are ETA'S needed

[lvs2day]

durring the past 32 years alot has bin said and done about ELVIS PRESLEY and his great legacy that he leaves to his fans and what he would of thought about all that is done on or about him , i have often wondered what he would have thought about the thousands of ETA'S that roam the earth , as a fan of the man i have never understood the hoopla that surrounds this part of THE ELVIS WORLD , to me they just are an embaressment many among many of them are just **** terrible and make one cringe at times . i can't believe that E.P.E. have even joined forces with them to now include a best of talent show of these guys, many have told me it is because of them that ELVIS memory is still alive after 32 years [uh what about the fans that have bin going to audoban drive and graceland since early 56, and all the fan clubs that were started by fans and continue to this day] so my question do we need em?

[Getlo]

to me they just are an embaressment

You are correct. The stuff about "carrying on his memory" is crap. All one needs to do is play his music or watch his movies and concerts to do that. Every ETA is an utter embarrassment to his legacy, and thee concept does more harm than good.

i can't believe that E.P.E. have even joined forces with them to now include a best of talent show of these guys

It's all about money. And of course, EPE only sanctions those ETAs who suck up to the organisation.

Having the ETAs on the grounds of Graceland for that stupid competition was the worst thing I have ever seen in the Elvis world.

so my question do we need em?

No, we do not.

They all suck, each and every one of the bloodsucking leeches.

[LuckyJackson]

NO THEY ARE NOT NEEDED.....Elvis memory is kept alive by the legacy he left behind.
Agree that the ETAs are an embarrasment and have only damaged his image....dont get me started ....grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

[TCBDavid]

I think your a little to fast to judge eta's im friends with several and they are the nicest guys u could ever hope to met, they know they aerent the king himself butthey are paying tribute to him. Not all of us where lucky enough to be able to see the man himself or even be alive when he was as im only 20, so a good quality tribute act such as shawn klush is as close as im ever going to get to recreating the magic of an original show.

So they do have a purpose and as thousands of people ever year prove going to to see them they are greatly appreciated.....

if you dont like them thats fine but dont assume that everyone has the same opinion most, not all but most of them do a great job of keeping his memory alive, theres only so much u can get from a cd or a record even a dvd. The tribute show is alot of fun

[presley31]

I don't mind some of them at all and have some friends who are ETA's too. I just can't stand the ETA that think there are elvis or making fun of him in the worst outfits either.

[molokai123]

I think your a little to fast to judge eta's im friends with several and they are the nicest guys u could ever hope to met, they know they aerent the king himself butthey are paying tribute to him. Not all of us where lucky enough to be able to see the man himself or even be alive when he was as im only 20, so a good quality tribute act such as shawn klush is as close as im ever going to get to recreating the magic of an original show.

So they do have a purpose and as thousands of people ever year prove going to to see them they are greatly appreciated.....

if you dont like them thats fine but dont assume that everyone has the same opinion most, not all but most of them do a great job of keeping his memory alive, theres only so much u can get from a cd or a record even a dvd. The tribute show is alot of fun

good point my friend. but gotta admit some of them are really horrible,but i give them credit for having the guts to go out and perform!

[TCBDavid]

i can't deny there are some really bad ones...but some are great or on there way to being great, check out this chap he's a south wales (uk) eta thats only been doing it a couple of years and has won several awards
YouTube- Dean Mack Performs Hurt

[monk37]

The problem with ETAs is the same media problem that Gay Pride Parades have

the media focuses on the extreme end - the ETAs that are children or 400+ pounds - like they focus on Drag Queens, Leather Lads and Dykes on Bikes over the thousands of gays and lesbians who are indistinguishable from anyone else on the street.


As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - there's been Elvis impersonators since the 50's - it's just been since his death that so many are now able to make a living at it.

Roy Orbison expressed his wish that he would have impersonators like Elvis did to sort of carry on for him - as a means of not being forgotten.

(I met Sam Orbison, his brother, at a performance of The Show They Never Gave - with a Buddy Holly, an Orbison and an Elvis impersonator. And he told me that.)

I have a cousin who didn't like Elvis - largely because his mom was a major fan - but he came with me to a local rodeo and there was an Elvis impersonator - my cousin converted on the spot.

That same show, the Elvis guy was wearing a copy of the TTWII white fringed jumpsuit - and a dozen 12 year old girl guides went totally berserk and rushed the stage to rip at the fringes for a souvenir

So, the really good ones do re-create the atmosphere of an Elvis concert - and they do help feed the fandom and expand it.

Some ETA had devoted followings of their own

[lvs2day]

i can't deny there are some really bad ones...but some are great or on there way to being great, check out this chap he's a south wales (uk) eta thats only been doing it a couple of years and has won several awards
YouTube- Dean Mack Performs Hurt

yep thanks but i;m an ELVIS fan and have bin for over 4o years , i saw him over 38 times and nothing can comare to him certainly not this clown that you have suggested, i do understand that young fans who havn't had the pleasure of seeing him perform don't know what it was like but believe me when i say it was nothing like this , nothing will ever compare with the original - the atmosphere and friendship convos that fans had before and after each show following him for a tour etc- think i'll stick with the real mc coy.

