'Feeds my soul': Elvis Presley super fan shares his fascination with the rock icon

Giles Moriarty, a 57-year-old Elvis Presley super fan from March, Cambridgeshire, shared that his fascination with the King of Rock 'n' Roll never wavered, despite discovering the artist’s music almost five decades back.

As 8 January marks what would have been Presley’s 90th birthday, Moriarty reflected on his enduring admiration for the hound dog singer, who passed away in 1977.

The turning point for Moriarty came in 1977 when he stumbled upon a vinyl record in his parents' collection, at the age of eight as per BBC news.

"Had he been alive today, I think Elvis would have hung up his Blue Suede Shoes, but would have enjoyed reflecting on his immense success," Moriarty said.

Moriarty’s devotion to the rock icon can be seen in the dedicated "Elvis room" at his home, filled with hundreds of books, records, and memorabilia, that he collected for more than half a century.

For Moriarty, the king has been a constant companion. His music "feeds my soul", claims Moriarty

Further reflecting on his school days, he recalled, "I was not cool at school in 1977. The other kids were discovering punk rock, but not me.”

For Moriarty, Elvis’ influence stretched far beyond music. He recalled finding a rare 1955 Sun Records single of “Baby Let’s Play House” in his parents' collection, a song that challenged societal norms at the time through its suggestive lyrics.

"People forget what a ground-breaking artist he was," Moriarty said.

Despite Elvis' troubled personal life, including battles with drug addiction, Moriarty remains undeterred in his love for the music.

"None of that matters, it's the music that I love. He had a Shakespearean arc to his life: the rags to riches story, and of course, an undesirable end, which is almost a requirement for a Shakespearean classic," he reflected.

Moriarty’s deep admiration for Presley was often met with criticism. His family often referred to his devotion as “mad” or “totally Loony Tunes,” though Moriarty clarified that he did not mind at all.

To him, Elvis was a "constant" in his life.

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on 8 January 1935, and became a cultural icon following his career’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings. With his distinctive voice, charisma, and revolutionary influence on American music, Presley is considered a figure that reshaped pop culture.