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Elvis lives - in London

December 12, 2014

Cars, guitars, costumes and gold records: more than 300 articles once belonging to Elvis Presley are on display in London until August 2015. January 8, 2015 marks what would have been the iconic artist's 80th birthday.

https://p.dw.com/p/1E3Bm
Elvis Presley
Image: dapd

The largest ever exhibition in Europe of articles from the rock star's estate opened in London on Friday (12.12.2014). The exhibited items come from the archive of Graceland, the pop icon's final home. They include Presley's last wallet and house key; cars, guitars and several of the custom-tailored jump suits he wore onstage. Covering his entire career, they also include childhood memorabilia such as the crayon box Elvis used in first grade.

Slicked hair and pelvic gyrations

Elvis Presley is called the most successful solo musician of all time, with an estimated one billion records sold worldwide. With his trademark haircut and stage presentation, Presley began his career in the mid-1950's. Elvis never performed in Europe but was stationed in the Hessian town of Friedberg from 1958 until 1960 while doing service in the US Army.

The trend-setting artist died on August 16, 1977, at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, age 42. Elvis had lived in the mansion for 20 years. Today Graceland is the second most often-visited residence in the US, following the White House. Presley is believed to have died of heart failure, but myths surrounding his death still proliferate. January 8 marks what would have been Elvis Presley's 80th birthday.

hjh/ld/gsw (dpa/munzinger/elvisattheo2.com)