Many people think that the king of rock’n’roll may turn 89 years old next week while sitting at the bar of the Heartbreak Hotel. However, the rest of us will only have the opportunity to see an Elvis Presley hologram show in 2024.
The debut of Elvis Evolution, a “fully immersive concert experience” incorporating AI and holographic technology, will take place in London this November. Additional performances are scheduled for Las Vegas, Tokyo, and Berlin.
The use of technology will generate a life-sized digital representation of Elvis, using a vast collection of his personal photographs and home videos. This hologram will then be featured in a tribute to the late star’s life and musical impact, thanks to a collaboration between Authentic Brands Group (the owners of the Elvis Presley estate) and Layered Reality (a British company specializing in immersive entertainment).
According to Andrew McGuinness, the CEO of Layered Reality, “Elvis Evolution” is a tribute to the iconic musician Elvis Presley that incorporates advanced technology.
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Elvis remains a global superstar and people all over the world no longer wish to simply receive entertainment passively – they want to actively participate in it.
“It will be an unforgettable experience that will be on the bucket list for Elvis fans and admirers globally. Participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Elvis, walk in his footsteps, and honor his incredible musical legacy.”
The event will include a post-show bar and restaurant with an Elvis theme at the central London venue. Guests can enjoy live music, DJs, and performances.
The launch comes after the impressive triumph of Abba Voyage, a production where life-size virtual versions of the four Swedish pop group members perform as their real-life selves did in 1979, in a specially constructed venue located in eastern London.
In its initial year, Abba Voyage managed to sell over 1.3 million tickets, with news of a potential global tour in the works. The production of the 90-minute performance and arena took seven years and cost £140 million.
The American rock group Kiss has revealed avatars of their band members, portrayed as superheroes.
Even though Elvis remained a prominent figure in society, his presence was revived through two movies in recent times. Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” was just released in the UK, shedding light on his ex-wife’s story and the challenges she faced being in his shadow since she met him at the age of 14 when he was 24.
In 2022, Baz Luhrmann directed an extravagant movie about the king’s musical career and personal life, receiving great acclaim for the performance of lead actor Austin Butler.
When Presley unexpectedly passed away in 1977 at 42 years old, he had already become a massive figure in both music and culture. He completely transformed the world of popular music, shocking older generations and being idolized by the youth. His provocative hip movements incited hysteria and almost caused riots. He also acted in several films.
Although he had a history of misusing prescription drugs and maintaining an unhealthy diet, his passing from heart failure was unexpected. Some individuals believe he orchestrated his own death, and there have been numerous accounts of people claiming to have seen the iconic celebrity in various locations around the globe.
One idea suggests that Presley pretended to die in order to avoid the mafia. Gail Brewer-Giorgio, who wrote the popular book Is Elvis Alive? in 1988, claimed that the FBI recruited Presley as a secret agent in 1976 to assist them in infiltrating a criminal group known as the Fraternity.
According to Brewer-Giorgio, Elvis pretended to die because he feared for his life and there was no question about it.
There were claims that Presley made an appearance as an extra in the popular 1990 film Home Alone.
According to a 1997 Gallup survey, only 4% of Americans believed that Presley was still alive, while 93% of those asked were confident that he had passed away.
Source: theguardian.com
