Are there really so many freaks Elvis fans?

[Donut]

I don?t mean to offend anyboby with this thread but for a long time now I have realised (mostly surfing internet) that the Elvis world is LOADED with strange people and the most laughable claims, wich I haven?t seen happen with any other entertainer of our time.
I mean, there are fans that think Elvis could heal ill people by touching them, others who claim he was visited by creatures from other planet when he was a child and told him his mission on earth, others have turned Elvis into a religion, there are hundreds of Elvis impersonators, people that write books about their made up relation with Elvis, others that have turned their house into their own Graceland, those that will never accept Elvis is death and hundreds of Elvis sightings that continue to surface 30 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH!
With all that said it?s no wonder that many people see us Elvis fans like a bunch of freaks, even though I know there are fans that admire the guy for his talent and place in music history.
Have anyone ever think about this? Do you think we have earn the freak title by right?

[elvislady]

I dont feel that elvis fans are freaks at all, i know there are some fans who you could say take things a step to far with there fairytail stories but you can get that with a fan of any celebrety. i dont look at other fans that way because i enjoy making elvis videos some people might think thats odd, its what you like to remember about elvis that counts and if it means keeping his memory alive by the way they see things ie, impersonators and turning there homes into graceland i dont see the harm.
elvislady

[Rover]

There's something I must tell you guys: I have a proof that Elvis is my grandfather. My dad is one of his illegitimate kid! A DNA test will reveal the truth to the whole world!
That's true, Elvis fans are often portrayed as freaks...I think this is a bit because of the tabloids. They were the first to talk about extra-terrestrials and fake death, and I guess some fans wanted to believe that.
Then, there is the look, big fans and impersonators dress in flashy clothes and try to act like him...pretending to be someone you are not is kinda freaky if you want my opinion, and since these people are more noticed than "regular fans" (impersonators are on TV...), the whole community got labeled as a bunch of weirdos.
And there are movies too: Elvis fans are often portrayed as very weird guys. Anyone has seen 3000 Miles to Graceland? This is probably the best exemple

[Burning_Love]

We are who we are.

I guess we love the man !

Danielle

[Diane]

I think those who equate Elvis with Jesus and give him a "godlike" status are carrying the "fandom" bit a little too far Donut but I don't think they are in the majority. Most of us as you do, see him the way he was with human faults and a fantastic talent and looks. Definitely a very special and unique person.

Diane

[Elvis_Priestly]

You got it all back to front Donut - anyone who is NOT an Elvis fan is the freak! :p

[Donut]

Well thank you all of you who took the time for stating your opinions on this but my point starting this thread was I think those people and claims play a big part on the bad image Elvis has for non Elvis fans and cloud what he achieved as a performer and as the starter of a music revolution.

[Suzan]

I think due to the minority of fans who have turned him into a religion, equate him w/Jesus, etc...are what has gotten Elvis fans as a whole a bad name. JMO
Very good thread Donut.

[elvisia]

The other day I was at a cafe......talked a bit with the host and I told him that I`m an Elvis fan......well, he asked all the silly questions about.......do you think Elvis is still alive...etc.(Thought that I was just a freak).....I told him NO, but that beeing an Elvis fan is just a matter of beeing hooked on his music and the history of the worlds greatest entertainer.......
He asked me to send some music for him to listen to and then I found different clips from youtube and send the links to him on mail. Now he wants to play Elvis on air in his cafe......hmm, people don`t really know Elvis`s music.....only all the freak stories.....I`m glad I introduced this guy to the real Elvis......his music

Elvisia

[Getlo]

I think the amount of "normal" fans outweighs the "freak" element by about two to one, in my experience.

Unfortunately, the *****s who dress like him, believe he was the next Jesus, say they're his child or worship the very ground he walked on reflect badly on the rest of us, and tarnish us with the same brush.

And, it's those freaks that make the best news when anniversaries etc come around. A story about being an Elvis fan just won't fly on TV or in newspapers if the person looks and acts normally.

But ultimately it doesn't matter. If you run across someone who wants to know about Elvis, just play them some of his music.

Then all that other crap goes by the wayside.

Simple.

[Suzan]

I do think too, that the "freakish" (for lack of better word) do tend to taint all Elvis fans, I think there is a huge misconception about his fan base.
Yes the music speaks for itself.
The news media, I don't understand sometimes why they just have to focus on the horrendously bad impersonators, etc...but I guess it's what sells the news??? Ah well.

[SeeSeeRider777]

Im just a regular Elvis fan. Im a fan of his music, style, and charisma. I think straight. Yes he's dead, even though I wish he would be alive so I could have seen a concert, he was not a healer by touching someone. Some people just go crazy about him.

[Rover]

haha...do we have some people who believe Elvis is still alive on this board?
BTW, SeeseeRider, I love your sig! Where does it come from? An interview?

