Unusual Concert Moments

[NEA]

Hi Guys,

Further to my previous thread entitled 'Red Shirt' trivia - this unveiled some great pieces of unknown information such as the use of an American Flag in a number of Elvis' shows - many thanks to Leroy for sharing this info.

Well, this has triggered this particular idea for this thread. For this I am mainly turning to the veteran fans here on the forum to share any unusual happenings, anecdotes or moments that occurred during Elvis' concerts from the 1950's to the 1970's.

For example, I am fascinated with the fact that 'Six Million Dollar Man' Lee Majors acted as a bodyguard for Elvis during the March/April 1975 Vegas engagement - Elvis used to imitate his run in slow motion across the stage... Lee also joined in with this ritual at one show!

Another unusual moment that springs to mind is the show in Vegas in February, 1973 when 3 or 4 Portuguese (?) men rushed the Hilton stage - Elvis karate kicked his way to safety!

If my memory serves me correctly the first time Elvis introduced Lisa-Marie at one of his concerts was in 1973, but I'm not too sure whether it was in Long Island or Long Beach - I think there was a unique happening at this show too!

From Elvis' 50's concerts I know there are a couple of photographs available where he is seated at the piano...I think he is wearing the Gold Lame jacket in one of these pics, but on what songs did Elvis used to play stage piano in the 50's? Possibly, a spiritual number?

And, how about our old friend 'Nipper' - how many 50's concerts did he appear on stage with Elvis? And at what show did 'Nipper' make his final appearance?

Finally, how about something unusual on stage from Elvis' comeback Vegas engagement in 1969? Anybody know any unusual happenings?

Great to hear from you guys,

NEA.

[NEA]

Further to my 'Nipper' query within the start of this thread - does anybody know if RCA had presented the 'porcelain pooch' to Elvis due to him being their biggest selling Recording/Concert artist? Is this why Elvis took him on tour and allowed him to share the stage?

Did Elvis try to parody his Steve Allen Show appearance by allowing 'Nipper' to share some of the spotlight at his concerts in the 50's?

What is the connection between RCA and 'Nipper'?

It would be great to get some information surrounding these 'unusual' concert moments.

NEA.

[NEA]

Please check out the attached photo.

Could this possibly be Colonel Parker in the Santa Claus outfit?

It's believed that this particular photo was taken at the Closing Show of his March/April 1975 engagement - was this a possible plug by Parker for Elvis' December Las Vegas season that year?

Also, was it possibly at this show that Elvis brought his pooch 'Getlo' on stage and introduced him?...I know there is a photograph of that moment.

Any info guys?

NEA.

[NEA]

It is known that young Lisa-Marie Presley was a big Elton John fan, so much so that Elvis had taken her to see one of his shows or Elton met them both backstage in Vegas?...It is also stated that Elvis invited Elton to Graceland to have dinner with them. Anybody know any details of this dinner date?

Please check out the attached pics.

Was this the start of the Elton John impersonations? I heard a story where Elvis had been handed a big pair of glasses from the audience and done an impersonation?

Any help guys?

NEA.

[NEA]

Please see the attached photos.

The book "Caught In A Trap" details this hilarious moment at the start of a concert in 1973 - Lamar Fike, Elvis and a toy monkey. I have never read this book but it appears to be a very well-accounted book of this particular show.

This happening is also a connection with the FTD release "Closing Night".

Anybody got any information that they can share about Lamar and 'Monkey' getting in on the act on these shows?

Cheers,

NEA.

[NEA]

This is the photo of Elvis introducing 'Getlo' to the audience...the date of the show is 1st April, 1975 and possibly from the closing show.

Does anybody have any other 'Getlo' related stories?

Anybody know when 'Getlo' first became a member of the Presley family?

On a sad note, I heard that 'Getlo' passed away possibly in 1976/77...can anybody confirm this?

Cheers,

NEA.

[Sonny]

For now I can only add something about the 1973 Closing Show.

Besides the Lamar Fike / monkey on back thing, this particularly weird show also had Elvis brought up on stage lying on a bed at the start of What Now My Love. It seems he even made some insinuating movements with his mike under the covers.

Sonny

[Sonny]

Oh, and about the Colonel being Santa: I think it actually was the Colonel.

On several pics, both from the sixties and seventies the Colonel appears as Santa Clause. Some of these pictures even were made into special Christmas cards to be sent or to be given away as presents with some seventies albums or at concerts.

During the particular Vegas season the band also played a funny instrumental of Jingle Bells.

Sonny

[NEA]

Cheers Sonny - great info!

There sure was a lot happening at the Closing Show in September, 1973. This was the show that the projection was used during "American Trilogy" (see 'Red Shirt' tivia thread on this forum).

NEA.

[NEA]

We all know that is was customary for Elvis to get JD & The Stamps to sing a couple of numbers in several concerts as well as Kathy singing such spirituals as "My Heavenly Father". But, were there any concerts the following backing vocalists had their turn in the spotlight during a show apart from the known numbers mentioned in brackets:

Sherrill Nielsen ("Softly As I Leave You", "It's Now Or Never", "Spanish Eyes" Duet) & Voice.

Also, during a number of concert warm-ups from 1975 onwards didn't 'The Sweet Inspirations' sing Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom"?

[NEA]

How about the time in 1977 when E unplugged David Briggs' keyboards during the introductions - he had just learned that David was dating Linda Thompson.

That must have been a shocker of a moment - was David about to tickle the ivories on 'Love Letters' too?

Any info, anybody?

