…You are not to know this, Billy, but while future generations will remember Elvis for his obesity, his glitter, his mawkish Old Shep soul scraping, his Liberace impersonations on the bloated, obscene stages of Las Vegas, they will remember you for an attitudinal shorthand you borrowed from your idol, from the days where energy and defiance was a synonym for Elvis Presley.

Sneer.
You stole his sneer, didn’t you, Billy?
And you made it in your own.
After all, Elvis had left the building.

The door rattles.
It’s time.
You open it and hear the crowd.
The lights fall.
It is dark at the end of the tunnel.
You look into the mirror one final time.
The band begins to play the intro to White Wedding.
In one-and-a-half year’s time, you will write one of the biggest hits in world history, Rebel Yell, Billy, but as you look in the mirror, you are not to know to this.

You are in the now.
Your blood is afire.
You smile.
And you sneer.
Outside, the acolytes of Los Angeles await the coming of the King…