elvis presley tour the world

The Real Reason Why Elvis Never Toured Outside America

Elvis performed concerts in the US and Canada, but he never went international — and fans think they know why.

Elvis Presley’s life remains one of the world’s most captivating and heartbreaking stories. Though it all looked perfect from the outside, Elvis suffered from drug addiction and health problems, and was grossly mismanaged and taken advantaged of by the people around him. In fact, some fans even argue that he was cursed .

Despite being arguably the world’s most famous and beloved star, Elvis never performed outside North America. He did leave the United States for military service in Germany in his early 20s, and he did perform a selection of shows across the border in Canada. But he never toured internationally.

Given his popularity and the demand for him to perform outside of America, fans believe that there must have been some pressing reason stopping Elvis from leaving U.S. soil.

For decades since his 1977 death, rumors have circulated that Elvis had a fear of flying which kept him from touring overseas. And as it turns out, sources have confirmed that he did have negative feelings towards flying, at least early on in his career. But was this the reason he never toured abroad?

Was Elvis Afraid Of Flying?

According to Magic , Elvis’s fear of flying started in 1956 , when the flight he was taking from Amarillo to Nashville had engine trouble and had to make an emergency landing.

His ex-wife Priscilla confirmed the rumors to Larry King, saying, “He had a fear of flying, and his mother didn't really want him flying either. So he stopped for a while."

RELATED Priscilla Presley On How Elvis Would Have Reacted To The New Biopic

However, some fans have pointed out that Elvis did make frequent domestic flights. He even had his own plane named after his daughter Lisa-Marie.

Those that believe in the fear of flying theory argue that he became more spiritual after the death of his mother and looked at dying as a form of passing over to another life. Others say he naturally got over the fear, while some are convinced Elvis was never afraid to fly.

Whether he had a fear of flying or not, it appears there may have been another, more sinister reason why Elvis never left the country to tour.

The Alleged Real Reason Why Elvis Never Toured Outside America

It was never confirmed by Elvis or those around him why he never toured overseas. But fans and experts who have watched the star’s life closely are mostly united on the Colonel Tom Parker theory .

As Grunge points out, it’s been alleged that Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, talked him out of touring abroad because Parker himself was an illegal alien. He had no passport documentation, and he feared that if he left American soil, he wouldn’t be able to get back in.

RELATED: The Real Reason Why Harry Styles Got Rejected For The New Elvis Movie

Additionally, the Colonel was allegedly linked to a murder in his native Breda and feared traveling overseas as he didn’t want to face passport scrutiny.

It has been confirmed that Parker wasn’t really an American citizen, as he claimed. Despite telling people that he was from West Virginia, and passing off certain elements of his accent as being Southern, he was actually born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in Breda, Netherlands.

He entered the United States illegally when he was 17, at a time when border security was much more relaxed.

In the Baz Luhrmann movie Elvis , this theory is put forward as the real reason why Elvis did not tour overseas. The film shows Elvis, played by Austin Butler , wanting to perform to his fans overseas, but the Colonel — played by Tom Parker — talking him out of it. In the movie, the Colonel tells Elvis that he shouldn’t travel abroad because of the security risk.

What Was Elvis’s Relationship Like With Colonel Tom Parker?

Since Elvis’s untimely death in 1977, his relationship with Colonel Tom Parker has been exposed as abusive and manipulative . Den of Geek reports that the Colonel took significant cuts of the star’s profits, sometimes even larger than Elvis’s own, tightly controlled his image and sound, and all but forced him into several movie roles that Elvis didn’t want to do.

RELATED: Austin Butler Risked His Health To Play Elvis

Between 1969 and Elvis’s death, the Mississippi-born star performed 600 times in Las Vegas, which he reportedly resented. Rather than honoring his client’s feelings, the Colonel kept Elvis performing at the International Hotel (now the Las Vegas Hilton) to pay off his own gambling debts.

In 1973, the Colonel sold Elvis’s back catalog to RCA for just $5.4 million, of which Elvis only received $2 million after taxes. As is shown in the movie, Elvis did finally fire the Colonel, but when the Colonel slammed him with an itemized bill for his services that was priced in the millions, Elvis and his father Vernon decided to take the Colonel back.

