Mike Nicholls to include 'interview', from 1981, with Elvis in new book , 2019

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johnfoyle
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Mike Nicholls to include 'interview', from 1981, with Elvis in new book , 2019

Post by johnfoyle »

After a show in Manchester on March 8th 1981 , a Record Mirror journalist managed to get a interview, of sorts, with the then media shy Elvis. Not, as far as I can see, on the 'net, here it is from my cuttings folder .


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Record Mirror, April 4th 1981

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COULD HE be turning over a new leaf?

The day before Elvis Costello had appeared on 'Jim'll Fix It' allowing a young lad to realise his ambition of joining the road crew. Now, following a knockout performance at Manchester's Apollo Theatre, fans are being permitted backstage. Not too many of them, mind, and not for too long. But long enough to get an autograph indulge in a little small talk and maybe grab a quick Instamatic snap of themselves with the star.

After four years of surliness and apparent disregard for the people who had put him where he was Elvis was playing Mr Nice Guy.

Some of the more ardent, not to say enterprising, aficionados had managed to procure backstage passes. The rest were admitted in twos and threes at regular intervals before being shunted out again.

But some things never change and one of them is Costello's policy towards the Press. He still doesn't like journalists and refuses to do interviews. Up until a couple of years ago there seemed every justification for this. As with his namesake and all Hollywood artistes since time immemorial for that matter, his attitude is to equate the concepts of star and enigma.
Inaccessibility is essential for enhancing these qualities with the eventual effect of transforming an everyday character into a living legend. Greta Garbo got away with it in the forties and others too numerous to mention have sought to do the same ever since.

In the case of Costello there was the added incentive that he didn't need the publicity. From 1978's cataclysmic `This Year's Model' he was amongst rock's hottest properties. Marathon tours paved the way towards cracking the English and European markets whilst America and other major territories also looked suitable cases for conquest.

For not only was Elvis the most gifted songwriter since Dylan and Springsteen but his band, The Attractions, was one of the tightest imaginable whilst he was a dynamic visual focus. The following year saw his third album, 'Armed Forces',enjoy a seven month sojourn in the British charts,its 'Oliver's Army' 45 hovering round the top three for several weeks, making Costello a household name. So no need to do interviews, especially when you can still get front covers without them.

Yet thus far 1979 represents the height of his success, especially in England. Last year's 'Get Happy!!' LP stayed on the charts only half the amount of time as its predecessor and 1981 has seen a further decline in Costello's fortunes. Excellent though it is, the 'Trust' album managed only a mere seven weeks in the Top 75, Elvis acknowledging its poor sales with a wry remark from the Manchester stage.

WORSE still, his last two singles stiffed completely. 'Clubland' limped to No. 60 before disappearing whilst 'From A Whisper To A Scream' never even made the chart.

There seems no tangible reason for this downhill slide other than the fact that todays’ young record buyers have gone for newer heroes. Apart from Blondie, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats who, like Elvis,' " graduated from the Class of `77, attention to him has been distracted by Adam & The Ants, The Police, Stray Cats and Spandau Ballet.

There's scarcely the space here to analyse the reasons why they should be enjoying widespread success at his expense but one thing's for sure: whereas all the aforementioned make themselves readily available to the growing number of music papers and magazines which collectively sell more than a million copies each week. Costello still flatly refuses to talk to the Press.

With not having done interviews for so long, it's getting to the point where he's lucky to have his picture printed. Out of sight out of mind and so what better way of re-establishing contact with the consumers than via the media?

A realisation of this on the part of his management probably accounted for the 'Jim'll Fix It' appearance. And since personal contact with what's left of the fans also seems a good way of nurturing a revival, why not let 'em backstage?

Talking to journalists, however, remains out of the question. Only recently he told the Observer, in some surprise dialogue for their 'A Room of My Own series, "journalists hound me, which is why I haven't given an interview for years."
This made me more determined than ever to be the exception to the rule and the only way it seemed possible would be by masquerading as a fan. An acquaintance of the hall manager, I obtained a backstage pass, which at the end of the show proved to be invalid.

