are ETA'S needed

[TCBDavid]

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

... have u actually read the thread? i think the argument why some people want them is clear

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

the local eta's that i know spend thousands of pounds on jumpsuits, boots,wigs etc the PA system or instruments, speaking as someone in the know they spend a fortune to set themselves up and for many it can be well over a year possibly two before they even make there money back, its only the few who have made it big the more commercial eta's that make a great deal of money

you can go see Elvis The Concert, thats the nearest you'll get.

i have seen elvis the concert twice and yes it is good but seeing it twice in 5 years hardly fills the quota eta's are entertaining thousands year after year

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

if your interested in the civil war then they arent, like most etas they to do it because they are passionate about something

and on an end note...elvis himself met an impersonator during his lifetime and according to joe esposito elvis thought the fact people wanted to copy him was flattering he once said to a guy back in the 70's im flattered that you want to base your act upon me just dont lose who you are...or something like that

so if elvis liked them, who are you guys to tell me or anyone else the arent need and they are all money grabbing clowns

[TCBDavid]

[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.

the sound more like lame look a likes than eta's...none of the etas i know would dream of doing something liek that, most are die hard elvis fans,watching hours and hours of concert footage to perfect there act.

i admit there are some that dont and are a let down but all i really think your doing is being far to judgmental and essentially telling me and many others that we arent allowed to like what we like

[lvs2day]

the sound more like lame look a likes than eta's...none of the etas i know would dream of doing something liek that, most are die hard elvis fans,watching hours and hours of concert footage to perfect there act.

i admit there are some that dont and are a let down but all i really think your doing is being far to judgmental and essentially telling me and many others that we arent allowed to like what we like

not in the slightest i'm not here to tell any fan what to do i simply asked are they needed i had a conversation with one from a group on an ELVIS cruise and he simply stated that they are the reason ELVIS memory is alive - i think that is pure b.s. - we the real fans who are devoted to ELVIS PRESLEY are the reason that his memory lives now and for many years to come through fan clubs that started in 56 through today and web sites like this that are started by fans what do etas have on their sites [yes exactly them selves] your choice is yours . but please don't tell me that i'm telling you what you can and can't do , as far as E.P. and impersonators i would go with the story that SANDI MILLER says in the behind the image book 1 , when an impersonator[guy who looked liked ELVIS] came to the gates of his home in los angeles and ELVIS came out to see the guy and really didn't know what to make of it - with over 50,0000 of them now i wonder what he would think/say- are they needed is the question?

[TCBDavid]

fair enough if thats what you think, i just ask one thing......notice the difference between an eta and an impersonator....eta's are the devoted to the act, guys that work hard to do it to the best of there ability. an impersonator is the kinda guy who would dress up and wander round pretending to be elvis with the occasional truly aweful attempt at a song, there the ones we sound be angry at not the guys performing a tribute

[Sonny]

Take it easy here friends.

David made his point, and he is correct. Getlo you have given us a very clear opinion.

Keep it nice now everyone.

[Donut]

... have u actually read the thread? i think the argument why some people want them is clear

Erm... yes I have, and I don't think we need them.

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

[sasha]

I think the difference here is in NEED VS. are they ACCEPTABLE ?

I don't guess anything is needed .{as to do without}
There are a few ETA's on this site. Ask them how they feel when
they're able to bring pleasure & a little happiness/fun to some
that really enjoy the time they give to others. Many do this for free .

I accept & appreciate the ones that do it for others to enjoy.
Do Elvis & his fans need them? I suppose not.
I have the feeling Elvis might appreciate the happiness they give others.

Take into consideration one more thing.Elvis fans from his time will
die out, sooner or later. We need someone to keep his music
alive if we want it to carry on through the next generations.
Most are well aware they're not Elvis & don't try to be.
Perhaps they just enjoy the music & love being able to bring a tiny bit to others.

[TCBDavid]

thank you sasha....thats probably the smartest thing anyone including myself has said on this thread so far.

Being one of the next generation of fans i urge those who where lucky enough to be around to see him to consider what has just been said and then realise why someone like myself who was born 12 years after he died appreciates a good ETA

[sasha]

I'm alwas seeing statements;
"what would Elvis do" or "what would Elvis think".
IMO, he'd welcome the new artists & wish them well.

He was well aware who made him what he was . His fans !
He also performed with other artists & didn't put them down.
So, I have to welcome the ones that want to keep him & his music alive .
Thanks to all of them !!

[lvs2day]

I think the difference here is in NEED VS. are they ACCEPTABLE ?

I don't guess anything is needed .{as to do without}
There are a few ETA's on this site. Ask them how they feel when
they're able to bring pleasure & a little happiness/fun to some
that really enjoy the time they give to others. Many do this for free .

I accept & appreciate the ones that do it for others to enjoy.
Do Elvis & his fans need them? I suppose not.
I have the feeling Elvis might appreciate the happiness they give others.

Take into consideration one more thing.Elvis fans from his time will
die out, sooner or later. We need someone to keep his music
alive if we want it to carry on through the next generations.
Most are well aware they're not Elvis & don't try to be.
Perhaps they just enjoy the music & love being able to bring a tiny bit to others.

there are plenty of young fans who have started ELVIS clubs magazines , and have ELVIS fests , so his memory will also live on through their hard work as it was stared many years ago .

