Mid February 2003
- Elvis is leaving the garage...
By Sue Smith
(icbirmingham / Evening Mail, February 25, 2003)
The owner of a Midland garage was "all shook up" today - after planning officials told him to take down a 7ft fibre-glass statue of Elvis. Frank Lancaster, who owns Graceland Garage at Old Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, has also been ordered to remove a similar size Statue of Liberty. But Frank, aged 49, who hires out American vehicles such as pink cadillacs and stretch limousines today insisted: "Elvis will not be leaving the building." Elvis has been there for nearly two years and the Statue of Liberty appeared a year ago. But council officials said they amount to unauthorised signs - and it's now or never for Frank to remove them, or submit a formal application to retain them. Frank said: "The signs have become a familiar and popular landmark for people in Bromsgrove and with visitors. "They are permitted advertising and relevant to the garage business. They are not structures but are made of fibre-glass and are not permanent."
"One of our neighbours has Elvis looking into their lounge but has not complained. If necessary we will get up a petition to save them." Development control manager for Bromsgrove District Council Dave Hammond denied officials were being sour-faced about the situation. "They constitute advertising and, therefore, require permission. We have requested that Mr Lancaster supplies an application as these are unauthorised. "He can remove them or seek the proper authority within 28 days. If Mr Lancaster submitted an application this could be refused but he would have the right of appeal."
- Sweet Tunes, Fast Beats and a Hard Edge
By BERNARD WEINRAUB
(New York Times, February 23, 2003)
Chuck Berry is seated backstage listening to the crowd gather at Blueberry Hill, a music club and bar in the Loop area on this city's west side. Once a month, Mr. Berry, known universally as the father of rock `n' roll, performs downstairs in the cramped Duck Room, named for the famous duck walk he has performed around the world for nearly 50 years. Still lean and handsome at 76 and probably the most influential rock musician ever, at least this side of Elvis, Mr. Berry remains as suspicious, defiant and guarded offstage as he is mesmerizing on. In a life overshadowed by three prison terms, his own inner demons and the humiliations of racism, he now carefully avoids any public hint of the anger and resentment that seem to lurk just beneath the surface. His eyes narrow as he speaks. "Had I been pushed like Colonel Parker pushed Elvis, had I been a white boy like Elvis, sure, it would have been different," said Mr. Berry, a onetime autoworker who was the first to fuse the blues, country music and rhythm-and-blues with a creativity and wit that spoke directly to American teenagers. A result was vivid songs with complex riffs on his electric guitar that have influenced virtually every rock musician since the 1960's.
- In venues here, diligence douses potential for fires
By Michael Lollar and Donnie Snow
(gomemphis.com, February 22, 2003)
Two U.S. nightclub nightmares in a single week had Memphis clubs and code enforcers on alert this week for any conditions that could turn ticket-selling pyrotechnics into deathtraps.
Great White, the band whose pyrotechnics ignited the West Warwick, R.I., club fire Thursday night, wanted to bring fireworks when it played The New Daisy Theatre on Beale three years ago. "They wanted to use pyrotechnics in that show," says New Daisy owner Mike Glenn. "We told them if they wanted them they would have to pay the fire marshals from $500 to $1,000, and the band decided it wasn't worth it. We have one of the toughest fire marshals in the country. . . . Thank God somebody's looking out for us." Although Great White did not use fireworks in Memphis, it turns out that there was a Memphis connection to the Rhode Island blaze.
High Tech Special Effects of Memphis, which also provides pyrotechnics during Grizzlies games and other Memphis events, supplied pyrotechnics used by Great White at the Rhode Island club, said Melissa Bast, wife of company owner Randy Bast. ... [Memphis Fire Marshal Alvin Benson] ... said use of pyrotechnics in Memphis is rare and primarily an outdoor event. The last mishap he could recall was during the Beale Street parade ushering in the weeklong August tribute to Elvis Presley on the 25th anniversary of his death. Hot embers rained down from atop one building, causing a brief delay in the parade, he said.
"There were no violations. The fire inspector was right there, and there were no injuries," he said. Benson said any use of pyrotechnics requires a permit from the fire marshal's office and a fee for the presence of a fire inspector during the event.
- Students flock to see birds
By Beverly J. Lydick
(fremontneb.com, February 22, 2003)
Birds of prey captured the attention of students and staff alike when the Omaha Raptor Team visited Linden Elementary School Friday. Wearing a heavy glove to protect against the birds' talons and beaks, handler Jenny Henrickson presented Harley, a barred owl adopted by Linden students through the Feathered Friend Fund. ... Burrowing owls named Elvis and Lucy and Fred, the red-tailed hawk, also made appearances during the team's visit, sponsored by the Linden PTA.
