The Attractions
Encyclopedia
The Attractions were best known as the backing band for Elvis Costello
between 1978 and 1986, and again from 1994 through 1996. They also released one album (and one associated single) as an independent entity (i.e., without Costello) in 1980.
. Later in 1977, Costello formed his own permanent backing band, The Attractions, consisting of Steve Nieve
(born Steve Nason; keyboards), Bruce Thomas
(bass guitar), and Pete Thomas
(drums; unrelated to Bruce Thomas).
Bruce Thomas was the oldest group member (29 when he joined), with the most professional experience prior to being an Attraction. He had previously been a member of the band Quiver, who had released two albums on their own in 1971/72, as well as as functioning as the backing band for several albums by The Sutherland Brothers. These albums were rather awkwardly credited to "The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver"; Thomas played on the early recordings credited to this group, including the minor American hit "(I Don't Wanna Love You But) You Got Me Anyway", which peaked at #48 in 1973. He left the group before their biggest success, 1976's "Arms of Mary
", a #5 UK hit and a #1 hit in many European countries. Thomas was also a member of Moonrider for their lone album in 1975, and recorded as a session musician for Al Stewart
in the early to mid-seventies.
Pete Thomas, who was born the same month as Costello, had recorded one album as a member of Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
.
Only Nason, who had classical training, had never recorded or played with a rock band before. Just 19 when he joined the group, Nason gained the stage name "Steve Nieve" from Ian Dury
; while Elvis Costello & The Attractions were playing a series of concerts with Dury before they recorded their first single, Nason innocently asked Dury "What's a groupie
?" Dury immediately dubbed Nason "Steve Naive", and the name stuck (although the spelling was altered.)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions made their recording debut with the March, 1978 single "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea". From there, the Attractions would back Costello on all of his albums and singles through 1984, with the exception of 1980's "New Amsterdam", a solo single recorded by Costello.
In 1980, The Attractions would record an album of their own, entitled Mad About The Wrong Boy. The album featured original compositions by all three group members, and was produced by Roger Bechirian
. Steve Nieve wrote the music for several songs under the pseudonym "Norman Brain"; for these songs, his then-girlfriend Fay Hart provided lyrics, leading to a writing credit of "Brain/Hart". The Brain/Hart composition "Single Girl" was released as a single from the album.
Guitarist Martin Belmont was briefly added to Attractions live line-up in 1981, but never recorded as an official member of the band. He did, however, make a guest appearance on the 1981 Elvis Costello and The Attractions single "From A Whisper To A Scream".
Albums by Elvis Costello and The Attractions would appear regularly through 1984. On 1984's Goodbye Cruel World
and its associated tour, The Attractions' keyboardist was billed as "Maurice Worm"; this is yet another pseudonym for Nason/Nieve.
In early 1986, Costello would release the album King of America
, billed to The Costello Show and made largely without the Attractions. The Attractions would play on only one track, as well as the non-LP B-side "Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo", billed to "The Costello Show Featuring The Attractions".
Later that same year Costello would reunite with The Attractions to record the album Blood & Chocolate, but this would prove to be the final Attractions release for several years. Growing antipathy between Costello and Bruce Thomas contributed to the Attractions' first split in 1986, and the rift was exacerbated by what Costello felt was his unflattering portrayal in Thomas' 1990 book The Big Wheel. Despite this, the original group reunited for several tracks on Costello's 1994 album Brutal Youth and toured together over the next two years. They recorded one further album as a group (1996's All This Useless Beauty
) but split for good in 1996.
Nieve and Pete Thomas continued to back Costello through various touring and recording lineups and as of 2011 are still members of his current backing group The Imposters. The split between Costello and Bruce Thomas appears permanent, however; Bruce made a brief appearance with his former bandmates when the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, but when Costello was asked why Bruce did not play with them at the event, he reportedly replied, "I only work with professional musicians."
.
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
between 1978 and 1986, and again from 1994 through 1996. They also released one album (and one associated single) as an independent entity (i.e., without Costello) in 1980.
History
Backing for Costello's 1977 debut album was provided by American West Coast band CloverClover (band)
Clover was an American country rock band formed in Mill Valley, California in 1967. They are best known as the backup band for Elvis Costello's 1977 debut album My Aim Is True , and for members later forming or joining more successful acts, including Huey Lewis and the News, The Doobie Brothers,...
. Later in 1977, Costello formed his own permanent backing band, The Attractions, consisting of Steve Nieve
Steve Nieve
Steve Nieve is an English keyboardist, best known for his work with Elvis Costello and the Attractions and Elvis Costello and the Imposters.-Musical career:...
(born Steve Nason; keyboards), Bruce Thomas
Bruce Thomas
Bruce Thomas is best known as bassist for The Attractions; the band formed in 1977 to back Elvis Costello in concert and on record....
