I can't resist adding to this.
My first time seeing Elvis was on the Stiff Tour at Leicester University in 1978. We didn't have tickets as it sold out quickly but we hatched the great idea of going to the venue early and going to the students bar and hanging out long enough to be already inside the venue when the gig started. We arrived about 4pm and, as expected, the place was open to all comers. We went up to the bar took a place quietly in the corner and watched as the place filled up. I recall seeing Elvis come in to the bar as well as Ian Dury and Nick Lowe but we didn't approach anyone to avoid drawing attention to ourselves.
Around 7.30 we thought it time to make our way down to the main hall and left the bar at the same time as Ian Dury. He really seemed to be struggling with the stairs and we asked if we could give him a hand. I can recall him saying with a smile 'I can manage quite well, thank you lads'. He clung on to the hand rail and went slowly one step at a time with us following behind. At the bottom he said to us 'not bad for a raspberry' and made his was through a side door. Unfortunately at the door to the hall we we asked for our tickets and quickly shown the exit door. We made several attempts to get back in having failed to buy any spare tickets but were thwarted by the security such as it was. We struck up a bit of relationship with them and chatted with them as the night went on. Luckily we could hear everything played on stage and see bits through the open french doors as each band went on. Just as Elvis came on as that night's headliner, one of the door men came out and said we could go in as there was a bit of space at the back but not to tell anyone. So that became my first Elvis gig.
Six years later in 1983 I had become a die hard fan and I went to see him at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester on the Punch the Clock tour. At that time it seemed quite easy to get to the back stage area of the De Montfort Hall and I had done it several times meeting quite a few bands. So after the show we made our way through the double doors at the side of the balcony and ended up outside the dressing rooms. The area was quite busy and most had gathered in a single room that had food and drink laid out. Elvis came in having changed after the gig and I approached him. I just recall he was very easy going and chatted for a few minutes, or more likely listened while I babbled on. I told him I had waited six years to meet him and he signed to programme 'To the next six'. Luckily I got a photo of the event as there was no mobile phones with cameras then and you had to wait until it was developed to see if it comes out.
I've met him many times since over the year. Sometimes you get a proper chat, other times you are just a face in the crowd. There has been some recognition on a couple of occasions which is always nice. But the constant is he has always been very generous with his time. Restrictions seem to be set by others and not Elvis
![Image](https://scontent.flhr3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17309344_10155189584252422_4168024024521900072_n.jpg?oh=1e07af19e974d81ceea29ebc5fe9a47d&oe=5999244F)