Abstract

A five year photographic exploration of people in the UK who love Elvis Presley.

Elvis is still an important cultural touchstone in working class communities all over the UK. It’s something to do with the story of a poor truck driver who rose to unimaginable fame and fortune. It’s about the songs, nostalgia and community. It’s also about love and faith as well as dressing up and having a good time.

I began by documenting the sheer spectacle of what I saw– the exuberance, colour and spectacle of the Elvis Impersonators who I met at conventions, competitions, pubs and clubs and even in old folk’s homes.

As the project matured, I began to appreciate and photograph the individuals and their stories that lay behind the pageant. Revealed were individual stories of devotion, tragedy and resilience from the people who are at the heart of what this book is about.