Elvis Jackson

Elvis Jackson sprouted from the ashes of several local bands in the wine valley at the end of 1997. The original line-up got together just two days before the first show: Buda - David Kovšca (vocal, trumpet), Slavc - Erik Makuc (bass guitar), Rado - Sašo Kotnik (drums) and Berto - Boštjan Beltram (guitar). Occasionally Antonio Zamora Caceres - Bongo joined the band on percussions (and back vocals), and in January 2004 Sergej Randjelovič - Runjoe, replaced Nenad Kostadinovski - Neno on drums. The first drummer was Sašo, who left the band in late 2003. At the moment, the line-up includes four members plus sound engineer Emir Beširević as a full band member.

The debut album "Move Your Feet It's One O'Clock" (Rock'n'Roll Rec.) was recorded after one year of non-stop playing in every imaginable club and festival in Slovenia. It was released just for the Slovenian market, but all who heard the 17 songs and the famous "Happy Days" theme warmed to Elvis Jackson's hopping and reveling music. Leaving the studio, they immediately hit the road for the European tour, entitled approximately "You can't grow as much as we can smoke". Besides Slovenia, they entertain the audience in Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and maybe elsewhere as well. After the tour they played virtually every festival in Slovenia. The excellent performances were followed by a proposal to write the music for the short movie "Jezni" ("Angry"), directed by Špela Kuclar for TV Slovenia and presented on Portorož Movie Festival 2000. The band handled the task flawlessly.

In the beginning of 2000 the song "Unlucky Guy" was included on the compilation "No-fi Trash", published by Swiss label Floppy Cow. Distributed worldwide, the album also featured Lag Wagon, No Fun At All, The Get Up Kids and Hot Water Music among others. This was a logical step for Elvis Jackson, who have previously shared the stage with well-known bands like Toasters, Looking Up, Burning Heads, Murphy's Law, Vice Squad, Subhumans, Edna's Goldfish, and Citizen Fish, and played a Swiss tour with Goldfinger from the USA.

The debut "Move Your Feet..." was a total success, the first print is sold out and the second, featuring new cover art and remastered recordings, was re-released. Elvis Jackson released their new and second record "Go Home And Practice" at the Slovenian record label Rock'n'Roll Rec. As a bonus, the record also included three songs from the "Angry" soundtrack and came out in November 2000. This time the Jacksons presented themselves as mature musicians, upgrading fine punk-rock with reggae and ska entwined with metal grips, spiced up with fresh ideas and a good peck of humor. Studio Kladivo took care of the visual part of the record and cover, designed by Engels (Racija). The entertaining and inventive side of the group was well depicted in two videos; Hawaiian club, directed by Ven Jemeršič in co-production with TV Slovenia, and Market Sweets, directed by Boris Petković - Oli. The special guest was a truly unique local Elvis impersonator, as well as sequences from their opening show for The Offspring in Ljubljana.

During the summer, Elvis Jackson took part in every important festival in Slovenia and also appeared on many stages abroad. They travelled thousands of kilometers cruising through Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, France, Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. To the delight of their numerous devotees, these pranksters revealed their skills over 90 times in just one year. After a while, they were helped by the fifth member - we are talking about none other than Antonio Zamora Caceres - Bongo, a charming Mexican who took over the role of percussionist, backing vocalist ,and dancer. With the band he recorded the new album and the video for the song You and I.

Elvis Jackson, ready to experience something new and to spend more money, entered the studio in Austria (UTT) with producer J.Kell (Tricom Music) in March 2002 and finished the recordings in late May in Propeller studio in Cologne, Germany. The mastering was done by Rupert Metnitzer in Electric Audio Studio in Dobl, Austria. This time the audience enjoyed a more mature sound and the finest mix of catchy melodies, ska, punk and hardcore energy, as well as some special reggae tuned songs.

The album's sound was further improved with some guests. Beside Bongo on percussions and back vocals, female back vocals, thr brass section of Cologne reggae band called "Schaelsig Steppas", DJ Dado /the human scratch machine/ there were other surprises to discover.

In the meantime Elvis Jackson were invited to contribute to the ska compilation CD Global Ska 2 (Rebelde Discos, Spain). Besides Elvis Jackson's hit song Morning, more than 20 other worldwide acts are featured on this very successful worldwide compilation CD series, amopng them Chickenpox (Sweden), Stubborn Allstars (USA), Skarface (France), Too Hot (U.K.), Ska Trek (Germany), Wataru Buster (Japan) and many others.

The album "Summer Edition" was self-released in January 2003 and was distributed in Slovenia by the Slovenian record label Multimedia Rec. Meanwhile the band and their management were seeking the best possible deal for the European and worldwide market. Elvis Jackson (they won several music prizes in Slovenia - also two prestigious Bumerang awards for the best live act and this year also for the best band) performed across Europe in January and February 2003. Around 30 festivals all around Europe were booked during summer time, and they opened the show for Asian Dub Foundation in Ljubljana. The econd single and video from album Summer Edition, "You and I", was launched at the end of summer.
Elvis Jackson finished the year 2003 successfully on tour in Austria, Germany and Switzerland again (X-mas Vibes tour, organised by Moskito Promotion). It was time for a new chapter in their musical career.

Since, Summer Edition is about to be released in Germany by Elmo Rec (Grover Rec. sub-label) and in other EU territories. The release date is scheduled for 6th September 2004. Album "Summer Edition" will present also two bonus tracks-videos: "You and I" and "Get Up!" besides that 7 inch vinyl (special and limited edition) will be released with songs like "You and I", "Market Sweets" and live recorded and so far unreleased version of song "Dreams".
The new video for the song "Get Up!" was launched before Summer 2004, besides that a full EU tour is in preparation for Sept/Oct 2004. Elvis Jackson performed in several countries and during summer time played biggest Slovenian (Rock Otocec), Serbian (Exit, Novi Sad), Slovakian (Pohoda Fest, Trencin), Czech (Rock For People, Cesky Brod) and some festivals in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

Seeing or hearing Elvis Jackson might leave a lasting impression on you.