Priscilla Presley: ’Britain had a special place in Elvis’s heart’

IT IS a well-known piece of Elvis trivia that he set foot in Britain only fleetingly and never sang so much as a note. 

Passing through Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport on his way home from serving with the US Army in Germany in 1960, he got as far as the bar.

However the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll liked what he saw and is said to have told locals: “This is quite a country. I must see more of it.”

Sadly he never got his wish but speaking to mark the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s death tomorrow and the launch of a new exhibition, the singer’s former wife Priscilla reveals the special bond he felt with his British fans.

“Great Britain was always special to Elvis,” says the 72-year-old. “It wasn’t so much London as it was Great Britain. The British had been with Elvis since the very beginning. I saw a scrapbook, full of British fans. He couldn’t believe that a country he’d never been too before had supported him so much.”

Elvis had 21 UK number 1 hits and for his millions of fans, both old and new, the love affair has continued. So they will be delighted by Priscilla’s announcement that artefacts from the Graceland archives are to go on show here.

Tickets for the three-month event, Elvis on Tour, at the O2 go on sale this week. A previous exhibition of Elvis memorabilia, in 2015, drew 200,000 visitors to the same venue.

This time the exhibition will feature 200 items, many of which have never before left Graceland, including many of his famous jumpsuits.

Priscilla, who became an actress, says: “The exhibition keeps Elvis alive, not just within the family but for fans and people who are being introduced to him for the first time. His impact resonates and we have a whole new fan base that wants to know more and see what he accomplished.”

Priscilla met Elvis in Germany in 1959 when she was 14-years-old and they married in Las Vegas, in 1967. Although they divorced, happy memories come flooding back and she adds: “I remember him as an amazing human being. I miss mostly his laugh because it was so contagious. And his humour, which made us all laugh.”

In the four decades since his death aged just 42 numerous attempts have been made to describe the essence of Elvis’s star quality. He is the world’s most successful artist with record sales of over one billion, not to mention 33 films.

But for Elvis’s former wife his appeal goes far beyond his incredible voice, great energy and sultry looks.

“He had a connection with his audience,” says Priscilla, who helped turn Elvis’s Memphis home Graceland into one of the US’s biggest attractions. “He had compassion and a tender soul that people saw.”

The exhibition, opening in the autumn, focuses on the years 1969 to 1977 when he toured the US relentlessly.

At the time he was struggling with depression, obesity and an addiction to prescription drugs.

There are trunks, with one still containing some of the silk scarves that Elvis gave away to swooning female fans, and recordings of interviews with members of Elvis’s band. Also on show is a gold belt given to Elvis in 1969 by the International Hotel in Las Vegas, where he had a residency.

There is a gold microphone and an original acetate of An American Trilogy, a song discovered by Priscilla.

The exhibition also features more than 30 of Elvis’s costumes, tracing the development of his trademark bespoke jumpsuits. Early versions were quite simple but over time they became more elaborate and encrusted with jewels. One was worn only once, before being consigned to his wardrobe because his microphone kept getting tangled in the fringe.

Priscilla, who would scour shops for jewellery and belts to complete Elvis’s unique look, says: “The first suits he actually wasn’t able to move in, so he couldn’t do his famous karate moves.

“He once split one of his costumes – this was when stretchy material was just coming out. So that’s how the jumpsuit came to be, so he could move. In fact, it started a whole new trend. So you’ll see how things began, how he impacted culture in so many ways.”

The Graceland archive in the US is vast containing up to two million items, including 3,000 pieces of clothing and 24 vehicles.

For a few months at least UK fans can get a glimpse into Elvis’s extraordinary life and career – without having to cross the pond.

l Elvis On Tour The Exhibition opens at The O2, London, on November 3. For information visit elvisontourexhibition.co.uk