Jail house rocking as fans remember the king

Hundreds of fans in Henderson turned up yesterday to mark Elvis Presley's 70th birthday - despite Elvis having left the building some years before.

The Tui Glen Reserve event, held the day after his actual birth date, was organised by the Memories of Elvis Fan Club and drew devotees from the South Island and all over the North Island including several from Wellington who motored up through flooding.

Cathy Finau was one. She said she made the trip every year. She had the Elvis earrings, necklace and watch to prove it as well as tattoos (TCE - Taking Care of Elvis) and "I love Elvis" fingernails on both hands.

Fan club committee member Noeline Poad said yesterday's free celebration was the sixth of its kind. In spite of numerous phone calls from people worried about the weather on Saturday (the real date of Elvis' birthday) the event was not cancelled.

During the event five Elvis impersonators entertained the crowd. A stage-side arena was set aside for dancing. Older fans - they call themselves "the originals" - joined the young as impersonator after impersonator belted out the "King's" hits.

But would Elvis himself have got "all shook up"with the rest of the fans?

"I don't think so, unfortunately," said Mrs Poad. "His voice was good but bodywise ... of course we know what happened."