I’m having a hard time finding any evidence one way or the other.
Yes.
I’m sure you’ve seen photos of him in his full regalia, including cape. That was all playing on the King theme.
Just as Michael Jackson was called “King of Pop” before his popularity waned, Elvis was called the King long before his death.
“I’ll never replace Elvis! He’s the King!” - Stan Freberg, “Old Payola Roll Blues,” 1960
The king is gone, but he’s not forgotten.
This is the story of Johnny Rotten.
Johnny Rotten being still alive, of course. It’s Sid Vicious who’s dead.
It’s better to burn out, than it is to rust.
He was “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, often shortened to The King.
Not to be confused with The King of Pop Michael Jackson or The King of All Media Howard Stern.
Or the King (the King, the King, the King!) of Cartoooooons!
Being somewhat of an Elvis fan myself, I took to the books and the Internet to give the OP a big Yes, of course, man, but I didn’t find any source of the King being called the King before his death (aside of some bloke at some time might’ve etc). Therefore, for the first time as a doper, I demand cites. Yes, you heard it: Cites, I tell you.
From Wiki:
So yes, Elvis was known as “The King” before he died. The honorific was well known. so much so that in the immediate wake of his death, Ronnie McDowell released a tribute song entitled “The King Is Gone” (video) and no one had to ask who he was talking about.
Assuming this is the original headline: Rock and roll ‘king’ Presley dies
Well, for what it’s worth, I clearly remember him being commonly referred to as “the King of Rock and Roll” (often shortened to just “the King”) while he was still alive. I also remember the endless media coverage when he died (it was very similar to the Diana coverage but without the cable news channels) constantly referencing that particular honorific. I guess it’s not a Dope-worthy cite, but I can’t be the only one around here who remembers it first hand.
Heh. If a big star bought his girl a $50,000 ring these days he’d be taken to task for being a cheapskate.
The front page of the British Sun read
Economists call it blingflation.
OK, thanks citers.
This may be a bit of a whoosh–Leaffan is quoting from Neil Young’s “Hey Hey My My.” See the complete lyrics here. The “King” in Young’s song definitely isn’t Sid Vicious, IMHO.
Similarly, it’s been contended that the line “And while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown” in Don McLean’s “American Pie” (released in 1971) is about Elvis and Bob Dylan, respectively. Radio personality Bob Dearborn published his analysis of McLean’s song in early 1972, long before Elvis died. That analysis is reproduced on this site, and I’ll quote the relevant part:
Dick Dale is known as ‘King Of The Surf Guitar’. He even has a song called King Of The Surf Guitar:
I’m not sure how I feel about that. Is he mocking himself? I don’t see any irony in the lyrics. So ISTM it’s a display of egotism. When I think of Surf music several bands come to mind; but only one name: Dick Dale. He is The King. But it’s poor form to proclaim it.
In any case, the song isn’t all that great anyway. It’s the weakest song on the King Of The Surf Guitar compilation.
