Elvisly Yours Restaurants

         
Exterior and interior of the Elvisly Yours Restaurant

UPDATE:

Negotiations to open the first "Elvisly Yours Restaurant" are ongoing. As I said at the outset this is a major investment with each Restaurant costing over £3 million. We are hopeful that the first Restaurant will be open in Central London by the end of 2005, as originally projected. We will keep you posted through the Cyber Newsletter and the Elvisly Yours website www.elvisly-yours.com . In the meantime we get enquiries daily to book seats at the Restaurant from around the world. Of course, we can't take bookings until the Restaurant is equipped and ready to rock 'n' roll and believe me you and all Elvis fans all over the world will know through the massive publicity generated that we are open for business. There are many fans who have asked about making an investment in the restaurants but we need to find a top class Restaurant Operator investor. There is no problem raising the finance but the operator is the key and all our efforts are negotiating with potential operators.

BMG/SONY...WHAT A SHAMBLES

Elvisly Yours decided many years ago not to sell records and CDs as we could not compete with large record stores and we weren't happy with BMG/RCA. We had no faith in BMG/RCA and for years they had done nothing to promote Elvis Presley. Elvis' musical career was left to rot partly as result of EPE threats to BMG (there were lawsuits flying around instigated by EPE against BMG) and the meanness of this record company. Just think what would have happened if Richard Branson had controlled Elvis' music catalogue instead of BMG/RCA...Elvis would have been top of the charts for years. I was told by an executive of BMG that EPE would not allow them to use any film clips of Elvis singing or use his image for promotions but this was before I defeated EPE in the British High Court and Court of Appeals. EPE wanted 50% of the profits to allow BMG to use Elvis' image and film clips, an offer BMG could and did refuse.

As if by magic BMG suddenly got into bed with EPE for the 25th Anniversary of Elvis' death. First the producers of the film "Oceans Eleven" wanted to use "A Little Less Conversation" in the film and the producers of NIKE commercials liked the song so much they decided to use it for their TV commercials for the last World Cup. With so much pressure on EPE after 20 years of threatening instead of working with people they were forced to compromise and finally even Lisa's Uncle Gary (EPE's music licensing moron) realised you can make more money working with companies rather than against them. Of course the remix of ALLC was revolutionary for Elvis and the worldwide screening of the TV commercial gave a huge boost to the single and it was no.1 in 25 countries. At last, for the 25th Anniversary, the media recognised Elvis for his music and how he changed the world. Then Disney jumped on the Elvis gravy train and released "Lilo and Stitch" with an Elvis soundtrack except in Britain when BMG and Gareth "what a wimp" Gates ruined the film with him singing "Suspicious Minds" instead of our Elvis. To add insult to injury for the British fans, commercials for the song ended with the slogan... "Gareth has left the building".

It was almost as if Elvis Presley had been reborn, resurrected so a whole new young army of fans could appreciate the man and his music. But BMG getting into bed with EPE has meant BMG have taken on the characteristics of EPE. They never did care much for the fans and have just exploited them for all these years since Elvis died. But, with this total disgrace with the release of the UK singles that fans can't buy and the banning of "Top of the Pops" using a film clip of Elvis singing "One Night" in honour of Elvis having the 1,000th no.1 in UK history BMG have reached a new low. I understand there are media and Government investigations going on over this Elvis single's scandal. I am sure there are lots of singles that have not got to market and who are holding on to them? Record store managers have been blamed and I wonder how many Todd Slaughter is sitting on since, apparently, he was working with BMG for their release? Since the GB Elvis Fan Club is, we are told over and over again, a non profit making organisation I expect Mr. Slaughter will release the singles at the regular price for the benefit of members of his fan club. 

BMG are the distributor of the DVD of the ' 68 Comeback so they have full rights to allow clips from the DVD to be used for promotional purposes and usually without charge to TV companies because they want the publicity. What better way to promote the DVD than to have it played on TOTP to commemorate such an historic moment in British Music history of Elvis having the 1,000th no.1 UK single....But, BMG have no balls (maybe the literal translation of BMG from the German is "balls maybe gone". BMG could have simply told EPE they were releasing the clip and could you imagine EPE trying to sue BMG in the UK Courts because they allowed the clip to be used selling more Elvis music and a lot more videos.

We have been approached over the past two and a half years by PR companies wanting to work with us on behalf of BMG promoting Elvis' Music. First in 2002 a company called "Coalition" wanted our help to promote the album of "Elvis #1" but instead of working with us they went behind my back and approached Mark Leen at our Event in Blackpool (unbeknown to Mark) who I encouraged to participate in our big promotion for the 25th Anniversary. They never returned phone calls or emails. For the 50th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll I was approached by Peter Noble PR who wanted to work closely with us regarding all our Elvises driving through London. They wanted to buy Elvis memorabilia to give away in promotions and picked my brain about PR ideas. They never returned phone calls or emails and even hindered our promotion by leaning on the Press Association not cover our promotion and instead photograph theirs at HMV record store. We had the strange experience of Associated Press putting our promotion all over the world and not ONE word from the British Press Association about our two busloads of Elvises entertaining London's West End for the 50th Anniversary of Rock n' Roll. Finally we have been approached by another PR company  for BMG who want to work with us promoting the new Elvis "Love" CD album. They have never come back either...why? because in 2002 I was told by BMG they will no longer work with Elvisly Yours because EPE have told them not to ! They call that "shooting yourself in the foot" and how stupid can you get? ...what an emasculated lot work are at BMG.