In 1980, an investigation was launched into the Colonel’s management of Elvis, which was found to be unethical and likely cost Elvis thousands.

The Alleged Reason Elvis Presley Never Toured Outside Of North America

There aren't many stars with whom millions around the world are on a first-name basis. That's a level almost beyond the upper echelons of celebrity. Madonna's full name, per Britannica , is Madonna Louise Ciconne, but as her renown expanded, she cast the rest of those affectations aside and became a popular culture powerhouse as simply Madonna.

Another of the most celebrated examples of this phenomenon is Elvis. Mr. Presley, Biography states, was born to a cash-strapped family in Tupelo, Mississippi, and the only early hints of his musical prowess were his enthusiasm for the music of the Assembly Of God Church. He was reportedly given a guitar when he turned 11, and the unassuming birthday present would surely go on to change the course of his life, not to mention the entire music industry.

His now-iconic debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in September of 1956 cemented his legend. According to History , it seized an 82.6% share of TV viewership, and the 21-year-old was watched by 60 million people as he performed while on the cusp of true superstardom. In short order, he had conquered the world. Curiously, though, he never toured outside of North America, and it seemed his manager had more than a little something to do with that.

Colonel Tom Parker seemed very averse to global tours

According to Graceland 's official website, Elvis met Colonel Tom Parker, the man who would steer him through the rest of his remarkable career, on February 6, 1955. The meeting was attended by representatives of Elvis' then-label, Sun Records, as well as the manager he had at the time, Bob Neal. Parker, it seems, wasted no time in making clear that he could take Elvis to the very top. By mid-March of the following year, Parker had assumed sole responsibility for managing Elvis.

Parker was there for much of Elvis' meteoric rise. According to Alanna Nash's "The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley," RCA Records' Chet Atkins deemed Parker to have been "the best manager I ever saw ... whatever he cost Elvis ... was worth it, because Elvis would've ... lost that luster in no time if it hadn't been for the Colonel." Literally and figuratively, it's difficult to say exactly how much Parker "cost" Elvis. With Parker's tremendous influence over the singer's career, though, he called a lot of the shots, and one decision he seemed to make was that his client wouldn't tour around the world.

In an interview with Noise11 , Jerry Schilling of Elvis' "Memphis Mafia" stated that Elvis, at the peak of his success, "wanted to tour overseas. He wanted to go to Australia. He wanted to go to Japan." He passed these ambitions on to the Colonel, per Schilling, who wouldn't hear of it.

The King and the Colonel collided

According to Schilling, per Noise11 , the Colonel insisted that if Elvis embarked on such a trip, he would do so without him. Elvis apparently told Parker that he was fired and attempted to do just that, but, per Schilling, "When Elvis tried to get a tour going no one would touch him because they were afraid of the Colonel ... They had the relationship with the Colonel. They respected the Colonel."

And so it was that such aspirations were not to be. According to Smithsonian Magazine , the icon would play only three shows outside of the United States, all of them in Canada in 1957. Along the way, Parker had reportedly refused all kinds of lucrative offers for tours worldwide, and it seems he did so because he had no choice. Parker was not Tom Parker at all, he was not a United States citizen, and he didn't have a passport .

Biography reports that Parker's true name was Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, and that he was born in the Netherlands. He pretended to have been born in West Virginia, later fought for the United States Army, and was given the title of colonel in 1948 (strictly honorary) by Louisiana's governor, whom he had helped campaign. Of these intriguing details, Schilling told Noise11, "We didn't know that while Elvis was alive ... That came out after Elvis passed away." Biography adds that relations from Parker's true native nation recognized him from press photos of himself with the King.

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The Weirdo Reason Elvis Couldn't Tour Outside The U.S.

Elvis Presley has to be the most famous singer in history, if not the most famous person of any kind in the entire inner solar system. You might imagine that he wowed people the world over by performing for huge sold-out crowds. Why, who can forget Elvis in Amsterdam, Elvis in Sydney, Elvis in Tokyo, and of course Elvis in London?

