What kind of player would he have been in the 80s? Do you think he would be begging for photo-ops with an exploding Michael Jackson? How do you think Lennon's death would have affected him?

He probably would've disappeared as the 80's went by and other megastars stormed onto the scene.

Elvis apparantly didn't like the Beatles, with them taking over the pop charts in the 60's and all LOL, but both John and Paul were huge fans of his early work. Anyway, I doubt Elvis would of mourned Lennon much. He was one of the few people that apparantly still bothered to visist Jackie Wilson whilst he was in a coma for many years (and paid his bills), so he would of missed him.

Elvis, had big money problems apparantly so maybe a worldwide tour or something would of kept him going? Considering he never toured outside of America (thanks to Tom Parker), his demand would of been HUGE. You think "this is it" concert and times that by about 100. Of course, he would of had to of waited a few years to garner interest. Elvis' last few years, like you know who's, are very sad really.

musicjunky318 said:

What kind of player would he have been in the 80s? Do you think he would be begging for photo-ops with an exploding Michael Jackson? How do you think Lennon's death would have affected him?

For starters,

1. Elvis would have definitely been on the early 1980's crossover country-pop sound that was spearheaded by Juice Newton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Eddie Rabbit, & Kenny Rogers. After that, Elivs might have experiment with the mid to late 1980's pop-rock/pop-metal sound from the same mold as Aerosmith, Poison, & Bon Jovi.

2. Michael's success with Thriller in 1982-83 would have inspired (READ: forced!) Elivs to finally tour Europe, even if it meant firing OR laiding-off his manager Colonel Parker to do it.

3.Given that John Lennon was THE only member of The Beatles that he didn't like, Elvis' feelings might have been mixed. Mostly likely would have felt bad for John's fanbase at least.

[Edited 11/17/11 18:44pm]

I could've seen him doing a "roots rock" album in the early 1980s. He would've toured Europe and Australia, where he was always popular. He would've fired Col. Tom Parker before doing the first two. He would've slimmed up by the time of his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, sober, and shocking everybody. Elvis would've done some soul covers albums like Solomon Burke and then some modern day rockabilly stuff before all was said and done.

That said, his fate might've been sealed in August 1977.

I guess he would continue to have sell out venues in Las Vegas.

I agree with the venues thing..

Sad to say but Elvis was washed up when he sadly passed away, his music had gone down hill, his weight was up, he was addicted to the pills of course. I think it would have gotten worse in the 80's....he probably would have gotten involved with serious drugs.

I think had he gotten of the prescripton drugs and gotten back in shape, he prob. would have gone into acting in the early 80s maybe as a supporting player.

Lennon's killing prob. would have made him paranoid and possibly move, even though he usually carried a gun on him and knew martial arts. I think he was always prepared in case someone tried to grab him from the stage.He disliked Lennon - supposedly the first time he met him, Lennon was making comments about LBJ and the war. Elvis had met the other 3 when they went solo, and covered"Something".

Tom Parker was illegal, so the reason why he didn't leave the country was because he worried he wouldn't be able to come back.

He probably would have done a disco album in 1979 After seeing John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever",he would have felt like "I can do that too!"...LOL

SoulAlive said:

He probably would have done a disco album in 1979 After seeing John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever",he would have felt like "I can do that too!"...LOL

LMAO Lawd.

I'm afraid Elvis would've faded into the distance if he lived longer. The 80's and 90's would've not been kind to him. He probably would've retired and occasionnaly mentor or do joint projects with artists he likes.

Or he would've still done more gospel albums.

And he probably would've busted a nut seeing Michael Jackson marry his little girl.

I don't give a damn about him not caring for John Lennon. John Lennon my homeboy.

He always had a fantastic voice, the problem with Elvis was that he was often given inferior material to record. I'm sure that he could have adapted to the times and that he would have had more great music in him, especially if he was allowed to record whatever he wanted rather than something that Col. Parker had a financial interest in. For me it is very difficult to picture Elvis in the '80s musical climate but I think he could have pulled it off.

who knows?

Elvis, in 76-77 was as weak, fragile and unstable as MJ was during the 00s

Elvis needed:

-some real & professional pyschological help

-rehab

-diet

-new management (somebody kill that fucking Colonel P)

-new collaborators (not yes men fools, but objective pros)

and about his music

- a world tour in 1980-81, but something slighty modest (small arenas, relaxed set), not like the huge 1970-73 concerts

- three (mo more) studio albums in the 80s (82, 85, 88), sort of heartland rock meets 80s country (yes, cheesy, I know) perhaps with some hits... Obviously not Number 1s, but perhaps some strong top20 hits..., and two million copies worldwide for each album...

the 90s would have been a whole different story, perhaps something earthy and full of guts like the Johnny Cash albums...dark acoustic country, in-your-face gospel/rock, covers, etc.

and then the retirement, and natural death, circa 2000-2005...

