Welcome to Demotix!

News Hub

a woman and her shrine

3651 Stories - 37124 Images - 1967 Contributors
Elvis Fans Gather at the Wall
A Personal Story by Ben Harrison

Memphis, Tennessee, USA. August 16--Perhaps the corporate profit cocoon now forming around the late Michael Jackson could learn how its done over in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.  There Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. keeps the adulation of 'The King' stirred up among thousands of visitors every summer to culminate in a candle light vigil at Graceland Mansion.
 
And when they're stirred, they buy. They buy music and souvenirs and those that are marketers buy licenses. Michael, can you see this from the other side? Go to Memphis and hire these guys. They know how its done. Just like The King, you'll be the biggest dead polypharm superstar ever. 

Today, EPE, Inc. makes Memphis the mecca of Elvis worship in an annual one week long pilgrimage of Elvis fans from all over. Every August 16, the anniversary of his death 32 years ago, thousands of fans holding candles patiently line up in front of the mansion wall. They are then cued onto the Graceland grounds in a ritualistic procession that I'm told sometimes lasts till almost dawn. This year though, the crowd seemed noticeably thinner, according to workers.

While waiting on the public sidewalk, fans write messages, some irreverent and funny and some genuinely touching, with Magic Markers on the wall in front of the mansion. Groups of others sit on the street with makeshift shrines of candles, photos and art.

EPE, Inc and the Fans

But EPE, Inc didn't create Elvis. He created himself. All EPE does is tap into the adoration and psyche of his mostly working class fans. Some of them show up year after year in a lifelong commitment to attend what has now become a Memphis tradition.  Why the ongoing devotion? I think its because Elvis came from them and he never left them. 

And perhaps that's the best explanation of the connection of the dead Elvis to his current fans-those getting long toothed, growing big bellies, bringing their kids to introduce a whole new generation to the event.  Yes, some come to gape at the tacky tourist tastelessness of it all, of the creepy knowledge His corpse reclines right up on the hill beside the house, of the gaucheness of the jungle room that Elvis created because...because, well, he could and did, by God.

Elvis Sitings

On a sweaty night not unlike this one in 1959, while I swept the parking lot of my dad's busy little grocery store, I had my one and only siting of  Elvis. He was clad in black leather like a rock and roll Templar, astride his Harley as he roared up Summer Avenue. It was the kind of Elvis siting Memphians loved to talk about. 'I saw Elvis riding his motorcycle last night.' Back then he was a rebellious son of the South the adults loved to disapprove of, but love, if not admire, irresistibly.  And back then a live siting was way more thrilling than a dead one today.

But after his death, one similar in many ways to that of Jackson, including self loathing, body changes and a pipeline of drugs supplied by mysterious medicals, EPE Inc., evolved from a family trust administered by Lisa Marie, according to elvis.com, to bottle and distribute the Elvis elixir to which these aging pilgrim fans stay lovingly addicted. And who wouldn't be? His is the story of a clean, revolutionary, but shy and polite, randy artist with the quintessential American archetype story of starting with nothing but Mississippi delta poverty to become 'The King.'  Got it? the Elvis Web site seems to hammer on as it milks its commodity.

Making Mecca

When I made my pilgrimage to Graceland over twenty years ago I already had moved away to LA and thought, while I was back in my home town, I should make my own mecca and tour Graceland. Back then, as people do today, we congregate in the visitors center across the street facing the mansion. Almost under the wing of the 727 Elvis named the Lisa Marie, we board a van that quietly took us half dozen fellow travelers past the big music note gates that opened welcomingly to the regularly delivered procession of commoners.  We proceed smoothly up the winding drive in air conditioned protection from the suffocating Southern humidity. 

While waiting to embark, I'll never forget the conversation a Romanian mechanic from New Jersey struck up with me. His wife had just walked out on him he said  in his best English. So he threw a few things in his truck and headed South to Graceland. For some reason, he confided, Graceland would be the one thing that he knew would make him feel better. He was a walking Elvis song. I hope it has all worked out for him.

Once inside, we were guided through the mansion except personal living quarters of relatives who still lived there. In fact, while standing in a somewhat claustrophobic clump in a hall, the tour guide pointed to a door I was standing in front of and announced, as I remember it, 'Elvis' aunt still lives in this room.' I was creeped out but suppressed an urge to smile broadly, if not laugh out loud, as the group turned to face me. Later on the tour, I saw an older lady walking over the back yard like a ghost. 

Blasting Away the Messages...

And that to me is what the Elvis fans are most like: ghosts. They'll be fading away, I keep assuming, and extravaganzas like these someday have to stop with the distance of generations. But ghosts and memories have a way of coming back. Even Elvis himself might be coasting his Harley among the crowd, enjoying them as one of his own. And should he materialize, I could see him being suddenly swept away by the highly trained and efficient EPE staff, cloaked way in hiding to repackage before he could open his mouth and commit one impolitic faux pas after another.

