When we mention rock and roll, there is just one person that comes to our mind and that is Elvis Presley. This man is responsible for bringing the rock to mainstream and inspire at least 85,000 impersonators. He is known to the entire world but some facts are still a secret and we are here to give you some surprising facts about the king of rock.
Nothing But Average
His talent wasn’t recognized in a jiffy. His music teachers said that he was merely average during his school days. He was a loner back in the day and he was mocked as ‘hillbilly music’. He was a shy kid and didn’t perform as a kid. This could be the reason behind the undeniable charm of eccentric, supremely confident performer, later in life.
No Black Hair
Elvis is known for many things and one of those things is hair. His signature look had black and shiny hair but unfortunately, that wasn’t his natural look. It was a job of hair color. He was born with blonde hair and started dying his hair when he was young and all that to achieve an edgy look. Also, he was so eager to get the specific look that he started using shoe polish to get the black hair.
Was Not A Fan Of Rock
Say what? Yes, that’s shocking and unbelievable! Elvis was never a fan of music, let alone rock. He didn’t even get a guitar before he turned 11. Once, he had his hands on the guitar, he learned it and started playing really well. In fact, the king of rock wanted a rifle instead of a guitar but his mother managed to keep him away from it.
Never Performed Outside North America
The time he made it big in the industry, everyone wanted to witness him live. All shows were selling out in the United States. However, his overseas fans didn’t get the chance to see him perform. He did perform in Canada in 1957 but nothing beyond that. There were many speculations on why he chose to perform just in Northern America.
The U.S Army
We all know about the major break Elvis took from the singing career. He was drafted into the U.S army in 1958. This was something out of the blue and no one could imagine a star taking such a break. He refused the offer to enlist in Special Services and entertain but instead chose to be a regular soldier. Even his haters couldn’t hate him after this.
He Met His Wife When She Was 14
When he went into the army, he was stationed in Germany. That is when he laid his eyes on his beautiful future wife Priscilla Beaulieu. She was just 14 years old and Elvis was 24 years old then. The relationship bloomed.However, she didn’t know that being in a relationship with one of the biggest stars would cost her so much.
Dating Him Wasn’t Easy
The idea of dating a star might seem like a dream. However, it didn’t come easy for Priscilla Beaulieu. This relationship weighed on her She said, “I was kind of lost really in who I was earlier in my life, I really didn’t have teenage years. I learned so much about him and was with him so much that I thought the way he did.” However, Priscilla was not the only one who fell victim to his charm.
He Couldn’t Stand Lonely Nights
He did slay the rock music and he was known for being kind. It was a belief that the king of rock didn’t like spending nights on his own. There was a speculation that this fear was due to the loss of his mother. He made sure that someone was always on his side and it was not always his wife.
Romantic Interests
While he was commissioned in Germany, Priscilla was not the only interest of his life back then. Other than the daughter of U.S. Navy pilot, Elvis even had an affair with a 19-year-old German girl named Elisabeth Stefaniak. He had hired her to handle his fan mail and they broke off when he was back in States.
One Marriage
Elvis was undeniably charming and he was a ladies’ man. It would be okay if you expect him to be married to numerous women. However, the case was the opposite. He married just one woman and it was Priscilla Beaulieu. They both got married in Las Vegas in 1967 and their off-camera life was quite different than what you’d expect.
Never Without Makeup
Throughout their relationship, Elvis never wanted to see his wife without makeup. He even didn’t like to see her getting dressed as the mystery was important to him. Priscilla explained, “He never wanted to see me getting dressed, he wanted to see the result of getting dressed.” Eventually, over the years she reduced the amount of makeup she used to put on the face.
Choice To Get Married
The couple didn’t decide to get married on their own. Presley’s manager was also involved in the decision. Their love was known to all and Tom thought that they should get married as it would be good for Elvis’ public image. And maybe that is also a reason that their marriage didn’t last as long as it should have. The decision to get married should be of the two people who are getting married, not anyone outside of those two.
Distance Maintained
After they both became parents, Elvis became distant and that is when they both started leading different lives. In 1972, they both split up only after a few years of their marriage. Their marriage started to break down after they became parents but according to Priscilla, this wasn’t the only reason for the failed marriage.