[Edited 11/18/11 10:52am]

He would have been a Vegas lounge act with a huge following. He was aready on his way to becoming one in the 1970s.

JoeTyler said:

who knows?

Elvis, in 76-77 was as weak, fragile and unstable as MJ was during the 00s

Elvis needed:

-some real & professional pyschological help

-rehab

-diet

-new management (somebody kill that fucking Colonel P)

-new collaborators (not yes men fools, but objective pros)

and about his music

- a world tour in 1980-81, but something slighty modest (small arenas, relaxed set), not like the huge 1970-73 concerts

- three (mo more) studio albums in the 80s (82, 85, 88), sort of heartland rock meets 80s country (yes, cheesy, I know) perhaps with some hits... Obviously not Number 1s, but perhaps some strong top20 hits..., and two million copies worldwide for each album...

the 90s would have been a whole different story, perhaps something earthy and full of guts like the Johnny Cash albums...dark acoustic country, in-your-face gospel/rock, covers, etc.

and then the retirement, and natural death, circa 2000-2005...

[Edited 11/18/11 10:52am]

I could've seen this for Elvis too.

Timmy84 said:

JoeTyler said:

who knows?

Elvis, in 76-77 was as weak, fragile and unstable as MJ was during the 00s

Elvis needed:

-some real & professional pyschological help

-rehab

-diet

-new management (somebody kill that fucking Colonel P)

-new collaborators (not yes men fools, but objective pros)

and about his music

- a world tour in 1980-81, but something slighty modest (small arenas, relaxed set), not like the huge 1970-73 concerts

- three (mo more) studio albums in the 80s (82, 85, 88), sort of heartland rock meets 80s country (yes, cheesy, I know) perhaps with some hits... Obviously not Number 1s, but perhaps some strong top20 hits..., and two million copies worldwide for each album...

the 90s would have been a whole different story, perhaps something earthy and full of guts like the Johnny Cash albums...dark acoustic country, in-your-face gospel/rock, covers, etc.

and then the retirement, and natural death, circa 2000-2005...

I could've seen this for Elvis too.

the problem with elvis was: the older, the crazier...

JoeTyler said:

Timmy84 said:

I could've seen this for Elvis too.

the problem with elvis was: the older, the crazier...

Right. I could only imagine the headlines he would've gotten when he was 50...

Timmy84 said:

JoeTyler said:

the problem with elvis was: the older, the crazier...

Right. I could only imagine the headlines he would've gotten when he was 50...

"Ronnie, nuke those bastards before it's too late!"

JoeTyler said:

Timmy84 said:

Right. I could only imagine the headlines he would've gotten when he was 50...

"Ronnie, nuke those bastards before it's too late!"

JoeTyler said:

who knows?

Elvis, in 76-77 was as weak, fragile and unstable as MJ was during the 00s

Elvis needed:

-some real & professional pyschological help

-rehab

-diet

-new management (somebody kill that fucking Colonel P)

-new collaborators (not yes men fools, but objective pros)

and about his music

- a world tour in 1980-81, but something slighty modest (small arenas, relaxed set), not like the huge 1970-73 concerts

- three (mo more) studio albums in the 80s (82, 85, 88), sort of heartland rock meets 80s country (yes, cheesy, I know) perhaps with some hits... Obviously not Number 1s, but perhaps some strong top20 hits..., and two million copies worldwide for each album...

the 90s would have been a whole different story, perhaps something earthy and full of guts like the Johnny Cash albums...dark acoustic country, in-your-face gospel/rock, covers, etc.

and then the retirement, and natural death, circa 2000-2005...

[Edited 11/18/11 10:52am]

Interesting, I can see most of that happening. Had Elvis had a health scare in '77 and not died, I do suspect he would have had a major health clear-up and probably a spiritural re-awakening, a la Bob Dylan in the late '70s and done some evangelical gospel appearances and concerts to 'give thanks' for his survival. He always seemed to be seeking a purpose/ meaning to his fame and a more evangelical direction might well have been very attractive to him short term. Also as a man of extremes (possibly undiagnosed bi-polar imo), it would make sense for him to veer to the opposite extreme of clean-living and god-fearing righteousness.

I suppose he could have gone in Scientology like his ex-wife and daughter. But he did apparently pop into one of their meetings around '73 and had nothing good to say about them to his guys

What I would have liked to have seen is kind of as you describe above. But man, I could weep at some of the songs Elvis could have recorded had he lived. He was BORN to sing a lot of those great Springsteen and Dylan songs and imagine him covering some of the more recent song-writers. Imagine Elvis singing Born to Run or Kiss or Purple Rain even or having a late career Johnny Cash style 'grass-roots' artistic renaissance. You could make a list of songs Elvis could've OWNED in the 80s, 90s and beyond had he lived. I could see him hooking up with the Travelling Wilburys in the late '80s, and I think his '80s/ '90s records could well have been similar to what Tom Jones did at that time. Elvis' voice is timeless, as history has proven.

