WHEN Elvis Presley appeared on the hugely popular Ed Sullivan Show in 1957, his hip gyrations were so shocking to American parents that ‘The Pelvis’ was filmed from the waist up.
“When people come to see my show I’ll show them what happens from the waist down,” Elvis impersonator Max Pellicano says from his home in Detroit.
The actor turned impersonator was more into the Beatles and Rolling Stones, until he scored a role in Bye Bye Birdie in 1974.
The musical satire on US society was inspired by the enormous reaction from fans to Presley being drafted into the army in 1957.
“I had to study Jailhouse Rock for my role as the Elvis-type character Conrad Birdie,” Pellicano says.
“I studied the way he walked, the way he talked, and the way he moved for months. I got into his movies and his Aloha from Hawaii concert, and decided that was what I wanted to do.”
Pellicano was 19 at the time and for the past 30 years has been slicking up his quiff and donning sequined suits while traveling the the world as Elvis to the Max.
“Luckily I still have my hair…I have to colour it, but Elvis had to do that.”
The costumes, made by Elvis’ personal tailor Bill Bellow, are exact replicas including the shimmering encrusted “white eagle” costume which cost a cool $10,000 to recreate.
Happy to be himself off stage, Pellicano gets into character prior to the show: “From about three when doing the sound check, I try to stay in character…It helps me on stage.”
Live to the Max will recreate the magic of the Aloha concert and the 1972 concert in Madison Square Gardens, considered his best.
“It’s a testament to him that 40 years after he passed on his music is always played on the radio,” Pellicano says.
A 100-piece orchestra and dazzling costumes will keep pace with the rock and roll beat during the two-part show.
It’s on at the Astor Theatre April 23. Tix on 9370 5888
Perth Voice Interactive 
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