August 15, 2007 11:48

Elvis Presley fans preparing for vigil

50,000 expected to mark The King's 30th anniversary tonight

Around 50,000 Elvis Presley fans are expected to gather in Memphis tonight (August 15) to perform a candlelit vigil to mark the 30th anniversary of the star’s death.

At 8.30pm Memphis, USA time tonight, the gates of the Graceland mansion, where Presley used to live, will be opened to fans.

They will be invited to walk up the Graceland driveway to Presley’s gravesite and back carrying a candle each as a mark of respect.

It is expected that the ceremony will last for around ten hours, finishing in the early morning hours of Thursday (August 16), the date of Presley's death.

The event is the centrepiece of a week of Elvis events in Memphis, collectively dubbed “Elvis Week”.

Come back tomorrow at 9am (BST) tomorrow (August 16) for NME.COM's special Elvis picture gallery to mark the King's 30th anniversary.