[monk37]

if this is the best that wales has to offer ....

I don't live in Wales, I'm in Canada

the guy I am talking about was Randy Friskie

I have videos of him here:

http://www.youtube.com/nktrygg

http://www.youtube.com/nktrygg#p/u/34/lKaeSccYXYo

(this is is from TV)

these were shot on VHS or Video 8 in the early 90's and I recently transferred them to digital

[Lisarose]

as far as E.P. and impersonators i would go with the story that SANDI MILLER says in the behind the image book 1 , when an impersonator[guy who looked liked ELVIS] came to the gates of his home in los angeles and ELVIS came out to see the guy and really didn't know what to make of it - with over 50,0000 of them now i wonder what he would think/say- are they needed is the question?

Are they needed? No! Of course not, it's obvious that Elvis is what's keeping Elvis' image and music alive. I enjoy the ones I believe to be sincere, Elvis first encounter with an impersonator was in the 50's while he was performing in Texas with Scotty & Bill. There is belief that Elvis impersonators became more widespread while he was in the army, simply because his fans here in the states because he was so severly missed.

I would go see those ETA's that I know - like our own Tim, but if I go to Las Vegas I won't - as was suggested to me - make sure I go see an Elvis impersonator. I wasn't able to see Elvis live and in person, when he was alive - why the heck would I want to see an ETA now?

[sasha]

there are plenty of young fans who have started ELVIS clubs magazines , and have ELVIS fests , so his memory will also live on through their hard work as it was stared many years ago .

ALL Elvis fans are appreciated , I hope.
I think the ones some are thinking of are the ones that make fun of him .
And/or do crude immitations . Those we don't need !!

Unfortunately ,Elvis can do nothing about keeping his image & music alive.
I know many don't like Priscilla. But, IMO had she not kept his music & image out in the world,many would never have experienced it. Since EPE {Sillerman} has bought these rights; it's now up to him.

We don't have to like it. It's just a fact. None of us will be around forever.
It will be up to ones that love him & appreciate his music to pass it on.

[Getlo]

i have seen elvis the concert twice and yes it is good but seeing it twice in 5 years hardly fills the quota eta's are entertaining thousands year after year

And just how do ETAs fill the quota of Elvis?

Only Elvis can fill the quota of Elvis!

[Getlo]

Take into consideration one more thing.Elvis fans from his time will die out, sooner or later. We need someone to keep his musicalive if we want it to carry on through the next generations.

Yes.

By playing the man's music, watching his videos and educating future music students about his place in history.

Not by having some fools parading around in jumpsuits singing his songs.

[kathy parkinson]

And just how do ETAs fill the quota of Elvis?

Only Elvis can fill the quota of Elvis!

[kathy parkinson]

Yes.

By playing the man's music, watching his videos and educating future music students about his place in history.

Not by having some fools parading around in jumpsuits singing his songs.

[sasha]

Yes.

By playing the man's music, watching his videos and educating future music students about his place in history.

Not by having some fools parading around in jumpsuits singing his songs.

Not all people that sing Elvis' music wear the jumpsuits nor are they fools.
Can't you accept that many love him {just as much as you do} & want only
to give a little happiness back to others?
If you can't,then I'm sorry for you & many others that might never know him.

To love someone & share the goodness they brought to this world is much
greater IMO, than to keep it jeaously locked away .
He gave of himself freely. It might be a better world if we could follow
his example in caring about people.

I see that some like to argue about everything Elvis.
That does no good IMO & certainly doesn't help him in the least.
Even the people Elvis' age enjoy the music provided by others.
They can enjoy the times they lived in & the music never dies.

I think what I'm trying to say is: I think it does more good to immitate
all the things he did right; rather than dwell on the things some think he did wrong.
Have a great day everyone !!

[KPM]

I do not think they are essential to keeping Elvis and his memory alive-many who are just not good give a false memory of Elvis because people come away thinking
"Thats how he sounded, thats how he moved, that was his sense of humor......."
I think in those cases it does more harm than it helps with the true memory of Elvis.
I have only met one in person and he is a nice guy, he does a lot of charity work for kids, and old folks homes-he stresses he is not Elvis but an imitator and all this is commendable-but he is just not good at it the actual performing. (but locals think he is very good)
His singing is fair on 50s Elvis, but his 60s and 70s is very weak and his moves are at times embarrassing.
I think over all the ETAs just put up a false image of all that Elvis was-most are more a "caricature" rather than an accurate portrait.

[el gerry]

Ive been to Memphis Elvis week and these *****s walking around in their cheap tacky jumpsuits who make up less than one percent of the fans there are the ones the media film and talk to as if all the Elvis fans go round like this . They make Elvis fans look like sad freaks to the rest of the world . How is it furthering his name or legacy or memory walking around the streets in a jumpsuit and usually a very cheap tacky one , when the people that are there are Elvis fans . Do they need to be reminded . No they are just sad people who need attention . As for the support from EPA and hosting thet grotesqe spectical in Graceland they shoud hang their heads in shame .