Let's face it...

[howardrobardhughes]

If Elvis would not have been the eccentric person that he was...then he wouldn't be Elvis...
Honestly..I don't think that Elvis would have worn
CAPES,
TURBANS,
used scepters,
played speed cop,
worn outlandish jumpsuits,
lavished cars and jewelry..etc....(to the extent that he did)
Guns
BADGES
KARATE moves onstage..
if he had not been under the influence of medications...especially UPPERS....
Whether you like it or not...much of his "iconic" behavior...
was brought on by drugs...(mainly 1970's behavior)..
I don't mean to cast a negative cloud on him...I think that the 1970's are the most intriguing years in Elvis' life...If he had been straight...he might have been another Pat Boone...(during the 1970's)
TCB
Wade

[buttonhead]

wade you dont have to put 2 same thread to get people attention...
it sounds like you generalize all what elvis did on the 70s with drugs and i disagree with that,. Maybe he was a little high when he sang on some of his concerts but the thought that he wore jumpsuit because he was high ..it doesnt make any sense.. when people too high of drug they wouldnt think of wear nice clothes as elvis did...they could just going out naked without realize people out there laughing at them..

[howardrobardhughes]

wade you dont have to put 2 same thread to get people attention...

didn't mean to post it twice..deleted the other one..
Wade

[NightRider]

I have to agree Dessy (y)

Elvis was always the eccentric dresser...even in the very early years.....so that aspect of Elvis never changed....and i don't believe that everything Elvis did after 1970 was drugs related....there were times....to be sure....but to drive him to wear Jumpsuits.....collect guns....do Karate on stage.......

And no...i do not believe that he would have been anyone else but Elvis.....that was made clear during '69-70....the way ahead was paved from there onwards.

[Albert]

Many of the greatest albums and songs composed in the 60s and 70s were written or recorded by bands/artists "under influence". So bad things may result into good things. But that is only artisticly or commercially speaking, because healthwise or mentally it's only destructive.

[Lonniebealestreet]

I am sure that the drugs Elvis took intensified certain aspects of his personality, and even changed certain ones for the worse. But drugs or no drugs, Elvis was eccentric and became increasingly so as his boredom level grew.

I think most of your examples can be attributed to boredom/entertaining himself; his having a flair for the outlandish--though on a different scale, he was considered eccentric/outlandish to quite a few people in the 50s; fulfilling childhood fantasies; his genuine generosity and desire to make people happy; taking his interests at times to the extreme; other psychological factors; and just personal tastes.

[Captain Elwood David]

If Elvis would not have been the eccentric person that he was...then he wouldn't be Elvis...
Honestly..I don't think that Elvis would have worn
CAPES,
The capes were over-the-top, much in keeping with EP's goal of creating a larger than life image on-stage. They also thrilled the crowd, especially those in the cheap seats / nose-bleed sections of the audience. A very practical prop that worked well.


TURBANS,
I chalk it up to his Harum Scarum movie days when he used to walk around Graceland getting into his role. Let's face it, EP was used to dressing up & playing --------> it was part of his job.


used scepters,
The "sceptors" concealed daggers in the ends. They also had a practical use ---> taking care of personal physical threats 12 feet in. (John Lennon ring a bell?).


played speed cop,
EP always wanted to be a Cop, .............. and he was.


worn outlandish jumpsuits,
Again, larger-than-life image on-stage.

"If I just stand up their on-stage and don't move a muscle, .......... the fans would say, .......... "well, gee, .............. I could have just stayed home and listened to his records.""

- EP (paraphrased)

EP knew the fans came for a show, ............. he gave them one.


lavished cars and jewelry..etc....(to the extent that he did)
EP did it because he could and it make him happy. That said, he also did it to win favors and exert control on a case-by-case basis (Physicians & MMM's, respectively).


Guns
BADGES
The guns were for threats farther than 12 feet out and the badges were the authority to carry those concealed weapons legally (which EP did indeed, in concealed shoulder and ankle holsters).


