by Enormous on May 1, 2008
There is a dispute raging at the moment over whether Elvis Presley ever paid a proper visit to this country.
Veteran singer Tommy Steele recently acknowledged a story that he took Presley on a secret tour of London. But Lamar Fike and Marty Lacker, two of Presley’s inner circle of friends, insist the King never travelled to England.
Well, let me tell you, it is a little known fact that Elvis did indeed come here. He visited the East Midlands at my invitation a month or so just before he died and he really enjoyed his little self. He stayed with me and Nelson in Derbyshire for a week and was thrilled for us to show him around the muddy highways and byways of the exciting little coal-mining towns and villages of the area.
It was slightly awkward at times because I was only a small boy back then and we couldn’t get into certain places because of my age. Elvis was keen to sample as many of the local ales that he could get his famous lips around but he was disappointed on a few occasions.
The Saturday he arrived, he insisted on watching Alfreton Town Football Club play a seventh round local league match against Bentinck Harriers on the colliery sports ground. Afterwards I suggested that we go for a lunchtime pint in the Lamb and Whippet but the landlord refused to serve us. Elvis threatened to smack his head in but Nelson and I managed to calm him down. ‘Leave it, El,’ I remember Nelson saying, ‘He’s not worth it.’
On the Friday evening, we managed to get into the Pinxton Miners’ Welfare And Working Men’s Club where Elvis enjoyed a round of darts and a game of bingo with the locals. Later, he helped himself to three portions of steak-and-kidney pie and mushy peas (smothered in vinegar, of course – he did like his vinegar, did Elvis!). ‘Eee, that were lovely that were, me duck,’ he said, licking his chops. We did laugh.
It was sad to see him go.
Tagged as:
Beer,
Celebrities,
Elvis,
Pies
by Enormous on March 10, 2008
The newly painted sign above the door of the flower shop in the market place declares, in big gold lettering on a purple background: Victorian Posy Shoppe, Florist and Balloon Decorator. In the window, behind which usually reside clever arrangements and bouquets of colourful roses and carnations, there is an assortment of silver and gold balloons and a large poster which informs us: NEW IN! GIANT ELVIS!
Am I going insane? What on earth do these things mean? I am coming to the conclusion that I am getting glimpses of an alternate reality that I do not think I was ever meant to see. I can’t handle this confusion any more; I’m beginning to think that someone is planning for me a horrifically sudden and violently successful accident. More and more I am forced to remind myself that those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.
As soon as I have finished writing this, I have resolved to make a nice cup of tea and have a good sit down. And perhaps, should the fancy take me, by means of alleviating stress, I might decorate a balloon.
Tagged as:
Conspiracy Theory,
Elvis,
Madness,
Paranoia
by Enormous on August 17, 2007
It’s hard to believe that it is only 30 years since Elvis Presley died. It seems like yesterday. (Sigh.)
I was only a twinkle in my father’s eye when the famous singer shrugged off his mortal coil whilst trying to empty his bowels on a toilet in Memphis back then in ’77, but I remember it well.
Enormous have covered a few Elvis songs in our live shows in the past including: Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, That’s Alright Mama, Train Arrive, and my personal favourite All Shook Up which, as luck would have it, is available as part of the Something for the Weekend EP, a totally gratis download from the Enormous Reloaded website.
Now, to celebrate this poignant anniversary, I must go and do something constructive. I shall get drunk.
Here’s to Elvis the Pelvis – and not forgetting his brother Enis, of course.
On the Fantastic hi-fi today:
Elvis Presley – G.I. Blues
Tagged as:
Download Music,
Elvis,
Enormous,
Free Music,
Songs