Sixty Years Since Elvis Presley and The Beatles Met
It was six decades ago this August when Elvis Presley welcomed The Beatles to his Los Angeles residence.
The Fab Four’s Adoration for the King
Growing up in the 1950s, the members of the Fab Four were avid listeners of the King of Rock and Roll. John Lennon famously stated, “before Elvis there was nothing,” emphasizing that The Beatles’ existence was heavily influenced by him.
1965: A Shift in Stardom
By 1965, The Beatles had reached global prominence, while Elvis’ career trajectory had somewhat declined as he released a series of less critically acclaimed romantic comedies.
Elvis’ Conflicted Feelings Towards the Rising Band
According to David Stanley, his stepbrother and a member of the “Memphis Mafia,” Elvis harbored mixed emotions about the band before his resurgence in live performances.
Memphis Mafia Insider Reveals Elvis’ Perspective
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Elvis’ confidant revealed, “They were more impressed than he was. Elvis was Elvis, but here comes the new kid in town.” Stanley added, “He had no reason to feel threatened. But when you talk about the Beatles, they’re the greatest band in the world. The songs, the music they created… He wasn’t threatened, but the thought did occur to him, ‘here’s my competition’.” However, the King’s former bodyguard conceded that Elvis felt a particular sense of being “intimated” by John, Paul, George, and Ringo in a specific way.