KARATE moves onstage..
Merely incorporating his life-long hobby into his craft / job. Good thing too, ............ I recommend investigating "Fight Night" '73 in Vegas.


if he had not been under the influence of medications...especially UPPERS....
Whether you like it or not...much of his "iconic" behavior...
was brought on by drugs...(mainly 1970's behavior)..
It is a mistake to attribute everything to EP's drug dependencies, for it is making inappropriate pejorative excuses against the man.

These things were childhood fascinations of EP's (guns, badges, Police men, acting, dressing up & playing the part if you will, methods of self-defense, etc..). Let us not forget that EP wanted a rifle instead of a guitar ................... as a child, ............... and working as an usher at the movie theaters was an extension of his fascination with movie icons of his day (Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, etc.).


I don't mean to cast a negative cloud on him...I think that the 1970's are the most intriguing years in Elvis' life...If he had been straight...he might have been another Pat Boone...(during the 1970's)
Well, Wade, ..................... I question whether or not you truly mean to sometimes, but .............. unintentional or not, ............... the end result is .................. that you sometimes do.


- Capt. "EL."

[yiddle yisa]

wade you dont have to put 2 same thread to get people attention...
it sounds like you generalize all what elvis did on the 70s with drugs and i disagree with that,. Maybe he was a little high when he sang on some of his concerts but the thought that he wore jumpsuit because he was high ..it doesnt make any sense.. when people too high of drug they wouldnt think of wear nice clothes as elvis did...they could just going out naked without realize people out there laughing at them..

I agree with you Buttonhead!
We can face the fact that, yes, the 1970's we're filled with pure "DRUG INVATION". At that time, it was of the following: cool, stress reducing, addicting etc.
Elvis' jumpsuits DID NOT come from "drugs" (which we're persription by the way!) His jumpsuits were worn under the influence of his karate outfits. Being as he was a black-belt and loved the hobby, he felt like he should start a new style for his on-stage preformances and later on be known for "JUMPSUITS".

[paulsweeney]

The Captain has hit the nail on the head - well said.

[yiddle yisa]

yepp you can say that again!

[Lildarling]

I don't think that all mentioned before was because of drugs (though partly I agree)...Didn't young Elvis made his bedroom all in pink and buy exclusive cars???Mostly all this is based on the old truth that one who had nothing in his childhood wants everything when being an adult-if only he has a chance to do so...
ELVIS was ELVIS...whatever his tastes were :worthy:

[boogie]

drugs or no drugs, it's the music that count
TCB

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Elvis tooks prescribed drugs and perhaps this would of hightened some of Elvis' pre-disposed behavier, after years of taking drugs it would of seemed normal and perhaps not had the influence that has been talked of?

[howardrobardhughes]

Elvis tooks prescribed drugs and perhaps this would of hightened some of Elvis' pre-disposed behavier, after years of taking drugs it would of seemed normal and perhaps not had the influence that has been talked of?

I just believe that EVERYTHING that Elvis did (especially in the 1970's)...was MAGNIFIED by his drug usage...

TCB
Wade

[yiddle yisa]

I don't think that all mentioned before was because of drugs (though partly I agree)...Didn't young Elvis made his bedroom all in pink and buy exclusive cars???Mostly all this is based on the old truth that one who had nothing in his childhood wants everything when being an adult-if only he has a chance to do so...
ELVIS was ELVIS...whatever his tastes were :worthy:

very well put lildarling
and yes i believe your correct about the the young Elvis...
He had many dreams as a child and with him being in the position he was, with his parents n all, i wouldnt blame him...as a matter of fact, i remember some childhood dreams that i had and still have! that's part of bein a child, aint it?

Sincerly, Yiddle Yisa

[yiddle yisa]

I just believe that EVERYTHING that Elvis did (especially in the 1970's)...was MAGNIFIED by his drug usage...

Wade, you are intitled to your own opinion--everyone is--but just to point something out that may change your mind, or may not--but that's not what im trying to do...im trying to back up a little and go back to Elvis' past...


