Iconic shoes Elvis' "Blue Suede Shoes" auctioned for over 135,000 francs

Few songs are as closely associated with the King of Rock'n'Roll as "Blue Suede Shoes". The actual footwear has now gone under the hammer at an auction in England.

Blue suede shoes once worn by Elvis Presley were sold for 120,000 pounds (over 135,000 Swiss francs) at an auction in England on Friday. The so-called hammer price was 95,000 pounds. Fees and VAT were added.

"Blue Suede Shoes" is also the title of one of the most famous songs with which Elvis became the King of Rock'n'Roll. In it, the listener is urgently warned not to step on the elegant footwear.

Authenticity verified by leading Elvis expert

The song was written by rock'n'roll pioneer Carl Perkins. "You can do anything, but lay off of my blue suede shoes", it says. (You can do anything, but lay off of my blue suede shoes).

According to the English auction house Henry Aldridge & Son, Elvis bought the shoes after he had covered the song. Their authenticity was confirmed by leading Elvis expert Jimmy Velvet.

Elvis wore the shoes during a television appearance

The shoes are "as iconic as it gets", enthused auctioneer Andrew Aldridge according to the British news agency PA. "They are simply an extraordinary part of show business, music and popular culture," Aldridge continued.

Elvis gave the shoes to a friend shortly before he was called up for military service, according to the auction house's website.

The star, who died in 1977, is said to have worn them during a television appearance in the 1950s, where he even jokingly mentioned them. "I think I'm wearing something that's not quite evening wear," said Elvis, dressed in tails, in posed small talk with show host Steve Allen, adding: "Blue suede shoes."

dpa