Even Elvis Presley would dance when the Royal Showband came to town

Hanging out with Elvis and The Beatles were just part of the fun for Ireland’s biggest showband, writes Ed Power

EDDIE SULLIVAN has an Elvis story. “It was 1968 and the Royal Showband were playing the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas,” says the group’s founding member and trumpeter. “We’d do three shows a night, six nights a week — which was obviously a bit of a grind. One night Elvis walked in and the place went wild. He had to leave within five minutes. There was huge commotion.”

A fortnight later, Presley returned. This time he had brought a retinue of bodyguards. Elvis liked what he saw: seven sweaty young Irishman tearing up the stage, singing as if their very existence depended on it. At one point Elvis actually rushed to the front, and danced along. On the way out, the King left a message. Sullivan and friends were welcome to call on Presley at his suite afterwards.