LED ZEPPELIN TO LEATHERS: An Interview With Aidan Keene

I’ve heard a lot of Elvis fan origin stories over the years, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this one. We all have that one childhood obsession that our parents eventually have to "gently" pivot us away from for the sake of their own sanity. For Aidan Keene, that pivot changed his life.

Aidan: I was a huge fan of the Australian kids groups The Wiggles. I played their music to death when I was 3 or 4. My parents got sick of hearing it so my dad gave me my first Elvis CD. It was one of those greatest hits CDs. The first song on it was “Heartbreak Hotel” and from that day on, I was an Elvis fan. I got my first jumpsuit and started doing shows around the house.

I, too, was a huge fan of the Wiggles. Due to our ten year age gap, our Wiggles band members were not the same, but the hits were. “Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy” transcends generations. While Aidan eventually traded the Big Red Car for a Pink Cadillac, his musical journey took a detour through some much heavier sounds before returning to the roots of rock.

Aidan started performing professionally two years ago, but with something a bit different than Elvis at first. His High School Band covered Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and even a bit of KISS. When he wanted to start doing a bit of the King’s music, his high school band wasn’t interested. But their dads were.

Aidan: My high school bass player’s father has been my bass player for three years now, and his friend is my keyboard player. We’ve had some drummers come and go. They’re called “The Blue Hawaii Band.” My girlfriend sings backup and does the scarves for me. Her name is Jordan so I call her my Jordanaire.

When Aidan started spreading his wings, he connected with other tribute artists and they sort of mentored him. He was even gifted a gold jacket by fellow ETA and interviewee Leo Days! They encouraged him to join the competition circuit. Aidan isn’t a competitive guy- in fact, he was almost as laid back as Charlie Harper during our interview. He decided to try out the contest thing and entered the Empire State Tribute Festival. He wasn’t in it for the grand prize; he was after the really valuable aspect of the contest world: meeting people. He knew he would have the opportunity to meet some great guys and get that stage time, which is always a good thing to have. But most of all, he did it to pay tribute to Elvis.

Aidan eventually decided the competition circuit wasn’t really for him; he’d rather spend his time performing on the local level, where the impact of the music is felt most intimately.

Aidan: If I can make a small community of 100 seniors happy with this music, then that’s worth it for me. I’m cool with that and you know, that’s what it’s all about: making people happy. And when you meet people that were there when Elvis was alive, they’ll say things like “I saw Elvis and this was the closest to seeing him again since 1972.” That’s the ultimate compliment.

I love hearing nursing home stories, because they’re always a riot. It turns into “Grandmas Gone Wild” (don’t look that up, it’s probably a real thing) and that Elvis mania returns. They’re giving out room numbers, getting a little handsy, and in some cases, throwing their granny panties. Every once in a while, a wildcard is in the audience.

Aidan: I gave a scarf to a lady, and she was loving it. Then she came up to me and put it back around my neck. She started tying it around me in like, a seductive way, I guess. I told her it was for her to have and said “no, you keep it. I’ll just have the memory.”

Me: I think I’d be a little insulted. Do they ask you to sweat extra on them?

 Aidan: Yes. That actually happens often.

Me: How do you feel about that?

Aidan: It’s a little weird. I know that I’m not Elvis, none of us are, and there will never be another Elvis. But I think in that moment for those two hours to those seniors, we may be Elvis. So it’s ok.

So where does Aidan want to go with his musical career? He said he struggles with writing original songs, so he really loves keeping the older hits alive and bringing them to his generation. Peter Noone from the 60’s band “Herman’s Hermits” gave him some sage advice: keep doing these old songs that were hits. In 20 years, people in your generation will think that you wrote them anyway.

