Interview: Maxim UK December 2002

MAXIM: Elvis Costello , the angriest man in music. How do you plead?

EC: I kinda like it , because it`s a simplification of something that was essentially true. The focus of my first records was narrowed down very conciously to make a statement. And it worked. Very effectively!

MAXIM: Do you still intimidate people?

EC: Well , I don`t go out of my way to act , look , think or talk in a way which would ingratiate me with either the audience or the radio people. I don`t give a fuck what they think.

MAXIM: Do the current charts make you see red?

EC: Radio should be about playing a wide range of good music , but that isn`t waht happens. Darius get to number one because he`s on television every five seconds . Or Kylie. There`s nothing inherently wrong with that music , but it`s success isn`t an achievement.

MAXIM: Do you worry about getting older?

EC: Older musicians being bitter is just pitiful , really. I mean , why go around like Michael Jackson? Jaysus , you`ve sold 30 million records , isn`t that enough!

MAXIM: Loud , angry guitar music is back in vogue. What`s your take on nu-metal?

EC: I have no opinion on it. The music isn`t for me and I wouldn`t presume to comment on it. With Limp Bizkit and Linken Park , it`s actually a hybrid of rock and hip hop , where they`re just meeeting head on.

MAXIM: Finally , Jamiroquai: criminally rubbish or simply woefully misguided?

EC: It sounds kinda fussy. Making a lot of changes over very inticate rhythm. OK , sure , we`ve got the fact that you know what a major seventh is , will you just for fuck`s sake leave it alone!

(Submitted by John Foyle)

Last update: 4/7/2003; 6:26:10 PM.