Band To Donate Royalty to BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) and St.
Jude's Childrens Hospital
(Houston, Texas-July 16, 2007) Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of
Elvis' death, Texas' #1 Biker Rally Band, Mean Gene Kelton & The Die
Hards have recorded a new Jambone Records CD,"Going Back To Memphis: A
Biker Band Tribute To Elvis" at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis,
Tennessee.
Since the early nineties, Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards' high-
energy Texas Blues and southern-fried rock 'n roll have made them one
of the top biker bands, performing at major rallies, dealerships and
swap meets across the country along with David Allan Coe, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Bad
Company, Mark Farner (Grand Funk) and others. They have earned many
awards and garnered seven # 1 songs on Bluesrock charts.
In 2003, the band was recruited to perform at the former Elvis
Presley's Club on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. After seeing the
audience's overwhelming response to Kelton's own interpretations of
Elvis songs, Graceland insisted that Kelton perform 90% Elvis songs in
his nightly show. The tourists loved the versions, and the reps from
Elvis Presley Fan Clubs gave the band "two thumbs up!"
Whenever the band was on break from Elvis Presley's Club, they toured
the country performing at bike rallies, where their high-energy
southern rock versions of Elvis songs were enthusiastically accepted
by legions of rowdy rebels in black leather.
"We changed some arrangements, added guitar and harmonica solos giving
those songs a whole new, grittier feel. We even added a bass guitar
solo on Hound Dog, and it rocks!" says Kelton. "Bikers always request
our versions of Elvis songs", says Kelton. "There's nothing like
having a dozen Biker Babes up on stage with us bumping and grinding to
one of our Elvis songs!"
With 2007 commemorating the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death, and
Graceland Harley-Davidson unveiling the official "Elvis Harley" during
Elvis week in Memphis, it is only natural that Mean Gene Kelton & The
Die Hards be the ultimate band to record the ultimate Biker Band
Tribute to Elvis.
"We are honored that Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises loved our
Southern rock Biker Band Tribute to Elvis idea, and gave us their
official blessings to 'TCB'!" says Kelton.
"Recording at Sun Studio in Memphis was a dream come true! We were
treated like movie stars. We stood in the same spot where Elvis, Carl
Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash once stood."
"We set up our gear and performed all thirteen songs, live and raw,
just like we'd play them at a bike rally," says Kelton. "I refused to
use click tracks or scratch vocal tracks. We did very minimal over-
dubbing. I wanted to capture the band's live, raw, unpolished feel and
unbridled enthusiasm for this project. It kicked a**!"
Kelton is donating a special royalty from the sale of each CD to two
separate charities, one being B.A.C.A.,(Bikers Against Child Abuse).
"I truly believe in their cause," says Kelton. "Little children
shouldn't have to live in fear and they need someone who will look out
for them the way BACA does."
"We are also donating a royalty to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in
Memphis. When I told my Mother we were donating a royalty to St.
Jude's," says Kelton, "her voice cracked as she reminded me that we
lived in Memphis when I was eight years old and almost died of
pneumonia. St. Jude's saved my life and did not charge her a dime! I
am very proud to have reached a point in my life and career where I
can give back something to these great organizations so they can help
other families the way we were helped."
"Going Back To Memphis" showcases Kelton's own, unique houserockin'
Texas blues and southern rock interpretations of songs previously
recorded by Elvis, including Jailhouse Rock, Polk Salad Annie, Hound
Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, Steamroller and others. The title track, "Going
back To Memphis" is a Kelton original about the second coming of Elvis
that hit #1 on internet Rockabilly Charts.
"Elvis' music is all about having fun", says Kelton. "We want people
to forget about their troubles, crank up the volume, jump up and dance
and just have fun listening to the CD."
There will be a lot of fun to be had at the wild and crazy CD release
party planned for Friday, August 17th, 2007, at Coyote Ugly on Beale
Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Other CD release parties are planned for
Biker friendly locations in Texas and across the country shortly
thereafter. Tour dates, booking info and the new CD "Going Back To
Memphis: A Biker Band Tribute To Elvis" is available at http://www.meangenerocks.com
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