After watching the Las Vegas Golden Knights advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs late last night, I couldn’t sleep. Clicked over to HBO to see the new 3-hour documentary on The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, titled, “The Searcher.”
I’m a normal Elvis fan, not obsessed, don’t know everything about him or his career, but have great respect for his achievements and his rightful perch atop the throne of rock evolution. I wanted to learn more. Turns out, the documentary is so damn compelling I couldn’t turn it off. I knew some of the material covered, but the depth of the reporting is such that you’re sure to get something out it, despite you knowing the basics of the Elvis story. I didn’t know much of his time in Europe serving in the Army, for instance, and that window of his life is well documented.
Rock icons Bruce Springsteen and the late Tom Petty are among the voices heard, but not seen, giving their take on what Elvis might’ve been going through at various stages of his life. Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau is the documentary’s producer, and Elvis’ divorced wife, Priscilla, features prominently in the piece. (There’s no mention about her being 14 and Elvis 24 when they met.)
The score is written and performed by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, and you’ll see cameos from many musical legends, plus some of his former band members and his group of buddies, the Memphis Mafia. Some have problems with it not being gritty enough. Since it’s sanctioned and blessed by the Elvis estate, it doesn’t dwell on his personal shortcomings that much. But because it has the blessing of Priscilla and company, the makers got unprecedented access to film, video, interviews and pictures that even a die-hard Elvis fan has never seen or heard.
Elvis is seen, rightfully, as a charismatic, tormented, gifted singer who was led down some questionable career paths due to his overbearing manager, Colonel Tom Parker. I don’t want to give too much away, but Elvis never traveled the world due to Parker. If you didn’t already, you’ll end up hating Parker for not letting Elvis follow his musical muse more purely.
I highly recommend it.
Doc Watson
