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.