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THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE: 
with ELVIS PRESLEY! The King died on August 16, 1977, but remains a global pop phenomenon, so it's worth a recap of highlights from his legendary career. For the 30th anniversary, Canada's Star-Phoenix, discussing ten important parts of Elvis history worth reliving, noted: "His was a sequined coat of many colours: '50s Greaser Elvis. Military Elvis. Hollywood Elvis. Aloha from Hawaii Elvis. Vegas Elvis. And, ultimately, Dead Fat Elvis." The BBC had friend and aide Sonny West recall life with The King. ACTION NEWS 5 still has its local coverage from Aug. 16-17, 1977 (here, here, here and here) on the Tube, where you can also see funeral footage from the UK. Here's read the obit that ran the next day in the Washington Post. Elvis Presley News recaps the international headlines from the event and links to the eulogy at his funeral. On a happier note, check out what is likely the first footage taken of Elvis, with backstage shots of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly in 1955; shades of Walk The Line! Let's start with his performance of "Hound Dog" on The Milton Berle Show six months later, not only because it's historic, but also because Paul Miller and I often reached for it when we would stumble into our KUSR shift at the last minute -- on the broadcast, Uncle Miltie vamped for awhile, which gave us time to pull records for the show. He was also iconic in "Jailhouse Rock" that year. Elvis sang a mashup of "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft" with Frank Sinatra when he got back from the Army. All of his movies -- such as "Viva Las Vegas" --made money, but his musical career stalled in the 1960s until he electrified and charmed the public with his televised '68 Comeback Special. 1970 finds him singing "In The Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds" in the jumpsuit, though pre-bloated. I'm going to throw in "Little Sister" just 'cause I like it. Sadly, in a few short years, bloated jumpuit Elvis would be delivering a wacked-out take on "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" -- though to be fair, this audio-only version from 1969 is even more demented and he knows it. I would rather remember Jumpsuit Elvis for the signature horns that open "See See Rider." a tribute to his enduring legacy as the fact that he could hit the charts decades after his death with a remix of "A Little Less Conversation," a video subtly recalling "Jailhouse Rock," and Paul Oakenfold's remix of "Rubberneckin'". The King may be gone, but the brand lives on, making millions and recruiting new fans under the watchful eyes of Elvis Presley Enterprises and CKX, Inc. GREETINGS FROM GRACELAND: It must be said, however, that Elvis Presley Enterprises did not have a good handle on the King's affairs in the years immediately following his death. Chicago radio personalities Steve Dahl and Garry Meier won a local emmy for their 1981 comedic look at what was then a very seedy exploitation of Elvis in Memphis. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.) MOJO NIXON & SKID ROPER: "Elvis Is Everywhere." TREVOR POWERS advance streams Mulberry Violence. ROY MONTGOMERY advance streams Suffuse. GOLDEN DRAG streams Pink Sky. BIG RED MACHINE shares "Deep Green" and "I Won't Run From It." MITSKI shares “Two Slow Dancers.” DAVE GROHL becomes a one-man band and debuts a new 21-minute instrumental in his Play documentary. 
WOODSTOCK: On Aug. 15-17, 1969, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a lovely natural amphitheater in Bethel (not Woodstock), NY for "three days of peace and music," including sets from Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Who, Santana, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, Arlo Guthrie, Canned Heat, Jimi Hendrix, and the proverbial many more. AC/DC reunion confirmed... for reasons as yet unknown. MICHAEL NAU (Cotton Jones, Page France) talks to Aquarium Drunkard about building his new record live, how that immediacy shaped the songs, and how doubts fuel his seemingly carefree jams. MELODY'S ECHO CHAMBER: Melody Prochet emails Noisey about her psychedelic new LP. THE NUMBER ONES looks at Herman's Hermits' adorably obnoxious earworm "I'm Henry VIII, I Am." 
NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases include The Meg, which is currently scoring 49 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; Dog Days, currently scoring 58 percent; Slender Man, which is scoring 20 percent; and BlacKkKlansman, scoring 98 percent. BRADGELINA: Angelina Jolie is hitting back at ex Brad Pitt, claiming his purported child support payments were actually a loan. SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (spoiler) suggests more survivors from Infinity War. CASEY AFFLECK is speaking publicly about bowing out of presenting the best actress Oscar and past harassment allegations against him amid the MeToo and Time's Up movements. CHER is releasing an album of ABBA covers. Behold, a pale horse! LANCE BASS may get into HGTV's plans for the Brady Bunch house. 
MAN ARRESTED for taunting bison at Yellowstone. THOUSANDS OF ANTS form a bridge to attack a wasp's nest. No Stan Lee cameo. DRUNKEN WASPS have Britain under seige. SEAL PUPS: Don't take them to your hotel room. The More You Know. Swoosh.
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