15,000 awestruck people watched live as he missed the landing and took the most torturous trip over asphalt and concrete a human body has ever endured. Millions more watched the carnage later on television.

Everyone across the nation was talking about it, from celebrities to nobodies …he'll probably die…he'll never walk again for sure…why would somebody DO that? The daredevil Knievel spent 29-days in the hospital, close to death at times. He emerged, a little crooked in his step, with the announcement that he would not only walk again, his next great feat would be to jump across the Grand Canyon. And so America was introduced and immediately infatuated with Evel Knievel. Jump by jump, crash by crash, the infatuation soon turned to obsession. The man who only by his own determination, was born a legend. The legend is still alive and growing. 40 years after the Caesar's Palace crash, Evel Knievel is more famous than ever!

"God, take care of me. Here I come..."
Evel Knievel spoke this semi-prayer to himself before every jump, whether it was over cars, fountains or canyon, just before he sped off toward his take-off, not knowing whether he'd live or die. For the millions who watched Evel Knievel in his prime, either live or on television, all of them had to be wondering:
Why does he do it?
How does he do it?
Can he do it?

Evel Knievel.com strives to give answers to all the questions you've wanted to know...

A Living American Legend
From his humble roots in the unlikely town of Butte, MT, Knievel rode his motorcycle and guts to an unparalleled level of worldwide glory and fame, much of which he still carries with him today: King of the Daredevils, The Last of the Gladiators, The Godfather of Extreme Sports, Guinness Book of Records holder for the most bones broken, an unwavering optimist, a doer, a go-getter, self-promoter extraordinaire, media genius, an enigmatic folk hero…an American legend. These are the titles by which millions of people around the world know Evel Knievel.

How many human beings have been influential enough to inspire a rock opera? The answer is two: first, Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ Superstar) and now, Evel Knievel. After tirelessly working on the project for the past three years, director Jeff Bek premiered his long-awaited Evel Knievel: The Rock Opera on September 28th at the Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles. The classic rock-infused opera will appear through October 28th at the L.A. venue and has received rave review from The Los Angeles Times.

"Evel Knievel: The Rock Opera" is propelled by the same fuel that powered the career of its motorcycle daredevil namesake: pure adrenaline. From its opening power chords, composer-creator Jef Bek's epic musical…never loses thrust as it nails the churning sensibilities -- musical and cultural -- of the 1970s, when Knievel's death-defying exploits captured the world's imagination," writes Philip Brandes of The Times.

Toys and Television
With a resurgent boom of 70's nostalgia the legend of Evel Knievel has come alive. Honored now more than ever before as an American icon, there has never been a better time to celebrate being a Knievel fan.

During the 1970's Evel Knievel was one of the most marketable figures across the nation and around the globe. Movies, television specials, music, books, toys, trash cans and trinkets – nearly every item and angle imaginable was used alongside the international daredevil's namesake to make a buck. And every attempt was profitable, some more than others. According to Ideal Toys, Knievel was credited with saving the lagging toy industry of the 70s, grossing over $300 million. The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle was the company's most popular item and was voted by viewers in spring 2006 as No.47 on a VH1 program viewers' poll of the “Top 100 Toys of All Time." So popular was the toy that Ideal has reissued the stunt cycle in its new line of classic model remakes.

There have been three major biography television specials featuring Knievel in the last two years, the most recent on Country Music Television's True Grit series in May 2006. Another is in the works: The BBC also filmed a documentary on Knievel this past summer with legendary British talk personality Richard Hammond, exploring the impact America's greatest daredevil had in the UK. The documentary is currently in production for airing in 2008.

Knievel's biography “Absolute Evel," which aired on the History Channel in June 2005 was also a huge success. As stated in a letter from the production agency, “the History Channel was impressed by the drawing power of the ‘Knievel' brand and how it is still a powerful icon for the public across all demographics."

Turner Network Television also aired a two-part mini-series, “Evel Knievel," produced by Mel Gibson in 2004 that also enjoyed extraordinary viewership.

Because of Knievel's flashy bravado, bold charisma and unfailing ability to self-promote, outspoken boxing legend Muhammad Ali once humorously billed the daredevil in his prime as “the white Muhammad Ali" during the mid70's. He has also been called a “modern day P.T. Barnum" for his uncanny promotional knack. Nothing has changed in Evel's ability to persuade, convince and captivate his audiences. A master storyteller, when Evel Knievel talks, people listen. Despite the exciting appeal and pioneer status of his daring feats, it is probable Knievel never would have entered the consciousness of the public mainstream had he not been so adept at marketing and promoting himself as the American icon for which he is recognized.

"Kids wanted to be like me, men wanted to be me and the women wanted to be with me," he often quips.

