Graceland and the British museum devoted to The Beatles are jointly curating an exhibit on Elvis Presley's influence on the upstart foursome who became the world's best-known rock-and-roll band.
The exhibit, "Elvis and Us," opening Sept. 28 in The Beatles' hometown of Liverpool, will be the first meeting of the two cornerstones of rock and roll since The Beatles dropped by Elvis' Bel Air, Calif., home in 1965 as they prepared for concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.
The meeting helped engender the famous John Lennon reflection: "Before Elvis there was nothing. ... If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been The Beatles."
Graceland is loaning the Liverpool museum, called The Beatles Story, about 50 items, including a guitar that Elvis played that night. "He pulled out a white Fender bass and played the bass line to Charlie Rich's 'Mohair Sam,'" said Scott Williams, vice president of marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Williams said other items on loan will include Elvis' high school diploma and his first paycheck as a truck driver for Crown Electric Co.
There were no photographs or recordings during the 1965 meeting arranged by Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker and Beatles manager Brian Epstein. "It was just intended as a personal meeting out of The Beatles' admiration for Elvis," said Jerry Schilling, a member of Elvis' Memphis Mafia.
Schilling, who played pool with drummer Ringo Starr that night, said the meeting began awkwardly, with The Beatles "just looking at Elvis." He broke the ice by saying, "If you're going to sit and look at me, I'm going to leave."
The night began at 10 p.m., included a game of roulette, and ended about 2 or 3 a.m., with Elvis standing at the front door with a big smile on his face as he bid farewell by saying, "Bye, limeys."
-- Michael Lollar
comercialappeal.com/news
The exhibit, "Elvis and Us," opening Sept. 28 in The Beatles' hometown of Liverpool, will be the first meeting of the two cornerstones of rock and roll since The Beatles dropped by Elvis' Bel Air, Calif., home in 1965 as they prepared for concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.
The meeting helped engender the famous John Lennon reflection: "Before Elvis there was nothing. ... If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been The Beatles."
Graceland is loaning the Liverpool museum, called The Beatles Story, about 50 items, including a guitar that Elvis played that night. "He pulled out a white Fender bass and played the bass line to Charlie Rich's 'Mohair Sam,'" said Scott Williams, vice president of marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Williams said other items on loan will include Elvis' high school diploma and his first paycheck as a truck driver for Crown Electric Co.
There were no photographs or recordings during the 1965 meeting arranged by Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker and Beatles manager Brian Epstein. "It was just intended as a personal meeting out of The Beatles' admiration for Elvis," said Jerry Schilling, a member of Elvis' Memphis Mafia.
Schilling, who played pool with drummer Ringo Starr that night, said the meeting began awkwardly, with The Beatles "just looking at Elvis." He broke the ice by saying, "If you're going to sit and look at me, I'm going to leave."
The night began at 10 p.m., included a game of roulette, and ended about 2 or 3 a.m., with Elvis standing at the front door with a big smile on his face as he bid farewell by saying, "Bye, limeys."
-- Michael Lollar
comercialappeal.com/news
