ELVIS HAS LEFT THE ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!BUILDING!

Hepworth 2005Hepworth 2005

Is death the end?Is death the end?'Man is mortal and death is the 'Man is mortal and death is the

end'.end'. All people die – this is the law ofAll people die – this is the law of nature. Known as 'The King', Elvisnature. Known as 'The King', Elvis Presley was a singer who had Presley was a singer who had

millionsmillionsof fans across the world during hisof fans across the world during hiscareer which spanned the 1950scareer which spanned the 1950sto 1970s. So why should there beto 1970s. So why should there bequestions about the death of Elvis?questions about the death of Elvis? He was after all - despite hisHe was after all - despite his enormous talent - just a man. enormous talent - just a man.

What makes people react so much about Elvis's death and why has hisWhat makes people react so much about Elvis's death and why has hisdeath created so much intrigue? The answer is that people all over thedeath created so much intrigue? The answer is that people all over theworld have claimed to see him world have claimed to see him after his deathafter his death and many believe that and many believe that the King is the King is still alivestill alive. .

Elvis in his younger daysElvis in his younger days

The King is dead! The King is dead!

At 3-30 P.M. on AugustAt 3-30 P.M. on August16, 1977, Elvis Aaron16, 1977, Elvis AaronPresley was Presley was

pronouncedpronounceddead by Dr. Georgedead by Dr. GeorgeNichopoulos. It wasNichopoulos. It wasdisclosed at a pressdisclosed at a pressconference later that conference later that

thethecause of death was cause of death was "severe cardiovascular "severe cardiovascular disease."disease."

Elvis had been taking drugsElvis had been taking drugsfor years to balance his for years to balance his moods and to maintain the moods and to maintain the energy he needed to energy he needed to

perform,perform,eventually his heart gave eventually his heart gave

out.out.He was found lying He was found lying unconscious on his bathroomunconscious on his bathroomfloor of Grace Land, hisfloor of Grace Land, hisMemphis mansion by his Memphis mansion by his girlfriend. He was rushed girlfriend. He was rushed into hospital but all attemptsinto hospital but all attemptsto revive him were futile.to revive him were futile.

Some of Elvis’ stage outfitsSome of Elvis’ stage outfits

Shock / DisbeliefShock / DisbeliefThe pronouncement was finalThe pronouncement was finalElvis was dead. Yet, for the Elvis was dead. Yet, for the thousands of souls throngedthousands of souls throngedoutside the hospital it outside the hospital it brought shock and disbelief.brought shock and disbelief.They could not accept that heThey could not accept that hehad died - refused to believe had died - refused to believe what the doctors were what the doctors were saying. They claimed it was saying. They claimed it was a cover-up by the a cover-up by the Government and that he wasGovernment and that he wasstill alive. still alive.

In 1956, when Presley came crackling out of In 1956, when Presley came crackling out of every radio and speaker in the land, young every radio and speaker in the land, young Americans notions about independence -- Americans notions about independence -- from parents, from religion, from the values from parents, from religion, from the values of the time -- were forming. Elvis became of the time -- were forming. Elvis became "The King" of rock 'n‘ roll, but also of the "The King" of rock 'n‘ roll, but also of the emerging youth culture. He was a young, emerging youth culture. He was a young, hip-thrusting, white singing music that was hip-thrusting, white singing music that was essentially black. Part of his attraction was essentially black. Part of his attraction was that the '50s teenagers viewed him as that the '50s teenagers viewed him as epitomizing everything they thought their epitomizing everything they thought their parents feared they would become -- cocky, parents feared they would become -- cocky, slick, brash, tough, black-leatherclad, slick, brash, tough, black-leatherclad, motorcycle straddling, stiletto-shoed.motorcycle straddling, stiletto-shoed.

DenialDenial

This disbelief is stillThis disbelief is still

being nurtured by manybeing nurtured by many

across the world today.across the world today.

Fans cannot believe Fans cannot believe thatthat

death brought such andeath brought such an

abrupt end to their so abrupt end to their so

beloved idol - a man of beloved idol - a man of

remarkable talent whoremarkable talent who

gave so much to so gave so much to so

many.many.

