The Rolling Stone Blog

Elvis Costello To Restage Legendary 1986 Spinning Songbook Tour

By | The Rolling Stone Blog – Mon, Feb 7, 2011 2:48 PM EST

This May Elvis Costello will finally answer his fan's prayers by reviving the "Spectacular Spinning Songbook" for an American theater tour. Originally staged in 1986, the tour will feature a large wheel of 40 songs that is spun between songs to randomly determine the setlist.

According to a press release, the original wheel now resides at the (possibly fictional) Hartlepool Museum of Showbusiness Machinery, but a new one has been rebuilt from the original blueprints. Costello will be backed for the gigs by The Imposters, which features keyboardist Steve Nieve, drummer Pete Thomas and bassist Davey Fargher.

Photo Gallery: Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint At The Beacon Theater

The songs on the wheel will include hits, rarities and covers. An partial image of the wheel revealed in a press release lists "God Give Me Strength," "Accidents Will Happen," "Alison," "Watching The Detectives," "Puppet Girl" and "Almost Blue." Select audience members will be asked to spin the wheel between songs, and they will have the chance to sit on-stage in the "Society Lounge" where "light refreshments" will be served.

Inside Elvis Costello's Spectacle

The tour kicks off May 7th at the Grand Sierra Theater in Reno, Nevada and wraps up May 23rd at the Beacon Theater in New York City.

 

Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty

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