And yeah, I highly doubt that Mr Jackson would have married Lisa Marie if her father was still on the scene lol.

I'd love to see the look on his face when his daughter married Michael Jackson.

Miles said:

JoeTyler said:

who knows?

Elvis, in 76-77 was as weak, fragile and unstable as MJ was during the 00s

Elvis needed:

-some real & professional pyschological help

-rehab

-diet

-new management (somebody kill that fucking Colonel P)

-new collaborators (not yes men fools, but objective pros)

and about his music

- a world tour in 1980-81, but something slighty modest (small arenas, relaxed set), not like the huge 1970-73 concerts

- three (mo more) studio albums in the 80s (82, 85, 88), sort of heartland rock meets 80s country (yes, cheesy, I know) perhaps with some hits... Obviously not Number 1s, but perhaps some strong top20 hits..., and two million copies worldwide for each album...

the 90s would have been a whole different story, perhaps something earthy and full of guts like the Johnny Cash albums...dark acoustic country, in-your-face gospel/rock, covers, etc.

and then the retirement, and natural death, circa 2000-2005...

[Edited 11/18/11 10:52am]

Interesting, I can see most of that happening. Had Elvis had a health scare in '77 and not died, I do suspect he would have had a major health clear-up and probably a spiritural re-awakening, a la Bob Dylan in the late '70s and done some evangelical gospel appearances and concerts to 'give thanks' for his survival. He always seemed to be seeking a purpose/ meaning to his fame and a more evangelical direction might well have been very attractive to him short term. Also as a man of extremes (possibly undiagnosed bi-polar imo), it would make sense for him to veer to the opposite extreme of clean-living and god-fearing righteousness.

What I would have liked to have seen is kind of as you describe above. But man, I could weep at some of the songs Elvis could have recorded had he lived. He was BORN to sing a lot of those great Springsteen and Dylan songs and imagine him covering some of the more recent song-writers. Imagine Elvis singing Born to Run or Kiss or Purple Rain even or having a late career Johnny Cash style 'grass-roots' artistic renaissance. You could make a list of songs Elvis could've OWNED in the 80s, 90s and beyond had he lived. I could see him hooking up with the Travelling Wilburys in the late '80s, and I think his '80s/ '90s records could well have been similar to what Tom Jones did at that time. Elvis' voice is timeless, as history has proven.

He would have been one of the original American Idol judges.

Elvis would have appeared on The Dukes Of Hazzard, being caught by Boss Hogg's speed traps, so he would have to sing at the Boar's Nest to have the ticket dismissed.

Elvis and the 80's would not have mixed well.

But he might have done an awesome UNplugged album in the 90's

Actually Lennon's death might have affected him, not becasue he was a fan, but because he was scared to go out in public for just those reasons. He carried a gun, but basically was a recluse, except onstage.

NDRU said:

Actually Lennon's death might have affected him, not becasue he was a fan, but because he was scared to go out in public for just those reasons. He carried a gun, but basically was a recluse, except onstage.

I've thought of that. I also think of Marvin's situation. I think, because I think it was said he admired the Beatles too, that when hearing of John's death, that only made him not want to be out in public but he didn't have the luxury to be a recluse hence why he was onstage a lot of times during his "European exile".

THEN AGAIN, Elvis was also in debt. I think they said he only had $1 million in his account when he died. So I don't think he'd have the luxury to do it either but maybe he wouldn't have cared and would've probably decided to quit the scene abruptly and only be seen in church but who knows?

Timmy84 said:

THEN AGAIN, Elvis was also in debt. I think they said he only had $1 million in his account when he died. So I don't think he'd have the luxury to do it either but maybe he wouldn't have cared and would've probably decided to quit the scene abruptly and only be seen in church but who knows?

It would have been interesting to see if he ever got rid of Col Tom Parker and turned his life around, not killing himself with dieting and touring and drugs just to be in debt.

NDRU said:

Timmy84 said:

THEN AGAIN, Elvis was also in debt. I think they said he only had $1 million in his account when he died. So I don't think he'd have the luxury to do it either but maybe he wouldn't have cared and would've probably decided to quit the scene abruptly and only be seen in church but who knows?

It would have been interesting to see if he ever got rid of Col Tom Parker and turned his life around, not killing himself with dieting and touring and drugs just to be in debt.

Even Elvis knew "the good old Colonel" was ripping him off but I guess drugs and pressure put him into a corner and changed him. The Memphis Mafia has often talked about how Elvis was slowly being fucked up by people around him and they were powerless to stop it.