Embargoed Release – 4.00pm UK, Tuesday May 24th 2011
A GLOBAL FIRST AS GRACELAND AND THE BEATLES STORY COME
TOGETHER FOR ‘ELVIS AND US’ EXHIBITION
Graceland is coming to Liverpool for a unique
UK exhibition that unites the world’s biggest musical icons.
Major new exhibition launches in Liverpool, England
on 28th September 2011 running for two years
MEMPHIS, TN – May 24, 2011– Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), the
parent company of Graceland in Memphis, along with The Beatles Story in
Liverpool, England, have announced a transatlantic partnership to develop an
exclusive, jointly curated exhibition that will explore how The Fab Four were
influenced by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
The exhibition - entitled Elvis and Us – represents the first time the two
cornerstones of 20th century popular culture have come together since that
fateful meeting in 1965 at Elvis’s Bel Air home. The exhibition will include rare
and exclusive artefacts from both the Beatles Story and Graceland archives,
many of which have never before been exhibited publicly.
The exhibition, Elvis and Us - which will open to the public September 28,
2011, at The Beatles Story in Liverpool, England - will be a multimedia,
interactive experience filled with music, video and artefacts of both Elvis and
The Beatles. This unique first-of-its-kind exhibition will allow visitors to
experience the power of both Elvis and The Beatles along with their explosive
impact on music and popular culture. From hit albums that still top the charts
to movies, books, and plays, both Elvis and The Beatles are celebrated
around the world. Both even have Cirque du Soleil® shows in Las Vegas:
Viva ELVIS™ at ARIA Resort and Casino and The Beatles’™ LOVE™ at The
Mirage.
One of the key elements explored in the Elvis and Us exhibition will be the
evening Elvis and The Beatles met in person on August 27, 1965, at his home
in Bel Air, California.
Kevin Kern, Director of Public Relations for Elvis Presley, Enterprises, Inc.
comments on this unique exhibit:
“This is truly an exciting partnership between Graceland and The Beatles
Story that will chronicle not only the iconic meeting between Elvis and The
Beatles, but their individual stories as they exist in pop culture history.”
Jerry Goldman, Managing Director of Beatles Story comments:
“This is a huge cultural moment for music fans the world over. Beatles Story
and Elvis Presley Enterprises have been working together for many months
now to create a unique exhibition that will fully explore the relationship
between The Beatles and Elvis. This will take in the influence Elvis had on the
young Beatles right through to their fateful meeting in Bel Air in 1965.
“Beatles Story are excited to be working with Elvis Presley Enterprises on this
amazing project and both parties are at this very moment digging through the
extensive archives to find unique and unseen artefacts that will explore the
fascinating connections between the world’s two greatest music icons.”
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Joe Anderson, said:
“Elvis and Us is a huge coup for the city and Liverpool’s world-renowned
musical heritage once again comes to the fore.
“This unique and exclusive exhibition will focus on two legendary acts who
have helped shape today’s music scene. And it’s even more special
considering that this is the first exhibition Graceland has embarked on in the
UK in over twenty years.
“There can be no doubt that Liverpool is the only location this exhibition
should be showcased and I’m sure thousands of music-lovers will come to the
city to learn more about the legacy left by Elvis and The Beatles and get up
close to some artefacts which have never been seen by the public before.”
James Berresford, Chief Executive, VisitEngland comments:
“We welcome the announcement of the new exhibition Elvis and Us to be
hosted by the Beatles Story in Liverpool from September. England and
especially Liverpool has an incredibly rich relationship with music, which is a
great driver for tourism in this country. A recent survey valued music tourism
at £1.4billion which proves how important celebrations of our musical heritage
are to potential visitors both at home and overseas.”
One of the centrepieces of the Elvis and Us exhibition will be the white Fender
bass guitar played by Elvis and The Beatles at their meeting. A true piece of
pop culture history it has never been on public display before.
Other artefacts being brought to the UK for the first time include the Jailhouse
Rock shirt worn by Elvis in the film of the same name, a 1 st album acetate,
telegrams from The Colonel and Elvis to Ed Sullivan, rare video footage from
the earliest days of Elvis’s career and a ticket to the legendary ‘68 Comeback
special.
www.elvisandus.com
www.facebook.com/elvisandus
www.twitter.com/elvisandus
Ends
For further information on Elvis and Us and The Beatles Story please contact
Richard Hector-Jones at Creative Concern on 0161 236 0600, 07966 378 968
or email richard@creativeconcern.com