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples and Patti Smith.Said Jenkins in a statement, “As an avid listener and fascinated follower of Dylan’s every surprising and illuminating turn, his work has brought me a lifetime of aesthetic pleasures, confounding challenges and profound joy.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticActually, she can make us love her, and Bonnie Raitt has been doing it since her self-titled debut album in 1971. A slew of Grammys for “Nick of Time” in 1990 spurred a reboot of her career that’s never waned, particularly when it comes to her live appeal.

Queen Kwong, aka Carré Kwong Callaway, has today (April 12) shared a new song called ‘On The Run’ – check it out below.The song features keys and synths from The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell and is taken from her forthcoming album, ‘Couples Only’ which arrives on July 12 via Sonic Ritual.Speaking about the track, Callway said: “On the Run is the song that inspired the record’s title, ‘Couples Only’. It’s a romantic, slow-dance-sounding song, but if you listen carefully, the lyrics are more realistic and self-aware.“I spent a lot of my life confusing dramatic, whirlwind, fleeting romance with true love but they’re not the same thing.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have stepped in for Foo Fighters on this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival line-up, after the latter band cancelled all their forthcoming live appearances in the wake of the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins.After the coronavirus pandemic halted the festival for two years running, the event returns to the southern city this year from April 29 to May 8.Stevie Nicks, The Who and Willie Nelson will headline proceedings, with The Black Crowes, Jason Isbell, Elvis Costello, Death Cab For Cutie, Norah Jones, Randy Newman and Kool & The Gang among many others also on the line-up.Red Hot Chili Peppers Added to the Jazz Fest Lineup on Sunday, May 1!Also don’t miss The Who, Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffett, Luke Combs, Lionel Richie, The Black Crowes and hundreds more, April 29 – May 8. Tickets on sale at https://t.co/siDGJzjRZf.

Tom Waits performed a rare live set at a tribute event that was held to honour the late Hal Willner.Willner, who was Saturday Night Live‘s longtime sketch music producer, died in 2020 at the age of 64. Numerous tributes were paid to the producer online following his death, including by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea and Cat Power.Tom Waits and his wife Kathleen also penned a touching tribute, where they called Willner “Wise and reckless.

Bob Dylan is set to release a collection of more than 60 essays in a new book, The Philosophy Of Modern Song, which is set to be released on November 8 via Simon & Schuster.According to a press release, Dylan began work on The Philosophy Of Modern Song in 2010. The book will compile dozens of essays that the folk legend wrote about songs by other musicians, including Nina Simone, Elvis Costello and Hank Williams.“[Dylan] analyses what he calls the trap of easy rhymes, breaks down how the addition of a single syllable can diminish a song, and even explains how bluegrass relates to heavy metal,” the press release reads.

NEW YORK -- Bob Dylan has a new book coming out this fall, a collection of more than 60 essays about songs and songwriters he admires, from Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello.The new book, “The Philosophy of Modern Song,” is his first release of new material since the acclaimed memoir “Chronicles, Volume One” was published in 2004. "The Philosophy of Modern Song" is scheduled for Nov.

Chris Willman Music WriterAnyone wanting Bob Dylan to release “Chronicles Volume Two” or any official sequel to his previous memoir, “Chronicles Volume One,” which came out in 2004, is going to have to wait longer. But other than that, the news on the Dylan publishing front is astonishingly good.

Elvis Costello has reflected on the unusual way he met his wife, in front of millions of people watching the Grammy Awards. The English singer-songwriter, born Declan Patrick MacManus, has been married to Canadian jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall since 2003. Appearing on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, which she hosts with her mother, Lennie Ware, Costello spoke about the moment they met.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters have unveiled details of a new, North American tour today (February 17).The Imposters are comprised of Steve Nieve (keyboards), Pete Thomas (drums) and Davey Faragher (bass/backing vocals).

Chris Willman Music WriterElvis Costello and the Imposters will embark on a U.S. tour this August, joined on most of the dates by Nick Lowe, Costello’s original late ’70s/early ’80s producer and, of course, the man who knows the answer to the question “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.”Costello and Lowe last shared a touring bill in 1989.

Noel Gallagher is the latest artist to pay tribute to David Bowie for the late, great pop and rock icon’s David Bowie Is series, touching on the last time the former Oasis leader conversed with Bowie.Not to be confused with a museum exhibit that toured the world between 2013 and 2018 (also named David Bowie Is), the series began last month with a seven-minute video showing Dave Grohl, Yungblud and Ricky Gervais reminiscing on their favourite Bowie moments, songs and interactions, and touching on the ways Bowie influenced their own careers. It was followed by a second video from Grohl at the end of January, and then one from Elvis Costello at the start of February.For the series’ fourth instalment, Gallagher looked back fondly on Bowie’s “forever changing” legacy, likening him to The Beatles and describing him as “fearless and not afraid of ridicule” with “a great, unique voice”.

Noel Gallagher is the latest artist to pay tribute to David Bowie for the late, great pop and rock icon’s David Bowie Is series, praising him to be “right up there with the greats of all time”.Not to be confused with a museum exhibit that toured the world between 2013 and 2018 (also named David Bowie Is), the series began last month with a seven-minute video showing Dave Grohl, Yungblud and Ricky Gervais reminiscing on their favourite Bowie moments, songs and interactions, and touching on the ways Bowie influenced their own careers. It was followed by a second video from Grohl at the end of January, and then one from Elvis Costello at the start of February.For the series’ fourth instalment, Gallagher looked back fondly on Bowie’s “forever changing” legacy, likening him to The Beatles and describing him as “fearless and not afraid of ridicule” with “a great, unique voice”.