So Aidan brings back the old hits, and not just those of the King. He’ll do some Paul Anka and Neil Diamond in his shows. Occasionally he’ll break out some different costumes, dressing like Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, or Elton John. He credits Dwight Icenhower with inspiring him to do Elton. Dwight's Elton, if you haven’t seen it, is amazing and I adore Dwight. One of Aidan’s regular venues was looking for something a bit different, so he supplied it. Billy Joel is simple enough; put a black tie on. Elton, though? Big glittery glasses. Feathery coats. Man, that’s gotta be fun! Aidan said it’s important to have a variety of tributes in your bag of tricks, because when venues are looking for tribute artists, chances are they’ve already got their Elvis guy.

Aidan: I did a Tom Jones act at one point, until I threw my knee out. I don’t do Tom Jones anymore. 

Me: What the hell did you do as Tom Jones to throw your knee out?! 

Aidan: Oh, no, I actually threw my knee out doing Elvis. But I don’t think my knees could take doing Tom Jones anymore.

It’s worth mentioning that I’ve never seen Tom Jones perform, other than a few videos of him much older and not moving so much. I looked up young Tom Jones dancing and wondered how he didn’t throw his own knee out. We began chatting about music in general, and Aidan is definitely a fan of the oldies. He loves going to concerts, and he’s got the ticket stubs a lot of people would dream of: KISS’s last concert at Madison Square Garden, Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Frankie Valli, and the Beach Boys- nine times!

Aidan: I saw Barry Manilow last year. 

Me: -delighted gasp-  I LOVE BARRY MANILOW! He’s so good! 

Aidan: He’s unbelievable.

Some performers, like Barry and Elvis, are absolute legends. What is it about them that elevates them to superstar status?

Aidan: That’s a tough question to answer. There’s just something about him that seems so untouchable. There’s never been anyone like him, there’s almost a mystery to him. There’s so many things you hear about that make him special: his generosity, his voice, his charisma… but honestly I think it’s the mystery of who Elvis really was and his ability to draw people towards him. And he was such a deep thinker. There’s a part in the Epic documentary where he was talking about being lonely and loneliness. He had so much fame and fortune but we’re all still just humans. But what I really admire is that, all through the stages of his life, even when he started to decline, he always gave it his all. Even in his last concert, which is hard to watch, his voice is still so powerful. It’s gotta be the most powerful voice you could ever imagine. Even at that stage in his life, he was magnificent.

So what’s Aidan’s advice for aspiring ETAs? It’s one I’ve heard often, and arguably the most important: STUDY. THE. SOURCE. Aidan said he fell into the trap of watching and copying other ETAs, because that’s what he was able to see live. Make sure your performance reflects Elvis himself. Aidan also believes in doing it for the right reasons.

Aidan: Do it for the love of Elvis and the music, and compete as an extra thing to do, but do it because you have a passion for the man and the music.

Aidan Keene is a refreshing reminder that the spirit of Elvis doesn't always need a giant trophy or a high-stakes competition to thrive. Whether he's dodging "granny panties" in a local nursing home or donning glittery glasses to channel Elton John, his focus remains exactly where it should be: on the joy of the performance and the legacy of the music. It’s a long way from the Wiggles, but sitting there with his "Jordanaire" and a band made of rock-and-roll dads, it’s clear Aidan has found his own version of Graceland right where he is. He isn’t trying to be the next big thing; he’s simply making sure the best things from the past never truly leave the building.

Aidan hosts a podcast! Check it out here

Aidan's website

Aidan Keene is a versatile vocalist and entertainer dedicated to the Golden Era of Rock and Roll. Based in Massachusetts, Aidan delivers a high-energy, authentic retrospective of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. While he is widely known for his tribute to the Elvis Presley—spanning the 1950s, the '68 Comeback, and the iconic Las Vegas years, his repertoire extends to legends like Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Billy Joel, Elton John, Tom Jones, and Buddy Holly. Whether performing as a solo headliner with high quality backing tracks or fronting the five-piece Blue Hawaii Band, Aidan blends his powerful vocals with genuine humor and charismatic showmanship.