Fortunately I also knew the promoter, Paul Loasby and he signalled to one of the tuxedoed security guys that it would be okay for me to join the fans. But the penguin refused to believe him and in order for Paul to impress upon him that he was in charge, he ended up wafting the evening's paycheck under the bouncer's nose. The promoter again then instructed him to let me backstage, adding the immortal jargon, `he's part of the situation."

Confidently, if cautiously, I trekked up the stone stairs to the dressing room only to be confronted by Costello's manager, Jake Riviera. Now Jake, known to his relations as Andrew Jakeman, is the arch-villain' behind his charge's non-interview policy. He has the reputation amongst journalists of being an aggressive, unpleasant little man and is renowned for his showdowns with reporters.

FOUR years ago, when he co-owned Stiff Records, I nearly got involved in a nasty situation with the guy myself, simply for talking to The Damned who were with that label at the time. Obviously, a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then and he didn't recognise me.

“Good evening”, I offer, on seeing him seated in the middle of the dressing room; contentedly nursing a large drink
"Good evening." he replies jovially, "help yourself to booze:" Unhappily such a predisposition towards hospitality was not to remain for the entire evening. I poured myself about a pint of wine.

By this stage Costello himself has unwound and is greeting his supporters. A pretty teenager opines that he's a genius and can she hug him? "Yes," he responds bashfully. He's in a good mood.

Usually when one is trying to conduct an interview, fawning fans are a nuisance. Tonight they provide the perfect decoy. My Aiwa S30 stowaway strapped round my waist, concealed under an old Joe Punter conventional leather jacket and switched to "record." I join the fray.


Although there are no outward signs that I'm a journalist, some subtlety is obviously called for. For example, much as I would like to discuss his song-writing, any question too specific will give the game away. However, one song can't resist asking about is 'Watch Your Step', that brilliant encapsulation from the 'Trust' album. What inspired it? Surely not a recent experience?

"No. I wrote it about five years ago, actually. It just seemed to fit in with the mood of the new LP so I included it."

Was it part of the 400-odd song stockpile he was rumoured to have at the start of his career?

"No, but we do have a lot of material, which is why we're able to vary the set each night. Like this evening we included those Bobby Blue Bland and Merle Haggard songs."

How's the tour been going? I've certainly come away from your gigs less impressed in the past.

"Great. The audiences have been fantastic. We got called back eight times one night."

You intimated onstage that you're a bit put out that `Trust' didn't sell better — are you expecting the tour to revive sales?

"Well that's what tours are designed to do but to be honest one of the main reason we're on the road -is because we suddenly realised we hadn't played for two years — apart from those few seaside gigs last Spring.'

What have you been up to in the meantime?

"We did most of Europe during 1980 and started this year with an American tour."

How did that go down this time round?

"Okay — considering. We're concentrating on the bigger venues there now rather than clubs. Anything from a couple of nights at two of three thousand seaters like the Palladium in New York to 8000 further west."

THE reason he qualified his reply with the word "considering" was as a result of almost blowing his career over there in one fell swoop just under two years ago. To re-cap, he was sitting in a bar in Columbus. Ohio, after one of the many slap-bang-let's-get-it-over-with gigs of that particular tour.

Well worse for wear from drink, he got into a spitting row with ageing US-hippies Bonnie Bramlett and Steve Stills, roundly slagging off the American nation. its customs, curiosities — and entertainers. Two of those he singled out were Ray Charles and James Brown. One he called "a blind ignorant nigger", the other "a jive-ass nigger" before getting roughed up by some of the Bramlett entourage.

The media got wind of these remarks, the incident escalating to a national outrage, precipitating death threats and picketing of later gigs. Even a hastily-convened apologetic Press conference failed to clear the air and it was reckoned that within the space of a couple of drunken moments Costello had irreparably damaged his chances of comprehensively cracking the States.

Do you really believe the mishap affected your Transatlantic progress so severely?

