Graceland: Elvis exhibition explores the life of Elvis Presley

The largest collection of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s treasures is coming all the way from Memphis to London.

Direct from Graceland: Elvis, is a new exhibition exploring the life of Elvis Presley, who remains one of the most iconic and influential figures of the 20th century.

The exhibition will open in October at the new arts and culture venue, Arches London Bridge in Bermondsey Street, near London Bridge railway station.

More than 400 artefacts owned by Elvis will be on show, direct from his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee – including his military uniforms, an amazing array of his famous jumpsuits, his first job application and the crayon box he took to school.

Arches London Bridge offers more than 11,000 sq ft across five inter-connected Victorian tunnels with 6m tall ceilings as gallery space which will showcase Direct From Graceland: Elvis.

Special features of the exhibition include candid photos and items from his largely unseen life away from performing on stage in Vegas, including his American football team, made up of close friends and his American football uniform.

Of course the exhibition will also feature iconic items including his famous gold suit and gold telephone.

Key periods in Elvis’s life and career are all covered, including his early years living in a ‘shotgun shack’ in Tupelo, Mississippi, his break-out Sun Studio hits, US Army service, Elvismania that first swept America and then the world, his Hollywood movies, his unforgettable “68 Special” performance and the Vegas residency years.

Angie Marchese, vice-president archives and exhibits at Elvis Presley enterprises, said: “Curating this new exhibition exploring Elviss’ life and career for all Elvis fans in the United Kingdom is exciting.

“As archivists, we are also storytellers. Through our archives and collection, we keep the past alive by preserving, and most of all by sharing the stories these objects represent through amazing exhibits.

“Elvis put so much of himself into his work and communicated so much with his audience on an intimate level.

“Being able to share part of the Graceland archives with you is a great honor.

“I hope that through this exhibition you discover who Elvis Presley was and still is.”

Picture: Elvis EP team captain with trophy Picture: Graceland