Elvis Costello and the Attractions perform Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions 2003

[@neilwinchester9187]

One of my favorite rock and rollers!

[@TrumbullComic]

EC walking offstage to his guitar's feedback is badass.

[@simfaithguitar1]

Not the Attractions without Bruce! Can't you see that they are only the Imposters? (Lol)

[@kentwood9821]

I could tell from the first note it wasn't Bruce. :)

[@justaguy1451]

The Imposters is unironically a very fitting name for them. Not the same without Bruce.

[@RockingJamboree]

Costello specifically mentioned how Nick Lowe deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his acceptance speech. This might have been a continuation of that sentiment.

[@harveycan5820]

I know that is a signature song for Elvis but for HOF kinda like to see him do Watching the Detectives, Radio Radio, Pump it Up. You know, his own songs!

[@99900062]

Simply Beautiful!

[@MrBubba171811]

HUGE Bruce fan here. Been playing his fantastic lines for the longest time. He's a master. Period. What I didn't know is that he was part of the induction but not part of the uinduction performance. I don't care what issues he and Elvis had together, but he chose to praise Steve and Pete for their work, ("greatest drummer of all time", etc) but had to throw in the "no secret we did not get along" crap in front of the entire audience, and then end with only the "played some great basslines" comment when talking about Bruce. Not cool, regardless of the issues between them. Praise all or none. Particularly for this event.

[@michaelchoi713]

so totally agree

[@canalesworks1247]

I had the pleasure of working directly with Bruce on a music drama project of mine recently. To this day Bruce's chops, wit and musical ear are just as vital as ever. I can say that while he is totally profesional he also doesn't suffer fools and will speak his mind if he thinks something is not working and needs to be rethought. I can see how Bruce's no nonsense attitude could ruffle a few egos. When you're that good you don't have to take crap, not even from a song writer as fine as EC. By the same token he is also a genuinely nice person, and certainly did NOT deserve to be disrespected in this manner.

[@allanjensen125]

Really, really cool song. One of my favourites. 😊

[@jimmycrackporn6938]

The security guard at the end!! Epic!!

[@bill7016]

Bass player here. Bruce made The Attractions, full stop.

[@robbo2357]

to be fair, nobody could play like bruce maybe colin moulding from xtc might have a chance

[@Michael-ux6hi]

I have a note in me of you Elvis, a g.

[@taylorhannahsupergir]

King of America now and always ,now and always!!!!!

[@fredfat3128]

something missing .....oh yes Bruce

[@MinorKey135]

Wow

[@Michael-ux6hi]

Going to start my musical career with your five song medly.

[@thelatenightbar]

That's Rock n' Roll

[@MSTooheys]

my two scents on the bruce convo - yes he was a major reason the attractions were so good. his melodic powerful baselines gave life to many of elvis songs especially in the early days when they released 7 or 9 records in ten years. but bruce forgot who was writing the songs and in charge. he felt like an equal to ec but never was. his crappy attitude put him on the outs with elvis and with pete and steve. one of the best backing bands ever. pete is solid as oak on drums and steve's creativity shows ehy he and pete stayed with elvis through all the lineup changes. shame bruce could/would not check his ego. he is my fav bass player maybe not as skilled a john entwhistle or john paul jones but his lines are up there with mcartney as far as making good tunes great

[@harveycan5820]

Agreed one of the best bass players ever. Solid, tasty, full of surprises, always melodic and serving the song. Up there with Sir Paul, in my book.

[@harveycan5820]

And Colin Moulding of XTC, also amazing in the same vein.

[@LNERFlyingScotsman]

This is very well put. It was Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Not Bruce Thomas and the Attractions or the Attractions. That being said, Bruce should've played on stage with the rest of the band.

[@dynjarren7523]

LNERFlyingScotsman Yeah, well apparently there’s still bad blood between them because he’s not there! For induction in the Hall, Bruce should have been included along with the Attractions! That was a great energetic Punk band! I don’t care about the mellow Elvis at all or how many albums or songs he’s writes. He’s boring now. Give me the angry punk Rocker back! And the Attractions was his best period and band!

[@messano7]

All true, but forgot to tell how Elvis with his compulsive attitude gave Steven a nervous breakdown. Bruce was 1 of the 4 that got the band to where they got to that night. With an award like this it would have been nice to see people bury the hatchet and play together again! The inductees were elvis costello & .....THE ATTRACTIONS (not the imposters.)

[@aaronjohnson1305]

Ironic and sad that Elvis was rude to Bruce on stage, didn't invite him to play and THEN played 'What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding'!

[@maureenwagg5305]

I don't care Bruce fans...I'm here for Elvis.

[@chipgaasche4933]

NOT The Attraction w/o Bruce Thomas.

[@bandfromtheband9445]

*Uhh*......Where did Bruce go?

[@sappermade6012]

Does Bruce play live anymore???

[@handidrummed]

I think the Imposters is an apt name.. bring back Bruce, Pete and Steve

[@andrewmiddleton25]

Two out of three ain't bad.

[@sanddab]

@@andrewmiddleton25 it's not the same without Bruce.

[@pauliejay4161]

Oh damn - but Bruce was there on the evening!

[@Michael-ux6hi]

I met a Chelsea too.

[@jeltyson6001]

Bruce Thomas was a great bass be player previously with the Sutherland brothers & quiver he was fired for being an asshole the Sutherlands warned Costello well it all comes around

[@frozenfood1]

Disappointingly, it's the Imposters playing here. Poor Bruce.