"Yeah, there's no doubt about it. I mean I'd got into this stupid argument with them and to try and finish it deliberately set about winding them up. But I was touring and working so much at the time and it wasn’t always easy to stay in control. As that night proved.”

Nevertheless, the fact that he's still undertaking American jaunts speaks for itself. Despite all the foreign travel, have you been keeping up with the English music scene - particularly with the proliferation of bands coming out of your native Liverpool? What do you think of The Teardrop Explodes, for example?

'I think that single's great. Echo & The Bunnymen? Not really, apart from 'Rescue`. That Wah! Heat single was pretty good, too. No I don't like Orchestral Manoeuvres but the Original Mirrors are okay. Their singer used to be in Deaf School with Clive Langer, who's with our label. I don't know why Clive hasn't sold many records — he writes good songs and he's a great producer."

Mention of this unsung hero brought to mind several others who have been named alongside Costello in the past. Like Graham Parker, for example.Why do you think he's never really happened?

"Dunno, can't understand it. He's got one of the greatest voices ever.I know his American record company never gave him much support over there and I suppose he's fed up with flogging the same old circuit here."

How about Squeeze who are now involved with your management? They write great songs yet haven't had the success they deserve.

"Yeah," he agrees. "I think as far as lyrics go. Chris Difford is really the business. I can't understand what's wrong with Squeeze, I don't know whether they'll be signing to F-Beat, don't have much to do with that."

It occurred to me — while interviewing him — that another act notorious for not doing interviews is Dexy's Midnight Runners, who like Elvis in his 'Get Happy!!' days have a strong Motown sixties vibe running through their sound. What do you think of them and their attitude towards to Press?

"I think they're such idiots that can't help but like them. Actually prefer the Q-Tips. They're amazing. I wanted them for tour support as it happens."

Yeah, but they're too derivative. They'll have to start writing their own stuff if they're going to have any credibility.

"I told them that. Otherwise the trick is to pick older or less well-known numbers like I did with Sam And Dave's 'I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down'."

W ITH the conversation looking like it's getting too close to being an interview for comfort—it's taken some manoeuvring not to get shuttled out with the autograph hunters. I can tell you — I deflect attention from myself by ushering through some more fans. One of them is evidently a fanatic, giving Elvis every record he's ever made to sign — including the rare and not inexpensive 'Live At El Mocambo' promotional LP. Maintaining his avuncular pose, Costello dutifully scribbles across every sleeve, exclaiming disbelief at having released so many records.

By now some 40-odd minutes have elapsed and arrangements are being made to board the tour bus to go back-to the hotel. Being in possession of my own wheels, I go on ahead, enter the hotel bar and I'm immediately greeted by two middle aged gents wearing six gallon hats.

It transpires they from Okalahoma., think I'm one of the band and enquire when the "priddy fiddle gurls" will be arriving. Accepting a tequila from one of them. I reply that don't know about that but in any case Elvis is a fan of country music and will no doubt be glad to talk to them. This seems a good ploy to get Costello to come over and hence continue the undercover interview.

After a couple of minutes Elvis arrives and makes a bee-line for the bar. I introduce him to the good ole boys and he also buys me a tequila, pulling out two fivers to pay for a £3.50 round. Clearly he's as pissed as I am and our re-continued conversation degenerates into rubbish.

After about half-an-hour's serious drinking he gives me a quizzical, glazed look which precedes the challenge "You're from Record Mirror."

Whatever makes you think that? I protest innocently.

"You're too suss!" he retorts, sort of admitting defeat. `What are you, a stringer?"

And the rest, squire. Any road, I'm a fan as well.

"Yeah, but Record Mirror's got it in for me."

Nonsense. Your last two albums have had five star reviews. In any case, if we've got it in for you, what about papers like Sounds?

"I'm not even going to talk about Sounds!"

He doesn't seem to mind too much that I'm a journalist, reckoning that won't remember anything he's said anyway. Well thank God he's not sussed about the tape machine as well. There follows a quick run-down on practically every writer in the music press which is suddenly brought to a halt by Jake Riviera. The manager has been informed of my identity by Clive Gregson of Any Trouble. Gregson is an old mate of Costello's and was probably afraid that I'd give him away for telling me where the band were staying. So he shopped me first. And to think of the complimentary reviews I gave his band last summer!