(bass guitar), and Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
(drums; unrelated to Bruce Thomas).
Bruce Thomas was the oldest group member (29 when he joined), with the most professional experience prior to being an Attraction. He had previously been a member of the band Quiver, who had released two albums on their own in 1971/72, as well as as functioning as the backing band for several albums by The Sutherland Brothers. These albums were rather awkwardly credited to "The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver"; Thomas played on the early recordings credited to this group, including the minor American hit "(I Don't Wanna Love You But) You Got Me Anyway", which peaked at #48 in 1973. He left the group before their biggest success, 1976's "Arms of Mary
Arms of Mary
"Arms of Mary" is a 1976 hit single by the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver; group member Iain Sutherland wrote this mid-tempo ballad whose singer reminisces about the girl with whom he had his first intimate encounter....
", a #5 UK hit and a #1 hit in many European countries. Thomas was also a member of Moonrider for their lone album in 1975, and recorded as a session musician for Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
in the early to mid-seventies.
Pete Thomas, who was born the same month as Costello, had recorded one album as a member of Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of 1975, along with other stalwarts of the same scene, Dr...
.
Only Nason, who had classical training, had never recorded or played with a rock band before. Just 19 when he joined the group, Nason gained the stage name "Steve Nieve" from Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
; while Elvis Costello & The Attractions were playing a series of concerts with Dury before they recorded their first single, Nason innocently asked Dury "What's a groupie
Groupie
A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group, but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation....
?" Dury immediately dubbed Nason "Steve Naive", and the name stuck (although the spelling was altered.)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions made their recording debut with the March, 1978 single "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea". From there, the Attractions would back Costello on all of his albums and singles through 1984, with the exception of 1980's "New Amsterdam", a solo single recorded by Costello.
In 1980, The Attractions would record an album of their own, entitled Mad About The Wrong Boy. The album featured original compositions by all three group members, and was produced by Roger Bechirian
Roger Bechirian
Roger Béchirian is a noted engineer and record producer, a key player in the 70’s new wave scene best known for his work with Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, Dave Edmunds, Squeeze, Trashcan Sinatras and more recently Bell X1....
. Steve Nieve wrote the music for several songs under the pseudonym "Norman Brain"; for these songs, his then-girlfriend Fay Hart provided lyrics, leading to a writing credit of "Brain/Hart". The Brain/Hart composition "Single Girl" was released as a single from the album.
Guitarist Martin Belmont was briefly added to Attractions live line-up in 1981, but never recorded as an official member of the band. He did, however, make a guest appearance on the 1981 Elvis Costello and The Attractions single "From A Whisper To A Scream".
Albums by Elvis Costello and The Attractions would appear regularly through 1984. On 1984's Goodbye Cruel World
Goodbye Cruel World
Goodbye Cruel World can refer to:*Goodbye Cruel World , an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions*"Goodbye Cruel World" , a song by James Darren*"Goodbye Cruel World" , a song by Pink Floyd...
and its associated tour, The Attractions' keyboardist was billed as "Maurice Worm"; this is yet another pseudonym for Nason/Nieve.
In early 1986, Costello would release the album King of America
King of America
King of America is the tenth studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1986 in the United Kingdom as F-Beat ZL 70946, and in the United States as Columbia JC 40173. It was billed as by "The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates" in the UK...
, billed to The Costello Show and made largely without the Attractions. The Attractions would play on only one track, as well as the non-LP B-side "Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo", billed to "The Costello Show Featuring The Attractions".
Later that same year Costello would reunite with The Attractions to record the album Blood & Chocolate, but this would prove to be the final Attractions release for several years. Growing antipathy between Costello and Bruce Thomas contributed to the Attractions' first split in 1986, and the rift was exacerbated by what Costello felt was his unflattering portrayal in Thomas' 1990 book The Big Wheel. Despite this, the original group reunited for several tracks on Costello's 1994 album Brutal Youth and toured together over the next two years. They recorded one further album as a group (1996's All This Useless Beauty
All This Useless Beauty
All This Useless Beauty is the 17th studio album by the English rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released on compact disc as Warner Brothers 46198. It peaked at #28 on the UK album chart, and at #53 on the Billboard 200...
) but split for good in 1996.
Nieve and Pete Thomas continued to back Costello through various touring and recording lineups and as of 2011 are still members of his current backing group The Imposters. The split between Costello and Bruce Thomas appears permanent, however; Bruce made a brief appearance with his former bandmates when the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, but when Costello was asked why Bruce did not play with them at the event, he reportedly replied, "I only work with professional musicians."
Discography
For releases by Elvis Costello & The Attractions, please see the Elvis Costello discographyElvis Costello discography
__FORCETOC__This page lists albums, singles and compilations by the musician Elvis Costello, distinguishing between United States and United Kingdom release dates and record labels...
.