Elvis Costello
Referencing prodigies of rock lyricism may not bring Elvis Costello to mind for some, but he does deserve consideration. Through the course of over four decades, the former computer programmer has maintained a career as a singer-songwriter, giving the likes of Bob Dylan himself a reckoning. He was born Declan MacManus in London, England, on August 25, 1954. He took the moniker Elvis Costello in 1977, adopting his first name from Elvis Presley and the last part from the maiden name of his mother. Also in '77, Costello's debut album My Aim Is True was released, drawing connections to the new wave and punk movement while showing musical variance. That year, Costello's band The Attractions was assembled. The group released a number of albums, including This Year's Model, Armed Forces, and Trust. 1986's Blood and Chocolate produced memorable, literate gems, such as "Tokyo Storm Warning" and "I Want You." After the Attractions' final show in 1996, caused by conflict between Costello and the band's bassist Bruce Thomas, two of the group's other members would become part of his new backing band, The Imposters. Costello has released over 30 albums.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 ·Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Musicas Himself
- 2021 ·This Is Popas Self (archive footage)
- 2017 ·Pete the Catas Pete's Dad (voice)
- 2017 ·Ex Libris: The New York Public Libraryas Self
- 2016 ·The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Yearsas Self
- 2015 ·The Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self
- 2014 ·The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self - Musical Guest
- 2011 ·Hamburg Journalas self
- 2010 ·Tremeas Self
- 2009 ·Live From the Artists Denas Self
- 2008 ·Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...as Self
- 2008 ·A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!as Self
- 2007 ·Deliriousas Elvis Costello
- 2007 ·Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classicas Self
- 2007 ·The Graham Norton Showas Self
- 2006 ·Legendsas Self
- 2006 ·The Harry Smith Project Liveas Self
- 2006 ·30 Rockas Elvis Costello
- 2006 ·The One Showas Self
- 2006 ·Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobbyas Elvis Costello
- 2005 ·The Colbert Reportas Self
- 2005 ·Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Todayas Self
- 2004 ·Live Aidas Self
- 2004 ·De-Lovelyas Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
- 2003 ·I Love Your Workas Self
- 2003 ·Two and a Half Menas Elvis Costello
- 2003 ·Real Time with Bill Maheras Self
- 2003 ·Jimmy Kimmel Live!as Self
- 2002 ·CMT Crossroadsas Self
- 2001 ·A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal Davidas Self
- 2001 ·Prison Songas Public Defender / Teacher
- 1999 ·In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Storyas Self
- 1999 ·Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Meas Elvis Costello
- 1999 ·200 Cigarettesas Self
- 1997 ·Spice Worldas Elvis Costello
- 1997 ·Classic Albumsas Self
- 1996 ·The Daily Showas Self
- 1996 ·3rd Rock from the Sunas Elvis Costello
- 1995 ·Die Harald Schmidt Showas Self
- 1995 ·The Frank Skinner Showas Self
- 1995 ·Lo + plusas Self
- 1993 ·Frasieras Ben
- 1993 ·Late Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Guest
- 1993 ·Late Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Musical Guest
- 1992 ·The Larry Sanders Showas Elvis Costello
- 1992 ·The Tonight Show with Jay Lenoas Self - Musical Guest
- 1989 ·The Simpsonsas Elvis Costello (voice)
- 1989 ·MTV Unpluggedas Self
- 1988 ·Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Nightas Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
- 1987 ·Straight to Hellas Hives The Butler
- 1985 ·No Surrenderas Rosco De Ville
- 1985 ·Live Aidas Self
- 1984 ·Scullyas Henry Scully
- 1982 ·The Comic Strip Presents...as Stone Deaf A & R Man
- 1982 ·Champs-Elyséesas Self
- 1981 ·Concerts for the People of Kampucheaas Self
- 1979 ·Americathonas The Earl of Manchester
- 1978 ·The Kenny Everett Video Showas Self
- 1975 ·Saturday Night Liveas Self - Musical Guest
- 1975 ·Austin City Limitsas Self
- 1953 ·The Oscarsas Self
- Future ·Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertsonas Self
- 2024 ·The Specials – A Message to Youas Self
- 2023 ·Sounds of Liverpool at the BBCas Self (archive footage)
- 2022 ·Roy Orbison Foreveras Self
- 2021 ·Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Storyas Self
- 2020 ·Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britainas Self
- 2020 ·Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Showas Self - Performer
- 2019 ·Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebrationas Self
- 2018 ·Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohenas Self - Performer
- 2015 ·Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hallas Self
- 2014 ·Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continuedas Self
- 2013 ·Elvis Costello: Mystery Danceas Self
- 2013 ·Experience Montreuxas Self
- 2012 ·Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbookas Self - Performer
- 2011 ·A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Youngas Self
- 2011 ·I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavernas Self (archive footage)
- 2010 ·Love Shinesas Self
- 2010 ·Hard Rock Calling 2010as Self
- 2010 ·A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!as Self - Singer
- 2008 ·Memento Morias Self
- 2007 ·If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Storyas Self
- 2007 ·Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Songas Self - Vocals, Guitar
- 2007 ·The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Musicas Self
- 2006 ·Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Bladeas Self
- 2006 ·Before the Music Diesas Self - Musician
- 2006 ·Elvis Costello & Friendsas
- 2006 ·Putting the River in Reverseas Self
- 2006 ·Grand Ole Opry Liveas Self
- 2006 ·The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Waveas Self
- 2006 ·From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleansas Self
- 2005 ·The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstonedas Self
- 2005 ·Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costelloas Self - Performer
- 2005 ·Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Glastonbury Festival 2005as Self
- 2004 ·Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smileas Self
- 2004 ·Johnny Cash: The Last Great Americanas Self
- 2004 ·Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphisas Self
- 2003 ·Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Wellas Self
- 2003 ·Elvis Costello: Northas Self
- 2003 ·Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'as Self
- 2003 ·Freedom Beatas Self
- 2002 ·There's Only One Paul McCartneyas Self
- 2000 ·Unleadedas Elvis Costello
- 1999 ·Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Lindaas Self
- 1999 ·Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Treeas Self
- 1998 ·Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54thas Self
- 1998 ·Brian Wilson’s Imaginationas Self
- 1998 ·Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Nightas Self
- 1996 ·Tony Bennett's New Yorkas Self
- 1994 ·Tony Bennett: MTV Unpluggedas Self
- 1994 ·Dustyas Self - Interviewee
- 1994 ·Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlifeas Self - Interviewee
- 1994 ·September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weillas Self
- 1993 ·Weird Nightmareas Self
- 1991 ·Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Lettersas Self
- 1989 ·Paul McCartney: Put It Thereas Self
- 1987 ·Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyoas Self - Performer
- 1986 ·Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott'sas Self
- 1984 ·The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrelas Stone Deaf A & R Man
- 1981 ·George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friendsas Self
- 1980 ·Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreauxas Self - Performer
- 1978 ·Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalastas Self
- 1978 ·Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatreas Self
- 1978 ·If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuckas Self