What a magnetic, star-studded affair at the Los Angeles premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert on Wednesday. Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre was buzzing, and so was I—back in rock ‘n’ roll reporter mode all night.
My very first red-carpet moment was at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001 for the world premiere of Baz’s first feature, Moulin Rouge!, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
Little did I know the career I would embark on shortly after, when I moved to Hollywood the same year. Needless to say, this was a special full-circle moment, and the lovably eccentric Luhrmann enjoyed reminiscing with me all about it!
“Remember the Can-Can girls?!” No, Baz, I had had 35 vodka pommes by then and hardly remember anything!
The after-party (or “afters,” as Gen Z now calls it) took place at Bar Marmont and it was a VIBE. Think Jungle Room. I haven’t had many L.A. nights like this since pre-pandemic times (aside from Neil Young at the Roxy). It felt amazing to soak up some old-school, City of Angels magic again.
Along with Baz on the carpet, I also interviewed Jerry Schilling (Elvis BFF and member of the TCB crew, author of Me and a Guy Named Elvis, and legendary songwriter Mike Stoller (co-writer of “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and countless others).
The concert documentary features lost footage and behind-the-scenes interviews from the King’s Las Vegas shows and as Baz emotionally puts it, “it’s the world tour Elvis never got to have.”
To read more about this trip back to a much cooler time, check out my story for Gold Derby HERE.