[NEA]

How about when Jack Lord presented Elvis with an Hawaiian Guitar that was brought to Vegas in 1973 and it was placed on stage for one and all to view...everybody thought that Elvis was going to pick it up and play it but it never happened.

Does anybody have any more info about this story - when was it presented? whatever happened to it?

[Lonniebealestreet]

NEA, it sounds to me like you're the one with all the stories, so how about you just tell them all to us?

It seems like there should be lots of things we can all think of to contribute here, but so far I've been basically drawing a blank.

One thing does come to mind though. It's the scene that transpires before the performance of Where No One Stands Alone on February 16, 1977. I wonder if anyone here could post an audio clip?

[Leroy]

Wow man, your're full of questions. I will try to answer them one at the time because I have to scroll back on some questions. What I do know about his dog "Git-Lo" (you have to pronounce it in a Southern way) is that he had a kidney problem for which it undertook an operation. After the operation the dog returned to Graceland where it died a couple of months later. As far as I can remember this all happened at the end of 1975 and a part of 1976. I do not know any exact dates. The stange thing is that the book "Day by Day" doesn't even mentioned the existence of "Git-Lo". I hope there's someone out there with more detailed info.

[Leroy]

I remember one funny moment where Elvis' part-time bass player Duke Bardwell had to sing a song. It was during the closing show in Tahoe 1974. Elvis was tired and gave several band members the opportunity to do something. After Kathy did her number Elvis looked around for more candidates but no one was in a hurry to come forward until Ronnie Tutt said: "Let Duke sing...!" Elvis looked surpirsed because he didn't know Duke sang. During the tours Duke sometimes entertained the other band members during stays in hotel rooms but Elvis hadn't been part of that. Elvis looked up to Joe Guercio who said: "Yeah! Let Bardwell sing." So Elvis introduced him and Charlie handed him Elvis' big black Gibson J-200. Duke didn't had the slightest idea what to sing and looked around for support which he got from Donnie Sumner who suggested he'd sing the "Hurricane" song. It took Duke a little while to get the message but Donnie meant the song "Please, Don't Bury Me" from John Prine. When Duke finally got the message it did cost him little time to get underway. It's a funny song about a man who want to leave parts of his body to the medical science. It has lyrics like: "Give my feet to the footlose, careless and fancy free. Give my knees to the needy, don't pull that stuff on me. Hand me down my walking cane, it's a sin to tell a lie. Send my mouth down South and kiss my *** goodbye." By the time he got to the second verse the whole band sang along because they heard him sang that song for months. At the end of the song Elvis lay flat on the stage laughing his *** of and so did the audience.

[Lonniebealestreet]

"I'll be ****ed if Getlo didn't show up, didn't he?"

There are several paragraphs in Jerry Hopkins' The Final Years devoted to the story of Getlo and all the operations and great care and expense related to his illness. I don't recall all the details.

[NEA]

Lonnie...Leroy...thanks for your info on these subjects.

I had heard about the Duke Bardwell performance a while back and it is very funny...what would it have been like to be present at that show, all the band joining in and Elvis in hysterics on stage!...I suppose it only slightly broke the ice and eased the tension between Elvis & Duke?

I have got the performance of EP singing, and playing piano on, "Where No-one Stands Alone" from February 16th, 1977 - but I am most definitely not sure what transpires next?!

Finally, poor old 'Getlo'...Elvis must have got real attached to him too...I mean to go as far as to take him to Vegas and introduce him to the audience - Wow!

NEA.

[NEA]

Hey Guys,

How about the proposed TV Special idea that Colonel Parker had in mind as a follow-up to 'Aloha From Hawaii'. It was to take place in 1974 and I think it was going to be a pay-per-view from Las Vegas...I think it was the continuation of an idea that first came about in 1969?

Heard anything about this guys?

NEA.

[NEA]

Hi,

I've just been having a listen to the FTD CD 'Closing Night' (see previous posts on this thread) and it is brought to my attention that Elvis is riding a roller-coaster of laughter and amusement during the two shows that comprise this recording.

Elvis is in a very witty mood and you can tell it's closing night - there are a good deal of entertaining moments during and in-between songs. The stand-outs for me at these shows are "Trouble" (great to have a live 70's version of this number), "My Boy" (3 months before it was officially recorded), "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Extra verse included), "How Great Thou Art" (double-encore on this one - WOW!) and the short recited version of "Softly As I Leave You" equipped with a lovely string accompaniment - possibly one of the first ever live performances of this story song.

'Closing Night' is a very welcome addition to any fan's collection and is a concert that will amuse you time and again. I'm wondering if all of Elvis' closing night shows in Vegas were this amusing...and unusual. Elvis is in good humour throughout but sometimes his remarks are somewhat close to the bone, and this gives you an impression of Elvis' mixed emotions that swing from light-hearted to bored.

Then, towards the end of the show slight anxiety kicks-in as Elvis talks about the 'Mario story' and dedicates "Tiger Man" to Conrad Hilton and all...Elvis, along with a number of the audience must have really liked Mario.

Elvis introduces Colonel Parker in the audience so no doubt the 'Flying Dutchman' had something to say to him after the show about his numerous references to the Hotel.

Do any of you have this FTD release? It is an amusing show or two.

NEA.

[NEA]

Hey Guys,

Anyone got any info about the show when Priscilla made her way up to the front of the stage in Las Vegas and stole a kiss from her hubby whilst he was singing 'Love Me Tender'?...I think this occurred during 1970 - possibly the 'That's The Way It Is' season?

NEA.