"ALOHA FROM DOWN UNDER" 2004

THE FACTS:
Well over a quarter of a century has passed since the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley, died. Undisputedly there is and only ever will be one King, but the legend lives on and committed to keeping the spirit alive, is Max  Pellicano. Elvis was not much of an overseas traveller, but Elvis' image in the form of Max Pellicano has already crossed the globe a dozen times. His uncanny resemblance and equally chilling performance have mesmerized tens of thousands. Is it any wonder some people still refuse to believe that Presley is dead?

THE ARTIST:
Born in Monte Carlo, of French and Italian parents, Max Pellicano spent most of his childhood in New York before moving to San Francisco at the age of 14. Today, Max is based in Detroit.
He has been a professional actor and entertainer since 1974 when he graduated from the California State University with a degree in Dramatic Arts.

Max first brought Elvis (as an actor) to life on stage in a production of Bye Bye Birdie. "I was doing musicals and theatre and had to study Jailhouse Rock for my role as the Elvis-type character, Conrad Birdie. I studied the way he walked, the way he talked and the way he moved for months. I guess you could say I got into impersonating Elvis in a kind of round-about way" he said.

His performance led to an Elvis tribute show and the rest is history. "I learnt long ago that the fans don't want the legend to die. They want to keep the memory going". Max said. He still spends many hours in front of the television listening to records. "I watch a lot of old live concerts and it's actually kind of easy to study Elvis because I really enjoy watching his shows" says Max. Max stresses that he is an actor recreating a character and it is an illusion. Some see it differently though - one of Max's strangest requests was when a couple in Los Angeles asked him to bless their child.

According to "I am Elvis" there are more than 6,000 professional Elvis impersonators in the world and countless amateurs.

"It's hard to copy the original, but what we try and do is recreate the Elvis concert and give people a chance to see what it might have been like to see Elvis perform live".

THE COSTUMES:
The costumes worn by Max are exact replicas made from the original designs by Elvis' tailor, Bill Bellow. For the 2004 Tour, Max will bring to Australia no less than 8 costumes.

THE MAX FACTOR:
Name: Max Pellicano
Birthplace: Monte Carlo, France - to French and Italian parents
Childhood: Mostly spent in New York before moving to San Francisco at the age of 14
Now Lives: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Education: Graduated from the California State University with a degree in Dramatic Arts
Profession: Professional actor and entertainer

MUSICAL INFLUENCES:
The Beatles (Max is a Big! Huge! Enormous! Beatles fan)
Musical Theatre - Shows like "Kiss Me Kate" & "Guys & Dolls."
My favorite composer is Cole Porter
Classical Music - Beethoven
Musical Groups - Chicago, ELO, Squeeze, British Groups, Blood Sweat & Tears
R&B singers - Sam & Dave, Al Green, Johnny Taylor
Opera - Mario Lanza
Blues - Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and BB King
Australian Artists - INXS, John Farnham, Little River Band (Original Line Up), Air Supply, Olivia Newton-John

MAX'S FIRST GUITAR:
A plywood guitar my father bought me for Christmas when I was eleven years old. It was so bad it had no name! I later bought a Martin.

MAX'S FIRST  STATE APPEARANCE AS ELVIS:
I played the role of the Elvis-type character Conrad Birdie in "Bye Bye Birdie," Soon after, I performed in an Elvis show in San Francisco with singer Mary Wells of Motown fame.

FILMS IN WHICH MAX HAS APPEARED:
1992 ­ "De Vinci's War" starring Joey Travolta, Michael Nouri & Vanity
1980 - "The Gangster Chronicles" - Documentary
1976 - "Sharon the Portrait of a Mistress"

MAX'S FIRST MEMORY OF ELVIS:
I was 6 years old. My brother played "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up" 1,000 times!

ELVIS MUSICIANS WITH WHOM MAX HAS PERFORMED:
The Jordanaires (1988)
JD Sumner & The Stamps (1986)

MAX'S FIRST STATE APPEARANCE AS ELVIS IN LAS VEGAS:
1986 - "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace.

MAX'S FAVORITE ELVIS SONG AND WHY:
"Burning Love" It turns me on. I love that beat and bass line.

MAX'S ASSOCIATION WITH BILL BELEW:
Gene Douchette bought B&K enterprises from Bill Belew - Elvis' original costume tailor. B&B Enterprises create my costumes out of Kentucky and Gene does all the embroidery work. He worked on all of Elvis' suits including suits for movies and television.

MAX'S FAVORITE COSTUME & WHY:
The "Eagle" suit. Elvis wore it on his most famous TV telecast. "Aloha from Hawaii - Via Satellite." I also like the "Sundial" suit, which is the last costume he ever wore on stage.

MAX HAS PERFORMED WITH:
The Platters
George Burns
Dion
Helen Reddy
Little Anthony & The Imperials
Dolly Parton
The Coasters
Del Shannon
The Shirelles
Rich Little
Don Rickles
Davy Jones (from the Monkeys)

MAX'S FAVORITES:
Food: Italian
Sport: Grid Iron
Likes:  Meeting fans after the shows. Watching movies
Dislikes: Having to wake up in the morning


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