(Houston, Texas – June 26, 2007) Bluesrocker Mean Gene Kelton and his band The Die Hards have just returned from Memphis, Tennessee where they recorded Going Back To Memphis: A Biker Band Tribute To Elvis at the legendary Sun Studio.

Going Back To Memphis showcases Keltons’ own unique 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.

“Elvis’ original recordings always featured the best musicians in the world,” says Kelton, “but the musicians were seldom allowed to stretch out and play solos - Elvis’ songs were always all about his voice. We changed some arrangements, adding guitar and harmonica solos and giving those songs a whole new, grittier feel. We even added a bass guitar solo on Hound Dog and it rocks!”

Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards were labeled a “Biker Band” when they began drawing a huge biker following as far back as the early nineties. Today, their high-energy “Texas blues and southern-fried rock ‘n roll” have made them one of the top biker bands on the motorcycle rally circuit. They are featured at major bike rallies, Harley Davidson Dealerships and motorcycle-themed events across the country, alongside Mark Farner (Grand Funk), Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, Bad Company, John Kay and Steppenwolf and others.

In 2003, the band became one of only five rotating house bands handpicked to perform at Elvis Presley’s Memphis Club on Beale Street, owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. The manager Judith Parra told Kelton house bands were not to perform any Elvis songs, per a club rule. After hearing Kelton’s own interpretations of songs Elvis was known for and seeing the audience response, she and representatives from Graceland insisted that Kelton perform 90% Elvis songs in his nightly show. The tourists loved it! Members of various Elvis Presley fan clubs from around the world gave the band two thumbs up because they were not trying to be Elvis impersonators.

When the band was on break from Elvis Presley’s Club, they toured the country performing at bike rallies. Their high energy, southern rock versions of Elvis songs were enthusiastically accepted by legions of rowdy rebels in black leather.

“Bikers always request our versions of Elvis songs”, says Kelton, “after all, Elvis was a biker”.

With 2007 commemorating the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death, it was only natural to combine the band’s Elvis nightclub experience with their biker band status, and record the ultimate “Biker Band Tribute to Elvis”.

“We had been discussing the concept of recording a CD of Elvis songs, done southern-rock biker band style, with the folks at Graceland since last year,” says Kelton. “I was about to give up on the project when out of the blue, Elvis Presley Enterprises called from Los Angeles gave us their blessings and official authorization to TCB!” *

“Within days we found ourselves at Sun Studio in Memphis. Sun Studio is exactly as it was back in the fifties when Elvis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash started their careers in the very same spot where we were standing! It was a musician’s dream come true!”

“We set up and performed thirteen songs in a row, live and raw, just like we would play them at a live gig,” says Kelton. “I refused to use click tracks or scratch vocal tracks. I wanted to capture the true, unpolished sound and live feel of the band and the studio. With exception of some harmonica and background vocals, we did very little overdubbing. The listener may hear fleeting moments of sheer genius - or teeth grinding mistakes. One thing for sure, it’s all real, and that’s the beauty of the whole thing!”

“The Sun Studio engineers were great, and the band kicked butt”, says Kelton, “Our bass player, Wolff DeLong, sang two songs: Little Sister and Steamroller Blues. His dynamic vocal performance is second to none.”

Former Elvis’ Presley’s Club Manager Judith Parra was there for the session, lending her support and approval.
A special royalty from the sale of each CD will be donated to two separate charities,” says Kelton. One being B.A.C.A. (Bikers Against Child Abuse), the other is St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.”

“When I told my Mother that St. Jude’s was one of our charities,” says Kelton, “I could hear her voice crack. She reminded me that when I was eight years, we lived in Memphis and I almost died of pneumonia. She carried me in her arms into St. Jude’s where they saved my life and did not charge my Mother a dime! I am very proud to have reached a point in my life and career where I can give back something to help other young families the way St. Jude’s helped us.”

Going Back To Memphis: A Biker Band Tribute To Elvis will be available August 2007 though www.meangenerocks.com, www.cdbaby.com, www.amazon.com and other retail outlets.

Media Info on the band: http://www.jambonerecords.com
Fansite, CDs and booking info: http://www.meangenerocks.com