Elvis Presley's hair is punk rock

Punk rockers will tell you that without Elvis Presley, there is no punk rock. He took the rock and blues of African American Memphis, added his own twist, and brought it to white culture with style. Rockabilly, baby.
But there are more ways than sound to call up punk's rich history. Like any musical genre, its tuneful stylings are one element of its identity. There are the clothes. There is the choice of instrument. And there is the hair. Elvis's slickened masculine-yet-sensitive tsunami wave of a strutting peacock's darkened headfeathers, the pompadour, summons the spirit of punk as much as a black leather jacket and scuffed combat boots. So says a punk rocker.
What does a pompadour say about overthrowing the system? Not much, directly. But it lets us know: there is another way. For hair, that is. And that's all it takes: one little indication that things can be different, starting with how we present our own physical selves to society. Now add in waggling hips and sounds that broke racial barriers, and freedom has a face and body. The King of Rock n' Roll. And his scions today.

Co-host Elvis Week, pay more taxes

You'll have to make a video explaining why you're right for the job of co-hosting Elvis Week with Memphis Jones. Call your accountant while you're at it. Here's a bit from the contest details (pdf): "Grand Prize winner will receive an IRS Form 1099 for the actual value of Grand Prize. Approximate retail value (ARV) of Grand Prize: $4,480." That's some pretty miscellaneous income.

Alas, always Elvis Presley's crypt

Once someone buys Elvis Presley's unoccupied crypt, will it remain a memorial to the King? Burial sites preserve memories, and the persona of Elvis is one of the largest monuments in our collective story. What person could possibly overcome the force of the man's fame? This tomb will forever be the place where Elvis once lay, no matter who comes to fill it next. As admirable as that is, it is also asphyxiating. All things must end, even memories. Hanging onto them is like being stranded in the sea and missing the solid ground a short swim away because we focus on clutching a piece of our destroyed vessel. You live, but what life?

The auctioneer sells us a chance to be remembered with the King. The buyer, and the dead he brings, should try to be more.

But forget all that. Get out your $100,000, start bidding and be remembered as the guy who was buried in Elvis's crypt.

Elvis Presley punched a wall

Folks who went to Humes High School in Memphis with Elvis have a lot of stories to tell about the King of Rock n' Roll as a teenager. It's hard to imagine him in all the situations described, but it brings a depth to him when you learn there is more to him than music, hip swiveling and charming a crowd. To learn that he once punched a wall, made a magazine rack, lacked school supplies, made girls blush, showed politeness, wore an usher's uniform to class and sat next to a boy with a mohawk (who was he?), is to know that great achievement is perhaps built upon familiar foundations.

Below are the nine stories about Elvis shared by former classmates of the King:

1. I have in my office right now a magazine rack that Elvis and I made together in woodshop.
2. My cousin, Dorothy Jackson, and I were monitors stationed outside the entrance to the library to make sure that students checked out their books properly and to maintain order in the hall between classes. Whenever Elvis Presley walked by we would look at each other and laugh and giggle. (We both had a crush on him.) One day he walked up to Dorothy and asked her why we laughed when he walked by. She was so dumbfounded that she blurted out "It's because we think you are so good-looking." I guess he was surprised also; he just broke into a grin and walked away. I was just sitting there with the reddest face that a girl could ever have. Whenever I'm embarrassed, I blush so badly that I feel as though my face will ignite. My face didn't ignite but from then on whenever I would see Elvis coming down the hall, I would stick my face into a book and not look up.
3. Elvis was in my 12th grade homeroom, Mrs. Mildred Scrivener, 12-5. She was not particular about whether we sat, stood or wandered around as long as we showed up for roll call. Elvis would lean on a desk and just pass the time of day with everyone. We all knew that he was different, very, very, different. But, we all had the same goal of graduating and getting out in the real world. We later found out just how different he was.
4. Elvis and I were in Miss Alexander's homeroom in the 11th grade. She taught music, so the classroom was a music room. She divided our class into an "L" shape with boys on one side and girls on the other side. Elvis sat in the front row next to a guy sporting a Mohawk haircut. I sat in the second row of girls so I could see him very well and I often stared at him because there was something about him that I really liked. He didn't dress or act like the rest of the boys. He always had a lock of hair hanging to the side of his face. He had a serious expression most of the time during the beginning of the school year. But, later in the year, he surprised us by playing his guitar before school several mornings. He didn't sing; he just played. He was accompanied on the grand piano by another student, Warren Gregory. We really enjoyed the impromptu jam sessions, but we kept our eyes peeled for Miss Alexander because we weren't real sure how she would react to our choice of music. We never found out because she never showed up while they were playing. Elvis was very polite and respectful to all the teachers. He always addressed them as "Maam" and "Sir". He seemed very shy and I identified with him since I was shy, too. It was a very special year for me. I remember him driving a maroon convertible; I believe it was a Lincoln. Sometimes He wore dark colored pants with a stripe down the sides. I found out later that they were part of his movie usher uniform
5. I really didn't have too many experiences with Elvis at Humes, although, I do remember going riding in his old car. We talked in the halls mostly. I got to know him better after we graduated. I was working at Crown Electric when Elvis was hired as the delivery boy. We became friends. Our bosses told Elvis he should get rid of his guitar and do something useful. When he delivered materials to my job site one day we talked about his future. I told him that I would try to get him in the apprentice program if he wanted me to. He thanked me and said he was going to try his luck with music first because he really liked it.
6. Some thoughts about Elvis. We were both Mississippi boys who had come to the big city. We understood each other. We had shop together in the 10th grade. When we weren't working on our project, we spent our time in the bathroom pitching pennies. Elvis got so mad one day that he punched the shop wall and almost broke his hand. I never saw him do that again.
7. I was in Miss Mildred Scrivener's 12th grade home room with Elvis. He never had any school supplies. He borrowed paper from someone every day. He looked so different from the other boys who had crew cuts and blue jeans. He wore black pants and his hair always hung down in his face. He was always very polite.
8. During the time he was recording at Sun Studios, Elvis Presley came into the bank quite often with Bob Neal, his first manager. He was always very friendly to me. He came in about a year after he was discharged from the Army. We had been talking for about five minutes when 10 or 15 screaming women came running up. He gave me a hug and left quickly. I never saw him again in person.
9. I was very shy and afraid of boys my own age. But, I remember having crushes on Frank Simonton and George Blancett. Virginia Eddleman's family had beautiful voices and sang gospel music. She took me to hear them once when Elvis was singing on the same program. Soon after that my sister June and I ran into Elvis at the Suzore #1. He sat down beside me and after a while I felt his arm slide across my shoulder. I was so scared that we moved to another row. One night he was singing at the Humes Talent Show. My friend Rose left me to watch the white elephant booth while she went up and checked out the talent. Elvis sang while I was taking care of the booth so I never did hear him sing at Humes. I worked at St. Joseph Hospital after school as a nurse's aide to save money to go to nursing school. Elvis' mother Gladys usually worked on the floor above me. Sometimes we worked together. She was a pretty lady who talked about her son a lot. She wanted me to come to dinner, but it never worked out. She taught me how to care for patients in a kind and gentle way. She was a great role model.

Priest prefers Elvis Presley impersonation: fun is a god

The elements of entertainment are found everywhere, the clergy no exception. But we all knew that. Clouds of incense, singing, crazy costumes: the church knows its theatrics. So the most notable element of the story about "Elvis Priestley," a.k.a. Andy Kelso, leaving the holy ranks to impersonate the King is one word in relation to connecting people with God:

"My whole desire is to build bridges with people and Elvis. I see it as a form of reaching out to people, using the King of Rock to introduce people to Jesus, hopefully in a way that will be fun.”

Fun. If you haven't noticed, if you want to get anything done in the modern world, it needs to be fun. There are two ways to think about this. One is that it's a great step forward for humanity's mental flexibility; some smartsters among us have recognized the power of disguising vegetables as sweets, which I suppose is inevitable given the massive influence of marketing and advertising nowadays. Another take is that we have developed into a society of perpetual children who can't get anything done unless it involves a sparkly phantasmagoria that is bouncy and makes neato noise and stuff. And that we forget the important, underlying message in our distraction with the fun-fun-really-fun thingy things.

