One of the biggest Elvis fans was Bruce Springsteen. Here's an interesting story from Rolling Stone about how Springsteen tried to climb the Graceland fence in 1976. This was one year after Springsteen broke through the mainstream with "Born to Run."

April 30, 1976 - Bruce Springsteen hops the fence at Graceland

Anyone who's attended a Bruce Springsteen show knows that the man can talk a blue streak: his legendary three-hour sets are littered with long anecdotes, and there's no story the Boss loves telling more than the time he got booted from Elvis Presley's front porch.

In 1976, while in Memphis on their hugely successful Born to Run tour, 26-year-old Springsteen and his E-Street Band cohort Steve Van Zandt decided to pay a 3 a.m. visit to Graceland. When he saw lights blazing inside the mansion, Springsteen climbed over the wall and ran to the front door; just as he was about to ring the doorbell, he was intercepted by security. Explaining his newfound rock fame and his recent covers of both Time and Newsweek, Springsteen poured on the charm and begged to be let inside – but instead, the unimpressed guards told him that Presley was out of town (which was true) and escorted him promptly to the sidewalk.

Elvis died at Graceland the following year. Regardless, he is united forever with Springsteen on the cover of Born to Run, where the Boss's guitar strap proudly bears an Elvis fan club button.




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This is Springsteen song wrote about Elvis' life and fame lead to his death at such a young age. It's called "Johnny Bye Bye" and ends with the line "you didn't have to die."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50fxaPagyM

Hey Goombah!! How ya doing?

I never heard that Springsteen story before. Didn't realize he was such a fan. Very nice!!!!





TIS

I knew The Boss was a fan bit didn't know about him jumping the wall of graceland.

Hi TIS - doing well! Just wishing the summer wasn't winding down.

Here's another story about how Led Zeppelin, minus bassist John Paul Jones, went to Graceland and hung out with the King.

Elvis meets Led Zeppelin in 1974

If you've ever seen Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same film, they throw in a few lines from Elvis' "That's All Right" during the performance of "Whole Lotta Love."

Here's another part of the story from Richard Cole, who was one of their tour managers. I believe that this was included in the "Hammer of the Gods" biography of Zeppelin by Steven Davis.

Later in the year Richard Cole organised a meeting between Elvis and John Paul Jones as Jones had missed out on the LA meeting for some reason which is not clear. Richard had become friendly with one of Elvis's bodyguards, Jerry Schilling. The year before, while Led Zeppelin didn't tour, Cole had road-managed Eric Clapton's American tour, and had taken Clapton to meet Elvis in Memphis. Now Cole had decided to meet Elvis again, and arranged to take John Paul Jones up to Elvis's mansion in Bel Air. So they took one of the limos, and when they got to the house they were told not to discuss music with the King and to leave after twenty minutes. Cole walked into Elvis's living room with a cold bottle of Dom Perignon in each hand. They found Elvis sprawled over a couch, wearing pajamas and house slippers, watching television with his entourage. Cole was a little drunk. “Wot the fucking hell is going on here?” he asked good-naturedly. Elvis didn't like people to curse in his house. “Man,” the King said, “what's all this cussing and swearing?” But Cole started to 'kid' Elvis. “You're sittin' there in your fucking carpet slippers and fucking Charlie Hodge [one of Elvis's aides] is twiddling a fucking pencil over here, what kind of fucking party is this?” Elvis could take no more. He jumped up in a karate pose and whacked wrists with Cole, who had also gone into fighting stance. On contact, Cole's gold Tiffany watch clattered to the floor. Elvis picked it up. He liked watches, so he put it on. “That's nice,” the King said.“Ahh, fucking keep it!” Cole said. But giving Elvis a watch set off the Kings automatic gifting mechanisms. Elvis ran out of the room and returned with another watch. Here,” he said, handing it to Cole. “You fucking keep this!” It was a gold watch decorated with thirty-two diamonds. Then Elvis looked at Jones and said, “Whaddaya got? Gimme your watch.” Jones handed the King his Mickey Mouse watch. Elvis exited and returned with a double-dial (for two time zones) Baume & Mercier watch set in lapis lazuli. Elvis wasn't through. “What else you got?” he asked. Cole gave him his Brazilian amethyst ring. Elvis took a ring off his hand and said, “You can fucking have this,” throwing Cole a two-karat diamond ring engraved with “Love Linda.” Elvis finally let Cole and Jones leave three hours later.He walked them to their limo in his pajamas and opened the car door for them.The drivers and the other retainers almost dropped dead. Elvis hardly ever came out of the house, let alone opened limo doors for his guests.