Of all the superheroic characters that have appeared on the pages of Marvel and DC comics, there is only one, real living superhero: Evel Knievel. And the legend lives on…

Knievel Media
Major Television Appearances, Movies and Rock Opera (Present – 1991)

• 2007; Evel Knievel: The Rock Opera premiered on September 28th at the Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles and has received rave reviews. Jeff Bek of Los Angeles spent the last several years putting together a rock opera in the spirit of Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair and Tommy to honor Knievel's life. Website featuring information on the cast and other production information is at www.knievelrockopera.com.
• 2007; eBay commercial. Featuring a “fox hunt" for a vintage Evel Knievel lunchbox, this television commercial advertises the new "it's better when you win it/shop victoriously" slogans of the on-line auction giant.
• 2007; The Hour of Power, Rev. Dr. Robert H. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries, one of the world's largest Christian organizations, hosted Knievel as a guest on his television show viewed by millions worldwide. In a follow-up interview, Schuller said Knievel was “one of the 10 most impressive people" he's ever met in his lifetime. The episode will be aired on April 22, 2007; guest interview/appearance.
• 2006; True Grit: Evel Knievel, Country Music Channel; series biography special.
• 2006; David Blaine; Drowned Alive; CBS special; guest interview/appearance
• 2006; Mike Metzger: Caesars Palace 40th Anniversary fountains jump, ESPN; anniversary stunt special with footage/coverage of Knievel's 1967 attempt.
• 2006; Kanye West, "Touch the Sky," Roc-A-Fella Records in association with Radical Records; hit music video featuring character "Evel Kanyevel" and Knievel clips from 1974 Snake River Canyon jump.
• 2005; Absolute Evel, History Channel; biography special.
• 2005; Knievel's Wild Ride, A&E; reality television series featuring Evel's son, Robbie; several guest appearances.
• 2004; Evel Knievel, Turner Network Television; television mini-series special.
• 2004; E! True Hollywood Story: Evel Knievel, Entertainment!; biography special.
• 2004; Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC; guest appearance.
• 2004; Pride Mobility Products; celebrity spokesperson
• 2003; Dr. Pepper; “Medieval Knievel" character commercial.
• 2002; Great Rides: Evel Knievel, CTV Travel; tour of Butte and the first Evel Week
• 2001; ESPN Sports Century with Frank Gifford, ESPN; millennium special.
• 2001; Wide World of Sports 40th Anniversary Special, ABC; anniversary special.
• 2000; Touch of Evel, BBC; biography special.
• 1999; Pepper Ann; Disney cartoon; episode “Beyond Good and Evil;" voice lending for his character
• 1998; Hell on Wheels, A&E; biography special.
• 1997; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC; guest appearance.
• 1996; Little Caesars Pizza; commercial featuring Knievel as main character.
• 1995; The Stimulator; celebrity endorser
• 1991; Choice Hotels; commercial featuring Knievel as main character.

1. USA Today, January 3, 2007, “Long-retired Knievel frail, feisty, still cheating death," a feature story written by John Saranceno appeared on the front page of USA Today, a newspaper with a circulation of 5.2 million. Coincidentally, the story appeared beneath the headline announcing former President Gerald Ford's death. Knievel's Snake River Canyon jump was trumped as the headline story in national newspapers on September 9th, 1974 by Ford's pardoning of Nixon for his involvement in Watergate.
2. Motor Trend Classic, Sept/Oct 2006, Citizen Evel was the title of the regular Retro Fire column appearing in the popular magazine aimed at classic car enthusiasts. Motor Trend Classic is owned by Primedia, a publications corporation with annual revenues that average a half a billion dollars.
3. Maxim, August 2005, “Be a Man, Dammit." Maxim, a magazine currently with one of the top male readerships worldwide, featured Knievel, along with Merle Haggard, G. Gordon Liddy, Jack La Lanne and R. Lee Ermey in an “American legends" panel discussion on what makes a man a man.
4. Golf Digest, August 2005, “My Shot: Evel Knievel." A collection of Knievel's stories from a life on the links was featured in this popular column in the world's leading golf magazine (by Guy Yocom). Golf Digest is the world's most popular golf publication, reaching 1.6 million readers.
5. The Wave, December 2005, “Ten Best and Worst Celebrities of All Time." The Wave, a popular entertainment magazine published in the Silicon Valley (San Jose recently ranked among the nation's top 10 most populated cities) ranked Knievel as the second best celebrity of all-time (behind Charlie Chaplain) and at the same time, ranked him as the worst celebrity of all time. The Wave reports a monthly readership of 710,000 with a demographic age range of 18 to 55.
6. Sports Illustrated, December 1999, "50 Greatest Sports Figures." In its anniversary year, SI listed the 50 greatest sports figures state by state. Knievel was the feature photo and cutline for Montana, where he was ranked No. 14 for his death-defying stunts, most notably his failed leap of the Snake River Canyon.