Elvis Presley was a major source of inspiration for John Lennon . He, like many other artists in his generation, heard “Heartbreak Hotel” and felt as if his life had changed. When he was a famous musician in his own right, Elvis agreed to meet with the band.
While The Beatles walked away from the meeting feeling slightly disappointed, Elvis reportedly began to foster a simmering hatred toward Lennon. Elvis Presley resented something John Lennon said when they met In 1965, The Beatles finally had the opportunity to meet Elvis. They drove to Graceland and spent the night playing music with Elvis.
Journalist Chris Hutchins said Lennon had long been asking him to set up the meeting, but things went awry between him and Elvis almost immediately. “John had annoyed Presley by making his anti-war feelings known the moment he stepped into the massive lounge and spotted the table lamps – model wagons engraved with the message ‘All the way with LBJ,’” Hutchins told Express . “Lennon hated President Lyndon B Johnson for raising the stakes in the Vietnam War .
.. As we left and were walking down the drive, [Colonel Tom] Parker called out after me: ‘Tell the fans it was a wonderful night’.
John turned to me and said: ‘Tell them it was crap.'” Elvis reportedly felt the same way. After that night, Elvis would reportedly “fly into a rage” every time he heard Lennon’s name.
He became known for outbursts like these; when something he didn’t like played on televisi.