But this isn't that complex. Right? This vicar found Elvis's story and music to be an inspiration for spiritual wanderers. People responded enthusiastically when he rose as Elvis Priestley. And I guess if you believe God is telling you to "take Elvis to the church," there isn't much else to do.

Elvis Presley's mysterious $25.75 discount

In 1960, Elvis visited Miami and stopped by Ace Formal Wear. He got $25.75 taken off a $231.75 bill for renting tuxedos. In inflation-adjusted dollars, those savings would come to $187.41 in 2010. That's a whole lot of peanut butter.

I wonder if the shop here is the same Ace that Elvis shopped at years ago. If they are, they need to advertise their moment with the King of Rock n' Roll. Anything a cultural icon touches is imbued with a mysterious value, as if knowing that people larger than life share some of the same mundane experiences of our own somehow makes us more connected to greatness, our potential own and that of others.

If you're curious to learn more about the shop that served Elvis, this article from 1959 gives us cool details. Another one from April 1960 mentions Elvis's patronage of the shop. Here is the dry paragraph:

Elvis Presley and his manager, Col. Parker, purchased tuxedos from Ace Formal Wear when the star was here recently for the filming of the Frank Sinatra television show.

You know, after reading that, I think I figured out what the $25.75 discount was for: the proprietor threw in one free tuxedo rental. Maybe a reward for buying a tux for $150 ($1091.71 in 2010 dollars). Yep. Three percent sales tax on $25 is 75 cents. So there we are. Life lesson? If you buy a tux, make sure you get to rent one for free.

Russell Crowe channels Elvis Presley (and Johnny Cash)

How fitting the king of gladiators should honor the King of Rock n' Roll on stage with Elvis Costello. Costello started cranking out a set-your-truck-on-fire-and-fall-in-love rendition of "Trouble" starting at 5:59 or so, and then Crowe joins him at 7:20 or so, where the video above will begin playing. (They also played Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues.")

It strikes me again and again how cultural icons and artifacts live on and on. Something about this song, and Elvis Presley, still raises people's spirits, enough that they want to invite the world to share what they feel. Then again, I groove on musicians from every era. Bach, Mozart, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Devo, Tom Waits, Nirvana, Coldplay, Jay-Z and more all make life give me the chills in different ways. What makes something immortal?

Grossest Elvis Presley memorabilia?

A strand of Elvis Presley's hair went unsold. I don't know the potential buyers' reasons for the rejection, but I can tell you mine: strands of hair, belonging to the King of Rock n' Roll or not, are gross. If one's on the floor, it's soon in the trash can. Just like fingernail clippings, skin cells and dried pieces of nasal mucus. That got me thinking: What are the most disgusting examples of Elvis Presley memorabilia out there? How much did they sell for? Let me know in the comments.

Elvis Presley's favorite ride: SkyScreamer at Six Flags

Dressing up like Elvis Presley and riding the SkyScreamer seems to be the way that fans have chosen to mark the opening of this ride. But let's step back and look at the broader phenomenon: if you want to add that extra bit of special sauce to just about any event, get out your Elvis garb.

Why is that? I suppose looking like one of the world's most recognizable entertainers can turn any experience into a show, and why just participate when you can perform? The memories will be made sweeter. Being watched pricks the senses, sharpening the moment. The King himself said it best in a phone call to Dick Clark while serving in the military: "I’m glad that I could come in the Army and do my part, but you’ll never know how happy I’ll be, boy, when I can return to the entertainment world, because once you get a taste of show business, there’s nothing like it."

Would Elvis drive these cars?

Would Elvis drive an Escalade hybrid or Tesla Model S? Larry Bell at myperfectautomobile.com thinks so. Sure, why not. Long as he doesn't pull a Toonces.

Elvis Presley and giant squirrel ponder distant politician

This is Cromwell, the giant squirrel. He and Elvis met at a tree in Europe on a bright day. The King needed some shade; the squirrel needed some style. They agreed to the mutual benefit of visiting the White House. After photos with President Nixon, they offered their own.