The Man Responsible for stopping the BBC using film of Elvis singing "One Night" 

Gary Hovey is the man responsible for music licensing at EPE and has ultimate responsibilty for allowing use of Elvis film clips for promotional purposes. Supposedly, EPE believe the BBC are in some type of breach of contract over use of Elvis film for the 25th Anniversary of Elvis' death and as a result have apparently stopped the BBC using any of Elvis film footage since. I wonder if Hovey auditioned for a part in "Dumb and Dumber" or perhaps the producers are waiting for a sequel called "Dumbest". You do not aggravate the world's most prestigious broadcaster the BBC because you will always need them sometime in the future. Hovey is a disgrace to mankind. He has spoiled the honour Elvis had achieved by having the 1,000th no.1 UK single and being seen to sing "One Night" on the world's most famous and longest running Pop Show, "Top of the Pops". Instead the BBC added insult to injury by using an Elvis Tribute Artist, Mario from "Jailhouse Rock the Musical" to sing "One Night". Mario did his best but it was Elvis that should have been there on our screens.

Young kids watching the show will have got very confused. I don't think in the history of "Top Of The Pops" have they ever had an impersonator sing the song of any artist. Fans in the UK were outraged. They could have used dancers as they did in the old days on TOTP with some archive news clips of Elvis that are not controlled by EPE.  

Whilst fans were ranting and raving at the BBC and EPE, I was on the phone to New York and TOTP trying to get Bob Sillerman to intervene. I managed to talk to five different people in the company that handle his PR and they were sympathetic. They had heard of TOTP and realised how important it was for Elvis to show the clip. But, I only found out late on Thursday night about Elvis not appearing and with the time difference with New York I could not get through to a senior executive until 3.30pm, on the Friday, just four hours before the show. The producer of TOTP had phoned me and hinted if they were given clearance even at the 11th hour they would try and put it on the show. There had to be phone calls between New York, Memphis and Los Angeles (Hovey is in LA) and there just wasn't time. Also, I was told the sale of EPE was far from complete as there are many legalities to overcome with a new PLC Company and Bob Sillerman would not have the authority to release the film clip.

What will Lisa do to her uncle Gary when she finds out that the BBC don't want to feature her latest album suitably called "Dirty Laundry" because they were insulted by her company EPE. Also, I fully expect other British TV and possibly international TV will back the BBC in sympathy and just tell Lisa to take her album and just "Return to Sender" because you and your sorry bunch of megalomaniacs at EPE ain't nothing but "Hound Dogs"...and you ain't no friends of mine. That stupid, reckless decision to not allow Elvis singing "One Night" on TOTP will do more to damage Lisa's career than anything else imaginable.

It seems that Gary Hovey has serious psychological problems because he has to continually insult so many people in show business. It seems he gets his kicks out of saying "NO" to almost everyone who makes any small or big proposition to EPE. He is one major reason why EPE was $25 million in debt because every time he says no it means EPE lose potential $millions in revenue. To not allow Elvis to be seen on the BBC's TOTP singing "One Night" at such an historical moment for Elvis, his family, friends and fans worldwide will never be forgiven. I firmly believe that Gary Hovey is a suitable case for treatment and is in desperate need of counselling and should be relieved from his job at EPE immediately and why did not Lisa intervene to stop this madness ?

To see the Gates of Graceland 
go to CANNOCK

So you think your house is just like Graceland and in every room you have tributes and displays of Elvis memorabilia? 

But, there are some fans in Cannock, Staffordshire, England that have gone that little bit further and have actually built exact replicas of the "Graceland Gates" at their home. 

Not only do they have the gates but have turned their house into an Elvis Museum that you can visit for free, as long as you give notice you are coming. 

Although entrance is free they are trying to raise money for their favorite charities and would appreciate if fans gave a reasonable donation, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. The chosen charities are "The Heart Foundation" and Cancer Research at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

These devoted fans are Marj and Terry Bentley and they welcome Elvis fans to give them a visit, but if you want to view the Elvis Museum please phone first :

MARJ & TERRY BENTLEY

CANNOCK STAFFS WS12  4NQ          
TEL/FAX: 01543  570911

They have a pink and white 1955 Ford Fairlane as part of the Museum and even an Elvis themed swimming pool.  Can you beat the Bentleys and send photos of even bigger display of Elvis memorabilia? In Japan, during the exhibition of Vince Everett's Elvis collection, I met an Elvis fan who had 10,000 Elvis albums, EPs and singles from all over the world.

NO CONTEST...In our last Newsletter we stated "for the first time in our history we did not have one entrant to one of our competitions" and after it was repeated we finally have a winner who receives the baseball hat, "This hat is NOT licensed by Graceland" and "Elvis in Canada" and the winner is Sandy Pichon.

ELVISLY YOURS Competition Winner
 Winner of the Elvisly Yours monthly draw is: 
Robert  McCartney from Falkirk, who wins the 70th Anniversary Calendar

If you would like a copy of our catalogue to be sent to family or friends not on the Internet just sent us their mailing address.  
(not available in the USA)