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Elvis died 45 years ago today…

(93 Posts)
Shinamae Tue 16-Aug-22 14:26:08

I remember it well, I was working at Butlins Minehead. It was such a shock…

Chestnut Tue 16-Aug-22 23:57:56

Yes, the 1968 Black Leather Show....wonderful. He had decided to return to singing instead of the increasingly crappy films he was doing (the Colonel's idea of course as they were a money spinner for him). They gathered a few people together and he performed in a very small studio on a central stage. How amazing to have seen that. He was very nervous as he hadn't performed live for some years, but was still wonderful. Probably Elvis at his best.

Hellogirl1 Tue 16-Aug-22 21:12:05

He was unbelievably handsome and sexy in the comeback show he did in 1968, wearing black leather. He looked gorgeous!

harrysgran Tue 16-Aug-22 21:01:16

So handsome I remember when his death was announced on tv I like many felt so shocked and sad I still enjoy listening to him now a unique and beautiful voice.

BlueBelle Tue 16-Aug-22 19:35:11

Icanhandthemback I did watch the film and in some ways I felt sad at someone else singing instead of him
I think he was totally exploited and I believe he had a heart as good as his voice (but I do think he couldn’t resist all the women who adored him)
He was a total one off no one has ever come up to him beautiful man beautiful voice miss him a lot and so sad for how his last few years must have been

mamaa Tue 16-Aug-22 19:19:43

I remember it well-I got my A level results the same day. No one was the in slightest bit interested as to how I’d done as obviously the big news of the day was the sad news about Elvis!

icanhandthemback Tue 16-Aug-22 18:08:03

Nothing is ever mentioned about the Charity work he did throughout his lifetime, which is shown if you ever go to Gracelands.

Here is a flavour of his philanthropy: www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-charity.html

Knittynatter Tue 16-Aug-22 18:04:35

I remember I’d gone out with a friend and we bumped into her crush and his mate. She went home with her crush so his (engaged) mate would give me a lift home. He parked the car on the way and took some persuading that I just wanted to go home. When I got home I heard on the radio that Elvis was dead. I cried. I’m still not sure that I cried over Elvis, more likely over the situation I’d found myself in ……

Nagyibs Tue 16-Aug-22 18:04:17

I watched the new film, Elvis. It gave me nightmares. I had no idea what an innocent he was or how totally overworked and bamboozled ( if you can believe the film, of course)
Oh, but what a gorgeous voice!

Sparklefizz Tue 16-Aug-22 17:58:01

Elvis was just drop dead gorgeous when he was young - just everything about him - and actually I think his slight shyness came across. He was a great singer with fantastic looks but a country boy who was exploited. Listening to him singing some of his ballads can still move me to tears.

I clearly remember the day he died. It was a shock and so undignified for such a star.

maddy47 Tue 16-Aug-22 17:49:32

I remember it well. It was my eldest son's second birthday. Loved Elvis.

HeavenLeigh Tue 16-Aug-22 17:07:25

Beautiful man, and great singer, play his songs all the time

Chestnut Tue 16-Aug-22 17:04:50

Daddima I have been watching Elvis by the Presleys where Priscilla has put lots of details about their meeting and early relationship. Her parents were also interviewed. They said she was very young but they were so enchanted by him they gave permission for Priscilla to see him while he was in Germany. There was no mention of whether the relationship was consummated at that time but I can't imagine her parents agreeing to that. They did feel pressure to allow them to meet though, otherwise they would have had a very sulky and miserable teenager on their hands!

Daddima Tue 16-Aug-22 16:33:18

I don’t really remember it, but then I always found him a bit creepy, and I’ve found the stories ( and of course, they may be just stories) of the pyjama parties with young girls which have surfaced since he died a wee bit disturbing.
I know he started dating his wife when she was just 14 or 15.

Allsorts Tue 16-Aug-22 16:30:51

Drop dead gorgeous when young, such a shame he was used by the people he trusted. He had a fantastic sense of humour, beautiful voice, loved his laugh, extremely generous. Would not like to have been married to him though he enjoyed temptation too much for my fragile ego. I often think would he rather have had a long life without the fame or was worth it to become the King. For me no one’s come close to him.

Chestnut Tue 16-Aug-22 16:20:38

Terribull I was also a young child when Elvis started, but my friend and I were so besotted we had a dolls tea party on his birthday. My granddaughter aged 7 adores him in Blue Hawaii, one of her favourite films. Age is no barrier for Elvis fans!

Herbie9 Tue 16-Aug-22 16:17:40

We were moving house when we heard the news of Elvis' untimely death. His voice was unique - no tribute acts have come an ywhere near his vocals. How time flies - cant believe have lived here now for so long!

TerriBull Tue 16-Aug-22 16:09:47

I don't think first cousin marriage is deemed as incest but certainly not advisable as far as hereditary defects are concerned. I always thought his heart attack was brought on by the relentless substance abuse inflicted on his body. That was certainly borne out in the recent film.

I never found him good looking in his hey day I was very much still a young child, but then most idols pre Beatles had no appeal for me. I've come to appreciate him enormously in say the last 20 years and realise now what a fantastic voice he had. I was shocked at his early death and did feel sad at the time, I always do when anyone too young dies and he was such an enormous star/icon.

Smileless2012 Tue 16-Aug-22 16:08:34

I wonder if his there's any possibility that this gene was passed onto his D.

He was badly exploited I agree icanhandthemback, churning out one film after another none of which did credit to his talentsad.

Chestnut Tue 16-Aug-22 16:07:37

Who wants to see a naughty Elvis? Strap yourselves in.

Chestnut Tue 16-Aug-22 16:06:27

Who wants to see a young Elvis when he just bought Graceland?

icanhandthemback Tue 16-Aug-22 16:04:09

BlueBelle

Icanhandthemback I was much older than you but just like you it is the only celeb I ve ever cried over when he died I thought he must have been so alone and lost when he died

Have you seen the recent film, Elvis? It backed up that thought that he must have been alone and lost. The sad fact is that he was badly exploited. He was quite a simple boy who handed over is management to a shyster and his finances to his father who didn't have the wherewithal to cope with it. His is such a tragic story.

Chestnut Tue 16-Aug-22 15:58:30

The mention of incest is just the Daily Mail being dramatic to grab your attention. First cousins marrying is not really incest, and not illegal. They often marry with no problems, but if there was a faulty gene involved then the close relationship might be relevant.
Smileless2012 Substance abuse was definitely involved, but as the article says, why was he taking all these substances? It's altogether a complex story and no-one knows everything.

BlueBelle Tue 16-Aug-22 15:46:12

Icanhandthemback I was much older than you but just like you it is the only celeb I ve ever cried over when he died I thought he must have been so alone and lost when he died

icanhandthemback Tue 16-Aug-22 15:40:20

Surely it isn't incest if they were first cousins who married? Incest is for much closer relationships although somehow marrying your cousin is always frowned upon even though it is not illegal.

I remember the day Elvis died. It was a complete shock to me. I was 16 and remember crying it was such a shock. I haven't cried for any celebrity dying since.

Funnily enough, I have just set up a playlist to listen to Elvis in the car. As Avenged SevenFold (a Progressive Metal Band) is my other go to car music, it makes a significant change.

Kate1949 Tue 16-Aug-22 15:38:53

Yes BlueBelle Exceptionally handsome. I saw a picture of him once with the caption 'Elvis looking more handsome than ten movie stars'.