In reality, Elvis never toured internationally. He performed in over 240 cities, over 1,600 performances, but these were all in the United States. He did do three shows in Canada, all in 1957, but we're not going to count that as traveling internationally because at the time, you could travel freely between the U.S. and Canada without a passport.

We're not being arbitrary with that definition—freedom of travel is the crucial issue here and is the reason Elvis couldn't tour outside America. Elvis' manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, believed that if he ever left the U.S., border authorities would forbid him (Parker) from ever coming back.

Parker, played by Tom Hanks in the new Elvis movie, was born in the Netherlands and was originally named Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk. He worked on a ship to reach an American port and then leapt off the ship to enter the country illegally. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army, which meant he could have eventually become a citizen, but he never got around to it. He instead did his own form of naturalization. He called himself "the colonel" (just an honorary title), changed his name to Tom Parker (which sounded very American to him), and walked around in a cowboy hat (or occasionally some other hat he thought looked American, like in the above photo).

As Elvis' manager, the responsible thing for Parker to do (assuming he had no plans to sort out his immigration status) would be to send Elvis on fabulous world tours while he himself stayed behind back in the States. But Parker insisted on tight control over his client. We'll have to leave the full story of the Colonel and Elvis for a longer article, but let's just quickly mention that Parker would occasionally take over Elvis' home, he pushed Elvis into getting married, and he sometimes made more money off Elvis' career than Elvis himself did—though he then lost most of it gambling. The one good thing about Parker, though, is he had some skill at marketing. It was his idea to produce and sell buttons labeled "I Hate Elvis."

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The Elvis World Tour

CONNEXIN LIVE, Myton Street, Hull, HU1 2PS

Connexin Live | Music | Tribute Acts

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK. Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World’s Greatest Elvis’ live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion’ in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fellow American Dean Z, regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show. Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013.

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson, who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show.

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.

Venue Details

01482 456224

[email protected]

https://connexinlivehull.com/

Over 400,000 visitors have experienced events here at the venue since 2018 including Bob Dylan, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Ne-Yo, Paloma Faith, JLS, Sarah Millican, Blondie, Noel Gallagher and many more. The venue is a state-of-the-art music and events complex with a capacity of up to 4,000 people for concerts and live events, plus an array of bars, lounges, premium seating and hospitality suits including the Connexin Lounge. The venue is purpose built to offer significant flexibility for any conference, exhibition, dinner or event. With 1320 square metres of floor space, making it one of the biggest in the region, the Arena’s flexibility means we can host events of all shapes and sizes – from huge award ceremonies to smaller breakout meetings, including the University of Hull’s graduation ceremonies. The building is owned by Hull City Council and is managed by ASM Global.

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Graceland tours: the best options & what to expect.

Advice for making the most of your time at Elvis' famous home.

The Best Graceland Tours

Andrea Zucker | Courtesy of Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau

A visit to Graceland is a popular activity for both Elvis fans and Memphis tourists.

Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

When Elvis Presley was just 22 years old, he purchased Graceland – a 10,266-square-foot mansion that occupied a nearly 14-acre property in Memphis, Tennessee . After the singer's death in 1977, the executors of his estate found that the mansion's exorbitant operating costs proved difficult to maintain, so they decided to open Graceland for tours in 1982. Since then, more than 20 million people from around the world have visited the mansion – which now spans 17,552 square feet – and its surrounding Elvis-themed museums and shops. Read on to plan your Graceland visit.

What is Graceland?

• Where is Graceland located?

Is Graceland open for tours?

How much does it cost to tour graceland, graceland tours, how long is the graceland tour, how do i buy tickets, which graceland tour is best, graceland hours, what is the best time to visit graceland, tips for visiting, how to get to graceland, how far is it from nashville to graceland, are there tours from nashville to graceland.

