Just before this Blackburn had described Costello as a "silly little man" after hearing Radio Radio. Blackburn is only about four feet tall by the way.
I find it weird how Costello was able to play this song on TOTP at the time, but not on "Saturday Night Live" in the US. In 1977, Costello and his band were booked as a last minute replacement on SNL in place of The Sex Pistols, who were unable to get into the country in time for their performance. Costello was told to play "Less Than Zero", but he didn't want to, as he felt the subject of the song was irrelevant to American audiences, and that they wouldn't understand it. He did start to play it, but quickly stopped, apologized to everyone, and played this. He was banned from SNL for some time as a result. However, when invited back in 1999, he "interrupted" the Beastie Boys' performance to do "Radio Radio", making light of the incident. I guess by then NBC realized they screwed up. :)
it was because he wasn't supposed to play that song, there was a danger of overrunning and the camera crew wouldn't be aware who to focus on, and most importantly, there was a danger of overrunning, therefore fucking with sponsers
@@davidbanan. Yeah it's more about this than anything like the message of the song. TV stuff like that is very strict and if you decide to not 'respect' what had been decided then higher ups will get very pissed.
100% live. Brilliant
1:34 Elvis Costello pointing at Tony Blackburn here ("lots of silly men")
Well spotted
Just before this Blackburn had described Costello as a "silly little man" after hearing Radio Radio. Blackburn is only about four feet tall by the way.
I find it weird how Costello was able to play this song on TOTP at the time, but not on "Saturday Night Live" in the US.
In 1977, Costello and his band were booked as a last minute replacement on SNL in place of The Sex Pistols, who were unable to get into the country in time for their performance.
Costello was told to play "Less Than Zero", but he didn't want to, as he felt the subject of the song was irrelevant to American audiences, and that they wouldn't understand it. He did start to play it, but quickly stopped, apologized to everyone, and played this. He was banned from SNL for some time as a result. However, when invited back in 1999, he "interrupted" the Beastie Boys' performance to do "Radio Radio", making light of the incident. I guess by then NBC realized they screwed up. :)
SNL was upset for timing reasons. Columbia wanted EC to play Less Than Zero.
it was because he wasn't supposed to play that song, there was a danger of overrunning and the camera crew wouldn't be aware who to focus on, and most importantly, there was a danger of overrunning, therefore fucking with sponsers
@@davidbanan. Yeah it's more about this than anything like the message of the song. TV stuff like that is very strict and if you decide to not 'respect' what had been decided then higher ups will get very pissed.
Hw finger points tony Blackburn AT the end of the performance