Elvis fever rattles, rolls Australian town

The quiet Australian town of Parkes was awash with Brylcreem, gabardine and gospel yesterday, as a record number of Elvis faithful met there to pay homage to The King, organizers said.

Cooked up one summer's night at the local "Gracelands" restaurant, the Elvis Festival has exploded from a one-night event in 1993 to an annual five-day phenomenon attracting thousands of fans and curious tourists.

Festival organizer Ellie Ruffoni said this year's crowd, many of whom dress as their musical hero for the event, was the biggest ever.