I remember the day he passed, many years ago but sometimes seems like yesterday.

RIP

I was only 6 when Elvis died, but I do remember hearing it on the car radio.

I also remember being in a store in 1980 and hearing that John Lennon was killed. I know they announced it on Monday Night Football, so it may have been the following day that I heard. It's hard to believe that there was a time when news and access to information was not 24/7/365.

No - turned them in the get the refund. It would be nice to have them now, but I needed the beer money then!

One of my favorite songs of his was Heart Brake Hotel.

I have so many favorites, I couldn't possibly think of them all. Off top of my head (some not so notable maybe):


I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
I Got A Woman
Mean Woman Blues
Hard Headed Woman
Trouble
I Got Stung
Old Shep
I Tripped, I Stumbled, I Fell
Any Day Now
If I Can Dream
Surrender
It's Now Or Never
I Believe

And probably at least 1,000 more.


TIS

Do you listen to the Elvis channel on Sirius, Tis?

I think it's channel 19. Anyway, yeah, Elvis sang a few stinkers. But when you record that many songs, that's bound to happen. But the Sirius channel has actually made me a fan of some of his Gospel and Country songs. And I didn't think that was possible .

I really like "Follow That Dream" and "Burning Love."

I used to have Sirius, but they repeat so much stuff. I'd be driving to work and hear a song or show and they'd repeat the same thing on the drive home. Too little variety IMHO to justify the cost.

PB,

I don't have Sirius. Not even sure how to get it. You pay for it right?

Oh yea, for sure some stinkers, but the good outweigh the bad by far. Then again I'm biased when it comes to EP.

Speaking of religious albums. I also have those I(in Michigan). "His Hand In Mind" is one of them. I admit however, I bought them just to keep up my collection at the time. Some good tunes for sure, but the religious albums are probably in the best shape then the others. Says a lot. Ha ha




TIS

I actually agree, Goom. But every time you buy a new car these days, you get three to six months free, depending on the manufacturer and the dealership. My wife and son both got new cars earlier this summer, so I've been listening to Sirius in their cars. My son went back to school this week, though. So it's back to the stone age for me .

My favorite songs from Elvis American Trilogy and Suspicious minds,but there are hundreds more i could name..

"It Hurts Me" (Studio Version)

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Live from "That's the Way It Is")

"My Way" ("Aloha from Hawaii")

"American Trilogy" ("Aloha from Hawaii")

"If I Can Dream" ("'68 Comeback Special")

Another favorite is "Mess Of Blues" which is the flip side of "It's Now Or Never"if I remember correctly. Oh btw, to the youngsters, that's a 45 record in which there was one song on each side. . LOL Damn, how dated is that?

I remember paying 65 cents for a 45.


TIS

I found the cover. This is a 45 record

Tomorrow is Elvis' 80th birthday.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/elvis-presley
-80th-birthday-celebration-reissues-website-20150107

HB to The King, my favorite Christmas Song is Blue Christmas.

Here is my other Fav, Viva Las Vegas.

http://youtu.be/ui0EgRsFVN8

DP

I agree Dues

I use to go to Vegas at least once a year. I'd blast that song every time I was packing to go. It is such a perfect song for that bright, gawdy, fun city. So true.....Well except (for me) the part of "having a whole lot of money ready to burn."


I can't believe it's been 37 years. Was always an Elvis fan. I'm so happy I did get to see him in 75.

RIP EP

TIS

Love Vegas. It is sad to think how long ago that was, I remember the endless line of white Caddy's in his persession.

Now I feel like watching a Elvis Movie.

DP