It only took five decades, but Elvis Presley can finally claim a win in his rivalry with Led Zeppelin.
Back in the 1970s, Presley and the British group fronted by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant shared the same concert promoter — legend Jerry Weintraub. While Presley bore the moniker The King for good reason, he wasn’t keen on giving up his throne. Meanwhile, the “Whole Lotta Love” rockers were ascending — selling out stadium after stadium and smashing attendance records along the way. None of that went unnoticed by Presley.
One veteran agent familiar with the dynamic says the “Don’t Be Cruel” crooner would invoke Led Zeppelin when venting to Weintraub. “Well, I might not be Led Zeppelin, but I can still sell a few tickets!” Presley told Weintraub, according to the agent. (Weintraub, who went on to produce the “Ocean’s” franchise, died in 2015.)
Baz Luhrmann at the UK premiere of “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert”. Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com
Fast forward to 2026, and Presley is getting his revenge.
Baz Luhrmann’s documentary “EPiC,” which features concert footage of the pelvis-swiveling star at the peak of his powers, just passed last year’s “Becoming Led Zeppelin” at the box office. Neon’s “EPiC” stands at $15.5 million less than two weeks into its theatrical run. “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” which was released by Sony Pictures Classics, earned $14.7 million over the course of its theatrical life. Both films are hugely successful by doc standards. But in a head-to-head battle, Elvis is the King.
“He’s very goofy and funny,” Luhrmann told Page Six Hollywood’s Katcy Stephan of his iconic subject. And apparently, very competitive too!