A wannabe Elvis impersonator has been banned from doing karaoke after fighting with fellow singers and threatening a DJ.
Richard Carpenter, 64, felt he had a knack for rock and roll and would often belt out classic hits from his idol in pubs seven nights a week.
But despite splashing out on a full outfit to try and look the part, he has been told to leave the building and not come back after organisers lost patience with his chaotic shows.
Richard Carpenter, 64, an Elvis impersonator, has been banned from doing karaoke after fighting with fellow singers and threatening a DJ
The grandfather has also heckled and interrupted other performers, fought with fellow singers and started threatening the DJ when he didn’t get his way
The final straw for one pub came when Mr Carpenter, dubbed ‘Elvis’ by his friends, got into a angry row when another singer was bumped up the list in front of him.
The grandfather has also heckled and interrupted other performers, fought with fellow singers and started threatening the DJ when he didn’t get his way.
Mr Carpenter said it now feels like he has lost his liberty after being told he was no longer welcome behind the mic at his favourite venues in his home town of Exmouth, Devon.
He now claims he has to drive 25 miles to take part in what he describes as his sole source of entertainment.
Mr Carpenter, who is divorced and has two children, two step-children and a grandchild, works as an attendant in a local amusement arcade.
He first discovered karaoke in October last year when he gave it a go while on holiday in the Algarve and was instantly hooked.
Upon his return, he started attending every karaoke night he could get to.
He says his favourites included Elvis classics such as Jailhouse Rock, Are you Lonesome Tonight, and Blue Suede Shoes.
He also enjoyed performing American Pie by Don McLane – but only the extended, nine and a half minute version.
Mr Carpenter said: ‘I love Karaoke, it’s my only source of entertainment. I’m an old boy and I’m enjoying my adolescence now because I never got to enjoy it when I was younger.
‘But now I can’t perform at any of the karaoke nights in town because I’ve been banned from all of them.
He first discovered karaoke in October last year when he gave it a go while on holiday in the Algarve and was instantly hooked
‘I’ve had my liberty taken away from me.’
The trouble started at a karaoke evening at The York Inn on Sunday, August 27, when Mr Carpenter put his name down to sing but was never called.
He added: ‘I was down to be the second person to sing, it was quiet at that time, there was hardly anyone there.
‘After five people had gone on and I walked out, then at the end of the night I went back in and had a word with the DJ.
‘I told him I didn’t think I was treated very fairly, and that was that – I went home and that was the end of the evening.
‘When I went back in the following week and asked if he was taking orders to sing he told me he wasn’t, but he wouldn’t let me sing anyway.
‘He then told me I was barred, but I was still allowed to drink in there. As I was leaving he shouted after me and told me I was barred from each karaoke night.’
Mr Carpenter then rang the other main karaoke venue in the town, The Bank Pub, to clarify his position, and when he tried to show up he was told that he wasn’t even allowed in the venue.
He was told this was because he had played the maraca, uninvited, during the interlude of a live performance.
Mr Carpenter said: ‘Obviously this is a cardinal sin. I think I’m being victimised because I stood up to the karaoke DJ. I’d like to tackle this legally but I can’t afford it.
Mr Carpenter said: ‘I think I’m being victimised because I stood up to the karaoke DJ. I’d like to tackle this legally but I can’t afford it’
‘Apparently he’s said he’s tired of everyone singing the same songs, but then why is he doing karaoke nights?
‘I’m really bloody annoyed, last night I just walked around the streets of Exmouth because there’s nothing to do here.
‘I’m having to travel to Exeter every time I want to sing Karaoke, and that’s 13 miles away.
‘The next closest venue is 40 miles away and I’m not travelling that far just to sing a few songs.’
But Paul Whittaker, who runs the karaoke nights in The York, says Mr Carpenter was only banned from his night when he started to get aggressive.
He said: ‘The first night he sang he was involved in a fight with another singer around the same age as him.
‘He was given a talking to by the security staff and advised to calm his temper.
‘Richard continued to attend a couple nights a week.
‘On the night in question, when I called Richard for his third song of the night he was not in the pub.
‘He returned and starting shouting at the two female members of staff behind the bar stating he was not prepared to wait for other singers in the pub to go before him and who did they think he was to make him wait.
‘He was asked to leave the pub.
‘The following Sunday, Richard came up to the box while I was setting up and I was expecting him to apologise for his outburst, however, he was very angry, abusive and threatening towards me.’
No-one from the Bank was prepared to comment.