Secret Phobia
This king of rock had a germophobia. He was scared of germs and did all kinds of things to stay away from them. He made sure he was protected from them. He avoided eating at other’s places and would take his own silverware wherever possible. According to his wife, “He would drink where the handle was, knowing that no one would ever drink at that side.”
A Pet – Chimpanzee
We are all aware of rock stars’ weird obsession with an exotic pet. Elvis was no different. He had a pet and it was a chimpanzee. He named him Scatter and he was a very active pet. He would be all over the place, no matter what the occasion was. At parties, he would scream and startle the guests and he was taught a few naughty tricks.
Love For Guns
As we mentioned before, he was a sucker for refiles and guns. These were his love before he was introduced to the guitar. However, true love never leaves. However, he was not the best person to be around guns. He used to deal with guns like it was a child’s play. He once shot at a television set when he met one of his ex-girlfriends, Ginger Alden. And this was not the only incident of his recklessness.
Getting All The Attention
Elvis had always been living on the edge and that is how he loved living his life. He would usually use his gun to get attention. According to Ginger Alden, Elvis once shot into their bed just because he needed her attention and it was while she was sleeping ON it. As expected, these stunts didn’t go well in his life.
Employed An Illegal Immigrant
His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, one of the most successful celebrity managers in the history of the business of American Entertainment, was an illegal immigrant. Contrary to the belief, he wasn’t born in America. He was born in the Netherlands and his original name was Andreas van Kuijk. He did move to the U.S. but never became a citizen. And none of this mattered to Elvis. He knew Tom had the talent to sell.
Generosity Ridden
Elvis always credited his manager, Tom to be the reason behind his success. This credit was even translated into monetary benefits. Tom got 50% of Elvis’ earnings. Elvis was known for his generosity and this was one proof of the given statement. He was full of gratitude towards his fans and did some seriously wild gestures to let them know how much he loved them all.
The Cop Costume
According to Priscilla, he would dress up as a cop, stop people and give drivers a ticket with his autograph on it. This was not the only stunt he performed. He would surprise his loyal fans and they all appreciated him for his massive heart. All this love got him a real badge. You can’t imagine who gave it to him.
The Badge
Elvis had a sudden urge to meet the then-president of America. In 1970, Richard Nixon was in power and he granted Elvis an offer. During their meeting, Elvis demanded something weird and it was a federal narcotics badge. The strange part is that the president agreed to it and gave one to him. And the Republican President was not the only one who was a fan of king’s charm.
Unique Sandwich
We all have a favorite sandwich but his was a unique one. Our favorites include tuna fish, peanut butter & jelly, and ham & cheese. He was nothing about clichés so his unique sandwich included peanut butter, bacon, banana, and honey sandwich. And this is the most complex combination we have ever heard of.
A Close Relationship With His Mother
He was a complete mama’s boy. The king of pop was close to his mother all throughout her life. They both shared a special bond and once he was the next big star in the industry, he got a mansion for his parents. After his mother passed away, he didn’t part away from her clothes. He kept them in the mansion just the way she left them.
Hopeful Of Heaven
Elvis wasn’t really a religious man but he never really object to the idea outrageously. He believed that he had had a good time on earth and wanted to experience heaven as well. He didn’t want to choose one religion because he thought that he might lose out on heaven due to a technicality. Hence, he decided to wear a cross around his neck.
He Got A Facelift
King of rock was aware of the fact that his looks mattered a lot. He knew that he had an image to maintain and at the age of 40 he realized that he doesn’t look as young as he should. According to his ex-girlfriend, Linda Thompson, Presley got a facelift done. It is indeed a touchy topic for all celebrities but Presley knew that he had to get his youthful look back. This was the only surgery he got done and did other things to maintain his face. Not all of them were healthy…
Other Methods
In the later years, Elvis wanted to stay beautiful and got addicted to pharmaceutical drugs in order to do so. Due to this addiction, he even battled with weight problems later. To get rid of extra weight, Elvis got on a two week sedation period and during this period he got out of bed just to take a bath or use the loo. The food he ate was negligible.
Elvis Could Barely Eat
Eventually, Presley reached a stage where he could barely eat. His stepbrother, David Stanley said that it was a tough time for Elvis but he managed to get through it till the time he could. As he reached his later years, he would sleep between the meal. Stanley would help him eat. Even in the period of hardships, Elvis didn’t leave his pranks, that’s what he was famous for.
