The King has entered the building - The Beatles Story in Liverpool to be precise. Today, a new exhibit, "Elvis and Us" which explores the relationship and influences between Elvis and The Beatles opens in Liverpool. This marks the first time that Graceland has teamed up with The Beatles Story to bring exclusive Presley artifacts over the Atlantic to the UK.
See photos from the "Elvis and Us" exhibit here
It's no secret that Elvis was a huge influence on The Beatles to play rock and roll starting in their teenage years. "Nothing affected me until I heard Elvis. Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles," John Lennon said.
So when The Beatles finally got to meet their idol on August 27, 1965 in California, it was an historic event. Although the surviving Beatles offered slightly different accounts of the meeting as recounted in The Beatles Anthology in 1995, a few key points are highlighted in the "Elvis and Us" exhibit.
During the meeting, Elvis pulled out a white Fender bass guitar to play, much to Paul McCartney's delight. Meanwhile, Ringo Starr took up a game of pool with members of Elvis' entourage at Elvis' pool table, now referred to as the world's most valuable pool table. Both of these items will be on display at "Elvis and Us" in Liverpool.
"This actually is a very rare opportunity to see things direct from Elvis' home in Memphis," said Angie Marchese, Director of Archives, Elvis Presley Enterprises. "We've only partnered with a few museums doing exhibitions about Elvis outside Memphis, Tennessee. This one is going to be one of the first in UK history with Graceland presenting things here for the first time."
Watch a video preview of the "Elvis and Us" exhibition
Other exclusive Presley items featured in the exhibit include Elvis' high school diploma, the Jailhouse Rock shirt worn by Elvis in the film, a first album acetate, one of Elvis' famous white jumpsuits and telegrams from The Colonel and Elvis to Ed Sullivan.
Since Elvis Presley and The Beatles are both the focus of two popular Cirque du Soleil shows, a special display of Cirque costumes from both shows will also be part of the exhibit.
The exhibit will run for two years through October 4, 2013. For more information, visit http://www.elvisandus.com
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