Burning love! Beatles and Elvis cities strengthen links

Musical links between the cities that gave birth to The Beatles and Elvis Presley are being celebrated today.

The US city of Memphis in Tennessee has donated a plaque to Liverpool which will be unveiled on Mathew Street later.

It'll be placed close to the Cavern Club where the Fab Four played many gigs and were first spotted by Brian Epstein.

It is the latest development in a 15-year friendship arrangement between the two cities, which began in 2004 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s first record being cut.

In 2011, venues in Liverpool and Memphis became Rock ‘n’ Soul Mates in a transatlantic link up between the two cities to encourage tourists to explore the connections between the English and American cities whose music and history have helped to shape the world.

Elvis and The Beatles famously met just once, in 1965 at Presley’s Bel Air mansion, with John Lennon later describing himself as being “terrified” during the encounter as he was their idol.

Lennon said that his influence on the band was such that “without Elvis, there would be no Beatles”.

Representatives from Memphis and Liverpool will gather to unveil the plaque at lunchtime.