The King’s Modest Send-Off
Elvis has been one of the biggest stars of the 20th century and people had expected a massive event at the time of his funeral. However, there was no grandiose when he met his end. Three actors came to bid him goodbye. Those three actors were George Hamilton, Ann-Margret and James Brown. That is how Elvis liked being in his youthful days, reclusive and in a small bunch of friends or none at all.
What Happened To The Mansion
After Elvis’ death, he left his mansion, Graceland behind him. He died on August 16, 1977, and soon after that bankers wanted to sell it off. However, his wife didn’t agree. She had a different idea for solving financial problems. She believed that opening the doors of the house for tourists would solve the problem. It was opened for public in 1982 and later became a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
A Bizarre Comparison
In the 1950s, Elvis made a name for himself but the older generation couldn’t see what was the hype about his sexualized dance moves. Many people loved him but he got equal hatred from the elders. There was a ridiculous comparison between him and Adolf Hitler. Moreover, the girls who were in love with him were referred to as Adolf Hitler’s rallies.
High Collars
Elvis was always quite particular about his looks and he liked to wear high collars. However, that was not just a fashion statement. His ex-girlfriend Lisa Thompson revealed the reason behind his high collars in her memoir, “A Little Thing Called Life”. Elvis was insecure about his neck. He thought it looked like a skinny little chicken neck and this was because his parents teased him about it.
A Stillborn Twin
Elvis Presley was a twin. His twin brother Jesse Garon was, unfortunately, stillborn. The mother, Gladys gave birth to the two brothers on January 8, 1935, and this birth was given in her two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi. After this incident, she was never able to bear more kids. The father decided to bury Jesse in a shoebox and that too in an unmarked grave. Elvis tried to find the place where his brother was buried but couldn’t find it.
Pet Names For Mommy
Did you know Elvis used to call his mother by pet names and even spoke to her in baby talks even when he turned an adult? This could have been the reason for his broken marriage. According to psychologists, if a person has deep adoration with his mother it becomes difficult for him to maintain a relationship with the mother of his own child. Sounds weird? Wait until you read the next one.
“Hound Dog” Isn’t His Song
He was accused of stealing the song Hound Dog” from Big Mama Thornton. She recorded this song in 1953 but didn’t receive much popularity. On the other hand, when Elvis recorded his version of the song in 1956, it was a massive hit. His fans believed that it was wrong to accuse him of stealing a song as there was no trend of copyright back in the day. Numerous artists performed the same song in their own style.
Name = Popular Password
This man was not just people’s favorite as a singer. His name was, in fact, the most used password in computers. He was a legend for the young generation and he left a legacy behind him. He would have never thought that his name would become so important to people that they would use it as their password on the World Wide Web.
Colored His Eyelashes
By now you know that Elvis was a natural blonde and used to dye his hair with shoe polish. However, that was not the wildest thing he did with his body. He even dyed his eyelashes black. After all, who would want black hair and blonde eyelashes? These wild stunts even created many health issues for Elvis because of the frequency of dying his hair.
Designated Hairdresser
It is an established fact that Elvis wanted to look youthful all his life. Hence, he trusted one person when it came to his hair and that was his mother Gladys’s hairdresser Mr. Gill. His hairdresser was willing to travel all over the world along with him. The creepy part was that Mr. Gill used the trimmings of Elvis for auction after he passed away.
Johnny Cash Fan
Elvis himself was a humongous star but that didn’t imply that he didn’t like other musicians. His favorite was Johnny Cash. He was the country’s music icon, guitarist, actor, and author. The two were close friends and supported each other’s music. Both of them were a part of Million Dollar Quartet, an impromptu jamming session between Jerry Lee Lewis and the two of them. It took place in 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Book That Killed Him
Elvis Presley passed away on August 16, 1977, and just two weeks before that a book named Elvis: What Happened? was released. The book was a combined work of his three bodyguards and it gave away many details about his personal life, many of which were secrets to the rest of the world. Elvis tried to give money to the publisher to stop this publishing but all his efforts went in vain. The book’s release increased his ailments which led to his death.