Don't eat your inspiration

Adam at GrubGrade demonstrates why one's love for a musician should be restricted to the artist's sounds. Blinded by the happiness of our ears, we develop an an illusion that the music originator's predilections may imbue a taste-bud visitor with memories of heaven. Nope. The lesson here? Don't eat bacon flakes cold.

Lisa Marie Presley on American Idol

Lisa Marie Presley, immersed in a flood of blue light, sang "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" on American Idol. The whole performance was like watching a shadow dance at night.

Why is 'Just Pretend' the first song on Lisa Marie Presley's list of favorite Elvis songs?

Lisa Marie Presley made a 12-song compilation on iTunes of her favorite songs by her father.

Why is "Just Pretend" the first song?

Maybe there is a hint in the lyrics:

Just pretend, I'm holding you
And whispering things soft and low
And think of me, how it's gonna be,
Just pretend I didn't go
When I walked away, I heard you say
If you need me, you know what to do
I knew it then, I'd be back again
Just pretend I'm right there with you

And I'll come flying to you, oh yes
All the crying is true
Oh, I will hold you and love you again
But until then, well just pretend

Oh, it's funny but I can't recall the things
We said or why you're crying
But now I know it was wrong to go
I belong here by your side

Seems like daughter wishing her dad was still around.

Elvis Presley memorabilia in Miami

The Cultist blog provides some close-up shots of some of Elvis's most personal belongings that made their way to Miami. The memorabilia is part of a new Graceland exhibit that I wrote about before. With such large photos showing so much detail, it's almost like making it to the show.

Elvis Presley on Antique Road Show: a standee and much more

A cardboard figure of the King for the film "Love Me Tender," one of only two or three in existence, was valued at $10,000 - $15,000. The appraiser on Antique Road Show tells the story behind the figure, known as a standee, that was discovered in an attic:

APPRAISER: And this one's particularly important because it's his first feature-length film. And at the time, the film was actually supposed to be called "The Reno Brothers," which were the title characters. But his hit single "Love Me Tender" had already sold a million copies, so the song was so popular at this point they actually retitled the film. But because it was his first appearance, he actually got third billing in the film, which he... that never happened again, obviously, because he was such a huge star. They were made to kind of decorate the lobbies of the movie theaters when the films came to town. And they would be passed on, oftentimes to the next theater. Well, as you can see, you do have a crease right there across his neck. That's pretty common. Most of these were just in pieces by the time a film's run would be finished. The crease across the center is actually... that's how it was made. That's not an issue. They're made to fold so they can be shipped. There were reports that you couldn't hear the film because the girls in the theater were screaming so loudly, because he was such a heartthrob at that time. So I would imagine that many of these were also probably torn to shreds by fans coming out of the theater who wanted a piece of Elvis to take home. You keep this by your bed.

Here is a list of finds on more Antique Road Show episodes that are related to Elvis. If you can't bother with the link, read on:

• Elvis Presley Outfit, ca. 1970: $15,000 - $100,000
• Collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia: $10,000 to $15,000
• Elvis Presley Signed Album & Macrame Belt, ca. 1970: $7,500 - $10,000

How religious was Elvis Presley?

Thomas Melin of the Elvis Today blog posted a transcript (part one and two) of an interview he did with Per-Erik “Pete” Hallin, a Swedish musician who played with the King in 1973 and 1974. One of the questions that Elvis Today asks is, "How religious was Elvis, in your opinion?" Here is Per-Erik's answer:

It's a very difficult question. And I tend to generally hesitate to say how religious a person is, that I know or have known, whoever it might be. But I can say with certainty that he had faith in God, no doubt, and that these songs corresponded to a very deep longing that he had. But I also believe that he longed for making it even more consumate in some way, and more fully than it was. In some way, he was imprisoned in his own success. It was not easy being Elvis, so to speak.

Elvis Today also asked, "What relationship did Elvis have to gospel music?" Per-Erik's response:

I think I can say without hesitation that gospel was simply the type of music he liked the most. And I think that if anyone of those who knew him well, and perhaps better than I did, would sit next to me, they would nod and agree and say, “yes that's the way it was.” And it has been said many times and I myself have experienced it.

