Elvis's biggest fear?

[KPM]

We all have fears of some kind which haunt us in our lives.
What do you think Elvis's greatest fear in life was?
Loss of popularity, wealth, health, aging, death........

[utmom2008]

To some degree I imagine aging was a big problem for Elvis. He probably worried that with aging would also come the loss of his fans which would decrease his popularity.:blush:

[Donut]

Of those options you listed I think the loss of his popularity is what he feared the most.

[KPM]

Of those options you listed I think the loss of his popularity is what he feared the most.
Please if you have any thoughts beyond those I listed bring them up.
I just wanted to give some examples of what might have been fears to him.
My own biggest fear is dying in the hospital-it seems so cold- to be away from the place and people you love in the last moment of life. Also leaving a huge mountain of medical bills. I have good insurance but 10% of 1,000,000 is still 100 grand.

[spanish eyes]

IMO not being loved or remembered and something bad happening to his loved ones.

[kathy parkinson]

Probably would peple remember him, imo

[memphisflash]

Please if you have any thoughts beyond those I listed bring them up.
I just wanted to give some examples of what might have been fears to him.
My own biggest fear is dying in the hospital-it seems so cold- to be away from the place and people you love in the last moment of life. Also leaving a huge mountain of medical bills. I have good insurance but 10% of 1,000,000 is still 100 grand.

I've heard from those who knew him that dying was his worst fear. But I would think that he feared falling off of his thrown so to speak which led to his drug abuse and downfall in the end. He was also afraid of being assasinated like Kennedy and King or dying in a plane crash like Buddy Holly. That's why he feared flying in his early years.

As for your fear of dying. I understand it but at the same time you gotta think about your family and loved ones before you do yourself. Imagine what it would be for them to find you dead at home compared to them being prepared for your passing from a doctor where they can actually be there till the end and say goodbye. I would rather have that then them be given the news that I was dead and they never knew.

[javierTCB]

I think "Loss of popularity". Elvis structured his entire life around his dreams.
I can not imagine another major concern in his mind.

[KPM]

I've heard from those who knew him that dying was his worst fear. But I would think that he feared falling off of his thrown so to speak which led to his drug abuse and downfall in the end. He was also afraid of being assasinated like Kennedy and King or dying in a plane crash like Buddy Holly. That's why he feared flying in his early years.

As for your fear of dying. I understand it but at the same time you gotta think about your family and loved ones before you do yourself. Imagine what it would be for them to find you dead at home compared to them being prepared for your passing from a doctor where they can actually be there till the end and say goodbye. I would rather have that then them be given the news that I was dead and they never knew.
I know what you are saying, I was speaking about lengthy illness not sudden death.
My father-in-law got colon cancer. He was in and out of hospitals for about 8months. Finally the doctors said they could do nothing more for him and it was a waiting game. He wanted to go home. The great Hospice people stepped in and he went home. My mother-in-law, my wife, her brothers, all wanted him home where he was comfortable and where they could be more natural and comfortable around him. He only lived 3 days after going home-and it was a rough 3 days-but all look back happy that he did go home.

[Donut]

Please if you have any thoughts beyond those I listed bring them up.
I just wanted to give some examples of what might have been fears to him.
My own biggest fear is dying in the hospital-it seems so cold- to be away from the place and people you love in the last moment of life. Also leaving a huge mountain of medical bills. I have good insurance but 10% of 1,000,000 is still 100 grand.

Well I didn't know him of course but loneliness would be my guess. I won't list mine because I have too many :'(

[KPM]

Well I didn't know him of course but loneliness would be my guess. I won't list mine because I have too many :'(
He did always want someone around it seems-so that makes sense.

[javierTCB]

Ken, I am sorry about your father in law, but it is right to say how happy he was to be a family again. Maybe Elvis would have fear of dying alone and forgotten.

[memphis69]

I THINK THE LOSING THE LOVE OF HIS FANS THAT HIS FANS WOULD NOT COME AND SEE HIM IN CONCERT. ALSO IMAGE WAS IMPORTANT TO ELVIS SO I THINK HE FEARED GROWING OLD AND BEING LABELED "TOO OLD AND WASHED UP" HE ALWAYS WANTED TO LOOK HIS BEST FOR HIS FANS.
ALSO WHEN THE BOOK "ELVIS WHAT HAPPENED" WAS RELEASED ELVIS FEARED WHAT LISA MARIE AND HIS FAMILY WOULD THINK. HE WORRIED THAT THEY WOULD BELIEVE ALL THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT HM.

[Diane]

Please if you have any thoughts beyond those I listed bring them up.
I just wanted to give some examples of what might have been fears to him.
My own biggest fear is dying in the hospital-it seems so cold- to be away from the place and people you love in the last moment of life. Also leaving a huge mountain of medical bills. I have good insurance but 10% of 1,000,000 is still
100 grand.

