What’s so intriguing about the myths surrounding Elvis’ fate?

Question

It's been almost 30 years since we lost The King and there's still a great deal of controversy surrounding his death...if fact, many believe he's not dead at all. Why are people still so intrigued by Elvis and the legends surrounding his death?

Answer 1

to me, this is easy. elvis was, nay...IS, a cultural icon of immeasurable proportions. he not only defined rock & roll as a genre, but also, in a way, defined america at the time. when you influence so many people, you are remembered and revered for all times. it's the same reason people talk about jfk assassination conspiracies, or the death of princess di. and elvis represented something deeper. a fusion of black and white cultures before desegregation.

i would like to clarify my statement, due a response i received. there is a mistaken belief that elvis was racist against blacks. people claim that he stated publicly "The only thing Negroes can do for me is shine my shoes and buy my records."

people cite contexts for this statement that have been proven to be false. elvis never made such a statement. it has however been documented that he said "'If you hate another human being because of their race, you're hating part of yourself." many black musicians have supported elvis and believe he was a great man (b.b. king, chuck d, etc.)

and if nothing else, elvis represented the joining of races through music. rock & roll was created through a blending of country and blues (i.e., white and black). it may not have even necessarily been intended that way, but it happened nonetheless and elvis became rock's central figure, embodying that blend.

Answer 2

I love Elvis Arron Presley. I hate to see people put him down. He change the music in a big way. And sensory ship as well. I'm only 39 I'm two weeks younger than Lisa Marie. I loved everything about Our King. He will be the only one in our country's history to in pact us like that. I would of love to be his age and feel what other felt. There not any artist today that can make women faint or flip out the way he did. He is so in creditable and had a voice like no other. I don't like the way he treated Cilla but he is in the business. So hard to be faithful in the business. He will be the only Kings in our hearts. There will never be any one like him again. What a short life. It scares me sometime know Lisa is my age and Elvis died at 42 and that is not that far away for Lisa and her grandmother Gladys died at the same age. A curse maybe. I've always wondered that. God watch over them.

Answer 3

I think its because no one really wants to believe that someone they idolized is gone.

What I know about Elvis. When Elvis was first starting out, our Agency had some insurance for him. This was before he really got big, but continued on and off until some time after he was divorced. My father (who always handled the account) said that Elvis was a fine young man. Very humble and very polite - always said 'Yes, Sir or No, Sir'. In this city (Memphis) he was quite a presence. You never knew when he might show up at a car dealership and buy a car for someone he didn't even know. When I was around 13 or so, I accompanied my father to Graceland to get Elvis' signature on an application. I stayed in a small office out back waiting for my father to get the signature and I gotta tell you it was the thrill of my life to see Elvis come out of the back door of Graceland, in full black leather - looking mighty fine - get on his motorcycle and take off. I made my father follow him for quite a ways. This event so impacted me that I don't even remember my younger sister being with us...lol.
When Elvis died it was like losing a relative or close friend. I think many people in Memphis who didn't even know him personally felt that way. That's the kind of impact he made.

Answer 4

The same as for any other legend.
Tupac and Biggie, even after their death there was still a way to "generate" their music and people love it. Elvis and Nat King Cole everyone knows they are dead but they are legends and they never die.

Answer 5

well as an elvis fan i kind of think it kind of cool lol yet kind of disrespectful that people still say i saw elvis with some aliens or elvis is really someone else or something like that. i think many people have made money off scams like that but the reason it continues is because elvis is probably the most widely known and most liked celbrity in us history.
thanks
~Cherokee74
Sources
"Life long Elvis fan" :)

Answer 6

There are similar myths surrounding many famous people whose fame was spread by the media. Consider Daniel Boone, who was either killed by Indians, or survived to a ripe old age; and Jessie James, who was maybe shot in the back, or lived on in secret, or many pirates and explorers of old.

People love to venerate their hero's.

Answer 7

He had no freedom to travel anywhere while he was alive, but if he faked his own death, he can do anything.

Rumours got hotter 2 days after he "died" when someone travelled out of the country using the name Elvis used to travel under when he wanted to travel abroad.

Answer 8

well, someone said that Elvis represents a fusion of african american and white culture before desegregation, i must disagree on that one. One bad thing about Elvis was that he was very racist towards African Americans. But other than that, he was a great person. His favorite car ever was a '57 Cadillac.

Answer 9

He was the first American celebrity. His story from poor boy to royalty is something that resonates universally, I think. Everybody loves a rag to riches story.

Answer 10

same reason for TuPac or Kurt Cobain - when someone is extremely popular and beloved by many it is too hard for them to accept they are gone forever and so they hold on to anyhope someone might give them (i.e. that the person may still be alive)