Graceland is a 120-acre institution dedicated to the life and music of Elvis Presley. The main draw is the mansion, but there's more to see than Elvis' former abode. Visitors can stop by Elvis Presley's Memphis, a 200,000-square-foot museum and entertainment complex. This building houses the Presley Motors Automobile Museum and a series of exhibits, such as "Elvis' Tupelo," which explores Elvis' early life in his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. The Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, which displays the entertainer's gold and platinum records, his famous jumpsuits and movie memorabilia, can also be found here. Tourists will also have access to 10 interactive exhibits and games. Located throughout the complex, the interactive features include quizzes, a simulated golf cart ride and photo booths that put travelers on Elvis' movie posters and album covers. Finally, the complex houses two restaurants, a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor and a soundstage where tourists can watch Elvis' movies and attend live music performances.

After you learn all about the King, check out the Graceland Exhibition Center. This 80,000-square-foot venue features a variety of rotating museum exhibits, covering a variety of subjects, including motorcycles, Muhammad Ali and Van Gogh. The complex also boasts a food court, a bar and a separate, rentable event space.

Where is Graceland located?  

Graceland   is located in the Whitehaven community of Memphis, nearly 3 miles west of Memphis International Airport and 10 miles south of downtown.

Yes, Graceland is open for tours.

The cost per person varies depending on which tour experience you choose. Expect to pay about $30 to $200 for children 10 and younger. Adults can expect to pay around $50 to $200 per person. Keep in mind: Higher ticket fees mean a premium experience complete with VIP access, keepsakes, meal vouchers and more.

There are multiple tour options for visiting Graceland.

• Elvis Presley's Memphis + Planes Tour : This is the basic tour option. It grants visitors access to Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex and the Elvis' Custom Jets exhibit, but does not include access to the mansion. Tickets for this tour start at $48 for adults, with discounts for children.
• Elvis Experience Tour : Tickets for this tour, which start at $77 per adult, include everything in the above tour, plus access to the mansion complete with an audio tour.
• Elvis Entourage VIP : The Elvis Entourage VIP tour includes everything in both the other tour options, plus skip-the-line access to the mansion, a VIP shuttle to the mansion, access to a special exhibit, and a keepsake pass. Tickets start at $128 per person.
• Ultimate VIP Tour : The Ultimate VIP Tour includes everything in the Elvis Entourage VIP, plus a guided tour of the mansion with an experienced guide, access to a VIP lounge, a meal voucher to an on-site restaurant, an archives show and tell, the chance to buy exclusive souvenirs and a photo-op. Tickets for this experience start at $196 per person; children 2 and younger tour for free.

The mansion tour will take about 90 minutes to complete. Those who decide to tour the rest of Graceland's offerings should budget at least 3 1/2 hours to explore.

Tourgoers can purchase tickets online or at the box office on-site. Tickets purchased online can be printed at home or downloaded on a smartphone (which saves time). You can also choose to pick up your tickets at will call; you must have a photo ID to pick them up. Patrons may also purchase a multiday ticket to access Elvis Presley's Memphis for an additional one, two or three days. Multiday tickets start at $17 per adult and can be purchased on-site only.

Tickets for exhibits at the Graceland Exhibition Center are not included in any Graceland tickets and require additional entrance fees. Tickets for those exhibits can be purchased on Graceland's website.

Which Graceland experience you choose largely depends on your fascination with the King. Graceland visitors mention that even non-Elvis fans will enjoy the tour and the up-close look at the entertainer's famous lifestyle. Visitors also appreciate the audio tour narrated by John Stamos. They recommend upgrading your tour to one of the VIP options, saying it is well worth the additional cost.

Graceland is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. (depending on the day of the week and time of year). It closes or has abbreviated hours on holidays. The last mansion tour begins at 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the day and time of year.

The best time to visit Graceland depends on what kind of experience you want. Travelers should check out Graceland's events calendar as the complex and its hotel, the Guest House at Graceland, host numerous weekend events, concerts and daytrips to Elvis' hometown throughout the year. Visitors in the mood for a festive atmosphere will want to book a trip in late November, December or early January to see the estate's holiday lights display and decorations.

Andrea Zucker | Courtesy of Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Visit the mansion after 2 p.m. to enjoy fewer crowds and shorter wait times, as this is the slowest time of day. (Multiple travelers note long wait times when arriving before this time). Check Graceland's website for exact opening times; there are certain days and holidays where hours vary.
• You're welcome to bring cameras, but flash photography is not permitted.
• Video cameras cannot be brought into the mansion, attractions or gift shops.
• Note that two rooms in the basement of the mansion and the airplanes are not wheelchair accessible.
• Bring a permanent marker to sign the famous Graceland wall before you leave.