- Singer With Elvis Act Says He's No Pretender
By MARLENE BOGGS
(Tampa Tribune, February 22, 2003)
Vocalist Jimmy Smith will present his show titled "Reflections of Elvis'' and ventriloquist Alex Houston will give voice to "Elmer'' when the duo entertains March 2 at Rice Creek RV Resort, 10714 U.S. 301 S. "I don't pretend to be Elvis,'" Smith said. ``But many people who listen to my recordings have to be convinced they aren't listening to a genuine Elvis recording. I have studied everything about Elvis since I was a small child and can perform more than 400 of his songs.''
- Princess Diana Ballet to Open in Denmark
By JAN M.OLSEN
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press, February 21, 2003)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Turning the life of Princess Diana into a ballet was not an easy project for Peter Schaufuss. Schaufuss, a former international ballet star who has created dances based on Elvis Presley and the Beatles, said Friday that it would have been easier to do a ballet about Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author of fairy tales. "We all believe we know him, we have read about him and that allows us to add some more to his character," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "With Diana it was a different situation. I knew both persons - Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and the person behind that. Knowing her made it more difficult to make the show." Schaufuss spent a year creating the two-hour work, "Diana - The Princess," which opens Feb. 27, in Holstebro, 190 miles northwest of Copenhagen.
- It ain't me, babe. Bob Dylan to be played by a woman in his life story
By David Lister and John Walsh
(The Independent, February 21, 2003)
Bob Dylan has given permission for a film to be made about his life. But as might be expected with a musician who favours the unpredictable, it will not be an orthodox biopic. Dylan will be played by seven actors, including a woman and an 11-year-old black boy. The singer is allowing unprecedented access to his music and previous film work to the director Todd Haynes, with whom he has forged a close friendship. ...
Players in Dylan's Life Story: ELVIS PRESLEY
Dylan used to imitate Presley at school. Presley later returned the compliment, covering a number of Dylan songs including "Blowin' in the Wind" and "I Shall be Released". The influence of country and blues are evident in both men's works.
- Ferocious grouse leaves would-be Elvis all shook up
By Eryl Crump
(icnorthwales / Daily Post, February 21, 2003)
ELVIS impersonator Larry Kewley had plenty to grouse about last night after being attacked by a usually timid bird in Snowdonia. The 53-year-old bus driver was stunned when a red grouse suddenly flew at his face and pecked him as he walked with his wife Phyllis. Larry, from Llanrwst, believes the bird attacked after taking exception to being filmed by his camcorder.
- Crews demolishing Dallas' historic Sportatorium
(Tallahassee Democrat / Associated Press, February 21, 2003)
Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams played there. The Von Erich family wrestled there. But now, the only action seen at the Dallas Sportatorium comes from the crews who are taking apart the historic wrestling, boxing and concert venue. After a few recent reprieves, the barnlike wood-and-metal arena is coming down. The city of Dallas granted a demolition permit last week for the building at Cadiz and Industrial on the southwest corner of downtown Dallas.
- Palo Alto High School Bans Dance Called 'Freaking'
By Tony Russomanno
(Yahoo! News, February 20, 2003)
What is the difference between freaking and freaking out? Freaking is a dance that teenagers do. Freaking out is what parents do when they see it. Now, with a big dance coming up Friday night, Palo Alto High School has banned the most extreme forms of freaking. A new policy describes it as "demeaning or sexually explicit dancing." Freaking has been around for years, made popular on MTV. The kids say it's like slow dancing, only faster. To their credit, when we went to ask students about freaking, one group thought we were going to ask for their opinions on Iraq. Maybe next week. "Well, I could see the parents being a little mad," one teen said about freaking. "It is kind of sexual."
But haven't parents always been a little mad? They were mad at Elvis. But Palo Alto High School says there's a difference between Elvis the Pelvis and kids freaking. "It's one thing for Elvis to have twisted his hips," said Principal Sandra Pearson. "But in this instance, boys and girls are very close together, and in very demeaning positions."
- NEW: Russell reflects on bad-guy role in 'Dark Blue'
By Larry Ratliff
(San Antonio Express News, February 20, 2003)
Elvis Presley called Kurt Russell "kid." Walt Disney called him a colleague, personally signing young Kurt to 10 years of contracts. "Dark Blue" director Ron Shelton refers to his leading man as someone with a tremendous body of work who gets taken for granted. "I think he's the most underrated actor we have," Shelton says. "He's the most underrated famous actor we have." In "Dark Blue," a powerful early '90s action-drama opening today, Russell portrays L.A. police detective Eldon Perry. He's a bad cop slowly coming to grips with the fact that he's dirty, and the City of Angels is poised to explode with riots as the Rodney King beating trial draws to a conclusion. Russell, who's been acting for 40 years, realizes "Dark Blue" will be compared with "Training Day." Denzel Washington earned a best actor Oscar for that role last year. ...
