Elvis Costello is an English singer and songwriter who came to be known as an early participant in London’s pub rock scene in the ‘70s.  Costello’s lyrics consisted of a wider range of vocabulary than that of most other songs at the time.  He has won numerous awards in his career and in 2003, Elvis Costello and the Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  He even took #80 on a list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, compiled by Rolling Stone Magazine.

On this day, December 17, in 1977, Elvis Costello and the Attractions appeared on an episode of Saturday Night Live as musical guests.  They were last minute fill-ins for the Sex Pistols that day.  The group was scheduled to play the song “Less Than Zero,” but Costello surprised SNL crew by abruptly changing the song midway and singing “Radio Radio.”