[TCBDavid]

i saw him over 38 times and nothing can comare to him certainly not this clown that you have suggested

yes but as i have made perfectly clear theres no way i can re live the amazing event that would be an actual elvis concert..you have no idea how much i want to but its never going to happen.

As for this 'clown' he happens to be a personal friend of mine and i take offense to such a remark, he is an outstanding tribute artist he has won the best welsh elvis 09/10 and best gospel elvis 09/10 at one of europes largest elvis festivals.

So maybe you should let those of us who like a good tribute act enjoy it, and if you dont instead of slating them, just dont bother saying anything.

To quote a disney film thumper from bambie once said 'if you can't say something nice don't say nothing at all"

[sasha]

Is there room for good ETA's ? You bet !

Many were not alive or were not able to see him in person.
Does that mean we should reject all that want to express their feelings for what he gave us? I'm not of the closed mind-set that I reject them all.
Once you've seen & experienced the real thing , it is hard to accept anyone else.
But,, does that mean the younger ones or ones that weren't lucky enough to experience what he gave us should be forbidden to show their love ?

Not to me. Let the ones go to see the ETA's that want to. I've seen a few.
Some are better than others. None compared .
To act so high & mighty that we reject them all, does more to stop the memory of Elvis than other things . The jealousy & high-mindedness of older fans hurts his legacy .

We'd do better trying to stop the media with all the BS printed about him.

[debtdbruno]

In small doses they are okay...........so long as they remember they are not Elvis, and don't try to be

I don't agree with EPE having ETA contests at Graceland over Elvis week

[sasha]

Do they try to be Elvis ? Or is that just our own interpretation ?
I saw Elvis in person & agree there wiill never be another .
At least, I've not seen one yet.

I must say I didn't like EPE going along with having ETA's at Graceland either.
However, we must realize - Elvis has been gone over 30 years.
To most now, his name is a commodity , not a person.
Do I like it? Can't say I do.
But, this is the "real world." Promote him & his music or it will all die out.
Does anyone honestly believe that anyone in business will promote him or his music if they don't realize a profit from it ?
Would any of us be in a business that didn't ?

[debtdbruno]

good points Sasha............

[Jungleroom76]

I am also friends with several Elvis tribute artists and as long as they are portraying Elvis in a positive way, I certainly do not have a problem with them.

As others have said, since I am also too young to have ever seen Elvis live in concert, the tribute shows are really the only way I can ever experience the magic of an Elvis Presley show!!

TCB!
Mike

[Donut]

Of course they are not needed. What would Elvis or his fans need them for?

[GIORGIA]

NO THEY ARE NOT NEEDED.....Elvis memory is kept alive by the legacy he left behind.
Agree that the ETAs are an embarrasment and have only damaged his image....dont get me started ....grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

I think the same thing!Elvis NOT needed this stuff!I mean,is Elvis!But when the people see money.................................

[LuckyJackson]

I dont buy the arguement that its the nearest you can get to experiencing an Elvis concert - you can go see Elvis The Concert, thats the nearest you'll get.

[Getlo]

I think your a little to fast to judge eta's im friends with several and they are the nicest guys u could ever hope to meet

So are Civil War re-enactors; but they too are unnecessary and quite embarrassing.

[lvs2day]

The problem with ETAs is the same media problem that Gay Pride Parades have

the media focuses on the extreme end - the ETAs that are children or 400+ pounds - like they focus on Drag Queens, Leather Lads and Dykes on Bikes over the thousands of gays and lesbians who are indistinguishable from anyone else on the street.


As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - there's been Elvis impersonators since the 50's - it's just been since his death that so many are now able to make a living at it.

Roy Orbison expressed his wish that he would have impersonators like Elvis did to sort of carry on for him - as a means of not being forgotten.

(I met Sam Orbison, his brother, at a performance of The Show They Never Gave - with a Buddy Holly, an Orbison and an Elvis impersonator. And he told me that.)

I have a cousin who didn't like Elvis - largely because his mom was a major fan - but he came with me to a local rodeo and there was an Elvis impersonator - my cousin converted on the spot.

That same show, the Elvis guy was wearing a copy of the TTWII white fringed jumpsuit - and a dozen 12 year old girl guides went totally berserk and rushed the stage to rip at the fringes for a souvenir

So, the really good ones do re-create the atmosphere of an Elvis concert - and they do help feed the fandom and expand it.

Some ETA had devoted followings of their own

if this is the best that wales has to offer than they are in trouble , this guy is just plain terrible. ELVIS PRESLEY was a hard act to follow and i just say i among many prefer the real thing they [the eta's] hang around the graceland mall in their jumpsuits looking for attention try talking like him etc , most of them have no knoledge of his great legacy of music , concerts etc they arn't even die hard collectors , so wheres the love here just for their selves i presume.