12.HE'S BACK: A black leather-clad Elvis heats up the small screen in his famous February 1968 NBC special, widely known as his "comeback" show. Elvis, who had faded to the background of the pop scene during most of the '60s, reclaimed his throne as the King of Rock 'n' Roll during The '68 Special, broadcast on NBC. The energetic, powerful show represented the first time the then-33-year-old Elvis performed in front of a live audience in several years -- and the prospect of getting back out there scared him. "For nearly 10 years, I have been kept away from the public," Elvis told his producer, according to LIFE in February 1995. "And the one thing I loved was performing. But I'm not sure they're gonna like me now." In July 1969, he played his first true live date in nearly 10 years, before a Vegas crowd that included Cary Grant, Sammy Davis Jr., Fats Domino and Tom Jones, LIFE noted in 1995. Rolling Stone called his performance "supernatural"; Elvis spent the rest of his life trying to match that show, feeling forever trapped in the character he created early in his career.