Patrons can reach Graceland by car. On-site parking costs $10. The lot is located next to Elvis Presley's Memphis and the ticket booth. The only way to get to the mansion itself is by shuttle, which is included in your ticket price. The shuttle pickup is across from the ticketing pavilion.

There are also a few public transportation options. The Memphis Hop, a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, makes stops every hour at several attractions in the city, including Graceland. This bus generally runs Wednesday through Saturday (it may not operate on Fridays during select months), and tickets cost approximately $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 4 to 12. Memphis Area Transit Authority No. 42 bus route stops close to Graceland.

Nashville sits about 215 miles northeast of Graceland (an approximately 3 1/2-hour drive).

Yes. You'll find options for tours from Nashville (and more) below:

• Gray Line Tennessee:  Nashville to Memphis with Skip-The-Line Graceland VIP Tour & Sun Studio. View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide  
• Graceland:  Elvis Presley's Childhood Home with Lunch & Transportation from Memphis. View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide  
• Memphis Best Tours:  Memphis City Tour with Admission to One Memphis Attraction.  View & Book Tickets »
• Blues City Tours: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour. View & Book Tickets »

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Memphis Tours
• The Best Nashville Tours
• The Best Whitewater Rafting in Tennessee
• The Top Things to Do in Tennessee
• The Best Places to Visit in Tennessee

Tags: Elvis Presley , Tennessee , Tours , Vacations , Travel , Tennessee Vacations , US Vacations , Southeast Vacations

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The Elvis World Tour

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK.  Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible  Shawn Klush  first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World’s Greatest Elvis’ live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion’ in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Fellow American  Dean Z , regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013. 

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion  Ben Thompson , who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show. 

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.

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Elvis Presley Hologram To Tour The World

by Music-News.com on January 5, 2024

Elvis’ estate has announced a hologram show like ABBA’s.

The immersive concert, Elvis Evolution, will head to London in November, with the digital avatar version of the late King of Rock and Roll set to perform as old photos of the music icon are projected onscreen.

The AI show comes from British immersive entertainment firm Layered Reality and Authentic Brands Group, the latter of which owns the Elvis Presley estate.

Andrew McGuinness, founder and chief executive of Layered Reality, said: “Elvis Evolution is a next-generation tribute to the musical legend that is Elvis Presley.

“Elvis maintains superstar status globally and people around the world no longer want to sit there and passively receive entertainment – they want to be a part of it.

“It’ll be a memory-making experience that will be a bucket-list item for Elvis fans and admirers around the world; people can step into the world of Elvis, walk in his shoes and celebrate his extraordinary musical legacy.”

Fans will also be able to continue celebrating the ‘Suspicious Minds’ hitmaker at the afterparty with a DJ playing all of Elvis’ hits and there will also be a restaurant onsite.

There are already plans for the show to come to venues in Las Vegas, Berlin and Tokyo.

Marc Rosen, president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group, which owns Elvis Presley Enterprises, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with Layered Reality to give fans a new, immersive way of experiencing Elvis Presley’s life and legacy.”

ABBA’s lshow, ABBA Voyage, boosted the UK economy, contributing a whopping £322.6 million.

Their life-size avatars called ‘Abbatars’ perform at a purpose-built arena in east London.

KISS are also following in ABBA’s footsteps, with the retired rockstars set to launch their own avatars in 2027.

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Tagged as: 50s , 60s , 70s , Elvis Presley , pop , rock , USA

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The Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK.  Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘ The World's Greatest Elvis ' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion ' in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fellow American Dean Z , regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013.

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson , who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show. 

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra. 

