Elvis Exhibition At The 02 Arena (London)

[memphis]

Really looking forward to this one.

Brian

ELVIS AT THE O2

THE EXHIBITION OF HIS LIFE -- DIRECT FROM GRACELAND

Ticket Pre-sale for Insiders Begins on Thursday, November 6

Britain will get personal insight into the life of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, through the largest Elvis retrospective ever mounted in Europe, Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life. Opening at The O2, London on December 12, the nine month exhibition will showcase over 300 artifacts direct from the Presley family’s treasured Graceland Archives, some of which have never been exhibited outside of Graceland in Memphis.

Tickets for the general public will go on sale at 9:00 a.m. London time on Friday, November 7, but as a Graceland Insider, you will receive access to a special pre-sale that begins at 9:00 a.m. London time on Thursday, November 6. A link to the pre-sale will be posted to the members-only Graceland Insiders site - GracelandInsiders.com - so be sure to log in for your access information for the pre-sale.

Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life chronicles the rise of the rock ‘n’ roll icon and how Elvis impacted popular culture around the world through his music, movies and personal style. From his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame, the exhibition will explore Elvis mania that first swept America and then the world, ground-breaking recording sessions, record-breaking concert tours, his military service, Hollywood film career and influence on fashion. Most importantly, visitors will get an intimate peek behind the gates of Graceland and come to know the man hailed as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who strived to be the best possible, father, son and friend.

Over 300 artifacts presented in Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life will include automobiles, personal items, historical documents, iconic stage costumes, guitars, gold and platinum records, and photography, in addition to dazzling audio and video presentations. Even the famous pool table Elvis played on with The Beatles will be on display.

Specific items leaving Memphis for the first of its kind London exhibition include:
TCB” (Taking Care of Business) ring, 16 total karats with a centre solitaire of 11.5 karats
American Eagle jumpsuit from "Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii"
Red 1960 MG Roadster from the film "Blue Hawaii"
Elvis’ personal wallet containing photos of a young Lisa Marie Presley
Elvis’ personal keys to Graceland
Some artifacts will only be on display for a limited period of time during the nine month run, giving the exhibition narrative a fresh and exciting story worth seeing on multiple occasions. Artifacts scheduled to be on display for a limited period of time over the course of the exhibition include:

American Eagle jumpsuit from "Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii"
1955 Pink Cadillac Fleetwood used for touring and eventually given to his mother
Elvis’ gold lame outfit worn on stage in 1957
Black leather suit from the "1968 Comeback Special"

Angie Marchese, Director of Archives, adds: “These artifacts represent the most intimate picture ever seen in public of Elvis’ journey from teen idol to movie star to rock icon. They are at the core of his work and his life and are the symbols of a social phenomenon that is recognized across the generations like no other.”

Exhibition coordinator Nic Wastell says: “What we will be presenting is as much of Graceland as will fit into The O2. There has never been anything like this for Elvis before. No exhibition mounted previously has ever been so revealing of the man and the star. For people who can’t get to Graceland, Graceland is coming to them.”

As a companion to Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life, the largest Elvis themed retail outlet ever assembled in Europe will serve as a marketplace for a large variety of Elvis and Graceland merchandise, including a broad selection of Elvis Presley CD's and box sets from RCA/Legacy Recordings, including an exclusive Limited Edition 2-CD keepsake collection, "The Music From Elvis At The O2," made specifically for this Exhibition and only available with ticket purchase or at the O2 Exhibition retail outlet.

For more information about the exhibition, visit ElvisAtTheO2.com.

[memphis]

For those fans intending to visit the 02 Exhibition it is well worth listening to the following Podcast from Graceland as it gives the various months when the major items will be on display and when they will not. For fans wishing to see all the 'Major' items then it looks as though you will need to buy a 'Return' ticket. Obviously a ploy by EPE to make fans spend more money.

www.graceland.com/news/details/elvis-at-the-o2-on-the-graceland-beat-podcast/7566/

Brian

[memphis]

More information on the 02 Exhibition at the 02:

www.leicestermercury.co.uk/King-inside-story-London-s-Elvis-exhibition/story-24671222-detail/story.html

brian

[memphis]

More images from the 02 Exhibition:

www.google.com/hostednews/getty/article/ALeqM5iTtwRbgwUrOx5XnwvZe4XNSUq1tw?docId=460298730

www.ibtimes.co.uk/elvis-o2-arena-london-exhibition-his-life-direct-graceland-1479156

Brian

[memphis]

Problems with obtaining the Official Elvis Exhibition CD:

www.elvismatters.com/index.php?pagina=nieuws&id=12756

Brian

[memphis]

The Good News – I attended the Elvis Exhibition at the 02 in London yesterday and loved every bit of it. Fantastic to see all these artefacts after so many years of looking at them in magazines and on film. Such good value for money at just over £20 a ticket including VAT.

