Elvis Presley and The Beatles are two of the world’s best-selling music artists of all time and the five men once hung out together on August 27, 1965, 59 years ago today.
The incredible encounter took place at The King’s Los Angeles home on Perugia Way in Bel Air, when the Fab Four arrived around 10pm at night.
Fans of both were gathered at the gates as Elvis’ Memphis Mafia awaited anxiously for The Beatles to arrive.
Yet according to Peter Guralnick’s Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, The King wasn’t particularly excited to meet the Fab Four, watching a soundless TV on his L-shaped couch.
When John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr arrived, he did rise up to greet them, although they were pretty speechless to be in the presence of their rock n’ roll hero. In fact, Elvis had to break the ice, telling them he’d have to go to bed if they didn’t start having a conversation with him. It wasn’t long before The King started playing a bass plugged into an amp by his TV and had Charlie Rich’s Mohair Sam come on the jukebox.
Elvis then began to play along to the new hit track over and over again, before Ringo started a game of pool with some of the Memphis Mafia. Meanwhile, Harrison, who looked like he was stoned to Elvis’ guys, went outside to smoke a joint and talk about Hinduism with The King’s spiritual advisor and personal hairstylist, Larry Geller. Additionally, Lennon and McCartney picked up a couple of guitars and began jamming with Elvis – just imagine witnessing that! – as managers Colonel Tom Parker and Brian Epstein gambled on a coffee table turned roulette wheel.
Despite the fun, The Beatles were reportedly disappointed, with the famous Elvis biography recording: “Their response to Elvis was a prickly mix of anger and disillusion.
Following the one-off meeting between the five stars, The Beatles’ press officer Tony Barrow said candidly: “To be honest, I’d describe Elvis on that showing as a boring old fart. But I do know Ringo enjoyed his game of pool.” Nevertheless, The Beatles had invited The King and his Memphis Mafia round to where they were staying that weekend.
Sadly Elvis almost immediately said he didn’t know what his schedule was like and declined the next day. However, some of the Memphis Mafia went around to see The Beatles and Lennon told them how much the evening had meant to him and that he’d appreciate it if they could tell Elvis: “If it hadn’t been for you, I would have been nothing.”
This was reported back to The King, yet he didn’t say anything in response and just kind of smiled. Whatever the case, McCartney now looks back on the meeting with much fondness, telling The Adam Buxton podcast in 2020: “[Elvis] was really cool!”