Ian Gillan, lead singer 'Deep Purple'

'Along with the rest of 'Deep Purple', I once had the chance to meet Elvis. For a young singer like me, he was an absolute inspiration. I soaked up what he did like blotting paper. It's the same as being in school - you learn by copying the maestro. His personality was also extremely endearing, his interviews were very self-effacing (and), he came over as gentle and was generous in his praise of others. He had a natural, technical ability, but there was something in the humanity of his voice, and his delivery. Those early records at the Sun Records label are still incredible and the reason is simple: he was the greatest singer that ever lived'.

(Ian Gillan, lead singer and frontman of the UK hard rock band 'Deep Purple', interviewed by Classic Rock magazine, explaining why Presley belongs in the list of rock icons).