Elvis Costello Resurrects 1986's Spinning Songbook For New 'Revolver' Tour

Reviving a concert stunt he first toured with in 1986, Elvis Costello plans to take a newly built replica of his original Spinning Songbook on a monthlong tour in May. Fashioned after a typical game show wheel, fans will have the chance to go onstage and give the Spinning Songbook a whirl. Possible outcome? Any one of 40 hits, rarities, even unexpected covers that Costello will then perform with his band, the Imposters.

But there's a catch -- you can't just spin the wheel and split. Oh no. Those that alter the show's fate by revolving the Spinning Songbook have their own altered fate to face: they can either enter the "Hostage to Fortune Go-Go Cage" while the band performs their selection or they may choose to go the other direction, by taking a seat in the onstage "Society Lounge" where light refreshments will be served. Of course, either way, surprises are in store.

The original wheel from Costello's 1986 Spinning Songbook Tour has long-since been donated to the Hartlepool Museum of Showbusiness Machinery -- an institution which may or may not actually exist. But a press release for the new outing postulates that the original wheel resides there, while the new apparatus will be a meticulous reconstruction using the original blueprints. Draw your own conclusions on that one.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters' Revolver Tour kicks off on May 7 in Reno, Nev. and will hit Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and even Montclair, N.J. before wrapping in New York on May 22 and 23.