I START babbling about not just being a mere journalist but having great potential as a TV personality. Didn't he think I could be a whole lot better than Russell Harty?

"I don't care about Russell Harty," Riviera replies somewhat testily. Ah, Er, looking for any new songwriters, then?
"No. You're coming outside."

"Yeah," Elvis agrees.

Suddenly I feel all alone in the world and many miles from home. Funny thing is, my mum only lives down the road. Um, any reason why I shouldn't-finish my drink in here, I was in the process of replying before a viciously executed forearm smash caught the side of my cranium.

A foot — presumably aimed at the groin — then crashed into my knee and judging by the way I was suddenly held back. I must have returned the compliment. Difficult to say, really. It all happened rather quickly. What I do know is that there were no more offers to go outside. Which is fortunate since I didn't want the stowaway to get smashed to pieces in a brawl.

Otherwise (says he, taking a mighty deep breath) I would have taken him on. I'm taller than him and though skinnier, probably fitter and as intent as anyone in teaching him a lesson. Meanwhile there were one or two bemused expressions in the hotel bar. For one minute here I was talking to this affable chap in glasses — and a tall hat which looked as if a rabbit might be pulled out of at any given moment — and the next being threatened by a guy who to all intents and purposes didn't appear to have anything to do with us. Advice was offered to cool it and I eventually exited.

interviewing Elvis Costello is abnormal but all things considered don't regret getting hit and see no reason to bear a grudge against an artist whose work I admire. It's not the first time I've been involved in a fight and almost certainly won't be the last. Plus all the best stories have a sting in the tail. This one just happens to have a bang on the head.

Now what was that about Bruce Springsteen not doing interviews?

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Paul B
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by Paul B »

Thanks John, wonderful time capsule piece and the journo did, er, take one for Elvis, in a manner of speaking!
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by wardo68 »

Indeed. Your archives are staggering. Thanks for typing this up!
johnfoyle
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by johnfoyle »

Thanks for the 'thanks'. I didn't, by the way, type it up , just scanned 'n pasted. I hope to share more 'new ' stuff as anniversaries happen, time 'n circumstance allowing.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Thank you for the interesting read- who would think being a music reporter would become a contact sport.
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by docinwestchester »

Really interesting. Statements like this are fascinating to read 30 yrs after the fact:

"There seems no tangible reason for this downhill slide other than the fact that todays’ young record buyers have gone for newer heroes. Apart from Blondie, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats who, like Elvis, graduated from the Class of `77, attention to him has been distracted by Adam & The Ants, The Police, Stray Cats and Spandau Ballet."

Whose paying attention to any of those 4 bands now?
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by Poor Deportee »

docinwestchester wrote:Really interesting. Statements like this are fascinating to read 30 yrs after the fact:

"There seems no tangible reason for this downhill slide other than the fact that todays’ young record buyers have gone for newer heroes. Apart from Blondie, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats who, like Elvis, graduated from the Class of `77, attention to him has been distracted by Adam & The Ants, The Police, Stray Cats and Spandau Ballet."

Whose paying attention to any of those 4 bands now?
Well, The Police's place in pop history is secure. The others are time-capsules.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by docinwestchester »

Poor Deportee wrote:
docinwestchester wrote:Really interesting. Statements like this are fascinating to read 30 yrs after the fact:

"There seems no tangible reason for this downhill slide other than the fact that todays’ young record buyers have gone for newer heroes. Apart from Blondie, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats who, like Elvis, graduated from the Class of `77, attention to him has been distracted by Adam & The Ants, The Police, Stray Cats and Spandau Ballet."

