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.
Filmography
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
as Self
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
as Self
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
Roy Orbison Forever
as Self
Roy Orbison Forever
as Self
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
as Self
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
as Self
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
as Self
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
as Self
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
as Self - Performer
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
as Self - Performer
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
as Self - Performer
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
as Self - Performer
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
as Self
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
as Self
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
as Self
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
as Self
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
as Self
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
as Self
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
as Self
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
as Self
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
as Self
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
as Self
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
as Self
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
as Self
Experience Montreux
as Self
Experience Montreux
as Self
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
as Self - Performer
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
as Self - Performer
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
as Self
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
as Self
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
as Self (archive footage)
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
as Self (archive footage)
Love Shines
as Self
Love Shines
as Self
Hard Rock Calling 2010
as Self
Hard Rock Calling 2010
as Self
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
as Self
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
as Self
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
as Self
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
as Self
Memento Mori
as Self
Memento Mori
as Self
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
as Self
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
as Self
Delirious
as Elvis Costello
Delirious
as Elvis Costello
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
as Self
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
as Self
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
as Self
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
as Self
The Harry Smith Project Live
as Self
The Harry Smith Project Live
as Self
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
as Elvis Costello
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
as Elvis Costello
Putting the River in Reverse
as Self
Putting the River in Reverse
as Self
Grand Ole Opry Live
as Self
Grand Ole Opry Live
as Self
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
as Self
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
as Self
Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut
as Guest
Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut
as Guest
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
as Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
as Self
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
as Self
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
as Self
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
as Self
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
as Self
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
as Self
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
as Self
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
as Self
I Love Your Work
as Self
I Love Your Work
as Self
Elvis Costello: North
as Self
Elvis Costello: North
as Self
Freedom Beat
as Self
Freedom Beat
as Self
There's Only One Paul McCartney
as Self
There's Only One Paul McCartney
as Self
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
as Self
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
as Self
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
as Self
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
as Self
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
as Self
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
as Self
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
as Self
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
as Self
200 Cigarettes
as Self
200 Cigarettes
as Self
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
as Self
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
as Self
Spice World
as Elvis Costello
Spice World
as Elvis Costello
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
as Self
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
as Self
Weird Nightmare
as Self
Weird Nightmare
as Self
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
as Self
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
as Self
Paul McCartney: Put It There
as Self
Paul McCartney: Put It There
as Self
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
No Surrender
as Rosco De Ville
No Surrender
as Rosco De Ville
Americathon
as The Earl of Manchester
Americathon
as The Earl of Manchester