Six Degrees: Davy Jones and The Sex Pistols?

On Dec. 17, 1977 Elvis Costello (Declan Patrick MacManus) & The Attractions (not The Clovers) started to play "Less Than Zero" on live TV on NBC's Saturday Night Live. EC stoppped the band a few notes into it and declared “I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but there’s no reason to do this song here.” He then led the band into "Radio, Radio" - a song NBC did not want him to play. Reportedly SNL producer Lorne Michaels gave Elvis the finger throughout the whole song. Lorne was pissed, and EC was banned from SNL for a dozen years.

If you watch the video, you'll notice drummer Pete Thomas is wearing a tee-shirt that reads "Thanks, Malc". The Malc referred to is Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the Sex Pistols. EC & The Attractions only got the SNL gig because The Sex Pistols were booked for the spot, but Malcolm didn't get the boys exit visas on time so they had to cancel at the last minute. Even though My Aim Is True wasn't released in the US yet (it was only available as an import LP at that point), Elvis was touring the states and got the prestigious job.

But Elvis admits that his rebellious act wasn't exactly original - he was inspired by Jimi Hendrix doing the same thing on the BBC when Jimi appeared on the Lulu show in 1969. Lulu (who was married to Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees at the time) was supposed to sing a duet of "Hey Joe" with Jimi. Jimi and the band were mortified at the thought, so they started the number but bailed before Lulu had a chance to join them on stage... “We’d like to stop playing this rubbish,” Jimi said, “and dedicate a song to the Cream, regardless of what kind of group they may be in. We dedicate this to Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.” Cream had just broken up. The band then played an instrumental version of "Sunshine Of Your Love" leaving no time for Lulu to join them, or even talk to them when it was done. Jimi told his girlfriend at the time "I'm not going to sing with Lulu. I'd look ridiculous." Here's the video of the event (including Hendrix's first number "Voodoo Child")

Related trivia:

19 year old Lulu briefly toured with The Monkeys in 1967 and dated Davy Jones. Her massive #1 hit in the US, "To Sir, With Love" was only released as a B-side in the U.K  (Let's Pretend b/w To Sir, With Love - peaked at #11).

The Sex Pistols broke up a few months after they were scheduled to be on SNL. Only Steve Jones (guitar) ever appeared on the show (in a skit last year).

The 1977 SNL that Costello was on was hosted by Miskel Spillman, an 80 year old grandmother from New Orleans, who won the show's "Anybody Can Host" write-in contest.

Elvis Costello was still working at his day job as a data entry clerk when he recorded that classic first album. He called in sick to record the LP - it was completed in less than 2 days. He was still working that day job even as the first 2 singles ("Less Than Zero" and "Alison") were pre-released and bombed. It wasn't until the LP was released that he took up being a rock and roller full-time (Stiff Records promised to match his day job's wages).

The album was recorded with The Clovers as his back-up band. After EC got together with the Attractions as his permanent band, Costello rerecorded the complete LP with The Attractions in mid 1977, although that 2nd version of My Aim Is True has never been released.

Elvis got together one more time with The Clovers for the 30th anniversary of the album for 2 live gigs in 2007 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. That marks the only time Elvis and The Clovers played the album live. [Bootleg recordings exist - search around and you should easily find them - they're great shows]

On SNL’s 25th anniversary show, Costello appeared and parodied his infamous 1977 appearance by bursting onstage while the Beastie Boys were in the middle of a song and getting them to play a wild version of "Radio, Radio".

Other performers banned from SNL include...

• Louise Lasser (for being completely incoherent)
• Charles Grodin 
• Frank Zappa 
• Milton Berle 
• Fear
• Robert Blake
• Andy Kaufman (the audience voted him off for life)
• The Replacements
• Steven Seagal 
• Sinéad O'Connor (for ripping up a photo of the Pope)
• Cypress Hill (for smoking a joint on-air)
• Martin Lawrence (for talking about vaginas)
• Chevy Chase 
• Adrien Brody

And here's the answers to the horror movie tagline quiz from Sunday:

1. Whoever wins…we lose. Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
2. Eight legs, two fangs, and an attitude. Arachnophobia (1990)
3. Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas. Army of Darkness (1992)
4. The monster demands a mate. Bride of Frankenstein, The (1935)
5. Take me to your teacher. Faculty, The (1998) 
6. He'll tear your soul apart. Hellraiser (1987)
7. Death doesn’t take no for an answer. Final Destination (2000) 
8. A monster science created but could not destroy. Frankenstein (1931) 
9. It never forgives. It never forgets. Grudge, The (2004) 
10. Sometimes dead is better. Pet Sematary (1989)
11. Ding dong. You’re dead. House (1986) 
12. You’ve never been scared until you’ve been scared in 3-D. House of Wax (1953)
13. What’s eating you? Jeepers Creepers (2001)
14. Part mystery. Part thriller. Parts missing. Lake Placid (1999) 
15. Be afraid. Be very afraid. The Fly (1986)
16. If this one doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead. Phantasm (1979)
17. They’re here. Poltergeist (1982)
18. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Shining, The (1980) 
19. Men cannot resist her. Mankind may not survive her. Species (1995)
20. There's only one thing wrong with the Davis baby: it's alive. It's Alive (1974)
21. Man is the warmest place to hide. Thing, The (1982) 
22. When there's no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the earth. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
23. To avoid fainting, keep repeating "It's only a movie...It's only a movie..." The Last House on the Left (1972)
24. You have the right to remain silent. Forever. Maniac Cop (1988)
25. There were actually at least 13 taglines for the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre if you include video releases...

• The idyllic summer's day that became a nightmare of fear and blood.
• It Really Happened. It's Terrifying. It's Here.
• For them, an Idyllic summer afternoon became their worst nightmare!
• Nothing Cuts Like the Original!
• Banned for over 7 years! Now finally released INTACT! UNCUT!
• America's most bizarre crime! Brutal beyond description! Grisley beyond comprehension!
• Who will survive and what will be left of them?
• can you survive ...it happened
• For five young friends, a typical summer afternoon drive becomes a terrifying nightmare.
• What happened is true. Now the motion picture that's just as real.
• Once you stop screaming, then you'll start talking about it.
• America's Most Bizarre and Brutal Crimes!...
• Before Halloween.... Before Friday The 13th.... Before Scream.... There Was The Saw.