Does success prevent people from being fully religious? Don't know. Per-Erik implies it. Maybe it's all the distractions, the possibilities. It might be easier to give your life to God if your life doesn't offer too many choices. Anyway, here is Per-Erik grooving on the piano and singing:

The Elvis Presley of India

A famous Indian actor reminds us that the Elvis Presley of India is Shammi Kapoor.

Elvis Presley woke up astronauts. Which song was most popular among space travelers?

Did you know that NASA uses music to wake up astronauts on space missions? So says NASA's history division in this report (pdf). It lists various space missions and the music played on each. Here are a few songs of many not coming from the King of Rock n' Roll:

• Beethoven‟s 6th Symphony
• Going Back to Houston
• My Favorite Things
• Come Fly With Me

Of course, Elvis Presley is well-represented. Which songs? A bunch:

• Burning Love
• Hound Dog
• Are You Lonesome Tonight?
• Return to Sender
• Please Release Me
• Devil In Disguise
• Stuck On You

By my tally, "Hound Dog" is the Elvis song that astronauts awoke to the most.

Update: I later came across an old post on Elvis Today that is about this very topic. The blog confirms my conclusion about "Hound Dog."

Elvis Presley can be followed by any noun. 'Car show' today.

It's true: search for "Elvis Presley" plus anything else, and you'll no doubt get a King of Rock n' Roll angle on any aspect of cultural life. A car show isn't so exotic, but one's coming up June 1 and 2 at Graceland, so timeliness wins the contest today.

About those new details of Elvis Presley's life in 'Through His Daughters Eyes' Graceland exhibit

CNN's video goes over a few of the factoids revealed in a new Graceland exhibit, "Through His Daughters Eyes.". But who has time to wait for a medium you can't scan? Here are the new artifacts of the Presley mythology that are revealed:

1. A little white jacket that belonged to Lisa Marie caused some controversy about wearing animals. Or not. Something about the fur being fake or real. The guy describing it is not clear, and the reporter doesn't try to get him to clarify.
2. Baby footprints of Lisa Marie.
3. Elvis's wallet. What does the King of Rock n' Roll keep in there? Same stuff as all of us. He is not a god! Or gods are just as human as us. Right, in the wallet: a picture of Lisa Marie. A BankAmericard. An insurance card.
4. The gold belt that was worn in "Elvis on Tour." Elvis also wore this belt in a photograph with Richard Nixon.
5. A white shoe of Elvis's next to a white shoe of Justin Timberlake's. See the connection? Shoes. White.
6. Elvis's custom-made, handle-able-by-gloves-only gold sunglasses. "TCB," for "Taking Care of Business," is inscribed on the side of the glasses. Katie Perry's Elvis-inspired sunglasses that she wore on an American Idol appearance.
7. Bruce Springstein's jacket. This is featured because he was described as a big ol' Elvis fan and the most famous wall jumper at Graceland. He did that deed in 1976.

Artwork of Elvis Presley selling for $37 million is a warning about social imbalances

I understand that art is always worth as much as it will sell for. But when I heard $37 million was paid for an Andy Warhol painting of the King, and that "The Scream" fetched $120 million, I felt something was deeply wrong with our world.

Life is unfair. It's often unfair to the individual advantage of a citizen of a developed nation. But witnessing massive fortunes being spent on single piece of artwork – while unrest, unemployment and poverty claim huge portions of the global population – causes me to think that this order of things truly cannot last. Some people can't buy food, yet others can drop tens of millions on an object? I realize this class of rich citizens is purchasing the cultural significance of the object, not the object itself, but that kind of imbalance cannot hold. Food is a necessity. And as important and fascinating as Warhol's artwork is, I will survive, perhaps less richly, without it.

Holographic Elvis Presley on tour? Why not?

A concert featuring a hologram of Tupac Shakur has prompted questions about using other performers in the same way, Elvis included. Would the King of Rock n' Roll be dishonored by such a presentation? I'm sure live music fans initially said recordings ruined the soul of a song. Is that argument valid? There is something about not letting someone die and fade from memory...technology makes it impossible to forget, should you choose to remember. That's not always a good thing.

