Culture  Music
K's Choice bass player: Costello, you're an idiot
Ayelet Yagil
Published: 25.05.10, 08:15
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22 Talkbacks for this article
1. wow so I am not alone in this yesterday
ghostq   (05.25.10)
I called him douch bag, and now another person call him douch bag, sound about right, Elvis costelo is one big phoney, his real name isn't elvis he got one hit and he mostly imitate 60's music.
2. Elvis Costello
NYC Girl   (05.25.10)
While I applaud Eric Grossman for taking the position he did in regard to Elvis Costello, I think there's one point he missed, and it's that Costello's political stance is stunningly hypocritical and completely misinformed.
3. to #2 mixing politics with entertainment
ghostq   (05.25.10)
can kill someone career, but I rekon he doesn't have much to lose, very stupid indeed, I think entertainment should be politics free.
4. Is this Israeli satire?
Mikesailor ,   Miami, FL   (05.25.10)
Printing the criticism of a bass player for a band nobody has ever heard of, is way too funny. Is this really the best Israel has to offer?
5. Well said #4.
Judas Iscariot ,   Freetown, USA   (05.25.10)
Grossman, you're an idiot and a unknown bassist in an unknown band. What the hell does it have anything to do with you? Now crawl back under a rock, you muppet!! Well done Mr Costello. We need more artists to follow your example.
6. #1 - phoney?
SayWhat ,   IL   (05.25.10)
Your ignorance of his musical accomplishments does nothing to help your argument. Yes indeed he is a douche for canceling the Israel gig but that has nothing to do with his music. In fact he is a fairly successful musician, songwriter, producer and more and has been active from the 70's to the present day.. far longer than most "pop stars". As for his name - countless performers, artists, authors, actors etc use a "stage name" or "pen name" you know? Its quite normal and again is zero reflection on his musical ability. Just be thankful he didn't take to wearing a pink leotard in his fifties like certain other aging pop stars..
7. Elvis Costellos cancelled concert
Toronto Boy ,   Canada   (05.25.10)
Why doesn't Elvis try to hold a concert in Gaza, where no one has heard of him and no females or gays would be allowed to attend unless maybe they want to be stoned to death. Learn what is truly happening in Israel before you make a stupid uninformed decision. I have lost all respect for Mr. Costello
8. @4
Daniel ,   Canada   (05.26.10)
K's choice is very popular in Europe and Israel they have sold millions of albums
9. toronto boy
gays4israel ,   not telling   (05.26.10)
there are no gays in gaza and Iran. They killed them all viva sirael
10. to #6 succses is relative tearm
ghostq   (05.26.10)
only people above 60 years old like him, his last mega hit which iis only was in the 80's, as for musician name well nobody does it anymore not inliteratur, trust me it comes from very riliable source, pen names were common in 70's but in the begining of the 80's it stoped people use their real names, accept from few actors in holywood, and holywood is the center of fake, fake noses fake lights fake everything.
11. Elvis Costello
marilyn ,   USA   (05.26.10)
His ego was perhaps not being fed enough to do this concert, however that's more his problem.
12. #10 - "success is relative"
SayWhat ,   IL   (05.26.10)
How would you define success then? Rolling Stone has him in the top 100 greatest artists of all time.. he has worked in music prolifically across a range of genres for over 3 decades, has an enormous discography, has worked with many of the biggest names in music, presumably makes a decent living out of it.. by most peoples standards that would be a success. Again, just because you don't know anything about his music or don't like it, doesn't mean he's a phoney and has nothing to do with his unfortunate political views. "only people above 60 years old like him" ?? Where do you get that from? If you must choose a specific age, I'd say you are out by about 2 decades.. more likely people in their 40's who first heard his music in their teens. However since he has continued to make music to this day, some of which has appeared in popular movies (notting hill & austin powers for example) I'd say the demographics would be quite diverse. Also pseudonyms are still very common amongst performers and writers, for various reasons, no matter what you have heard, or do you think "Lady Gaga" is a real name? In fact you yourself are using one in your writing.. ;)
13. bass player!
naftalir ,   israel   (05.26.10)
grossman is right all of those who left cause of political views and all that crap suck do thay know how menny people would have gone to u2 and santana no one cares about elivis castello and yah a million people will be like yah he rocks if u say that then ur a old man who should find better stuff to do with his life (like not going to a elvis castello concert) u2 rocks and im suprised thay arent comeing its a shame
14. Elvis Presley was Jewish!
Joshua ,   Washington, DC   (05.26.10)
Elvis Presley was Jewish due to the fact that his maternal grandmother was Jewish. I don't think it is fair to compare Elvis Costello to him.
15. #5 aptly named.
ben Ish   (05.26.10)
You should finish reading the story and understand how your namesake ended. To which I add a hearty LOL, and say thank you for making your ignorance and hypocrisy plan.
16. to #12 rolling stones got only 4 good hits
ghostq   (05.27.10)
they r boring, if you will ask teen today if he or she likes rolling stones he or she will ask who? lol as for austin powers that is oure joke on the james bond british cultur if you don't smart to realize it, I might say he did it with very good tast cause they r not smart enough to realize it, much like Sasha baron kohen on the kasakstan. as for lady gaga everything about her is fake even her smaplying ever wonder y poker face opening sound like the 70's hit MAMA baker, she take other people work and mix it, and her idol is madona, again 80's fake what ever.
17. Good on you, Elvis Costello
Ben Alofs ,   Bangor, UK   (05.28.10)
Elvis Costello - his huge and varied back catalogue demonstrates it - is not only a clever and brainy musician/songwriter. He is also one with a moral consciousness. I'll be playing (I don't want to go to) Chelsea (Israel) tonight. After 33 years you still rock, Elvis.
18. Costello & co.
Stephen ,   Manchester UK   (05.29.10)
Lucky Israel!
19. his show was only 60 % sold when he cancelled
hal tripp ,   la paz, bolivia   (05.31.10)
big surprise his parents are from ireland,a country where they have had 500 years of jew hating engraved in their schools and churches.during the world war 2 while london was getting blown to bits by the nazi's , the irish government played both sides of the fence with the nazi's .big surprise that from 25 thousand jews in ireland in the 60's ,they are down to 2 thousand thanks to the hard work of chabad to save irish jewery.big surpise that after greece,ireland is the next country in europe to go bankrupt,
20. To #5
Eric Grossman ,   St. Louis, USA   (09.17.10)
I'm aware that you have never heard of me or the band that I play in, but I'm willing to bet that you've heard my playing, as albums that I've played on number in the millions sold. I've also played headlining concerts for millions of people in dozens of countries over the course of my 20 year career. That is neither here nor there, though. None of that has anything to do with the validity or lack of validity of my beliefs on this issue. You've made your feelings known here, and I'm sure your fame and recognition would impress very few. Take whatever side of this issue that you want, but do a little research first. also it's easy to take your hacks while hiding behind a pseudonym. As for the Muppets, they've surely made many more people smile than you have.
21. thanks for grossman's humenity
dura ,   israel   (09.17.10)
music and politics have nothing in common, and we all must remember that every person has the right to listen to his favorite artists. k's chioce are uunique artists! and they are loyal to their fans unlike other great bands. eric, thank you for your humenity, liberalism, and for the stage-diving at the barby tel-aviv! it was best show ever!!! we cant wait to see u in israel again! we love you!
22. #4.#5. Two idiots who are lost and on the wrong site
Abraham bne Jacob ,   Canada   (02.19.11)
Get lost if you don't like Jews or Israel . Go to Gaza and try to criticise Hamas. If you are lucky they may give you the choice of what building you prefer to be thrown off.
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