Elvis vs. El Vez

This chapters outline the impact of Elvis Presley upon the idea and conventions of rock’n’roll and punk. He symbolizes the notion of a gritty outsider who combines black and white musical strains and shakes up the social fabric. The chapter also pays homage to Robert Lopez, formerly of the Zeroes, who became known as the Mexican Elvis -- performance artists El Vez, a flamboyant figure that mixed class-consciousness, visionary tactics, fiery politics, Mexican-American/Chicano pride, subversive pop culture appropriation, queer sensibilities, and a campy humor of Las Vegas-style proportions.