Elvis meets Led Zeppelin...twice???

[howardrobardhughes]

From my research..I've found that Led Zep and Elvis met at least once..possibly twice...(I'm kinda leary about the second account..but here's what I've found)
The first meeting was held in May of 1974 in LA.
The meeting with Elvis took place in a hotel suite across from the Forum,
where Elvis was appearing. Led Zeppelin had been at one of the shows when
Elvis turned to his band, which included Jimmy Page's early idol James
Burton on guitar, and told them that they'd better play their best because
Led Zeppelin was in the audience. Since Elvis shared a promoter, Jerry
Weintraub with Led Zeppelin, Elvis knew that the English band was outselling
him. He would say to his own entourage, "Well, I may not be Led Zeppelin,
but I can still pack 'em in". Before Led Zeppelin was allowed into the
presence of the King, they were sternly warned not to speak to Elvis about
music. After they were introduced and had been given drinks, John Bonham
got into a converstation with Elvis about cars. After half an hour, Elvis'
bodyguards motioned that it was time to go. As they were leaving Robert
Plant gushed, "Elvis, your're my idol. Thanks for letting us come". The
King responded by singing the beginning of "Love Me"...Treat Me Like a Fool"..... Plant sang the second line: "Treat me mean and cruel". Together Elvis and Robert
Plant sang the last line: "But love me". For Led Zeppelin, the best part of
the visit had been when Elvis asked for their autographs. He said they were
for his daughter, Lisa Marie.

The second visit occured in 1975 during Led Zep's tour of America.

Richard Cole (Zep's tour manager) had become friendly with one of Elvis'
bodyguards, Jerry Schilling. The year before, while Led Zeppelin didn't
tour, Cole had road managed Eric Clapton and had taken Clapton to visit
Elvis in Memphis. Cole decided to visit Elvis again and arranged to take
John Paul Jones up to Elvis' mansion in Bel Air. So they took one of the
limos and when they got to the house they were told not to discuss music
with the King and to leave after twenty minutes. Cole walked into Elvis'
living room with a bottle of cold Dom Perignon in each hand. They found
Elvis sprawled over a couch, wearing pajamas and house slippers, watching
television with his entourage. Cole was a little drunk. "Wot the
hell is goin on here?" he asked good naturedly. Elvis didn't like people to
curse in his house. "Man,", the King said, " what's with all this cussing
and swearing?" But Cole started to kid Elvis, " You're sittin' there in
your carpet slippers and CHarlie Hodge is twiddling a
a **** pencil over here, what kind of %$#@ party is this?"

Elvis could take no more. He jumped up in a karate pose and whacked wrists
with Cole, who had also gone into a fighting stance. On contact, Cole's
gold Tiffany watch clattered to the floor. Elvis picked it up. He liked
watches, so he put it on. "That's nice.", the King said. "Ahh, #$%#&
keep it!", said Cole. But giving Elvis a watch set off the King's automatic
gifting mechanisms. Elvis ran out of the room and returned with another
watch. "Here", he said, handing it to Cole. "You #$%$@ keep this!" It was
a gold watch decorated with thirty-two diamonds. Then Elvis looked at John
Paul Jones and said, "Whaddaya got? Gimmie your watch." Jones handed the
King his Mickey Mouse watch. Elvis exited and returned with a double-dial
Baume and Mercier watch set in lapis lazuli. Elvis wasn't through. "What
else you got?" he asked. Cole gave him his Brazilian amethyst ring. Elvis
took a ring off his hand and said, "You can #%*& have this," throwing
Cole a two-karat diamond ring engraved with "love, Linda". Elvis finally
let Cole and Jones leave three hours later. He walked them to their limo in
his pajamas and opened the car door for them. The drivers and the other
retainers almost dropped dead. Elvis hardly ever came out of the house, let
alone open limo doors for his guests.

TCB
Wade

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Very strange if true

[rick]

I've heard the first story, and love it, but the second one is new to me.

[Scottishthistle]

Hope the second story is true ..its so funny

[Lonniebealestreet]

First time I've heard that second story...not so sure about that one.

It seems so funny to think of Elvis and members of Led Zeppelin in the same room. They're just so different, worlds apart--uh, but then not in some ways, I guess.

Though Elvis' personal record collection featured a wide array of styles, it didn't have any bands like Led Zep or anyone of that genre (if I recall correctly). But I wonder if any of the guys ever played anything like that around him and if so, how he responded to it.

I know it wasn't his cup of tea, but I wonder if he had an appreciation for it on some level. Generally speaking, I am pretty sure the answer here is 'no'--and I bet so much of it he was simply unaware of ("Who the *#@% is Eric Clapton?"), but it would be neat to hear about a rare exception to that probable rule.

[Legend]

If the second story is true, they've actually met three times. David Stanley, who was a big Zep fan said that Elvis and members of LZ met on the tarmac of some airport in 1977. LZ had rented a huge plane and asked Elvis if he didn't think it was great, and Elvis answered, "Yeah, but I own mine"
I don't remember the story in detail, I believe David mentioned which airport it was as well, but I don't have the book at the moment, so, there you go.

L

[iamhekev]

Robert plant said they meet EP 5 times,the last one was at his home in la,and EP was not in good form that day(76?).


There was a big talk about this topic on the fecc mb a few months ago,and there was some good story"s on there.

KEV.

[paulsweeney]

To bad no photos of any of their meetings have never surfaced!

[shark]

I have read several Robert Plant interviews where he mentions Zepp's meeting meeting Elvis and the "Love Me" story has been told several times, I also remember Robert talking about the fct that they did indeed discuss (on a minimal level I would presume) a colaboration of sorts, ie the possibility of Zeppelin being Elvis' backing band on some recordings - although how genuine this is is I really dont know...Given their grounding in blues and RnB and the obvious admiration that Robert has for the King I can only presume it's wishful thinking on his part....very interesting none the less.

[EagleUSA]

It's really too bad that something of a collaboration didn't develop with Elvis and LZ. It could have opened him up to an even wider audience (remember how HUGE LZ was then??) and perhaps given him the change in direction and artistic expression he desperately needed by '75. I'm sure there were a lot of other artists and bands considering the possibility of working with Elvis, as well.

[Next Step]

I love the first story, because the Elvis and Robert Plant sing together.
Plant was most big elvis fan in the ZEP. He sang the few lines from Elvis'
song in ZEP's stages through the years. My favourite moments
are he sung the few lines of "Surrender" in 1977 US tour.

[bogarcon]

the first story is true. the second may be but Plant and Jimmy Page met elvis on other occasion. On the first meeting Plant told Elvis that they introduce a new song in their concert..it was Plant and Page favorite..LITTLE SISTER. Check bootleg..because it was recorded with soundboard recording somewhere in Europe I think it`s in England. The LZ version was playing here on a rock fm staion in Montreal a few times. Or may be this version is on the new boxset cd`s and dvd that came out last year. Have a nice day. Bogarcon