SHAWN KLUSH:

“You have no idea how excited I am to be headed back for a UK tour this October. Just a month ago Dean and I we're at Graceland. We did some special performances celebrating the life of Elvis Presley on his 45th anniversary. We were both talking about the wonderful, wonderful fans in the UK and how we were also anxious to perform in Switzerland at the end of the UK tour. We are going to give you something very special. We feel you're going to remember these shows for a long time. Manchester is already sold out so get your tickets as soon as you can. I just bought another brand new suit especially for the UK. See you soon, God bless, Shawn”

“I always look forward to performing in the UK for the Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour. The UK Elvis fans are amazing, with so much passion for this incredible music. The spirit of Elvis is alive and well, and I’m looking forward to bringing my best to the UK this October!”

BEN THOMPSON:

I’m so excited to be touring the country I call home with the amazing Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour. After the amazing success of The Elvis Movie we are ready to welcome a whole new generation of Elvis Fans and I can’t wait to bring this show to life and keep the legacy of the greatest entertainer alive.

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You are here > Home > What's on > THE ELVIS WORLD TOUR

THE ELVIS WORLD TOUR

Tel: 01902429212

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Direct from the USA, the world's biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK. Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises' Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the first ever winner Shawn Klush (USA) and introducing the latest 2022 winner, for his first appearances in the UK, Victor Trevino Jr. Also featuring fellow ultimate winner, the UK's very own Ben Thompson.

Shawn Klush is also the Winner of BBC One's The World's Greatest Elvis hosted by Vernon Kaye back in 2007, seen by 6 million UK viewers. After winning the first ever Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist in Contest the following year, he then went on to perform a worldwide arena tour featuring Elvis Presley's original band members, including the largest ever UK audience for an Elvis tribute show at the Bolton Arena. Followed by arena shows in the USA, South America, Europe and Australia. This series of incredible concerts along with his contest wins, solidified Shawn Klush's reputation as the most successful Elvis tribute artist of all time.

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned 'The World's Greatest Elvis' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever 'Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion' in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fast forward to 2022, with Elvis now a household name more so than in decades before after the release of Baz Luhrmann's acclaimed Elvis Movie starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks – inspired by Austin's on-screen performance, Victor Trevino Junior entered the most recent Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Concert and took the title in grand fashion with his dazzling performances as Elvis in the 50's and also his rendition of the '68 Comeback special.

Also featuring UK fan favourite and winner of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2018, Ben Thompson. His performances have continually lit up audiences since the Elvis World Tour began here in the UK back in 2015. His own international tours and performances have earned him the deserved reputation as one of the world's foremost Elvis tribute artists.

Don't miss this incredible production, starring three of the world's very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.

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• Elvis Presley
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The Story Behind “Only the Lonely,” the Hit Roy Orbison Originally Offered to Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers

by Tina Benitez-Eves April 23, 2024, 1:28 pm

By the late 1950s, Roy Orbison was living in a small apartment in Nashville with his wife and baby, and he often used his car as a refuge to write songs. In 1958, Orbison’s friend rockabilly singer and songwriter Joe Melson tapped on his car window and asked if he could work with him on some songs. From there on, the two co-wrote and recorded a series of songs, including “Uptown”—later released as a bonus track to Lonely and Blue in 2006—along with “Come Back to Me (My Love),” “Blue Avenue,” “Blue Angel,” “I’m Hurtin’,” and “Twenty-Two Days,” which all made it on Orbison’s 1961 debut Lonely and Blue . The duo also co-wrote the opening track, and Orbison’s first big hit, “Only the Lonely (Know The Way I Feel).”

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[RELATED: 7 Songs You Didn’t Know Roy Orbison Wrote for Other Artists]

Elvis and the Everly Bros.

When “Only the Lonely” was written Orbison and Melson initially wanted Elvis Presley or the Everly Brothers to cut the song, but both turned it down. The Everly Brothers suggested Orbison record the song himself, and he released it on Lonely and Blue . The opening track on Lonely and Blue , “Only the Lonely” went to No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart and peaked at No. 14 on the R&B chart. Though Presley initially turned down “Only the Lonely,” when the song was released he purchased a box of copies of the single and passed it on to his friends. Presley also called Orbison “quite simply, the greatest singer in the world,” during a performance in Las Vegas in 1976.