The Bad News – AND THIS MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!! Two days prior to my attendance I received an e-mail from the 02 organisers stating that the CD which I purchased in advance with my ticket was not yet available and would be sent to me in January. I had also purchased the 02 Exhibition Brochure in advance and this was given to me on production of my ticket. When I received my Brochure I said that I would like to purchase another copy for a friend and was told that they are not allowed to sell Brochures at the Exhibition. It appears that one has to purchase such items when you order online. I suspect EPE’s logic for this is that if they sell Brochures at the venue then other Elvis fans would get them and not attend (flawed logic in my opinion). Whatever their reasoning I really object to their not letting fans know about this in advance. My only other little gripe is that on entering the 02 Complex, the Exhibition is not signposted anywhere. If you turn right on entering and go down the restaurant section the Exhibition is about two hundred yards down on the left.

You have been warned.

However, for those attending YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!

Brian

[memphis]

Please go to the following URL for Birthday Celebrations at the 02:

www.graceland.com/news/details/celebrate-elvis-birthday-at-the-o2/7606/

Brian

[memphis]

ELVIS AT THE O2
THE EXHIBITION OF HIS LIFE – DIRECT FROM GRACELAND®

*** NEW EXHIBIT ***
ELVIS’ BLACK LEATHER SUIT WORN FOR
1968 COMEBACK SPECIAL TO BE DISPLAYED FROM
THURSDAY 12th FEBRUARY

The iconic black leather suit worn by Elvis Presley™ during the 1968 Comeback Special will be displayed at Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life from Thursday 12th February for a limited time of two months only, before being returned to Graceland. Tickets to the exhibition are available now and can be booked via www.elvisattheo2.com

This is a rare chance for Elvis™ fans to see one of the most famous outfits worn by Elvis Presley. The TV special, titled “ELVIS,” but known as the 1968 Comeback Special, featured Elvis’ first live stage performances in over seven years. The program aired on 3rd December 1968 on the NBC television network as the highest rated TV special of the year. Its success led to Elvis’ return to the music charts with “Suspicious Minds” and “The Wonder of You”, record-breaking shows in Las Vegas and sell-out tours. The informal ‘jamming’ in front of a small studio audience in the TV special is regarded as a forerunner to so-called ‘Unplugged’ concept that later became popular with artists on MTV.

For the original 1968 television broadcast, four concerts were shot – two ‘sit down’ jam sessions in the round with friends at which Elvis wore his now-iconic black leather suit, and two ‘stand up’ solo concerts. Elements of these four concerts were chosen for the 1968 broadcast, which also featured two big production numbers and special opening and closing production numbers. The ‘sit down’ jam sessions were with the original band mates Scotty Moore (lead guitarist) and D.J. Fontana (drummer), along with Elvis entourage members Charlie Hodge and Alan Fortas.

During the 1968 Comeback Special, Elvis performed many of the songs that he was famous for, including ‘That’s All Right”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Blue Christmas”, “One Night”, “Love Me Tender” (which he performed to his wife Priscilla, who was in the audience) and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”. He finished the ‘sit-down’ jam session segment with a rendition of “Memories” while sitting between two audience members. The special ended with Elvis’ legendary performance of “If I Can Dream,” his plea for world peace and tolerance after the turbulent world events of 1968.

To make way for the black leather suit to go on display, the American Eagle jumpsuit that Elvis wore on the “Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii” special will be taken off display at the O2 exhibition and returned to Graceland. The jumpsuit has been on display since the exhibition opened in December and will be available through to 11th February, for visitors still interested in seeing this iconic jumpsuit.

Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life at The O2, London is the largest Elvis™ retrospective ever mounted in Europe. Since opening in December 2014, the exhibition featuring over 300 artefacts direct from the Presley family’s treasured Graceland Archives, has received rave reviews from fans and the media alike.