I think guys like this capture the Elvis spirit better than a hologram ever could:

Elvis Presley playing soccer

The manager of a European soccer team has asked fans to wear Elvis Presley outfits to a game. Why? To make a point to critics who evoked Elvis Presley in their commentary.

Video interview with Elvis Presley's drummer

D.J. Fontana, a drummer with Elvis Presley for 14 years, is on tour. His observation on modern audiences? "They're a little bit quieter," he said in an article on yourhoustonnews.com. And in the same article, some praise of the King and a bit of odd reasoning:

"Elvis’ ability to work the spectators is legendary. Elvis’ talent scaled to a higher plateau of performance, the unreachable star even to those who, with stunning precision, musically pay homage to him. Hence, contemporary audiences are somewhat different than the audiences of yesteryear."

Elvis made the audiences what they were?

Hound dog does Elvis Presley snarl impersonation

Above, Bella the hound dog channels the King upon hearing the command "Elvis" from her owner. Lisa Marie Presley does her own version of the Elvis snarl in a photo, part of a slide show about the children of famous musicians.

Comic book of Elvis Presley by Stan Lee: 'Graphic Elvis'

An unfortunately titled comic book about the King of Rock n' Roll, "Graphic Elvis," has been given the new cost of $0 by Liquid Comics for Free Comic Book Day. It normally costs $195. A few people will luck out and pick up a free copy, but this is of course the company's use of a comic book event to get some sales of their product.

If you had $10, you could get the app of the comic for your iPhone or Android phone. I wonder if the King ever dreamed he would be on a computer that fits in people's pockets?

Or you can preview the comic here. This loads pretty slowly, but gives you a good taste of what you get. Below you can see a sample:

Source: press release.

Fans to decide songs on Elvis Presley compilation album, and a rockin' impersonator

An album to be released on July 31 will be made of songs chosen by fans. Go to iamanelvisfan.com to take part in the project.

Elvis Presley sighting in Asia, and fan portraits of the King

Above, a mysterious man wandering the streets of Hong Kong. Is it Elvis Presley? Does the King prefer all things Chinese? It's hard to tell.

The exhibit “Impressions of Elvis: Portraits by Fans of Elvis Presley” is going up in Tennessee. Finally, a nuclear blast of impressions from the eyes of the beholders so we can evaluate the impact of being beholden. The show runs May 6 to July 13.

The blog afyccim reviews the album 'From Elvis in Memphis'

The blog afyccim reviews Elvis Presley's album "From Elvis in Memphis." Above is a performance of "In the Ghetto," which the reviewer said was the "highlight" of the collection.

 Some portions of the review:

1. "Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #190 on the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time” list."
2. " I love these songs so much because I’ve loved this style of music for as long as I can remember, and it connects me to my dad. Music is at its most powerful and most enjoyable when we have an emotional connection to it"
3. "I really don’t think there are any weak songs on this album. Every track is unique and masterfully arranged, and managed to hold my attention, which is a feat in itself!"
4. "The absolute highlight for me is the album’s chilling closer ‘In the Ghetto’ which always gives me goosebumps. Released as a single, this became Elvis’s biggest hit since 1965. I liked this album more with each listen and I think it has something for everyone."

Norah Jones says Elvis Presley inspires her; sings 'Lonesome Tonight'

Norah Jones says Elvis inspires. She sings it in the video above.

The Presley Commission says Elvis faked his death; Elvis-visited resort nears redevelopment

This Current Affairs video, above, is the first I have heard of the Presley Commission, but that's what happens when you start mining YouTube. It's quite snarky, but well-edited, and gives us a peek inside the world of some Elvis acolytes.

In other Elvis Presley news, a Las Vegas resort that once hosted the king of rock n' roll has taken a step toward redevelopment by getting a $300 million investment. Maybe Elvis will drop by for a martini by the pool.

Elvis Presley sighting in New Mexico; fans can submit photos for mosaic of king of rock n' roll

Above, a video about spotting the king of rock n' roll in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Is he an example of the true Elvis Presley spirit? Or the king himself? 

In other Elvis Presley news, an organization called Fan Mosaics is asking fans of Elvis Presley to submit their photos in order to make a mosaic of the king of rock n' roll. More info is at fanmosaics.com/Elvis.