Elvis Costello named honorary Oxford citizen
The Daily Mississippian reports:
Excerpt - The "angriest man in rock'n'roll" is now a citizen of Oxford.
Elvis Costello, who surprised more than 400 people in attendance of Thacker Mountain Radio by making a guest appearance, was granted honorary citizenship by Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth. Costello is in Oxford recording a new album at Sweet Tea Studios and performing two sold-out shows this weekend at Proud Larry's.
"Whereas, the City of Oxford at times embraces artists (or at least tolerates them), and Elvis Costello once proclaimed his ultimate vocation in life was to be an 'irritant,'" the proclamation read in part. Costello was also given a key to the city.
After announcing Costello's honorary citizenship, he played "Scarlet Tide," which was nominated for an Academy Award. The song, which appeared on the "Cold Mountain" soundtrack, lost to "Into the West" from the "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Costello also played a closing song, "The Delivery Man." Costello said the song is from a series of story songs he has been working on for about five years.
Costello said the song stories followed the dreams of several women in a small town.
The radio show can be heard again on Sunday April 4th at 5PM ( CST ).
Elvis Costello named honorary Oxford citizen
by Brandon Niemeyer
DM Arts & Life Editor
April 02, 2004
Costello, born Declan Patrick McManus, first came on
the music scene in 1976 with "My Aim is True."
Costello gained notoriety in December 1977 when he
played "Radio Radio" on Saturday Night Live.
Costello, who was a last minute replacement for the
Sex Pistols, had been told by the show's executive
producer Lorne Michaels not to perform the song.
Part way through "Less Than Zero," Costello turned and
stopped his bands. The band then launched into the
song, which mocked the broadcast industry. The stunt
resulted in Costello being banned from the show until
1989.
Costello becomes only the third person given honorary
citizenship since Howorth took office in 2001.
Larry Avery was granted honorary citizenship in 2003
after he took numerous animals from the
Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society and brought them to
Boulder, Colo., for adoption.
The other given honorary citizenship is Masaru Inoue,
a Japanese scholar who has made around 15 trips to
Oxford over the past 20 years.
"He became a friend of Willie Morris, and he became
very attached to Oxford," Howorth said.
Comments
Friday 04/02/04. Good times. The Thacker Mountain Radio show link is http://www.thackermountain.com/
Mississippi Public Broadcasting link is http://www.etv.state.ms.us/radio/radio_schedules/0402/040208.htm
The show w/ Elvis should be broadcast next Sunday, or maybe the next, maybe the next @ 5PM CDT Sunday. Worth listening to for sure.
Posted by: Saw Oxford Show | April 4, 2004 9:45 PM