A Place of No Discontent

Orbison admitted that most of his shadier ballads, like “Only The Lonely,” were written in happier times. For Melson, the song was inspired by a real-life experience, when a girl broke his heart as a teenager. When she took off in a Cadillac, the words to the song came to him.

Only the lonely Only the lonely Only the lonely Know the way I feel tonight Only the lonely Know this feeling ain’t right There goes my baby There goes my heart They’re gone forever So far apart But only the lonely Know why I cry Only the lonely

“I’ve always been very content when I wrote all those songs,” said Orbison of his sadder songs in a 1980 interview. “By this, I’m saying that a lot of people think you have to live through something before you can write it, and that’s true in some cases, but I remember the times that I was unhappy or discontent, and I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t communicate, and I certainly couldn’t write a song, no way.” He added, “All the songs I wrote that were successful were written when I was in a contented state of mind.”

“Crying”

Melson and Orbison’s collaborations continued beyond the first album. The two co-wrote the majority of the songs on Orbison’s third album Crying in 1962, including his hit title track.”Crying” went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was later covered by Don McLean , who took it to No. 1 in the UK. They also co-write songs on Orbison’s fourth release In Dreams, including “Blue Bayou,” which became a signature hit for Linda Rondstadt in 1977, along with Oh, Pretty Woman in 1964, and There Is Only One Roy Orbison and Orbisongs from 1965 before Orbison began working with songwriter Bill Dees. The two worked together again on Orbison’s 1967 release Cry Softly Lonely One , Roy Orbison Sings from 1972, Milestones (1973), and I’m Still in Love With You  (1975).

“Lonely No More”

When Orbison was in The Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan , Tom Petty , George Harrison , and Jeff Lynne , he wrote a sequel to “Only the Lonely” titled “Not Along Anymore.” The song was released on the band’s 1988 debut Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 and was the only track penned solely by Orbison. You always said that I’d be back again That I’d come running to you in the end I thought that you were on your own And now I find you’re not alone I’ll see you through the rain Through the heartache and pain It hurts like never before You’re not alone anymore You always said that I would know someday Just how it feels when your love walks away I let you down I let you go I lost you, how was I to know I’ll see you through the rain Through the heartache and pain It hurts like never before You’re not alone anymore

Photo: Clive Limpkin/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Evanescence and Halestorm Announce Canadian Tour in 2024

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Taylor Swift equals Madonna’s record of 12 UK No 1 albums

Swift now has joint highest number of chart-toppers for a female artist, as The Tortured Poets Department earns biggest opening week in seven years

Taylor Swift has tied with Madonna to become the female artist with the most UK No 1 albums, earning her twelfth chart-topper with the global phenomenon that is The Tortured Poets Department.

Swift also dominates this week’s singles chart, with three songs in the Top Five including a No 1 for Fortnight, featuring Post Malone. It’s her fourth No 1 single, and her third chart double.

With 207,000 chart sales, a figure combined from streams and purchases, The Tortured Poets Department outsold the rest of the Top 10 combined and has the UK’s biggest opening week of sales in seven years, since Ed Sheeran’s ÷ in 2017.

Bruce Springsteen also has 12 No 1s, while the only artists with more are the Beatles (16), the Rolling Stones (14), Robbie Williams (14) and Elvis Presley (13).

No artist has got to 12 No 1s as swiftly as Swift, though – she did it in 11 years and six months, considerably quicker than the Beatles, who needed to wait until 1977’s The Beatles at Hollywood Bowl to get their 12th. Eight of those No 1s have been since 2020, partly thanks to her project to re-record her albums from an ill-fated deal with former label Big Machine.

The Tortured Poets Department, a 31-track, two-hour double album which includes songs that pick apart her recent relationships with actor Joe Alwyn and singer Matty Healy with unflinching candour, has further established Swift as the century’s biggest music star.

It became the most streamed album in a single day on Spotify, then the fastest album to reach a billion streams on the platform. Twenty-two of the 50 most streamed songs globally on Thursday were by Swift.

After three days on sale, Swift had sold 700,000 vinyl copies of The Tortured Poets Department in the US, breaking the weekly record (since records began in 1991). That number is particularly remarkable considering that around a million vinyl albums were sold in total in the US in 2023, with nearly 10% of those sold by Swift (chiefly her album Midnights).

