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
- 2024 · The Specials – A Message to You as Self
- 2023 · Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Roy Orbison Forever as Self
- 2021 · Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story as Self
- 2021 · This Is Pop as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain as Self
- 2020 · Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show as Self - Performer
- 2019 · Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration as Self
- 2018 · Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen as Self - Performer
- 2017 · Pete the Cat as Pete's Dad (voice)
- 2017 · Ex Libris: The New York Public Library as Self
- 2016 · The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years as Self
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2015 · Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall as Self
- 2014 · Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self - Musical Guest
- 2013 · Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance as Self
- 2013 · Experience Montreux as Self
- 2012 · Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook as Self - Performer
- 2011 · A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young as Self
- 2011 · Hamburg Journal as self
- 2011 · I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern as Self (archive footage)
- 2010 · Love Shines as Self
- 2010 · Hard Rock Calling 2010 as Self
- 2010 · Treme as Self
- 2010 · A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD! as Self - Singer
- 2009 · Live From the Artists Den as Self
- 2008 · Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... as Self
- 2008 · A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! as Self
- 2008 · Memento Mori as Self
- 2007 · If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story as Self
- 2007 · Delirious as Elvis Costello
- 2007 · Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- 2007 · Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic as Self
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2007 · The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music as Self
- 2006 · Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade as Self
- 2006 · Legends as Self
- 2006 · The Harry Smith Project Live as Self
- 2006 · Before the Music Dies as Self - Musician
- 2006 · 30 Rock as Elvis Costello
- 2006 · The One Show as Self
- 2006 · Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as Elvis Costello
- 2006 · Elvis Costello & Friends as
- 2006 · Putting the River in Reverse as Self
- 2006 · Grand Ole Opry Live as Self
- 2006 · The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave as Self
- 2006 · From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans as Self
- 2005 · The Colbert Report as Self
- 2005 · The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned as Self
- 2005 · Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello as Self - Performer
- 2005 · Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today as Self
- 2005 · Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Glastonbury Festival 2005 as Self
- 2004 · Live Aid as Self
- 2004 · Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile as Self
- 2004 · De-Lovely as Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
- 2004 · Johnny Cash: The Last Great American as Self
- 2004 · Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis as Self
- 2003 · Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well as Self
- 2003 · I Love Your Work as Self
- 2003 · Two and a Half Men as Elvis Costello
- 2003 · Elvis Costello: North as Self
- 2003 · Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin' as Self
- 2003 · Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2003 · Freedom Beat as Self
- 2002 · There's Only One Paul McCartney as Self
- 2002 · CMT Crossroads as Self
- 2001 · A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David as Self
- 2001 · Prison Song as Public Defender / Teacher
- 2000 · Unleaded as Elvis Costello
- 1999 · In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story as Self
- 1999 · Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as Elvis Costello
- 1999 · Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda as Self
- 1999 · 200 Cigarettes as Self
- 1999 · Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree as Self
- 1998 · Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th as Self
- 1998 · Brian Wilson’s Imagination as Self
- 1998 · Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night as Self
- 1997 · Spice World as Elvis Costello
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self
- 1996 · Tony Bennett's New York as Self
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1996 · 3rd Rock from the Sun as Elvis Costello
- 1995 · Die Harald Schmidt Show as Self
- 1995 · The Frank Skinner Show as Self
- 1995 · Lo + plus as Self
- 1994 · Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged as Self
- 1994 · Dusty as Self - Interviewee
- 1994 · Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife as Self - Interviewee
- 1994 · September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill as Self
- 1993 · Frasier as Ben
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Musical Guest
- 1993 · Weird Nightmare as Self
- 1992 · The Larry Sanders Show as Elvis Costello
- 1992 · The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Self - Musical Guest
- 1991 · Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters as Self
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Elvis Costello (voice)
- 1989 · MTV Unplugged as Self
- 1989 · Paul McCartney: Put It There as Self
- 1988 · Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
- 1987 · Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo as Self - Performer
- 1987 · Straight to Hell as Hives The Butler
- 1986 · Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's as Self
- 1985 · No Surrender as Rosco De Ville
- 1985 · Live Aid as Self
- 1984 · The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel as Stone Deaf A & R Man
- 1984 · Scully as Henry Scully
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Stone Deaf A & R Man
- 1982 · Champs-Elysées as Self
- 1981 · George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends as Self
- 1981 · Concerts for the People of Kampuchea as Self
- 1980 · Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux as Self - Performer
- 1979 · Americathon as The Earl of Manchester
- 1978 · The Kenny Everett Video Show as Self
- 1978 · Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast as Self
- Future · Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson as Self
- 1978 · Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre as Self
- 1978 · If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- 1975 · Austin City Limits as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self