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."

LYDIA LOVELESS advance streams Real.

JOHN PAUL WHITE (Civil Wars) advance streams Beulah.

TOBACCO (Black Moth Super Rainbow) advance streams Sweatbox Dynasty.

THE IMPERIAL SOUND: Skipper and Pigtail Dick of The New Duncan Imperials bring together a cohort of veteran musicians and friends for "Six To A Room."

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.

WHITE DENIM is profiled by the Irish Times. (Thx, LHB.)

FRIGHTENED RABBIT's Scott Hutchinson had a Twitter meltdown. Hope he's alright.

SAINT ETIENNE thinks Britpop ruined everything?

THE 20 BEST LEONARD COHEN SONGS, according to Paste.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases include the reboot of Pete's Dragon, which is currently scoring 87 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; Sausage Party, which is scoring 85 percent; and Florence Foster Jenkins, scoring 90 percent.

FAST 8: The feud between vin Diesel and Duane Johnson has been months in the making.

THOMAS GIBSON has been suspended from the hit television series Criminal Minds after kicking a writer-producer in the leg.

MATT LeBLANC explains how his friendship with Friends costar Matthew Perry will forever stand the test of time.

BRAD PITT is courting DAVID FINCHER for the World War Z sequel.

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING gets another villain.

ROGUE ONE has a new trailer online.

YOUNG HAN SOLO will have a Young Lando Calrissian.

THE X-FILES: The so-called three principals - stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, plus creator Chris Carter - are in "significant talks" for more episodes.

GRIZZLY BEAR vs COW: Not much of a fight, as it turns out.

FISH WITH HUMAN-LIKE TEETH are turning up in Michigan lakes.

A RARE BLUE LOBSTER was caught off the coast of Cape Cod.

A RESCUE KITTY with a heart condition gets an "Iron Man" vest to help protect his heart.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN  released an unofficial theme song for the 2016 Rio Olympics, titled “Olympic Village, 6am."

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD advance streams Zone.

LUTHER DICKINSON stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

MITSKI also stopped by the World Cafe.

PSYCHIC TV advance streams "Alienist," the title track to their next album.

TOY shares "Silver" ahead of Clear Shot.

JEFF BECK, after 50 years, gets political. And cruises to Mel's Drive-In.

THE BEATLES' Revolver is considered a classic at 50...but The Kinks' Ray Davies wasn't a fan at the time. (Thx, Jay!)

ED SHEERAN has been accused of copying elements of Marvin Gaye’s "Let’s Get It On" for his hit single "Thinking Out Loud."

WARPAINT talks to DIY about getting fired up for their third LP.

GHOSTBUSTERS: The reboot is headed for a 70MM+ loss, with a sequel moving offstage in favor of cheaper animated spinoffs.

OCEAN'S 8 adds Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, and Mindy Kaling to its cast.

BAD SANTA 2 has a very NSFW red-band teaser trailer online.

AQUAMAN's villain is revealed.

JUSTIN BIEBER held hands with Sofia Richie, 17, on the beach after wild skinny-dipping romp in Hawaii with gaggle of girls.

KENDALL JENNER is “full-on dating” rapper A$AP Rocky.

THE ISLAMIC STATE: A leading U.S. general pressured his intelligence analysts into playing down the ISIS and al Qaeda threats, according to a congressional task force.

MAN USES CAT as bagpipes.

CAPYBARAS have decided to take control over the Olympic golf course in Rio.

AN OSTRICH on the lam in Wales.

EL VY shares the video for "Careless," thus completing a video version of the entirety of Return to the Moon.

THE JAYHAWKS played a Tiny Desk Concert.

EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

ALL SONGS CONSIDERED: Tracks from Blood Orange, Joyce Manor, and Femme highlight the latest episode.

MATT "MV" VALENTINE covers Big Star's "Thirteen."

THE TEMPTATIONS: "I Can't Get Next To You."

THE DESCENDENTS critiqued Rolling Stone's list of the greatest Punk albums.

CASE/LANG/VEIRS talk collaboration on the PBS NewsHour.

FIELD MUSIC list some of their musical inspirations.

NEW ORDER launches a beer.

MEGAN FOX & BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN welcomed a baby boy named Journey River.

THE FAST & FURIOUS 8 cast had it out after The Rock ranted about unprofessional male co-stars.

AMBER HEARD refused to go under oath Saturday for her deposition ... so claim Johnny Depp's lawyers, who want the judge to call BS on her and dismiss the domestic violence case. But if not dismissed, Depp has a lengthy witness list.

ADELE at the SuperBowl halftime show?

KIM KARDASHIAN doesn't think she's a feminist. Do feminists want to claim her?

IRAQ: The fight against ISIS — which continues to be largely waged from the air — has also leveled entire neighborhoods, displaced millions and redrawn the Iraqi map.

A DOLPHIN seized an iPad at SeaWorld Orlando.

A DOG discovered something NSFW during an afternoon walk.

PAINTING TURTLE SHELLS is illegal in Florida.

A RESCUE PUPPY & A COW, living together... mass hysteria!

LOCAL NATIVES play "Past Lives" for Corden.