It all came together for him in his late 20s when he portrayed Elvis Presley in the acclaimed made-for-TV biography simply titled "Elvis" (1979). "It was the first time that I stepped into the batter's box in terms of acting and did it my way," Russell says. Ironically, the real Elvis Presley was one of Russell's first acting partners. Kurt was 10 when he traveled to Seattle to share scenes with the King in "It Happened at the World's Fair" (1963). Russell's credit: Boy Who Kicks Mike. Mike, of course, was Presley. "It was my first brush with real celebrity. He was more popular than anything," Russell says. "We threw the football around and had a good time. I liked him. He was a nice man."
- The Sun Songbook
(CD review)
By GAVIN EDWARDS
(Rolling Stone, February 20, 2003)
When Sam Phillips converted a Memphis radiator-repair shop into a studio, he built the birthplace of the sound of the twentieth century. In the 1950s, his label, Sun Records, found artists who blurred blues and country, inventing rock & roll in the process. Its roster of stars included Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley -- all except Perkins and Presley can be found on Songbook. The best moments come when the artists joyfully explore this new sound together, as when Lewis covers Cash's "Rock and Roll Ruby." 25 More Blues Classics is heavy on the obscurities, demonstrating the depth of Sun's roster. The honking harmonica in Joe Hill Louis' "She May Be Yours" will start a party just as quickly now as when it was released fifty years ago.
- Celebrate the King on a classic car 'cruise'
By LYNN PETRY
(The Olympian, February 20, 2003)
For Elvis fans who also happen to be car enthusiasts, Tupelo, Miss., the birthplace of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, has a new draw: a newly opened automobile museum stocked with more than 100 classics, including a 1976 Lincoln owned by Tupelo's very own legend. Now the city is hosting a cruise weekend in his honor. From May 2 to 4, Tupelo will welcome visitors to a collectible car event with a familiar Presley theme. "Blue Suede Cruise" will feature five sites scattered around the city that cruisers can drive to, including a stop at the modest two-bedroom, shotgun house where he was born Jan. 8, 1935. Throughout the weekend, there will be live '50s and '60s-era concerts, a classic car parade and a trip to the Tupelo Automobile Museum, which traces the development of the automobile from the 1800s to the present. The collection at the museum is valued at more than $6 million and has cars on display such as an 1899 Knox, a Duesenberg, three Hispano Suizas, a Tucker and an 1886 Carl Benz.
- The Wiggles Charm Young Fans with Colorful Tunes
By Michael Speie
(Yahoo! News / Variety, February 19, 2003)
To parents worldwide, the Wiggles are more important than Dr. Spock. Four chaps from Australia have turned catchy tunes and primary colors into essential child-rearing tools and, along the way, have created a business model that rivals the Teletubbies and Barney when it comes to merchandise and TV deals. Unlike those kiddie staples, however, the Wiggles are savvy and relatively sophisticated, with common sense and musicianship replacing creepy, over-the-top sessions of kindness. They're the Beatles, the Monkees and 'N Sync to every preschooler in the know. Monday's Universal Amphitheater appearance proved to be a learning lesson of sorts for their young fans. Lead singer Greg Page, the popular yellow Wiggle, was a no-show due to his mother-in-law's death back home, and it was explained quickly and honestly. In true Wiggles fashion, they were sensitive to their demo without being goofily condescending.
To folks who don't know them yet, the Fab Four parallels are striking -- probably not by accident. Red Murray Cook is the jovial guitar player, purple Jeff Fatt is the sleepy oddball, blue Anthony Field is the bubbly one, and Page is the serious leader with a soothing voice and matinee-idol presence. (A perfectly acceptable understudy named Sam Moran subbed for Page on Monday.)
They're always joined -- onstage and on their Disney Channel series -- by Henry the Octopus; Dorothy the Dinosaur; Wags the Dog; and Captain Feathersword, a hyperactive pirate whom kids emulate with bandanas and eye patches. Their live act is a modest affair, with fuzzy bounce balls, giant squares and five dancers the only frills in a spirited hour that featured the familiar melodies from their series and DVD library. There's even a few hidden bits tucked in for the adults; during one of their most popular songs, Captain Feathersword takes on the personalities of several rock artists from Mick Jagger to Elvis to Ozzy Osbourne.
