The Wonder Of Elvis

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ome nights just turn out far, far sweeter than you could have ever hoped for…

It was back in 1972 that the four-year-old Alan Adamson first fell in love with Elvis.

His dad called him down from bed because G.I. Blues was on the telly, and The King was ripping it up with a version of Did You Ever Get One Of Those Days?. The little Bray lad was hooked.

Big time.

That early love of Elvis slowly turned into an obsession, with Alan Adamson having spent the last 30 years dressing as his hero pretty much every single day.

That it took Alan a whole 46 years to step up onto a stage as Elvis is pretty incredible. And tonight, taking that giant leap at The Whale‘s 50th anniversary screening of Elvis ’68 Comeback Special, Alan was indeed incredible.

The man who would be King opened the night with a rollicking take on Blue Suede Shoes, the crowd cheering on his every pelvic thrust.

Post that wonderful 1968 TV special, and it was his dad’s favourite Elvis tune, Suspicious Minds. And that’s when the crowd went wild. Especially when our boy decided to walk among his fans, just to prove that, hey, baby, The King is alive and swell.

Channeling Elvis like a man possessed, the night came to an end with Hound Dog, and it was as though Alan Adamson had been working the stage his whole life.

Which, in many ways, of course, he has.

The fans clamoured to get their picture taken with The King, some hanging around after hours to get their Whale tickets signed.

Others were just happy to touch the hem of his Vegas jumpsuit.

And then Alan Adamson headed out into the night, head spinning with thoughts of another gig, heart swelling with pride, and those hips still swiveling from all that rock’n’roll spirit…

You can view and download hi-res versions of all the night’s shots here, and you catch our recent impromptu interview with The King right about here.