Exhibition curator and Graceland Director of Archives Angie Marchese says: “The reaction to the exhibition has been amazing and now we’re thrilled to be bringing over the iconic black leather suit that Elvis wore in the 1968 comeback special. The suit is so significant because the 1968 comeback special signified the rebirth of Elvis’ career and helped to cement his place as the King of Rock and Roll™. The black leather suit will take pride of place alongside all of the other iconic items which are already on display. No exhibition mounted previously has ever been so revealing of the man and the star. For people who can’t get to Graceland, Graceland is coming to them.”

Elvis at The O2: The Exhibition of His Life chronicles the rise of the rock ‘n’ roll icon and how Elvis impacted popular culture around the world through his music, movies and personal style. From his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame, the exhibition will explore Elvis mania that first swept America and then the world, ground-breaking recording sessions, record-breaking concert tours, his military service, Hollywood film career and influence on fashion. Most importantly, visitors will get an intimate peek behind the gates of Graceland and come to know the man hailed as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who strived to be the best possible, father, son and friend.

The nine month exhibition runs until the end of August 2015 and the incredible artefacts include automobiles, personal items, historical documents, iconic stage costumes, guitars, gold and platinum records, and photography, in addition to dazzling audio and video presentations. Even the famous pool table Elvis played on with The Beatles is on display. Other items from Graceland seen in London for the first include:

- “TCB” (Taking Care of Business) ring, 16 total karats with a centre solitaire of 11.5 karats
- American Eagle jumpsuit from Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii
- Red 1960 MG Roadster from the film Blue Hawaii
- Elvis’ personal wallet containing photos of a young Lisa Marie Presley
- Elvis’ personal keys to Graceland.

Brian

[memphis]

For those fans living in the UK and wishing to attend the Exhibition then it may be worthwhile looking in your local newspaper. My local newspaper covers the Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes areas and they are advertising day excursions by coach for £45 per person. Of course this is more expensive but for those who cannot drive or cannot get about easily then this may be an alternative way to see this Exhibition. So check your local paper for any such offers. For those fans living in the said areas and are interested in using this service then you can ring 01908 68 36 76.

Brian

[memphis]

The NBC TV Show Black Leather Suit is now on display at the 02 Exhibition for two months:

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-elvis-black-leather-suit-unveiled-in-london-30984190.html

Brian

[memphis]

Elvis and Egypt!
Elvis and Egypt are both linked by a number of different things. Memphis, Elvis beloved city where he lived, was named after the city of the same name in Egypt. Both places are served by huge rivers - the Nile in Egypt, the mighty Mississippi in Memphis. And both even feature Pyramids as part of their impressive skylines.
And of course they have both home of kings - The King of Rock and Roll in the case of Memphis and in Egypt the Pharaohs who ruled over the country in ancient times. Of all the Pharaohs the most famous is arguably Tutankhamun; 'The Boy King'. And there's a link between him and Elvis too. In 2007 the O2 Arena in London played host to a record-breaking exhibit of Tutankhamun's treasures......well record breaking up until now!
We've learned the fantastic news that to date, with over 57,000 tickets sold, the Elvis at the O2 exhibit has already smashed ticket sales - and it's not even finishing until August!!
It just proves that it doesn't matter who you are, even a King who ruled over a whole civilisation - you'll never be bigger than the true King; Elvis Presley!
If you haven't been as yet then don't miss out on this awesome exhibit (it's like a little slice of Graceland in the UK) head over to: www.elvisattheo2.com
TCB and TCE - Strictly Elvis UK / The Elvis Travel Service
Posted on 27th January, 2015.

There is also talk of extending the Exhibition run beyond August.

Brian

[memphis]

By the time the Exhibition closes it is hoped that a quarter of a million tickets will have been sold. Current ticket sales now close to 100,000.

Brian

[memphis]

The Gold Suit Arrives:

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-elvis-presleys-iconic-gold-suit-goes-on-display-at-o2-31129674.html

news.sky.com/gallery/1461653/elvis-gold-suit-comes-to-london

Brian

[memphis]

Elvis Exhibition At The 02 To Be Extended:

www.graceland.com/news/details/elvis-at-the-o2-exhibition-extended-pink-cadillac-to-go-on-display-june-17/7739/

Brian

[staubert]

Brian do you know what to the total sales were for the Elvis Exhibition?
Thanks!