The rest of the UK chart is put rather in the shade, but last week’s singles chart-topper Hozier manages to outsell a couple of Swift’s songs and sit at No 2. Swift’s recent tour support artist Sabrina Carpenter rises to No 5 with her peppy Espresso, now the second-most streamed track globally on Spotify.

In the album chart, Pearl Jam reach No 2 with Dark Matter to earn their tenth UK Top 10 album and joint-highest placing. UB40 reach No 5 with their album UB45, their highest placing since 1994. Thanks to a special Record Store Day release, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours – spending its 1,042nd week in the UK charts – jumps up to No 9.

With TTPD out in the world, Swift now looks to the next leg of her Eras tour. After concluding the Asia and Australia leg with six nights at Singapore’s National Stadium in March, she will begin the European leg on 9 May with four nights in Paris. Eras reaches the UK on 7 June at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium, and later includes eight dates at Wembley Stadium, equalling a record set by Take That.

According to data by US live music analysts Pollstar, Eras had already made over $1bn in revenue by the end of 2023, and estimates that by the end of the tour in December it will gross over $2bn – comprehensively beating the previous record of $939m set by Elton John’s farewell tour.

She will probably score her 13th No 1 album as early as 2024, with fans looking forward to her re-recorded version of 2017 album Reputation – a release date has not yet been announced.

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Herman’s Hermits tell stories of Elvis Presley and US Presidents ahead of King’s Lynn show

A long-standing rock and pop band has told enthralling tales of meeting legends like Elvis Presley ahead of a performance in Lynn.

Herman’s Hermits were formed in the early 1960s in Manchester and have enjoyed an action-packed career ever since - and have this year embarked on another world tour.

As part of that, they will play at the Alive Corn Exchange on the Tuesday Market Place on May 19, celebrating their 60th anniversary as a group.

Drummer Barry Whitwam is the sole surviving founding member, having played with the Hermits since 1963.

And the upcoming Lynn gig will have a homecoming feel to it for bass player Jamie Thurston, who lives ten minutes down the road in Gaywood.

Jamie, who also provides lead and backing vocals for the band, joined in 2020, while John Summerton and Tony Young linked up in 2023.

Their current tour has seen them perform to sell-out crowds in the likes of Australia and Norway, while they have just returned from some Denmark shows.

Jamie knows some of the people in charge at Lynn’s Corn Exchange, and was delighted to be able to add the town to the tour list after performing here last year too.

“It was very well attended, so we thought we would do it again,” said drummer Barry, 77, who is also known for acting performances in films like ‘Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter’.

“We are very excited. The whole year us going to be great.

“We still get the adrenaline rush - I think we are addicted to the adrenaline. I absolutely love it.

“We have got a fabulous band.”

Herman’s Hermits played a big part in the British Invasion of the USA in the 1960s, which was spearheaded by The Beatles.

Between March and August 1965 in America, the group racked up 24 consecutive weeks in the top ten of Billboard's Hot 100 with five singles.

Some of their most famous hits include ‘I’m into Something Good’ and ‘No Milk Today’.

Barry told the Lynn News a series of exciting stories about the band’s time across the pond.

One such adventure involved them being on the verge of flying home to England in 1965 when they were told that none other than Elvis Presley wanted to meet with them, having listened to their music.

The band had received a phone call from Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager.

They subsequently cancelled their flight home and ended up having a two-hour chat with the rock and roll legend.

“That was a brilliant day,” Barry said.

Herman’s Hermits also allowed English rock legends The Who, who performed in Sandringham last year, to be their support act at one stage in 1967.

“That is how big it was in the 60s in America,” Barry added.

The group were also invited to perform at former US President Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter’s 21st birthday around the same time - but had to turn it down because they already had a show booked back home in Hull.

Half a century later, albeit with a much-changed band, Herman’s Hermits are still going strong - and a concert in Lynn is coming in hot.

The show on May 19 will kick off at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £28.

They are available to purchase at https://www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/theatre/whats-on/music/hermans-hermits/