The boy is King for a day!

The King of rock was crowned again last night… by the world’s top pop stars. They got together for TV’s biggest-ever tribute to Elvis Presley since his death 10 years ago.

The legendary singer’s memory has been dogged with jibes about him being a fat, bloated, drug-taking slob. But last night they were all forgotten.

Boy George sung his own private thank-you to Elvis with the king’s own songs… Are You Lonesome Tonight and Teddy Bear. Said George: “Whenever his name is mentioned, I can’t help bursting into song – Elvis was rock ‘n’ roll.”

Central TV spent a massive £2 million to bring together famous fans of Presley from both sides of the Atlantic to film the two hour tribute to be shown on August 14. It was a celebration of his greatness and a lament of his loss – a decade ago on August 16. Not since Live Aid has such a line-up of pop greats gathered in one cause.

Nostalgic

All sang Elvis songs, more than 40 hits were recorded by the rock greats who spanned 30 years. The Who’s Roger Daltrey teamed up with legendary Carl Perkins for a rip-roaring Hound Dog, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant sang with Jeff Beck on I Got Stung, Kim Wilde performed One Night, Dave Edmunds tore through Good Rockin’ Tonight and fretboard wizard Duane Eddy played Guitar Man.

Mighty Meatloaf did Jailhouse Rock, Ben E. King Suspicious Minds, and Elvis’s original band – James Burton, Glen Harding, Jerry Scheff and Ronnie Tutt – came together for the first time in 11 years to play Mystery Train.

American soul singer Nona Hendryx reduced the film crew and the stars to tears with a moving version of In The Ghetto. The weeping began again as British soul sister, Ruby Turner did Can’t Help Falling In Love.

Producer of the tribute, Richard Leyland, said: “Whatever is said of Elvis, however his legend is cheapened, his music will always remain – that was his greatness.”