Elvis fan club, Gaga entourage have tiff

Heated words flew between an Elvis fan club and Lady Gaga's entourage during a candlelight vigil Sunday night, on the eve of the 33rd anniversary of The King's death.

Viva Las Vegas Elvis Presley Club members confirmed on Monday that Lady Gaga and her followers wandered into the vigil during a ceremony in front of an Elvis statue in the Hilton hotel's valet area.

The exchange happened about 8:30 p.m., as Lady Gaga, described as appearing "disheveled," and her camp were heading for their caravan of black Escalades after dining at Benihana at the Hilton, the site of Elvis' comeback.

Sue Laurenz, president of the fan club, who was delivering a remembrance at the time, said a female member of Lady Gaga's group asked, "What's this all about?" When told it was a vigil for Elvis, Laurenz said the person inquiring about the gathering said, "Oh, he's been dead for over 30 years. Get over it!"

Laurenz said a female member of the Elvis fan club "got into it" (verbally) with the Lady Gaga entourage member "because we're going to stand up for our man.

"Don't be dissing The King," added Laurenz.

I reached the Elvis fan who defended him, and she confirmed that she confronted the woman who made the offensive comment and told her, "Elvis has been around a long time, a lot longer than Lady Gaga or goo goo or whatever her name is."

Laurenz and the club member who scolded the Lady Gaga follower emphasized that "it was not Lady Gaga dissing us." Laurenz said the "Poker Face" singer was seen taking a photo with Elvis' statue in the background.

M.J. Dennis, an executive with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and a member of the fan club, said Lady Gaga was wearing a full-length red boa coat, huge sunglasses and black stiletto heels.

Lady Gaga was in town for a concert at the MGM Grand on Friday and spent many hours in the Palms recording studio over the weekend.

Lady Gaga's manager, Troy Carter, said, "The person (who sparked the disagreement) was not part of Gaga's entourage or directly affiliated with us."

The irony, said Laurenz, is that earlier this year Elvis and Lady Gaga were voted in an online poll as the two singers the respondents would most like to see perform a duet.

SHANDOR WINS ELVIS TITLE

Justin Shandor, who refined his Elvis act at Elvis-A-Rama in Las Vegas, won the 2010 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, Tenn., over the weekend.

Shandor, 26, won the $20,000 first prize and a contract to perform in the Legends in Concert Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Tour.

Shandor, who now lives in Portland, Ore., performed a rousing rendition of "Poke Salad Annie." He qualified for the annual Graceland-sanctioned competition by winning the regional competition in Las Vegas last month at the Fremont Street Experience.

I had it right back when I wrote in my first Las Vegas book, "1,001 Naked Truths," that Shandor "is the hottest Elvis on the horizon." He was 17 and entering his first Elvis contest. I was judge for a KQOL-FM, 93.1, all-comers Elvis contest.

THE PUNCH LINE

"A new survey found that 48 percent of Americans are willing to try out a nude beach for vacation. And my guess is that it's the wrong 48 percent." -- Jimmy Fallon

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.