'Elvis? He was a hillbilly!' Jerry Lee Lewis speaks out on rival (2024)

Rock n' roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis has revealed that he thinks Elvis Presley is a 'hillbilly', and he is the true king of rock n' roll rather than his longtime rival.

The singer and piano-player, 79, asserted that Presley's music cannot be compared to his and that he, by contrast, was 'way ahead of his time'.

In a long interview with the Guardianahead of his final overseas tour, Lewis vigorously defended his legacy, and said that he has now found happiness and tranquility with his seventh wife - a contrast to his raucous past.

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Lewis, whose hits include Great Balls of Fire and Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On, also revealed his rivalries and friendships with other music luminaries, including Chuck Berry, the King, John Lennon and Elton John.

When asked whether he was 'the best' of his generation, he said: 'I knew that, yeah.' Asked for musical heroes in his youth, his only answer was 'me'.

'Rock’n’roll, blues, boogie woogie, you can look at BB King, look at Elvis Presley, you can look at the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but when it comes down to it, it’s Jerry Lee Lewis.

'His music is definitely way ahead of its time.'

On Elvis specifically, he argued that they belong to different genres. Lewis said: 'Elvis was more rockabilly. Not rock’n’roll. Rockabilly – which is close to hillbilly.'

Lewis, who will turn 80 this month and lives in Nesbit, Tennessee, toured and performed with many of the most famous musicians of the '50s, '60s and '70s - many of whom he has outlived.

He was one of the so-called Million Dollar Quartet, along with Elvis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, who recorded a famed jam session at the Sun Record Studios, Memphis, in 1956.

Lewis recounted his rivalries with those he shared the stage with, including Chuck Berry.

When Lewis found himself touring with Berry in a set-up, their managers arranged for them to alternate which would close the show each night.

But rather than accept playing second fiddle, the interview recounts, Lewis instead doused his piano in lighter fluid, set it on fire and told Berry 'follow that, boy' as he walked off the stage.

More recently he recounts being treated with almost religious reverence by musical icons who followed him.

First was John Lennon, who kissed his feet when they met, then Elton John, Lewis's manager said 'was shaking' with reverence at a meeting in New Orleans.

Lewis also addressed his controversial personal life, which has seen him married seven times - sometimes without divorcing the old wife first.

His career collapsed when Britain recoiled in horror at the revelation that his wife Myra was just 13 years old - and his first cousin - when the 22-year-old Lewis made his first visit to the United Kingdom.

The knock damaged his career, and sent him careening into several more relationships, some of which ended in allegations of violence.

However, Lewis now vows that his seventh wife Judith, the ex-wife of teen bride Myra's brother, is the one for him.

He said: 'I got my old girl here. She’s the best of them. Better than all of ’em put together.'

Lewis earlier described her as 'the one I've been lookin' for all the time.

In conclusion, he said: 'I done pretty well. I got myself a fine place here. I’m happy now. That’s all I know.'