As you may know, when Elvis was a yiddle boy, his mother was EXTREMELY protective over him! And when I say extremely--i mean it! She wouldn't let him do ANYTHING that she pictured dangerous. One day, Elvis told Gladys that he wanted a gun. Of course she didn't approve, so she took him to the local hardware store and instead he bought a guitar and OBVIOUSLY became famous! Anyways, Elvis used to sleep walk when he was a child and from what i hear, his mother put him on medication for it because it just so happened that one night he walked over to the window and almost fell out. We wouldnt have an Elvis Presley Rock N Roll Era if Gladys didn't protect him like she did, even though it was with drugs. Through-out his life, he protected HIMSELF using the presription drugs and to point out my belief, his doctor later overdosed him and gave "Elvis Presley what he wanted"
Some people see it that Elvis did crazy things because of the drugs...However, the majority of fans, believe it was simply style.

i do respect you pointing out your opinion though ;)

take care Wade...

Sincerly, Yiddle Yisa

[Captain Elwood David]

I just believe that EVERYTHING that Elvis did (especially in the 1970's)...was MAGNIFIED by his drug usage...

TCB
Wade
I must also disagree with this viewpoint. Sure, there were "moments" that can be attributed to being "under the influence of meds" ..................... (and I do stress the vocabulary usage of the word meds, because that is how EP himself viewed it at all times) ..............

........... but not "EVERYTHING."

In fact, I really dislike it when people try to attribute everything in the 70's to EP's "drug" usage ................ I think it is not only ignorant, but a very negative & superficial self-serving take on EP's life ............... and a disservice to his overall Legacy.


- Capt. "EL."

[Joe Car]

Those capes and outfits in general looked sharp. Keep in mind it was the seventies and artists were wearing a lot of outlandish clothes back then. There are some pictures as early as 1970 where EP did wear a cape out in public, our guy was like no other. Who else would meet Nixon in that brilliant outfit but EP? Most people would have put on a suit and dressed very conservately when meeting the President.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I just believe that EVERYTHING that Elvis did (especially in the 1970's)...was MAGNIFIED by his drug usage...

TCB
Wade

I think a lot of what the 70's was about was freedom, freedom from the restrictive 60's where Elvis was expected to be Elvis as portrayed by the Movie Image, you can see as early as 1968 when elvis did the NBC Special that the high Collar was already in place a sort of pre-jumpsuit style, in 1970 and TTWII the Jumpsuit was complete, I don't think Elvis had reached the peak of his Meds at this point and certainly think he would have continued to develope his style with or without meds.

[Albert]

Elvis was an entertainer and he was very aware of it. During the MSG pressconference Elvis confessed that it was very hard to live up to an image and that a human being was something different than the image.

That was quite a confession and right after Elvis was asked about being a shy country boy, he became protective again and used his larger than life image: "Well, look at this gold belt"....

Shy, humble and insecure people can overwin these things (temporary) by exaggerate behaviour. This, along with his extremely poor youth and being an entertainer, Elvis really lived up to the image. Flashy clothes, big belts, jewelry, jumpsuits, etc. The amazing thing with Elvis was that it really fitted him all.

[Scottishthistle]

My view on this would be that if you come from a poor background..living on the next to nothing..and the all of a sudden you have all this fame, money, attention. You would appreciated the finer things in life to the max because you can have all those precious things you would'nt have dreamed of ever having..and Elvis thrived on pretty things pretty clothing, cars...women . He would have been crazy not to Enjoy his wealth eccentric , vain call it what you may..life is life, this is not a rehearsal so live it as comfortably as you can thats what I say ;) :D

[yiddle yisa]

My view on this would be that if you come from a poor background..living on the next to nothing..and the all of a sudden you have all this fame, money, attention. You would appreciated the finer things in life to the max because you can have all those precious things you would'nt have dreamed of ever having..and Elvis thrived on pretty things pretty clothing, cars...women . He would have been crazy not to Enjoy his wealth eccentric , vain call it what you may..life is life, this is not a rehearsal so live it as comfortably as you can thats what I say ;) :D

very beautifully said!

Sincerly, Yiddle Yisa (h)