[Suzan]

I hope he/she doesn't mind me answering for them, it comes from Elvis Jaycee 10 Outstanding Men speech.

[EDOEP]

There's something I must tell you guys: I have a proof that Elvis is my grandfather. My dad is one of his illegitimate kid! A DNA test will reveal the truth to the whole world!
That's true, Elvis fans are often portrayed as freaks...I think this is a bit because of the tabloids. They were the first to talk about extra-terrestrials and fake death, and I guess some fans wanted to believe that.
Then, there is the look, big fans and impersonators dress in flashy clothes and try to act like him...pretending to be someone you are not is kinda freaky if you want my opinion, and since these people are more noticed than "regular fans" (impersonators are on TV...), the whole community got labeled as a bunch of weirdos.
And there are movies too: Elvis fans are often portrayed as very weird guys. Anyone has seen 3000 Miles to Graceland? This is probably the best exemple

OK, honey, then you have a new step-granny now ... because I was secretly married to elvis from november 1973 onwards. i am his only legitimate widow - watch out, cilla .

let's get serious.

NO, i don't think ALL elvisfans have deserved the label 'FREAKS'.

a small number of them certainly does, be it all those that DONUT listed (nice list ) or those few weirdos she (he?) may have forgotten.

i would however not blame this misconception of ALL fans being slightly kooky mainly on the press / on the media.

those only report about what exists and - being part of their system - they of course focus on the extremes, both highs and lows, not about us pretty normal majority of fans who for the media are far too boring. we just don't provide enough beef for a good story that sells.

so i think these weirdos among the fans are the ones to blame for spoiling the fan community's reputation.

i don't however have big problems with the statement 'all elvisfans are crazy'.

those of my friends and acquaintants who do know me don't count me into that league.

those who don't know me ... why should i personally bother about their opinion?

in general, i do find it a pity though that the number of real freaks seems to be growing. on the other hand it's maybe simply a matter of mathematics, i guess. there's in ANY fancommunity (absolute number) a small number of lunatics (absolute number).

since compared to other fancommunities elvis' seems to be by far the largest, the relative number of weirdos compared to the relative weirdos of, let's say, marilyn monroe fans, jim morrison fans, barbie doll fans ... from a logical point of view is much larger as well. alone because of this fact they are more frequently in the media.

hugs, ellie

PS i mention the barbie doll because i once saw a report about a woman who had dozens of plastic surgeries to look like 'barbie' (BTW, she still doesn't ). if 'barbie' had as many die-hard fans as elvis ..... they probably would make the headlines regularely.

[elvisia]

ROVER, you can listen and watch Elvis Jaycee speech in this link......sound is not all that good, but you can hear what he says.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HmAawQEhC0E

Elvisia

P.S. The speech also appears on several different documentaries

[Rover]

OK, honey, then you have a new step-granny now ... because I was secretly married to elvis from november 1973 onwards. i am his only legitimate widow - watch out, cilla .

Glad to meet you
You think that the number of real freaks is growing?? You're sure? I don't know, I thought these lunatics were getting older and would calm down with the age?
Thanks a lot for posting this speech!

[rhythmknights]

The other day I was at a cafe......talked a bit with the host and I told him that I`m an Elvis fan......well, he asked all the silly questions about.......do you think Elvis is still alive...etc.(Thought that I was just a freak).....I told him NO, but that beeing an Elvis fan is just a matter of beeing hooked on his music and the history of the worlds greatest entertainer.......
He asked me to send some music for him to listen to and then I found different clips from youtube and send the links to him on mail. Now he wants to play Elvis on air in his cafe......hmm, people don`t really know Elvis`s music.....only all the freak stories.....I`m glad I introduced this guy to the real Elvis......his music

Elvisia

my brother Mark & i were talking the other day about this kinda thing, his best friend is an absolute kurt cobain freak & i asked him if k.b. was as into Kurt as i was into Elvis (Mark is not a big Elvis fan as Mom & i are). Mark laughs & says 'cobain is to k.b. what GOD is to you!' So it really isn't just Elvis that brings out he freaks.
Because of Mom, i knew alot of the lesser known Elvis songs. most people don't know just how prolific Elvis was.
I'm glad, Elvisia, you were able to introduce the real Elvis to someone. with his playing Elvis in his cafe, others will now know & love Elvis!

[Jailhouse-Rocker]

We are who we are.

I guess we love the man !

Danielle

WELL SAID

[Jailhouse-Rocker]

OK, honey, then you have a new step-granny now ... because I was secretly married to elvis from november 1973 onwards. i am his only legitimate widow - watch out, cilla .

thats SO weird cos i'm Elvis' long lost sister! wow the chances of us three meeting on this website, on THIS thread no doubt ... wowee!