Elvis Costello Plays the Wrong Song on SNL

 On December 17th, 1977, Elvis Costello made his debut performance on Saturday Night Live. 

He was set to play the prepared single, “Less Than Zero” (which hadn’t been hitting right with American audiences). A few bars in to the performance he stopped the band and announced that “There’s no reason to play that song here”. They tore into an anti-corporate rock song that they had been working on but not yet recorded called “Radio, Radio”. 

This earned Costello a spot in an elite club of performers to be banned from the show by creator Lorne Michaels.

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Costello was a last minute replacement for the Sex Pistols, who had visa issues and had to cancel. Chances are they would have been banned as well if they would have been able to make it.

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Costello returned almost 22 years later on the September 25th, 1999, 25th anniversary special in epic fashion. The Beastie Boys had begun to perform “Sabotage” when Costello rushed the stage, uttering the same words he did in 1977. Elvis Costello and the Beastie Boys then tore into “Radio, Radio” live on SNL once again. 

Saturday Night (Live)