Elvis Costello – Saturday Night Live
In the 1970s, as Elvis Costello was establishing his reputation both in the UK and America, he received an invitation to perform on Saturday Night Live. Prior to the show, he agreed to perform the song “Less than Zero.” However, as he started to sing the song, he did something shocking. Costello yelled, “Stop! Stop,” and said, “I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen,” he added, “but there’s no reason to do this song here.”
During his appearance, Elvis Costello decided to perform his song “Radio Radio,” which contained lyrics critical of corporate-controlled broadcasting. This unexpected choice left Lorne Michaels, the show’s producer, furious. As a consequence, Costello faced a ban from performing on Saturday Night Live for a staggering 12-year period.