Elvis Presley’s been dead since 1977, but fans around the world still can’t get enough of The King of Rock and Roll.
The best-selling solo artist in music history didn’t live long enough to tour the UK, despite wanting to.
However, he is doing so in spirit, with the return of Elvis in Concert Live on Screen with Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.
In an age of ABBA avatars performing every night in London, we were somewhat sceptical about such a show.
Nevertheless, any preconceived concerns were blown away as the epic concert opened in London’s 20,000 capacity O2 last night.
As host Jerry Schilling (one of Elvis’ best friends from his Memphis Mafia) told us during an exclusive interview, The King had always wanted to tour with an orchestra and we could see why.
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and backing singers were fuelled by great energy and positivity throughout as Elvis “performed live” for us on a big screen above them.
The star’s talented vocals had been expertly extracted from the footage of his concert movies like That’s The Way It Is, Aloha Live From Hawaii via Satellite and the 1968 Comeback Special, to be accompanied by live musicians.
The biggest takeaway from a night with all the hits from Blue Suede Shoes and Heartbreak Hotel to Suspicious Minds (which had everyone on their feet) was that it really did feel like Elvis was there with us performing live. Our only real criticism would be that there was no Jailhouse Rock, but so much else was packed in.
The music was also accompanied by Jerry sharing a few touching stories, with a new video of him at Graceland shot during Elvis Week 2023.
Alongside some home movies was an emotional tribute to Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley, who tragically died at just 54 in January.
The show would go on to end specularly with virtual fireworks in what is probably the greatest live Elvis moment ever when he ends American Trilogy at Aloha Live From Hawaii with an epic crescendo. Overall it was clear that The King ain’t dead; his legacy is very much alive.