It was the runaway success of Edinburgh Fringe 2017: Rob Kemp‘s The Elvis Dead bizarrely mashed filmmaker Sam Rami’s cult 1980s horror flick The Evil Dead 2 with the songs of Elvis Presley to become a breakout multi-award-winning must-see hit.
But as the West Midlands-based comedian discovered early on, performing hasn’t been without danger…
“I did break my hand in the second ever performance in Leicester,” Kemp confesses of the extremely physical show which sees him throwing himself around the stage and wrestling with a chainsaw while crooning like The King.
It was just 10 minutes into the hour-long show when he fell, full body weight, onto his hand and “broke the knuckle” on his little finger.
“I did the rest of the show without realising … though I did think my little finger was a bit floppy.”
Fuelled by adrenaline, Kemp only realised the full extent of what had happened when he was leaving he stage. “At the end you have a little ‘thank you very much for coming’ chat and I said ‘I think I’ve broken my hand!’ …. and the audience cheered!” he recalls with amusement. “I don’t think they were glad I’d injured myself…”
Thankfully, Kemp’s managed to avoid too many serious knocks since that debacle, going on to scoop both the Malcolm Hardee Award and Comedian’s Choice: Best Performer at The Fringe 2017 (alongside several other notable gongs and nominations).
“Elvis Dead isn’t doing me as much damage anymore, that’s the only time I’ve broken something,” says the horror movie buff. “Though I’ve been a bit bruised and there’s one angle I can’t lean anymore on my right knee without hurting it – and that’s nothing to be happy about – but there are worse things.
“I did have a really swollen elbow for a while because I was falling awkwardly and doing it night after night without any protection. It’s a bit of a cheat but I wear a UFC band, an elbow brace, now – I wore that the whole of this Fringe [2018] – I fell on it every night, and it’s fine.
“More fool for me for not doing it sooner.”
Although Kemp has already aired a follow up – the frenetic Wheel Of Shows, which explores his personal struggle with writing a follow-up – it’s The Elvis Dead which continues to live on, gaining a life of its own, winning over new fans (many of whom don’t know either the source film or Presley’s catalogue) and becoming a bona fide cult hit.
“I’ve got loads more Elvis Dead booked in, and we’re looking into Australia,” he says.
As he prepares to go global, Buzz asks if he has any long-term aims for the show.
“Vegas, baby!” he laughs with a cheeky smile.
Elvis would, no doubt, approve…
words Dave Freak
Rob Kemp’s The Elvis Dead, The Glee Club, Cardiff, Sat 27 Oct. At Abersytwyth Arts Centre Sun 18 Nov as part of Abertoir Horror Festival. Tickets: £12/£10 (student) Info: www.glee.co.uk/