DR TEETH & THE ELECTRIC MAYHEM played the Outside Lands festival, including a joyous rendition of the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

WILD BELLE stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic for a session.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: A Playlist For Rio.

LYDIA LOVELESS shares "Same To You" ahead of Real.

BADFINGER: "Baby Blue" and "No Matter What," for Twofer Tuesday.

LACY DACUS talks to Pitchfork about what it’s like to have 20 labels fighting to sign you.

ANDY SCHAUF talks to Aquarium Drunkard about the albums behing The Party.

PRINCE's estate has denied reports that they plan to sell the singer’s famous Paisley Park studio.

THE 50 BEST ALT-COUNTRY ALBUMS, according to Paste. Not a bad list.

ANGELINA JOLIE, contra prior reports, will not be teaching at Georgetown.

MARTHA STEWART & SNOOP DOGG are doing a reality TV show together.

ROB KARDASHIAN has been skipping filming his reality show over the last month, complaining that it is compromising his relationship with fiancee Blac Chyna.

PRINCESS BEATRICE and her boyfriend of 10 years, Dave Clark, have split.

THE POTTERVERSE is headed to NBCUniversal in a big way.

MAN OF STEEL is getting a sequel (tho arguably BvS was one).

RUSSIAN jets dropped incendiary thermite bombs on a civilian area of Idlib city in Syria on Sunday night, according to local emergency workers.

A TIGER tears the bumper off a woman's car.

DISNEY WORLD continues to work on keeping alligators away from guests after a two-year-old boy was snatched from the beach line at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in June.

A 10-FT CROC was apprehended in Cheshire.

THIS BELUGA WHALE is pretty buff.

BEACH SLANG shares a video for "Punks In a Disco Bar."

BEACH HOUSE talks with and performed for Charlie Rose.

VIOLENT FEMMES stopped by World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

MS. LAURYN HILL plays Austin City Limits.

SAM BEAM & JESCA HOOP share an acoustic cover of Eurythmics’ “Love Is A Stranger."

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD shares "Roachin" ahead of Zone.

RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS: Vintage video of "Blank Generation," with a little "Love Comes in Spurts."

SO LONG, MARIANNE: Leonard Cohen penned a poignant final letter to his dying muse Marianne Ihlen.

THE BEATLES: Revolver, which many consider their best LP, turned 50 over the weekend. NME brings the trivia, while Stereogum examines the album's place in the pivotal year of 1966.

IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE: Eight "best" debut LPs.

DR TEETH & THE ELECTRIC MAYHEM drummer Animal talks to Pitchfork about playing the Outside Lands festival.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Suicide Squad tops the chart with 135.1MM. Given the excellent marketing campaign and advance sales, the real question is whether it mostly sustains this biz next weekend or slides like Batman v Superman. Given the terrible reviews and B+ Cinemascore (BvS got a 'B'), that question remains wide open. The difference between the 3:1 multiplier from the opening of of a true blockbuster and the 2:1 multiplier of BvS is the difference between success and failure, and that may be true even if you consider ancillary merch sales.  Word is Suicide Squad needs to make 700-800MM worldwide to profit as a movie; so far it has 267MM worldwide. Jason Bourne places with 22.7MM on a 62 percent drop, raising the question of why this was released right before Suicide Squad. Bad Moms shows with 14.2MM; with 56MM worldwide, this modestly-budgeted comedy has probably reached the breakeven point. The Secret Life of Pets takes the fourth slot with another 11.6MM added to its very successful run, which crossed 500MM this weekend.  Star Trek Beyond rounds out the Top Five with10.2MM on a 59 percent drop in only its third weekend, another victim of the Suicide Squad, yet to cross the 200MM mark worldwide when it needs 500MM (give or take merch sales). Below the fold, Nine Lives, the weekend’s second wide entry, is road kill in sixth with 6.5M against a 30MM budget.

LINDSAY LOHAN had a violent scuffle with her playboy ex on a Mykonos beach.

AMBER HEARD showed up 1.5 hours late for a deposition in her divorce/domestic violence case against Johnny Depp.

BRITNEY SPEARS rejected the music video commissioned for her new song, and there's a dispute over why it was 86'd.

HUGH HEFNER voided the deal to sell the Playboy Mansion.

STAR WARS: Rey is a Palpatine?

THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA on Aug. 6, 1945. The act that ushered in the nuclear age, but also helped end World War II, still stokes controversy. Three men involved in the attack o­n Hiroshima share their memories with the BBC. Film showing the effects of the attack was classified for decades, as were the complete (unredacted) "Magic" military intercepts, which tend to show Japan was not about to surrender. Those interested in a relatively neutral view of the events leading to the bombing could do worse than 1995's Hiroshima, a joint Canadian-Japanese production for Showtime.  Out-of-print, possibly costly.

LANAI, where you can hang out with almost 500 cats.

A CROCODILE attacked a kayaker off the Queensland coast.

A TINY STRAY DOG ran 77 miles of a marathon in the Gobi desert, and may be reunited with the runner she paced.

THE SWARM: Exterminators trying to remove bees probably should wear protective gear. The More You Know.