You’ve said that Elvis stole his sideburns from you. Did you steal anything from him?
I stole a lot from him. I stole some of his mannerisms on stage. I developed a sense of humour because he had a great sense of humour on stage. My sense of humour has helped me a lot through my life.

In 1996, you recorded Lesbian Seagull for the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack. How did that happen?
I was playing at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and the producer or director came to see me backstage after a show. And he said, “You have a great sense of humour, pal.” I said, “Yes, I do. I don’t take my life seriously, a great man taught me that.” And he says, “Listen, I’ve got a song I want you to listen to, because I’m making a movie and we’d like you to sing it.” I said, “Send it to me.” So he sent me the song and I liked the idea. I felt, it’s unusual and out of my style, but I recorded it. And then it went platinum!

Do you still perform Lesbian Seagull live?
I’ve never performed it live in my life.

There’s a long-running “situation” between you and singer Tom Jones, some fallout involving an ex-manager, that’s led to insults in the press. He’s been touring Australia almost at the same time as you are. How often do you cross paths?
I haven’t seen him in about 40-odd years. I don’t know what it is. He just doesn’t want to talk to me. I’d be happy to talk to him, I don’t bear malice about anything. No matter what he says about me or whatever he calls me, I still think he’s one of the greatest singers the world has ever seen. And I pray to God he stays healthy and well.

I saw a clip on YouTube of the both of you performing together in 1969, on what I assume was The Engelbert Humperdinck Show (1969-70).
When we performed together, it was great. There was magic. It was a great combination. I wish we still had that feeling going on right now.

Do these sorts of grudges or resentments lose their significance at your age?
[silence] I’m sorry, I didn’t get that…

Do these grudges or resentments lose their significance at your age?
Uh … I didn’t catch that … Say it slowly.

[slowly] Do. These. Grudges. Or. Resentments. Lose. Their. Significance. At. Your. Age?
[looks offscreen] I can’t hear it … It’s a bit loud. Let me just turn it down in my ears … Sorry about that … Ok, there we go. Go again.

You covered songs by Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars a few years back. Do you often listen to contemporary music?
Of course, I love contemporary music. And Bruno, I met him when he was five years old. He performed at one of my parties and he was all dressed up in his little Elvis costume. And after his performance I went up to him and said, “Young man, you’re going to be a big star.” I called it. His music is very unusual.

What do you learn from listening to new music?
If you don’t listen and learn, you won’t progress in life. Even with an artist who’s not had the experience I’ve had, if I hear something that they’re doing well, I’ll go, “Oh, that’s pretty unusual.” And then I steal it.

Oh yeah, any recent examples?
Well, I am recording a new concept album and it’s music that’s out of my comfort zone. It’s very unusual. I’m working on it right now. By the time I come to your part of the world, I might have two to three songs ready, which I shall put in my show.

What’s the sound?
I’m not telling you! Very clever …

Is it true you’d planned to record with Amy Winehouse before she died?
I did, but unfortunately it didn’t come to pass because of her unfortunate ending. What a great talent. But there you go, they come and they go. I’m grateful I got to play with people like Jimi Hendrix. It’s such a shame that God took them so early in their life; it’s not good.

What do you remember about playing with Hendrix?
Well, Jimi was one of a kind. A wonderful man, a lovely guy. A very charismatic character, and very gentle. He’d give you the shirt off his back. As a matter of fact, you know how he used to wear those army coats? I said to him, “Jimi, that’s a nice coat you’ve got on you.” He said, “Try it on, you can have it if it fits you.” I wish I’d taken it now.

Did you dabble in drugs back then?
I didn’t dabble in drugs at all. No, I’m afraid that’s why I’m still around.

You mentioned Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin. What was it like performing in Las Vegas back then?
Well, it was just a wonderful place. Because you’d do your own performance and then you’d go into some other lounge and see another artist at one o’clock or two o’clock in the morning, and you wouldn’t go to bed until seven o’clock. I played at the Riviera in Vegas and Dean Martin owned a piece of that hotel. That’s how we became good friends, because he always used to come in and see my show as well. He would dine with me too in Dino’s Den, that was the restaurant there.

He seemed like a good drinker.
Well, he could drink, but I think he acted it more than he did.

How strong was the mob presence then?
What’s that?

The mob. The Mafia.
Yeah, they were part of it then. They always treated me well, so I got nothing to say.

You didn’t have any run-ins with the mob?
No. They were wonderful to me.

I’ve always heard people say that Sammy Davis Jr was the greatest performer of all time because he could do it all: sing, comedy, banter, tap dance. But who’s the best performer you’ve ever seen?
For me, Elvis was the best I ever saw in my life. Sammy Davis, of course, was an incredible performer. Dean Martin was the most entertaining type of character; he never took his life seriously at all. I learnt a lot being with those particular people. I played golf with them! I played golf with Sammy one time; he was spreading the ball all over the place and he was my partner. So I said, “Sam, do me a favour. Keep your eye on the ball!” He looked at me and he said, “Engelbert, I have no choice.”

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Nice. You were the ninth of 10 children. What does that do to your personality growing up?
It taught me a lot, with parents like we had. My father was an army man, so we were well-disciplined. It served us well as we got older.

Was your father supportive of your music career?
No. I mean, at the beginning he didn’t like the idea of me going into anything that wasn’t a stable situation. He said to my girlfriend, who was my wife later on,“Why don’t you tell him to get a proper job?” She said, “He’ll do what he wants to do.” And so I did what I wanted to do. And here I am today, still doing it.

Engelbert Humperdinck performs at Brisbane’s QPAC on May 13-14; the Gold Coast’s The Star on May 16; Adelaide’s Her Majesty Theatre on May 18; Sydney’s Opera House on May 20 and State Theatre on May 21; Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on May 23; and Perth’s Riverside Theatre on May 25.

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