Death is so cruel. It parted the King from the hearts of the millions and deprived them of the sight and sound of their 'heart-throb’ and hero! It was, to them, a loss that could never be repaired. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside his Memphis mansion to bid farewell to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. There were thousands of flowers and bouquets from the fans - after the initial shock of the news came denial and disbelief. Surely this couldn’t be the end…

A sad day indeedA sad day indeed

Elvis sightingsElvis sightings

This mass-denial thatElvis had actually died and the yearning to seehim again meant that he became one of the most frequently

sightedmen - even years afterthe official pronouncementof his death.

Reports of Elvis sightings started to pour in from Reports of Elvis sightings started to pour in from various various

parts of America soon after his ‘death’. People wereparts of America soon after his ‘death’. People wereconvinced that they had seen him and sometimes convinced that they had seen him and sometimes

evenevenspoken to him. Elvis sightings are still reported spoken to him. Elvis sightings are still reported

today. today. Maybe many of these are for sheer fun and most of Maybe many of these are for sheer fun and most of

themthemlack rationality, but they are enough to gauge the lack rationality, but they are enough to gauge the

depth ofdepth oflove for Elvis from his admirers even so many years love for Elvis from his admirers even so many years

after after death. death.

Elvis look-alike contests still attracts people of all Elvis look-alike contests still attracts people of all ages andages and

many people still make a living from impersonating many people still make a living from impersonating him. him.

All this points to one single thing – Elvis’ death, All this points to one single thing – Elvis’ death, thoughthough

sad, couldn't part him from the hearts of millions. sad, couldn't part him from the hearts of millions.

Elvis is (in one sense) Elvis is (in one sense) alive today through alive today through all these bids to all these bids to Recreate and Recreate and reincarnate him.reincarnate him. Impersonators in Kuala Lumpur enter a contestImpersonators in Kuala Lumpur enter a contest

Some genuine sighting stories found on the Some genuine sighting stories found on the net…net…

““I swear that I saw Elvis Presley while I was fishingI swear that I saw Elvis Presley while I was fishingon the Salmon River in Idaho. The King looked older,on the Salmon River in Idaho. The King looked older,obviously, but I could tell it was him. He was walking obviously, but I could tell it was him. He was walking

awayawayfrom the river and disappeared into the bushes. from the river and disappeared into the bushes. I swear that at that moment ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ started I swear that at that moment ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ started playing on my radio. The experience was scary, almost playing on my radio. The experience was scary, almost

likelikethe feeling one gets from surviving a car accident. It the feeling one gets from surviving a car accident. It

was was scary but exhilarating.” scary but exhilarating.”

A military pilot from Italy, 1987A military pilot from Italy, 1987

Elvis still the king, fans say

Two spotters were browsing the Elvis Spotter's Page on the internet when a power surge shut down the building for a few moments. Looking up, they both saw the hallway emergency lights illuminating a man with side burns wearing a janitor's jump suit with the name Elvis on the lapel. He was seen only briefly and then when power was

restored there was no sign of him. The regular janitor was sought

out and was found to have the day off.

Oct. 18, 1995, Rider University

HMV in Oxford Street is displaying rare Elvis photos

““I saw Elvis at his house in Graceland. We all I saw Elvis at his house in Graceland. We all knowknow

that the curators of the house keep the upstairs that the curators of the house keep the upstairs closed off. Well I really believe that he is still closed off. Well I really believe that he is still

livinglivingupstairs of Graceland and wanted to disappear upstairs of Graceland and wanted to disappear from public life so he faked his death and paid from public life so he faked his death and paid doctors to lie. I was looking closely up the stairsdoctors to lie. I was looking closely up the stairswhen I saw a movement in the curtains. I saw awhen I saw a movement in the curtains. I saw aman with dark hair and sideburns. We even made man with dark hair and sideburns. We even made eye contact! He is still alive!”eye contact! He is still alive!”

