@musicdumpgrrl
#ElvisCostello performing Radio Radio on #SaturdayNightLive in 1977. Costello was supposed to perform his song “Less Than Zero” but 15 seconds into the song, stopped the band to change the song. Costello was banned from SNL for years after this.
♬ original sound - musicdumpgrrlThe song was about British fascist Oswald Mosley, a public figure Costello felt would be unfamiliar to most American viewers. He also considered the song too low-key for the late-night sketch show, which he viewed as a major opportunity to introduce his band to American audiences. His record label, however, had other plans and wanted him to perform the song.
Why Elvis Costello Changed the Song
“Radio Radio” was a particularly pointed choice, based more on the singer’s own frustration toward his record company than toward NBC. “Radio Radio” is a song critical of the commercialization and corporate control of radio broadcasting, making Costello’s choice to perform it live on air seem like a pointed dig at the very system he was appearing on.
Related: 1975 Robert Redford Thriller About American Espionage Was So Realistic, It Inspired the KGB
SNL producer Lorne Michaels was reportedly so furious with Costello’s stunt that he gave Costello the middle finger for the duration of the performance. Costello has since acknowledged the story, which has become Hollywood lore, but has yet to confirm exactly what happened between himself and SNL producers that night.
Was Elvis Costello Really Banned From SNL?
Elvis Costello did not return to SNL for 12 years. The famous version of the story is that Costello was banned following the incident.
More than two decades later, Costello recreated the moment, creating the perfect opportunity to make fun of the entire incident.
@thealmanac77
♬ original sound - thealmanac77 - thealmanac77
During SNL’s 25th anniversary special in 1999, the Beastie Boys were performing their hit song “Sabotage” when Costello interrupted them. Using the same language he had when he halted his own song in 1977, Costello recreated the gag and switched the Beastie Boys into “Radio Radio.”
The Lasting Impact of Elvis Costello’s SNL Performance
Elvis Costello’s on-air stunt demonstrated the impact an unscripted moment could have on a show built around the immediacy of live television. The episode also served as an early example of SNL’s relationship to popular music, one in which artists could use the show to make a cultural statement rather than simply promote a record.
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