Whose paying attention to any of those 4 bands now?
Well, The Police's place in pop history is secure. The others are time-capsules.
Secure in history, for sure. But EC's still making albums (although this may be in hiatus for now), still touring, still active, which is an incredible accomplishment.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by johnfoyle »

Ive added the review Mick Nicholls did of the show that preceded this encounter -

Image -

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... hester.jpg

Text -

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... h_14,_1981
johnfoyle
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by johnfoyle »

He doesn't seem to mind too much that I'm a journalist, reckoning that won't remember anything he's said anyway. Well thank God he's not sussed about the tape machine as well. There follows a quick run-down on practically every writer in the music press which is suddenly brought to a halt by Jake Riviera. The manager has been informed of my identity by Clive Gregson of Any Trouble. Gregson is an old mate of Costello's and was probably afraid that I'd give him away for telling me where the band were staying. So he shopped me first. And to think of the complimentary reviews I gave his band last summer!

I e-mailed Clive Gregson about this.

http://www.clivegregson.com/

As part of a good humoured response he tells me -


Ah yes.... I remember this. Not the most edifying experience to be around!
Very bad behaviour fuelled by far too much alcohol...

Well... essentially it strikes me now pretty much as it struck me then... Mike Nicholls was of that school of journalists who never let the truth get in the way of a "good" story.

In respect of my "involvement"...

1: I've met Elvis maybe 5/6 times in my entire life, all post his success, usually at gigs and never for much more than a few minutes. Although these meetings have always been very cordial, I doubt they really qualify me as an "old mate" of EC's!

2: I didn't inform Jake of Mike's identity. I didn't need to. Jake (and Elvis) are not fools and it was obvious to both of them that the bloke ear-holing EC at the hotel bar was not a typical fan asking typical fan questions! I spotted the "hidden' tape recorder from the table I was sitting at ten yards away at least twice during the conversation... and I have no doubts Jake and EC did the same.

3: I didn't tell Mike "where the band were staying". I have no idea who did... but it probably wasn't that hard to find out. There were plenty of actual fans in the bar so it can't exactly have been a closely guarded secret.

4: Mike had indeed previously written a couple of favourable reviews of Any Trouble. That's the only thing in his story concerning me that is actually true.



Incidentally I had also made some comments to Clive , getting these responses

I've always liked your Any Trouble stuff.

Thanks! I look back on it with much fondness and am still in touch with pretty much everybody involved. We actually got back together for a reunion album (released on Stiff!) and a couple of shows in 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves wallowing in nostalgia.


Your site has served to remind me as to what I'm missing in your solo stuff - I will rectify same!


There's a lot of it, I'm afraid! The "Best Of...." compilation is probably a good place to start.... and some might say finish! There's also a very comprehensive Gregson & Collister compilation which documents the third strand of what I jokingly refer to as my "career"! New solo album out in late April...

Best regards: Clive Gregson
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by docinwestchester »

Very cool John. That reminded me how much I liked "Second Choice", from the Stiff Sampler album which I still have:

Image

On the flip side is Jona Lewie's "(You'll Always Find Me In The) Kitchen At Parties", another classic.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by johnfoyle »

The day before Elvis Costello had appeared on 'Jim'll Fix It' allowing a young lad to realise his ambition of joining the road crew.

Now on youTube -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzmqPT6asAI
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by MatthewBest »

Fascinating reading that piece again after so many years. I read it with interest when it first appeared because I was also in the hotel bar when the altercation took place.

I was one of the fans who went backstage after the show to chat, get autographs, drink free booze and generally schmooze. I'd first met Jake Riviera a couple of weeks earlier when the band played at Exeter University which was the first time I experienced this new, fan-friendly version of Elvis. I'd asked Jake for an autograph then and he rather pompously said he didn't sign autographs, he only signed cheques. I told him that would do nicely(!) and he replied he didn't have his chequebook with him. So I asked him to remember to bring it with him to the Manchester gig, which I would be attending. Needless to say, he hadn't remembered it. But he did remember me, and I and the few friends I was with talked to him backstage. When it became apparent that the party would be continuing back at the band's hotel, Jake invited us along. In fact, he asked us how we were getting there and when my friend said we'd be going in his Ford Cortina, Jake loudly announced to all and sundry that they could go in the poncey tour bus if they wanted to, but he was going in a cool car with these four guys!

