Drummer on Elvis Presley
← Back to Elvis Presley ProfileHal Blaine's description of Elvis during the 1968 NBC special recording reveals a humble superstar unfazed by the adoration of those around him.
“The moment he walked in, it was almost like all the guys there were bowing down to him, but he didn't care whatsoever. It was an amazing time, because the electricity just floated through the air. Everybody there was on cloud nine but he just acted the way a country boy would act. Elvis was truly a gentleman and a sweetheart of a guy.”
Bob Lanning, Elvis Presley's drummer, recounts a surprising encounter with Cary Grant and reflects on Elvis's exceptional character, attributing it to his immense talent and confidence.
“I was walking through a narrow hallway past Elvis’ dressing room, right after a show when I saw a movie star type a bit further up the hallway. He turned around and it was Cary Grant. He loved Elvis. Anyways he looked up at me, and with that English accent he says: “Here’s the drummer! Is it ‘Bob’? Oh boy, I loved your drumming so much. It was a pleasure to meet you, Bob!”. I remember calling my brother, who’s also an actor, and saying: “You are NOT going to believe this!. Anyways, of all the other artists that I have worked for, he was so professional and at the same time so loving. Elvis was such a good guy, a really good person. I think it was easy for him to be that way, because he was so talented, very confident, and perhaps that gave him a generosity of spirit. Usually it’s the lesser talents that have certain ugly character traits, probably because they are not as confident. But Elvis was just wonderful.”
Ten Years After's name stemmed from Alvin Lee's Elvis fandom, according to drummer Ric Lee, who recounts their later invitation to see the King in Vegas.
“He named the band "Ten Year After" because by 1966 it had been ten years since Elvis' advent. Some time later, in 1969, we got invited by Warner Brothers to see Elvis in Las Vegas. I thought he was terrific with James Burton on lead, Ronnie Tutt on drums, Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inbspirations on back up vocals. Fabulous. Alvin, who was the biggest Elvis fan amongst us, was disapponted because that night Elvis didnt sing "Jailhouse Rock" LOL.”
Larrie Londin, Elvis's drummer during his final years and in posthumous sessions, refused to write a tell-all book, prioritizing positive memories over publishers' demands for scandalous content.
“I've had offers to write a book about Elvis, but you know, they really didn't want to publish the stories I had to tell. They only wanted the dirt – the scandal. I never saw him use drugs and I never saw him being mean to people. He had problems, everybody does, but he was a sweet guy – real religious, and he was patriotic, he really loved America. The publishers said nobody wants to read about that stuff. I just couldn't be a part of another book trashing him, he was a real good guy and he was always nice to me.—”
Mick Woodmansey, drummer for the Spiders from Mars, bluntly rebuffed David Bowie's diminished view of the band in his autobiography, highlighting Bowie's pre-fame struggles.
“You didn't make it before we came along, and if I wanted to back somebody, I would have picked somebody who can sing, like Elvis Presley.”