111 W. 57th St. — and the second tallest in the Western Hemisphere — has hit the market for $21 million.

Following the release of his new album ‘The Boy Named If’ last week, Elvis Costello has announced that he has signed a new worldwide publishing deal with BMG. The company will administer his full catalogue, which is quite a lot of songs.

$300 million sale of his publishing catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group in late 2020.Sony did not disclose the terms of the deal, but Billboard magazine estimates that Dylan’s recordings are worth around $200 million based on the revenue they generated.The deal with Universal netted the singer-songwriter $300 million.Sony’s acquisition of Dylan’s recorded masters comes just a month after it paid a reported $500 million for Bruce Springsteen’s catalog.Other artists who have recently struck deals with BMG for the rights to their catalogs include John Legend, ZZ Top, Motley Crue, and Tina Turner.

Elvis Costello stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Friday night (January 21) to deliver a pair of performances including an impromptu medley.The singer-songwriter released ‘The Boy Named If’ – his new album with The Imposters – last week (January 14), which features the singles ‘Farewell, OK’, ‘Magnificent Hurt’ and ‘Paint The Red Rose Blue’.The Imposters are comprised of Steve Nieve (keyboards), Pete Thomas (drums) and Davey Faragher (bass/backing vocals).During Costello’s appearance on the US late night chat show, he and the band performed a standalone rendition of ‘Magnificent Hurt’ followed by a surprise medley that combined ‘Farewell, OK’ and his 1978 cover of Nick Lowe’s ‘(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding’.You can check out Costello’s performances below:In addition to the performances, Costello sat down with Colbert for a three-part interview which saw him discuss the new album, working with Paul McCartney, Peter Jackson’s recent Beatles documentary Get Back, defending Olivia Rodrigo and more. You can see his chat with Colbert below.Produced by Sebastian Krys and Costello, and released on EMI, ‘The Boy Named If’ – the full title of which is actually said to be ‘The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories)’ – was released on CD, vinyl, cassette, download and streaming. There were also some numbered and signed, 88-page “Hardback Storybook Edition” versions.Costello and the band recently announced that they’ll be heading out on a UK tour in support of the new album.

The Wombats reach Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart today with Fix Yourself, Not The World, marking their first chart-topping LP in the UK.

The Wombats are heading for their first-ever UK Number 1 album this week with Fix Yourself, Not The World. 

NEW YORK -- Elvis Costello's 32nd album rings with the sound of a tight rock ‘n’ roll combo sweating together on a tiny stage, feeding off each other to produce a joyful noise.Yet that's all a mirage.Costello and his three-piece band, the Imposters, were never in the same city, much less the same room, as they made “The Boy Named If,” which is out Friday. They were waiting out the coronavirus, like everyone else, and looking to do something productive.After writing, Costello would make an initial recording of a song with his vocals and guitar at his home in Vancouver.

Elvis Costello has said that he will no longer perform his song ‘Oliver’s Army’ live, due to controversy over use of the N-word in the song’s lyrics. He has also urged radio stations to stop playing the song at all, rather than playing a censored version.Written about the Troubles in Ireland, and inspired by Costello seeing British troops patrolling Belfast, the musician says that criticism of the offending word in the song ignores the context of the full line in which it features – “Only takes one itchy trigger; one more widow, one less white nigger”.“That’s what my grandfather was called in the British army – it’s historically a fact – but people hear that word go off like a bell and accuse me of something that I didn’t intend”, Costello tells the Telegraph.

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.MOVIES— In Joel Coen's first film without his brother, Ethan, he directs the stark, expressionist “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. The film, which begins streaming Friday on Apple TV+, is shot in black-and-white and dense with atmosphere.

Elvis Costello And The Imposters have shared details of a UK tour for next year.‘The Boy Named If’ tour, which is in support of the band’s recently announced album of the same name, kicks off at the Brighton Dome on June 5, 2022 before wrapping up at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo on June 23.The Imposters are comprised of Steve Nieve (keyboards), Pete Thomas (drums), Davey Faragher (bass/backing vocals).

Sam Fender will front a BBC Four documentary about Lindisfarne’s late frontman Alan Hull later this week.The film Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story will see Fender tracing the ’70s band’s history – who were famous for hits such as ‘Lady Eleanor’ and ‘Fog On The Tyne’ – through Hull.The documentary will also feature a number of celebrity talking heads including Sting, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Eurythmics‘ Dave Stewart and Peter Gabriel.

Elvis Costello has shared details of his new album with The Imposters, ‘The Boy Named If’, as well as the record’s first single.”The full title of this record is ‘The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories),” Costello explained in a new press release.“‘IF,’ is a nickname for your imaginary friend; your secret self, the one who knows everything you deny, the one you blame for the shattered crockery and the hearts you break, even your own.”Discussing the lyrical content of the record, the

Chris Willman Music WriterWhen Elvis Costello was promoting his last album, the eclectic “Hey Clockface,” in 2020, he told Variety, “The guitar songs I’ve written for are for another day,.” And now, it appears, that day is at hand.Costello is announcing a new album that promises to go more full-bore into his rock ‘n’ roll side than he has in many years. “The Boy Named If,” coming out Jan.

Dave Gahan & Soulsavers have shared their latest take from their forthcoming covers album ‘Imposter’.The song, ‘The Dark End Of The Street’, which was originally written by Chips Moman and Dan Penn in 1966, has been covered by Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Elvis Costello and Frank Black over the years.Now, Gahan has put a bluesy spin on his cover with longtime collaborator Rich Machin.

Chris Willman Music WriterIn 1978, Elvis Costello looked at a society’s collective eagerness to move on to the next thing and snipped, “This is your punishment: You’re last year’s model.” Stick around for another 43 years, though, and you may find out that this is your reward: There’s a sort of brand new version of his classic sophomore album.

Sweet!