I can't remember if we got there before the band or after, but when we arrived in the hotel we sat at a table and Jake bought us all drinks. For the life of me I can't remember what we all talked about, but somebody definitely came over to Jake and whispered something in his ear about Mike Nicholls. Jake got up and excused himself. He gave no inkling of what was about to take place, so we didn't really pay attention. The next thing we noticed was the fight - in my memory Jake hit the journalist with a beer glass (which didn't break, fortunately for everyone), and he was hustled outside in very short order. Jake then came back to our table, apologised for the interruption, explaining that a journalist had tried to sneak an interview with a hidden tape recorder, and sat down again.

We left shortly afterwards, and never really managed to talk to anyone in the band.

The next gig I went to was in London, where I once again queued up to go backstage and remind Jake that he owed me a cheque. Once again, he didn't have his chequebook with him, but a month or so later I did receive a cheque for 1p from him in the post, which I still have!

I know Jake gets a bad press, but he was always very friendly to me and got me in backstage at several more gigs - and I did ride in the band's tour bus a couple of times thanks to him. Another time he told me if I made it to Edinburgh I could get a lift home in the bus, but it turned out the bus had been broken into and damaged and wasn't there. Jake then paid for my coach fare home!

I won't hear a word against him! :D
Last edited by MatthewBest on Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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John
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by John »

That's a great story Matthew. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by johnfoyle »

Clive Gregson was so helpful with this so I gladly relay this e-mail -

Hi folks,

I hope this finds you all well and happy! The autumn touring season is almost upon us... and I have two tours coming up over the next few months to tell you about. First, I'm pleased to announce the first live shows by 3 Boxes, my guitar trio with Andy Roberts and Mark Griffiths. Dates follow....

September 16th
Village Hall
Ecton, Northants, England
Web: www.ectonvillage.co.uk
Tel: 01604 413585

September 17th
Acousticity, The Headgate Theatre
Colchester, England
Web: www.acousitcity.co.uk
Tel: 01206 366000

September 18th
Hitchin Folk Club
Hitchin, England
Web: www.hitchinfolkclub.idnet.net
Tel: 01462 812391

September 23rd/24th/25th
Madame Guitar Festival
Tricesimo, Udine, Italy
Web: www.folkclubbuttrio.it
Tel: tba

September 26th
SportHotel Strass
Mayrhofen, Austria
Web: http://www.hotelstrass.com/en/sporthote ... hotel.html
Tel: +43(0)5285 6705

September 27th
Die Baekerei
Innsbruck, Austria
Web: www.diebaeckerei.at
Tel: +43 (0)680 2472260

September 30th
Old School Hall
Croston, Lancs, England
Web: www.croston-old-school.org/index.htm
Tel: 01772 600142/07785 971951

The 3 Boxes website is: www.3boxes.co.uk

I'll send the dates for my solo tour (October 27th to November 26th) in a seperate email. We're still working on adding a couple of shows to that tour so once that's all locked down, I'll let you know. However the current tour itinerary is already posted on my website: www.clivegregson.com

I look forward to seeing you somewhere down the road this autumn!
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by MatthewBest »

John wrote:That's a great story Matthew. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I forgot to add that later on I met Elvis's accountant who told me that my failure to cash my 1p cheque had caused him all sorts of difficulties in doing the accounts as no matter which way he added things up he was always 1p out and couldn't figure out why. :D
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by wordnat »

Great read! Young EC in "drunk tough guy" mode is always amusing.

* I saw Adam & the Ants in L.A. in '81 -- seemed ike a good idea at the time.... :?
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by MatthewBest »

wordnat wrote:Great read! Young EC in "drunk tough guy" mode is always amusing.

