"If anybody ever deserves some peace, if anybody ever needed to be reunited with his mother, if anybody ever needed to just split, it was Elvis." These words, delivered in a reportage voice without sentimentality by Elvis' stepbrother David Stanley, lead the visitor to a new exhibition about the King of rock'n'roll into a space of quiet reflection, looking out on a reconstruction of his gravesite, while video footage flickers and Love Me Tender floats down.
Last weekend was the anniversary of the death of Elvis and Liverpool marked it with a two-day festival, starting with a candlelight vigil and eulogy from Elvis' stepbrother on Friday evening. The new exhibition was also launched at Liverpool's Albert Dock, telling the story of the life of the King, through memorabilia and commentary.
"Elvis must have influenced all the rockers and potential rockers in the UK, none more so than in Liverpool, which had more bands than anywhere else," said Mike Byrne, a consultant to the Fingerprints exhibition, explaining the choice of Liverpool as the venue to recreate a piece of Graceland. Mr Byrne is also a founder of the Beatles Story exhibition, located just a few shakes along the Docks.
Elvis' stepbrother David Stanley, who was closely involved in the creation of the exhibition, flew in from Texas to attend the opening. "I have two feelings when I walk around. Everywhere I look I have a memory of Elvis, of my big brother, but also it is amazing that I'm walking in Liverpool, England. I'm a total Beatles fan. To me it was normal for Elvis to make music, but he's no Beatles."
He said he was excited at the new show and hoped it would allow Elvis' memory to live on. "Hopefully people will look at him as a human being who also had a tremendous gift. I hope when they remember Elvis they remember the good times, whether that be listening to him on the radio or young people learning about his influence. Young and old can look at the artefacts and understand the human being he was rather than just the image. It takes him from King to person."