Jan. 30 2002, At Graceland, Kristy Jan. 30 2002, At Graceland, Kristy

A British couple had an Elvis-style A British couple had an Elvis-style wedding in Blackpool, UKwedding in Blackpool, UK

Visitors have been arriving at Graceland all week

At the queue for the check-in-desk, it was obvious that the King's home was not far off. Six Japanese teenagers, all with huge quiffs and long thick sideburns, were standing in line behind a man with a white suit, complete with flares and silver sunglasses. When we touched down the captain, in a well practised Elvis voice, said, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Memphis, I'd like to thank you for your custom."

So what’s Elvis got to do with So what’s Elvis got to do with Jesus?Jesus?

People loved Elvis so much People loved Elvis so much that they couldn't believe that they couldn't believe this great man's career this great man's career had ended with his sudden had ended with his sudden death. death.

Stories sprang up - and Stories sprang up - and continued for many years - continued for many years - about people who saw about people who saw Elvis alive - after others Elvis alive - after others said that he was dead.said that he was dead.

People today still believe People today still believe that Elvis is alive.that Elvis is alive.

Jesus’ disciples and Jesus’ disciples and followers couldn’t quite followers couldn’t quite believe his career had believe his career had ended with his sudden ended with his sudden death.death.

Stories sprang up about Stories sprang up about people who said that people who said that they saw Jesus alive they saw Jesus alive after his ‘death’.after his ‘death’.

CHRISTIANS today still CHRISTIANS today still believe that Jesus rose believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is from the dead and is ‘alive’ in their hearts.‘alive’ in their hearts.

ResurrectionResurrection

3 days after Jesus’ death the women came to 3 days after Jesus’ death the women came to put oils on his body as is the Jewish custom. put oils on his body as is the Jewish custom.

When they arrived at the When they arrived at the

tomb the stone in front of tomb the stone in front of

it had been rolled away. it had been rolled away.

Inside the tomb lay the Inside the tomb lay the

bloodstained cloths wrapped around Jesus’ bloodstained cloths wrapped around Jesus’ body when he was crucified – but his body had body when he was crucified – but his body had gone! gone!

““Why do you seek the living among the Why do you seek the living among the dead?”dead?”

The women saw a gardener who asked why The women saw a gardener who asked why they were crying and looked panicked. they were crying and looked panicked.

Mary replied, “Mary replied, “They have taken away my They have taken away my Lord’s bodyLord’s body.”.”

The man replied, “The man replied, “Why do Why do you look for the livingyou look for the living

among the dead?”among the dead?”The man then said gently, The man then said gently, ““MaryMary …” in a familiar voice …” in a familiar voice and at that moment she and at that moment she recognised that the man in recognised that the man in front of her was Jesus but front of her was Jesus but his appearance was slightly his appearance was slightly altered. altered. “Rabbi”,“Rabbi”, she gasped. she gasped.

He said to Mary, He said to Mary, “You cannot touch me yet “You cannot touch me yet because I haven’t yet ascended… but tell because I haven’t yet ascended… but tell the others what you have seen.”the others what you have seen.”

Meanwhile the disciples were walking Meanwhile the disciples were walking along the road to Emmaus when a along the road to Emmaus when a stranger joined them on the road. He could stranger joined them on the road. He could see that they were sad and asked what see that they were sad and asked what they were speaking of.they were speaking of.

They were amazed that this They were amazed that this man hadn’t heard about the man hadn’t heard about the crucifixion of Jesus. They crucifixion of Jesus. They invited him back for a meal invited him back for a meal so that they could tell him so that they could tell him all about it. all about it.

Jesus appears to the Jesus appears to the disciplesdisciples

Later that evening as they were eating, theLater that evening as they were eating, thestranger gave thanks for the stranger gave thanks for the meal and broke the bread. meal and broke the bread. At the very moment they At the very moment they realised this man was Jesus realised this man was Jesus he seemed to vanish before he seemed to vanish before them. them. “It is true,”“It is true,” the the disciples said with joy, disciples said with joy, ““our Lord is not dead – our Lord is not dead – he is still alive.”he is still alive.”