- Youth left black and blue as time stays on parents' side
By Mark Davis
(Sydney Morning Herald, February 19, 2003)
Elvis and the Stones might be big, but that's at the expense of younger people's culture. If you only buy one CD this year, make sure this is it. You might have seen the TV ad - it was on just before Christmas. The artist? Elvis. A musician who, apparently, everyone loves. Or you could party on to the music of our generation, as another pre-Christmas TV ad suggested. Col Joye. Little Pattie. Russell Morris - they'll all be there, at the gala event that our generation has been waiting for. Our generation? The 1950s, '60s and '70s are back. Last year Elvis was all over the charts. In 2001 it was the Beatles. Is the music biz getting like literature? Does it help to be dead? At least the Rolling Stones are only half dead. The big news last Christmas, in those heady prewar-hysteria days - so innocent, so long ago - was Rolling Stones ticket sales. Went through the roof. And now they're here. Again. Who would have thought it? I thought they were past it when I was a teenager, and that was 25 years ago. Their late-'70s outing, Black and Blue, was an absolute dud of a comeback album. Shows how much I know.
But the pre-eminence of all these old bands isn't just about music; it's about the wider culture and its media.
- Bob Ivers, Elvis co-star, dies
(Register-Guard / Associated Press, February 17, 2003)
Bob Ivers, a movie actor who once co-starred with Elvis Presley and later worked in television news, has died at the age of 68. ... He played Cookie in "G.I Blues" with Presley. "
- Sun cancels Elvis show
(Norwich Bulletin. February 16, 2003)
For the first time since it opened, the Mohegan Sun Arena canceled a show just hours before curtain time Saturday night. "Elvis, the Concert" was canceled two hours before show time because of technical difficulties, Public Relations Manager Saverio Mancini said Saturday night. The show features members of Presley's band performing with Elvis, whose image is projected on a giant screen, Mancini said. "There's a lot of technical requirements with the show and they had some problems that they tried to fix but couldn't," Mancini said. The arena seats 10,000, but Mancini said the show was not sold out.
- The King and I
By Joyce Morgan
(Sydney Morning Herald, February 15, 2003)
Even the local royalty have abandoned formality on the seriously laidback Cook Islands. The main door of the palace is wide open. A girl in shorts and T-shirt is fixing a picture on a wall inside.
"Is the king in?" I ask her. She abandons her labours and joins me in the doorway. "You've just missed him," she says. "He's gone to feed the pigs." King Henry Ngamaru of Atiu clearly does more than sit on his throne all day. ... Everyone wears white on the first Sunday of the month, communion day. As the well-upholstered men in their suits and brushed-back hair file in, I feel I'm watching a Las Vegas-era Elvis Presley parade. One Elvis lookalike brings around the communion plate but instead of a wafer I'm offered arrowroot, an island staple.
- Love me tender, love me true
By Anne Danahy
(
Centre Daily Times, February 14, 2003)
Love-struck locals may be all shook up when they answer their doors today and are serenaded for Valentine's Day by the King himself. Bill Ballock, donning a white jumpsuit and sideburns, is bringing heartfelt tidings of tenderness and love -- along with flowers or balloons -- to people's doorsteps on behalf of their admirers.
- Wireless Valentines From Zingy; Have a celebrity call your sweetheart to show your love
Source: Zingy
(Yahoo! Finance / PRNewswire, February 12, 2003)
Zingy (http://www.zingy.com), the largest mobile entertainment provider in North America, has a suite of Valentine's Day wireless treats for your sweetheart. If you're in the dog house, let Craig David call your sweetheart and sing "Girl, Please Have Him Back" or if you haven't plucked up the courage just have Mario give her "Girl, You have A Secret Admirer" with his smooth voice, or it's always a good time to let Nickel Creek tell your loved one that "I Think We're A Perfect Match." Zingy has a voicecard for every Valentine. If the honeymoon is over maybe it's time to choose one of Zingy's intimate adult voicecards, to kindle a whole new flame. Or maybe it's about time to let them know that "You're A Sorry Ass Loser and I Don't Need You."
Exclusively at Zingy, celebrities such as Craig David, Trina, Mario, Keith Sweat, Nickel Creek and others have joined in the battle to help you conquer love.
Zingy also features the greatest love songs in both polyphonic and monophonic formats from such artists as Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, The Beatles, No Doubt, The Supremes, Elvis Presley, Gloria Estefan, Haddaway, The Cardigans, Vanessa Carlton, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, The Beach Boys, Prince, and many more.
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