Elvis Costello Says He Pitched Himself as Late Show Bandleader
Costello told Rolling Stone Music Now that Stephen Colbert asked his advice on the bandleader role, and he suggested himself instead.
Elvis Costello said in a conversation with Rolling Stone Music Now that he pitched himself to Stephen Colbert to become the bandleader on The Late Show. According to the interview, Colbert asked Costello for his advice about the bandleader role, and Costello replied by suggesting himself.
Costello said there were serious talks at one point about him taking the job. He also pointed to his father, who sang with a radio dance band on the BBC, as the source of his continuity with the idea.
Costello described practical obstacles to the move. Relocating three members of The Imposters to New York would have been logistically complex, he said, because he was the only member based in New York while keyboardist Steve Nieve lived in France.
He added that if he had taken the role, he might have been fired within three weeks — by the network, not by Colbert — for saying or doing the wrong thing.
Quick answers
What did Elvis Costello say about the Late Show bandleader role?
He told Rolling Stone Music Now that Stephen Colbert asked his advice about the role and he suggested himself, and that there were serious talks at one point.
Why did the Late Show bandleader role not work out for Costello?
Costello said moving three members of The Imposters to New York would have been logistically complex, since he was the only member in New York and keyboardist Steve Nieve lived in France.