Led Zeppelin, especially Robert Plant, deeply admired Elvis Presley, viewing him as a foundational inspiration who "opened the door" to their love of R&B and blues, despite his later career changes. They met Elvis multiple times in the 1970s, sharing memorable, often humorous, encounters where they bonded over music, with Plant even singing Elvis songs back to him, and Page recalling hearing Elvis's early hits as pivotal to his own guitar playing.
He had never heard their records, he said, except for when his stepbrother played him 'Stairway to Heaven. ' "I liked it," said Presley.
They were there because of what he could do for them, not because of who he was. Ringo said it struck him deeply — Elvis had everything yet seemed to have nothing that truly mattered. For The Beatles, the whirlwind of Beatlemania was overwhelming, but they had each other.
As it turns out, Led Zeppelin met Elvis at least four times during their 70s pomp. The first time they met, the U.K. band were in America to launch their Swan Song label, and decided to catch an Elvis show.
Like most children of the 1950s, David Bowie considered Elvis a mythic figure. The pair, who would go on to share a record label, RCA, in the 1970s, also happened to be born on the same day. In an interview with Q in 1997 Bowie said of the date: 'I couldn't believe it', he was a major hero of mine.
“Freddie was very fond of Elvis.” Mercury said he even styled his vocals on the song to sound like The King Of Rock'n'Roll.
Dolly Parton said no to Elvis Presley recording "I Will Always Love You" because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of the publishing rights, which Parton refused to give up, as she wanted to keep ownership and the future earnings for her family. Despite her heartbreak at the missed opportunity, she held firm to her business principle, understanding that retaining the copyright was crucial for her financial security and legacy, a decision that paid off immensely after Whitney Houston's cover became a global phenomenon.
Mick Jagger on Elvis Presley (1974) "I never really liked him. Presley hasn't got anyone to tell him what to do and really that's what he needs more than anything else. His trouble is that it was always a question of making money.
Freddie Mercury held Led Zeppelin in very high regard, calling them the "greatest band of all time" and praising Robert Plant as his favorite singer, viewing Plant as one of the era's most original vocalists, with mutual admiration existing between the two frontmen. Mercury acknowledged Queen's frequent comparisons to Led Zeppelin, recognizing Zeppelin's heavier sound, and admired their massive success, feeling they deserved it.
Paul McCartney has never hidden his admiration for Elvis Presley. As a young musician in Liverpool, he was deeply influenced by The King of Rock and Roll, whose music reshaped popular culture in the 1950s. Like his Beatles bandmates, McCartney saw Elvis as more than just a singer—he was a revolution.
In Moon Walk, a memoir published in 1988, Jackson insisted Elvis was not important to him growing up and that he was unhappy to learn a song he recorded with his brothers, Heartbreak Hotel, shared the name of Presley's first national hit.
While all the Beatles had friction with {!nav}Yoko Ono's constant presence, especially {!nav}Paul McCartney and {!nav}George Harrison, George was arguably the most openly critical, feeling she disrupted the band's sacred studio space, with Paul later admitting discomfort and Ringo trying to keep peace but feeling Yoko was possessive and isolating John.
Beatles with Roy Orbison on his birthday, Apr. 23, '65 London. "John Lennon mentioned Orbison as the source of inspiration for both "Please Please Me" and "(Just Like) Starting Over", and Roy was his all-time favorite singer."
For months, Elvis had suffered from severe constipation 🚫💩 — some reports say he hadn't had a proper bowel movement in over four months. This intense strain, combined with long-term prescription drug abuse 💊 (painkillers, sedatives, and more), took a devastating toll on his body.
In the mid-'80s, Prince's admiration for Led Zeppelin was clear, with the musician praising their ability to evoke emotion through each song.
what do you think ? According to lore, in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jimi Hendrix was asked, “How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world?” He is believed to have answered, “I don't know, go ask Rory Gallagher.”
According to Bob Harris, who interviewed Lennon in 1975, Lennon thought Presley was a “right-wing southern bigot” and was shocked by his personality. Lennon also publicly criticized Presley's newer work.
Dolly Parton refused to let Elvis Presley record her song, "I Will Always Love You," because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half the publishing rights, which Parton would not give up, believing the song was her most important copyright and retirement fund. Although Elvis loved the song and sang it to Priscilla Presley after their divorce, the deal fell through due to Parker's insistence on the publishing cut, a decision Parton later recognized as prescient when Whitney Houston made the song a global phenomenon.
One of the most enduring friendships in John Lennon's life was with Pete Shotton, his childhood friend from Liverpool. As a devoted fan, I find their relationship fascinating because it reveals the loyal and grounded side of John beneath his rockstar image.
Johnny Harris The Man Who Turned Elvis Down Twice.
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe apparently had a clandestine affair. Tons of tabloids and biographers have claimed that the two icons engaged in a secret romantic relationship in their time. According to these accounts, it was an on-and-off thing that continued sporadically over the years.