I Want Total Control

Story by Lea Frydman

In a world obsessed with her father – to the point that many refuse to believe he is dead – Lisa Marie Presley finds his name more of a curse than a blessing.

Elvis’ only daughter will chat happily about her family – daughter Danielle, husband Danny Keough and mum Priscilla. She’ll talk freely about her work, her attempts at acting and her recent efforts in the recording studio.

But the mere mention of her dad, who died nearly 15 years ago when she was only nine, and Lisa Marie’s responses come through gritted teeth. "I am aware of being born famous. All my life I’ve had strangers asking me about my father and what it’s like to be his daughter, I’m sick of it!"

Now 24, Lisa Marie is still the spitting image of the king of rock, but her voice is an assertive Californian rasp, rather than an echo of his southern drawl. And Lisa would rather talk about the things that distance her from Elvis than the endless comparisons that are inevitably made whenever she appears in public.

"For a long time I used to believe I would never be anything but Elvis’ daughter, never having my own identity. Now I am determined to make a life for myself. I can’t live my life in the shadow of my father’s image forever. I want to do my own thing … I want to have my own success. Maybe as an actress, maybe as a singer, maybe as a mother. Whatever it is, I want to be totally in control of my own destiny."

What she calls "just being a mother" seems to have been the making of Lisa Marie. The birth of Elvis’ grand daughter Danielle, now almost three years old, has forced maturity onto the former wild child. "Becoming a mother and facing the everyday problems of a demanding child – and believe me, Danielle can be very naughty at times – I have grown up.My mother warned me having kids makes you face yourself … know your limitations. Now I know what she means. And before you ask , my mother does not rule my life. She offers advice, but only when I ask. Danny and I are new parents, so we have spoiled our baby terribly. I suppose I’m only doing the same my daddy did with me. Staying at home with my baby has made me think about many things… like what I was put on this earth for."

While her belief in Scientology appears to answer the " why? " in her life, what Lisa Marie does is easily dealt with. For the past year she has spent six hours a day, three days a week studying stage and screen acting at the reputable Wilshire Theatre. But despite her clear commitment, her father’s name closes more doors than it opens.

"I have auditioned for movie roles, just like the rest of my drama class, but it seems that my name has been a setback. I’ve had my share of disappointments … because many producers don’t believe I’m taking acting seriously. They think I’m just riding on the name Presley. But then I think about how my daddy was criticised at the beginning, and it gives me the willpower to keep going. I’m no wimp, and I’m not about to give up after the first obstacle," says Lisa Marie.

Danny and Lisa Marie’s life long friend Charlie Hodge (who was a personal friend and sang harmony with Elvis on stage for five years) believe that Lisa Marie could become a successful recording artist because she has a wonderful singing voice. "Even as a child, Lisa Marie would sit by the stereo and quietly listen to her father’s recordings, over and over again. She has certainly inherited an ear for music from Elvis. Lisa Marie has a very sharp sense when it comes to music, " says Charlie Hodge. " If she doesn’t make it as a singer, she would make a great record producer."

Over and above her ambition to become an actress, Lisa Marie is trying her hand at recording an album in Nashville, in the very studio where her father played his last session in 1971.

Between 1956 and 1971, Elvis Presley recorded some 250 songs at 26 sessions in Nashville – such hits as I Got a woman, and Early Mornin’ Rain. But since Elvis died, studio B in Nashville has been closed to the Public.

It was Charlie’s suggestion that Lisa Marie make her debut album at this particular recording studio. Nashville studio executives were delighted to re-open the studio and assist in auditioning session musicians for Lisa Marie’s album, which she describes as " very 90’s music, but with a soul flavour".

Although eager to get her music career started, Lisa Marie did have strong reservations about treading on sacred territory. "It was very painful, walking into studio B. I walked in on the first day and thought to myself, ‘ if walls could talk, I bet there must be so many things they could tell me about my daddy’."

A proud and protective mother, Lisa Marie took daughter Danielle with her to Nashville."We brought Danielle because I hate leaving her, and we wanted her to learn more about her grand-daddy. You know, she knows a few Elvis songs. She loves singing Tutti Frutti, because it really has no proper words."

When asked if she is planning to record any cover versions of Elvis’ famous hits, Lisa Marie replies with a definite "No. I think it would be disrespectful to his fans, like trying to cash in on his fame. I want to make it with my own talent, my own ability, all my songs on the album will be originals. Danny has written a few, and will be playing the drums."

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