THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604090139
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Eamonn Byrne has been talking to Elvis a lot lately. In particular, Young Elvis, Black Elvis, Juggling Elvis, Elvis the fire-eating magician, 10-foot-tall Elvis . . .
Byrne, a native of London, England, has been busy planning Virginia Beach's second Elvis festival coming up in late May. Use your imagination, he said. There's Elvis for everybody.
Originally, planners wondered if they would be able to come up with enough activities associated with ``The King'' to fill a long weekend.
As it turned out, there is plenty of Elvis to go around. ``We could do a two-week festival,'' Byrne said. ``Everyone has an Elvis idea.''
Full name: Eamonn Byrne.
Hometown: London, England.
What brought you to the Beach? An intense dislike for gloomy climates; free-pouring bartenders; Southern manners; and fresh seafood.
Birthdate: Oct. 10, 1959.
Occupation: Cellar Door production manager.
Marital status: Happily married to a wonderful local lady.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? ``Eamonn, please get out of the hot tub. It's time for your lobster lunch, and don't forget your massage appointment with the Dallas Cowboy cheerleading squad.''
Last smart thing you did: Flattered my wife in the newspaper.
Last dumb thing you did: Tried to whistle with a mouth full of Jell-O.
Favorite meal: A huge pile of mashed potato, covered with baked beans, impregnated with four large sausages and topped with a fried egg, with a finale of Ben & Jerrys' Wavy Gravy.
Favorite movies: ``Until the End of the World,'' ``Angel Heart,'' ``The Meaning of Life,'' ``Sullivans Travels,'' ``A Clockwork Orange,'' ``Seven,'' ``The Wall,'' ``Blazing Saddles.''
Favorite song: Some are ``A Meeting by the River'' by Ry Cooder & V.M. Bhatt, ``Guns of Brixton'' by The Clash, ``Fake Plastic Trees'' by Radiohead, ``Love and Affection'' by Joan Armatrading and ``Moving on Up'' by Primal Scream.
Last book read: ``And the Ass Saw the Angel'' by Nick Cave.
Hobbies: Pool, baiting fascists on the Internet, record breaking hammock riding.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My inability to change myself.
If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? To stop leaving her razor blade collection in my underwear drawer.
Secret vice: Flossing my toenails.
Favorite restaurant: Coyote Cafe.
Your favorite night on the town: Dinner with my wonderful wife at the restaurant mentioned above, a movie, then walk home on the beach.
Favorite TV shows: ``Politically Incorrect,'' ``Absolutely Fabulous,'' ``Ren & Stimpy.''
Favorite sport: Fencing.
Last vacation: Two weeks of 80-degree weather in California in February while the East Coast froze them off.
Pets: Two cats who are our substitute children.
Worst job: My first job in the U.S. was as a door-to-door frozen meat salesman. The horror!
Of what achievements are you most proud? Produced last year's Viva Elvis festival.
What would you like as your epitaph?
``Enjoy yourself It's later than you think Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink The years roll by As quickly as you wink Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself It's later than you think.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
Eamonn Byrne
by CNB