[@vambo13257]

Bruce fucked up

[@gtf2648]

NO Bruce, NO Attractions

[@omarassadi]

@ericmischel Nick Lowe wrote the lyrics I think

[@donnyhitz]

First recorded by Brinsley Schwartz. Nick played bass and wrote this gem.

[@lamper2]

love the guitar sound! way better than the LP I NEVER CARE ABOUT BASS-i keep it in my head

[@Nummymuffincocobutter]

Diana Krall..

[@fredfat1606]

false description

[@genki2genki]

Enough about Bruce! 2/3 of the Attractions are there - I have a feeling Bruce made his own bed and everyone in the band is fine with it.

[@totalrobot]

No Bruce No dice.

[@AKIRATV2]

who the hell is playing bass? Not Bruce....bummer

[@lamper2]

+Thomas Andersen i like his sound better

[@Madkid73]

Gutted for Bruce. But this is banging!

[@hanknotchinaski8222]

Ahem...with all due respect, that's the Imposters.

[@kingofallwhites]

@cantonadenmark WHo cares. He should have been on this and it is not the same without him.

[@beebop333]

bruce should have played

[@vambo13257]

Bruce is a dick

[@davedmusic3598]

vambo13257 Do you know him personally? I DO you idiot he is a wonderful man

[@davedmusic3598]

+Vambo 13257 You have not met him so fuck off

[@Direwolfe]

@@davedmusic3598 this is disappointing, though. Do we know why Bruce did not play?

[@danberkman8227]

@@Direwolfe Bruce and Elvis have some long standing issues. I think the right thing to do would have been to cast them aside for at least one song. However who knows what was said or done. It is a shame is all

[@Flametamer9]

Davey is an energetic team player, but nowhere near the bassist Bruce was, IMHO.

[@IanOPadrick]

They made up (more or less) this year

[@wingwalker7212]

WTF? Why didn't play with them?

[@thomasandersen6719]

Wing Walker Bruce Thomas left under bad circumstances and said that he would never ever play with the Attractions again...So Elvis granted him his wish...Karma is a bitch sometimes

[@dynjarren7523]

Thomas Andersen Karma is nothing! It doesn’t exist! For the HOF, one is supposed to forgive and forget the past and make amends and play for one last time live! It’s water under the bridge whatever happened between them. And one is supposed to bury the Hatchet! But Not in the other guys Back! Holding grudges after 30 years is pathetic and immature behavior on both their parts! Don’t you agree? You’d think someone would give in and maybe apologize? Maybe both should have apologized to each other and forgiven each other and played one last gig together but No!

[@theunwantedcritic]

That's not the Attractions. Bruce Thomas is the Attractions

[@EricMischel]

Yeah Elvis was pretty p***ed off when he wrote "How to be dumb" about BT's book "The Big Wheel". Also it's interesting that Elvis chose to perform PLU since it was actually written by Nick Lowe - perhaps he was being a bit ironic ;-)

[@ram0166]

I figured it’s because it’s one of his most well known recordings. Though, I actually expected it to be Radio Radio

[@landlinesandpercolators8822]

Boo -- just like leaving Doug Yule out from the Velvets' introduction -- petty, pissy, small.

[@andrewmiddleton25]

To be fair, Bruce Thomas hates Costello's guts and left the band.

[@brucec43]

NOT the Attractions

[@yummyyum36719]

The Imposters.

[@rexmundi2237]

Bunch of imposters.

[@yummyyum36719]

The bass playing has no presence in this recording.... :-(

[@kingofallwhites]

That bass player sucks.

[@totalrobot]

2nd rate performance. We all know how it could've been back up to par...

[@stevenmoscrop5786]

Most overated British musician ever.

[@thomasp_1776]

Who the hell listens to Elvis Costello & when did anyone ever hear his songs on the radio? Did he ever have a top 40 hit? Was his name Elvis the reason he got in? He doesn't look, perform or play like Elvis. This induction is a joke when you take into account all the great bands that are omitted from the hall. Super Groups & great artists like Bad Company, REO SpeedWagon, T. Rex, Peter Frampton, Joe Cocker, The Doobie Brothers, Jethro Tull, Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Rivers, Eddie Money, .38 Special, Todd Rundgren , Pat Benatar, John Coltrane, Barry White, Harry Chapin, Steve Winwood, Badfinger, Jan and Dean, Dick Dale, Link Wray, Warren Zevon, Ozzy Osbourne, War, Phish, Boston, Canned Heat, The Turtles, Glen Campbell, Blues Project, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Manfred Mann, Billy Preston, Boz Scaggs, Ten Years After, Grand Funk Railroad, J. Geils Band, Tommy James and the Shondells, John Mayall, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Johnny Winter, Lonnie Mack, The Grass Roots,The Guess Who, Foreigner, Electric Light Orchestra, Herman’s Hermits & more. I would induct The Monkees before I would Costello. Rock & Roll HOF is a joke.

[@darinstrauss]

Elvis Costello wrote some of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 1970s and 1980s. It's like you're saying Michael Mann is a better director than Martin Scorcese. His albums "The Year's Model" and "Imperial Bedroom" were named the best albums of their year by a poll of US music critics in the years they came out. His "My Aim Is True" was named the album of the year in the British Press the year IT came out. He wrote classic songs like "Allson", "Pump it Up" Radon's Radio" and others. Why come here with all your negativity, especially when you know so little?

[@ram0166]

There’s only one joke here. Yes he’s had a lot of top forty hits and has done collaborations with lots of important people in the business like Paul McCartney. He was also one of the most important influences on Punk/New Wave and helped open the door for some of the acts you listed here.