I also do not want to die in a cold hospital. I want to go like my dad did..died in his sleep at home. I also would not let myself be put in a position to accrue a mountain of medical bills for my family.

I think loss of popularity was a big concern for Elvis inasmuch as it would also mean a lack of finances so I think it was two-fold for him.

Diane

[Getlo]

Elvis only seemed to have two great fears.

* Waking up one day to find that the money, the career etc was just a dream. Or actually losing it all and becoming poverty-stricken.

* Waking up alone in the dark.

I don't think losing popularity, per se, was a huge fear. A concern, maybe.

[utmom2008]

Imagine what it would be for them to find you dead at home compared to them being prepared for your passing from a doctor where they can actually be there till the end and say goodbye. I would rather have that then them be given the news that I was dead and they never knew.

I can't agree with you there. I know from experience...I walked in my mother's house in November and found her. She had passed away during the night never having had a sick day in her life. My brothers and I are all thankful that she was never sick and in a hospital. She would have hated that. So we tended to think more of her wishes and preferences than our own. And I would think that "saying goodbye" in a hospital is over-rated, it doesn't play as well IRL as it does in the movies.:blush:

[ehollier]

I think Elvis' biggest fear was rejection. Peter Guralnick expounds on this some in his second volume, Careless Love. Elvis wanted more than anything to be accepted and loved by everyone and any form of rejection was detrimental to his universe. The blow he suffered when his wife publically rejected him by leaving him for another man and from Sonny and Red West's book, EWH rejecting him for all of his years of friendship was two enormous set-backs from which he never recovered.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Having no money was definitely a fear, why else would Elvis have toured so frequently when he knew he was very ill in those later years?

Being rejected, by fans or those close to him..

[hounddog]

I guess it comes under health but i wondered if he feared losing his voice. Having something happen to his throat.

[Yada]

Loss of popularity by fans and his daughter and father

[RustyWells]

Fear of rejection like others had said,
also I think he had a fear of sleepwalking,
(after an embarrassing incident in childhood)
that's why he always had someone sleeping in
the room with him.

[GraceeD1970]

Didn't Elvis make reference to would they still come see me when I'm old?

[RustyWells]

I think Joe E once said Elvis feared he wouldn't be as
popular when he was 60, couldn't see himself singing on
stage when he was 60. I guess he feared he wouldn't last that long

[javierTCB]

I think Elvis' biggest fear was rejection. Peter Guralnick expounds on this some in his second volume, Careless Love. Elvis wanted more than anything to be accepted and loved by everyone and any form of rejection was detrimental to his universe. The blow he suffered when his wife publically rejected him by leaving him for another man and from Sonny and Red West's book, EWH rejecting him for all of his years of friendship was two enormous set-backs from which he never recovered.

Totally Agree!

[shelley.m.]

I thought Elvis had a fear of being alone?

[KPM]

I came here on the advice of a friend. Boy, was he wrong. The place is ****ed up.
Huh??????:doh:

[utmom2008]

Huh??????:doh:

I think we have another "pete" and "repeat".;):lol::lol:

[midnight]

I came here on the advice of a friend. Boy, was he wrong. The place is ****ed up.

Excuse me???

[Diane]

I came here on the advice of a friend. Boy, was he wrong. The place is ****ed up.

I think you're seeing this place through the wrong eyes but then maybe you see everything and every place this way.;)

[Lisarose]

Not leaving a mark in this world. Seemed that in one of the Elvis books, he would always ask whoever would listen, "Do you think they'll remember me when I'm gone?"
I know that being forgotten was his biggest fear when he went into the Army, but I think it extended beyond his military career time.

One of the other threads asked who was Elvis' true love, I think his fans. Just My Opinion.

[elvisspankme]

proble elvis feared loss of populatey, sleepwalking,and of growing old but he's only human.

[cibetty]

I found this quote:

"Well, I'd have to say - my greatest fear - it wouldn't be to lose everythin' I have because I could begin again - might take me awhile, but I could get it back. My greatest fear - would have to be to somehow lose the affection, the love of the fans. To somehow fall out of favor with them, be alienated from them. I'd have to say that would be my greatest fear - one I don't know if I could handle."

[Diane]

I found this quote:

"Well, I'd have to say - my greatest fear - it wouldn't be to lose everythin' I have because I could begin again - might take me awhile, but I could get it back. My greatest fear - would have to be to somehow lose the affection, the love of the fans. To somehow fall out of favor with them, be alienated from them. I'd have to say that would be my greatest fear - one I don't know if I could handle."

Wonderful Betty, I guess this answers all our questions! (y) So the book EWH must have scared the life out of him!

Diane

[Merry]

proble elvis feared loss of populatey, sleepwalking,and of growing old but he's only human.


