Elvis Feared He'd Be Forgotten
There's a little-known story that reveals a lot about the man whose death 30 years ago was marked and mourned by untold millions around the world.
Shortly before he died, Elvis Presley reportedly told one of his backup singers that he thought . no one would ever remember him'Shows you where he was', says Priscilla Presley. 'It shows you where he emotionally was and ... where in his career he thought he was'.
Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 agrees. 'I believe that, you know, Elvis probably died without really having an idea of the scope that his music -- even being fully aware that he was Elvis'. But his influence changed more than Las Vegas. 'Now everything -- like every style choice, every stage stance, every, you know, every photo shoot, like there's a piece of Elvis in all of that'.
The show tells the story of Elvis' dramatic Vegas comeback. What surprised producers was his enduring musical legacy, detailed in interviews and performances by Beyonc�, Toby Keith and Aerosmith's Joe Perry, 50 Cent, Willie Nelson, Oscar winners Three-6-Mafia, Celine Dion, Paul McCartney, Miranda Lambert and Faith Hill. 'When you think of Vegas, you think of Elvis', says Beyonc�, 'and when you think of, you know, sparkle and you think of show business, you think of flash, you think of those performances'.
Why do the stars of today continue to idolize him? Toby Keith summed it up this way: 'He was handsome, he could sing, I mean sing perfect. I don't mean just sing, the guy could sing perfect'.
Caught in a Trap
He came to Vegas almost a has-been -- after a string of more than 30 Hollywood movies with lightweight plots and no rock 'n' roll, Elvis hadn't had a hit in more than seven years. Could a Vegas gig make him relevant again?
Las Vegas is a city that celebrates the winners and ignores the losers. But Elvis proved that it's possible to be both. In the neon-lit nights of Sin City, the king of rock 'n' roll basked in audience adoration that did more than affirm his stardom. It transformed a city.
'Las Vegas needed a shot in the arm, and Elvis was the potion', says friend, co-star and fellow Vegas performer Nancy Sinatra. 'He got the young people in. And the young people helped to build a new Vegas'.
But as time dragged on and Elvis performed the same songs show after show, night after night, Priscilla Presley says he was like a stallion caged in a tiny stall.
'Vegas became kind of an animal that ate him alive', notes journalist, Alana Nash. 'He couldn't figure out a way to get his enthusiasm back'.
Jerry Schilling, a close friend and a member of the singer's entourage known as the Memphis Mafia, says Elvis was getting bored and frustrated.
'The guy was brilliant. He needed brilliant challenges', says Schilling. 'He respected the public, and he knew you can't fool them and one day they're gonna get tired of this -- not to mention that he was'.
Beneath the facade of flamboyant clothes and his signature stage moves that drew crowds from across the globe, there was another Elvis.
'He didn't express a whole lot', says Priscilla Presley. 'He didn't wanna show you how insecure he was'.
Elvis' very public ups and downs, his monumental success and a dark and private side have made him one of America's most fascinating cultural figures.
'Elvis swims in our minds, and in the emotions, all through time', says three-time Oscar nominee, film director David Lynch. 'There's the word 'icon', and I don't think anybody has topped that ... not one single person has ever topped Elvis'.
But the dramatic story of Elvis Presley's Vegas years goes far beyond the timeless music he created. Perhaps Rob Thomas sums it up best: 'If he would have died at 80, I think today, we'd still be talking about Elvis'.
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