Every few months a guy comes out and blasts the messages written in red and black ink off the wall. But sometimes a faded outline remains like, I like to think, an old memory that makes you pause. 

And then you can hear Him singing, singing about...memories.

Arts & Entertainment

Elvis Fans Gather at the Wall for "Elvis Week"

Congregating at the Graceland Mansion for the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death 32 years ago on August 16 are his die-hardest fans, many of...

by Ben Harrison in United States on 15/08/2009

Latest News

Big Brother star Makosi kicked out of Britain on passport irregularity
File images: BIG Brother reality TV star Makosi Musambasi, has been 'kicked out of Britain' after allegedly being caught trying to enter the country using a relative's pa...
SWAT standoff rousts Escondido residents for Hours
A SWAT standoff that began when a man suspected of threatening the lives of his girlfriend and her daughter fired two shots at an Escondido police officer, left area residents stranded ...
Cinema Jerusalem opens after 25 years of closure
Cinema Jerusalem was the first cinema in the city of East Jerusalem. Now, it has reopen its doors to an audience, after the closure 25 years ago, but with a new look. Israel. 9th Februa...
Italian Women's U19 wins against Palestinian team 4-0
Palestinian women's football team lost to the Italian women's football team 4-0 at Stade de Greens International Stadium in Bethlehem. Palestinian Territory. 9th February 2012
Andorra to host the Women's Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2012
At a press conference, General Manager Conrad Blanch Grandvalira, President of the Andorran Ski Federation Albert Coma and Swiss skier Lara Gut, give their first impressions after trai...
London Parliament Square Peace Protests - No War in Iran
Peace protesters in Parliament Sq continue 24/7 protests despite police removal of all tents from the Square Peace Campaign. The Peace Strike supports a weekly protest at the Foreign Of...
Annual Thaipusam festival celebrated - Kuala Lumpur
The Hindu festival of Thaipusam, which commemorates the day when Goddess Pavarthi gave her son Lord Muruga an invincible lance with which he destroyed evil demons, was celebrated by som...
Mercedes Castro at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - Madrid
Mercedes Castro presented her collection 'Never give up' for the Autumn-Winter 2012/2013 season, at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Spain. 5th February 2012
Front row during the Davidelfin MBFW Winter Collection - Madrid
Celebrities joined to view the Davidelfin MBFW Winter Collection. The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid is not only the flagship of Spanish fashion but also one of the most important ap...
Spain's Duchess of Alba presents her autobiography - Lisbon
Spain's Duchess of Alba Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva and her husband Alfonso Diez pose before a presentation of her new biography "Yo Cayetana" in Estoril. Portugal...
Orthodox Jewish children visit the Wester Wall - Jerusalem
The Western Wall, Wailing Wall or Kotel is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. It is a remnant of the ancient wall that surrounded ...
Front row at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - Madrid
The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid is not only the flagship of Spanish fashion, but also one of the most important appointments for celebrities and VIPs. Spain. 2nd February 2012
Stenerös at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - Madrid
Jessica Stenerös presents her collection for the Autumn-Winter 2012/2013 season, at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Spain. 5th February 2012
Fam Irvoll shows off her latest collection at Oslo Fashion Week
Fam Irvoll showed off her latest collection of adult's clothing entitled 'bleeeeugh!'at the Oslo Fashion week. Irvoll is a Norwegian fashion designer who is known for her...
Fam Irvoll's children collection shown at Oslo Fashion Week
Fam Irvoll's shows oh a collection of children's clothing at the Oslo Fashion week. Irvoll is a Norwegian fashion creator who is known for her colorful and playful creations f...
Italian and Palestinian women's U19 teams hold friendly match
The Italian and Palestinian women's U19 national teams face off in Hebron. The match ended in a 7-0 win for the Italian team. Palestinian Territory. 7th February 2012
62-gun salute celebrates Queen’s diamond Jubilee
Her Majesty the Queen renewed her vow to serve as monarch as she made a low-key start to five months of diamond jubilee celebrations marking her 60 years on the throne. A 62-gun salute ...
Front row at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - Madrid
The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid is not only the flagship of Spanish fashion but also one of the most important appointments for celebrities and VIP. Pictured are some of celebriti...
Newcomer of The Season at Oslo Fashion Week
Oslo Fashion Week's Necomer of The season, Genaro RIvas, shows his collection on the opening day. Norway. 6th February 2012
Josefina Vazquez Mota wins PAN primaries
Josefina Vazquez Mota won the PAN primaries by a large margin, beating Ernesto Cordero and Santiago Creel and becoming the first woman presidential candidate of a major party in Mexico&...