* I saw Adam & the Ants in L.A. in '81 -- seemed ike a good idea at the time.... :?
I think it probably was a good idea. I saw them at the Lewisham Odeon at the end of 1980 and thought they were fantastic - two drum kits and all. (There's video of one song of this gig on Youtube which makes me think I may have been deluded, but I maintain my memory is better than any stupid video.) :D
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by johnfoyle »

The same issue of Record Mirror had a letter about Elvis . I must say I was a bit startled by the name of the writer , just a letter away from the name of the new British Prime Minister !


http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... il_4,_1981

El rules OK

Teresa Macys

1981-04-04 Record Mirrror

In reply to Martin of Walsall concerning the Elvis Costello gig, I'd like to say that my mate and I went to a EC gig the following evening (March 5th Wolverhampton Civic Hall). At first we thought EC had either pissed off or got lost round spaghetti junction. As the time was 8.15 and we were still outside. So we had our own sing sing in the street in the pouring rain and arctic winds. No trouble broke out, we waited without any explanation or any kind of announcement, in fact no-one told us anything. At 8.30 they let us in and we had to listen to music before our grandmother's time. At 9.00 EC came on and burst into song, then he explained that they'd had some electricity problems. He sang oldies such as: "Olivers Army," "Watching The Detectives," "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down." He sang songs from Trust including "From A Whisper To A Scream." He even sang "One Day I'll Fly Away." He sang non stop 'til 10 then went off. He came back on with more songs and went on and off stage like a yo-yo.

Yes, we probably had your share of EC encores, oldies, romance, mind blowing music, conversation between songs, plus the fact he played from 9.00 'til 10.40. Shall I continue? (snigger, snigger). So we had our money's worth, it was well worth the wait and the flu I caught. So Mr Elvis Costello I think you deserve a Blue Peter badge. It was great.

— Terri (short for Teresa) Macys, Wolverhampton
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verbal gymnastics
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on

Post by verbal gymnastics »

The quote "He came back on with more songs and went on and off stage like a yo-yo." reminded me about the one and only time Mrs VG came to see Elvis with me in 1999 at Brighton Centre. She thought it was good when he played the one hour set but the 3 30 minute encores killed her off! One would have been enough for her whilst 3 weren't enough for me :lol:
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on, March 2011

Post by johnfoyle »

I finally got in touch with Mike Nicholls , the 'interviewer' in this feature , via Facebook -

he replied -

Yep, that's me John, guilty as charged! I'd forgotten how much detail there was in the feature and it will be contextualised in full in my forthcoming book 'My Life With Rock 'n' Roll People' out next Spring but with the advance promo appearing to having started already.

We've exchanged email addresses and he says he will answer questions for this fan site etc. I will follow up on that . I sent him a link to this discussion.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on, March 2011

Post by johnfoyle »

The latest from Mr Nicholls , via email -

Memoir: My Life with Rock’n' Roll People is finished, into the editing, design and print stage. Hopefully out in April when I'll start going on the road selling it at book fairs, festivals and seaside resorts throughout the summer. It should also be available on Amazon. 100 chapters from Adam Ant to Zodiac Mindwarp with interviews with Bowie, Macca, Jagger, Petty, all the Manc and Liverpool heroes in between.
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Re: The 'Secret' interview with Elvis, 30 years on, March 2011

Post by johnfoyle »

http://www.ghostwriterbooks.net/?fbclid ... YtUsoZhT0o

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Mike on Facebook -

My book is an A to Z of the 100 best rock stars I've interviewed over the past 40-odd years, from Adam Ant and Andy Warhol through Bowie, Chrissie Hynde, Dave Gahan, Elvis Costello, Ian Hunter, Iggy Pop, John Lydon, Lemmy, Noel Gallagher, Peter Hook, Tom Verlaine, Tom Petty and Zodiac Mindwarp. It's more about them than me although I tend to emerge every now and zen.
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Re: Mike Nicholls to include 'interview', from 1981, with Elvis in new book , 2019

Post by johnfoyle »

I finally got around to getting this book. It is very much in the style of the mass market publications that Mike's work has appeared in over the decades. Nothing discernibly extra is added to the account of his encounter with Elvis in 1981. Definitely a book for dipping into .

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