Ohhhhh, lol, hehe, another thing I have in common with Elvis. I used to sleep walk as a child, including when I was really worried about things when older. I'm amazed at the amount of things that are the same or related in some way! ;):D(y)

I don't think I sleepwalk, now, lol :hmm::supriced::D

[Merry]

I found this quote:

"Well, I'd have to say - my greatest fear - it wouldn't be to lose everythin' I have because I could begin again - might take me awhile, but I could get it back. My greatest fear - would have to be to somehow lose the affection, the love of the fans. To somehow fall out of favor with them, be alienated from them. I'd have to say that would be my greatest fear - one I don't know if I could handle."


Look what happened, Elvis is still fascinating, people love him, paint him, study him, listen to him, and so many look up to him. Elvis' name seems to still be mentioned in the media, daily.

I think that is a wonderful legacy to have left for all to enjoy ..... :D(y)

A very human, caring, and wonderful man. :hug:

[Elvis Girl]

i have to say he feared not being loved or looseing it in someway just my thought!

[Dorothy]

I found this quote:

"Well, I'd have to say - my greatest fear - it wouldn't be to lose everythin' I have because I could begin again - might take me awhile, but I could get it back. My greatest fear - would have to be to somehow lose the affection, the love of the fans. To somehow fall out of favor with them, be alienated from them. I'd have to say that would be my greatest fear - one I don't know if I could handle."

Well, I think that sums it up very well......sounds like something Elvis would say. And he did worry that he would be forgotten. I think he said something like.... ".Nobody will know who Elvis Presley was 10 years after I'm gone."...
Not the exact wording....something to that effect.

Wouldn't he be surprised!!

[Wild_In_The_Country]

well, in my opinion Elvis was a very deep person, he was someone he needed people around him, and elvis liked to be needed, so i would say lonelyness

[utmom2008]

I found this quote:

"Well, I'd have to say - my greatest fear - it wouldn't be to lose everythin' I have because I could begin again - might take me awhile, but I could get it back. My greatest fear - would have to be to somehow lose the affection, the love of the fans. To somehow fall out of favor with them, be alienated from them. I'd have to say that would be my greatest fear - one I don't know if I could handle."
Great quote Betti...thanks for sharing that with us!(y)

Wonderful Betty, I guess this answers all our questions! (y) So the book EWH must have scared the life out of him!

Diane

It's always bothered me that Elvis died worrying about how the fans were going to react to him after EWH. It's sad to me that he never got the chance to see that we loved him anyway, that we were never judgemental about the drugs. Maybe, just maybe....he found peace after he was gone. I'd love to think that he's looking down in amazement.:blush::blush:

[Lisarose]

Great quote Betti...thanks for sharing that with us!(y)


It's always bothered me that Elvis died worrying about how the fans were going to react to him after EWH. It's sad to me that he never got the chance to see that we loved him anyway, that we were never judgemental about the drugs. Maybe, just maybe....he found peace after he was gone. I'd love to think that he's looking down in amazement.:blush::blush:

(y) (y)

He asked different friends if he'd be remembered after he was gone - ABSOLUTELY!!!

[Unchained Melody]

Growing old..

[Awickedreigndrop]

I think it's being alone too. Because I've heard about him and this fear so many times from different people who knew him.

[cibetty]

Wonderful Betty, I guess this answers all our questions! (y) So the book EWH must have scared the life out of him!

Diane

Oh yes Diane, I'm sure that after the book he felt totally devastated.

[cibetty]

Great quote Betti...thanks for sharing that with us!(y)


It's always bothered me that Elvis died worrying about how the fans were going to react to him after EWH. It's sad to me that he never got the chance to see that we loved him anyway, that we were never judgemental about the drugs. Maybe, just maybe....he found peace after he was gone. I'd love to think that he's looking down in amazement.:blush::blush:

You're welcome Rosanne! Ohhh, you said it beautifully... I also hope he found peace. :'( :'( :'( Yes, he would be totally amazed if he'd see that we still love him.

[cibetty]

Well, I think that sums it up very well......sounds like something Elvis would say. And he did worry that he would be forgotten. I think he said something like.... ".Nobody will know who Elvis Presley was 10 years after I'm gone."...
Not the exact wording....something to that effect.

Wouldn't he be surprised!!

I'm sure he would be very surprised!!

[midnight]

It's always bothered me that Elvis died worrying about how the fans were going to react to him after EWH. It's sad to me that he never got the chance to see that we loved him anyway, that we were never judgemental about the drugs. Maybe, just maybe....he found peace after he was gone. I'd love to think that he's looking down in amazement.:blush::blush:[/QUOTE]

Rosanne, that was so beautifully said. It is very sad that he thought that he had to be so "perfect" for us. Yet, most of us loved him just like a family member, even more than some of his own family and "so called friends". We would of embraced and love him no matter what. I am sure he knows that now. God bless him!:'(

[Albert]

We all have fears of some kind which haunt us in our lives.
What do you think Elvis's greatest fear in life was?
Loss of popularity, wealth, health, aging, death........
His biggest was to become poor again and forgotten

[beckelvis]

The truth not,but i believe that the major fear of Elvis is to feel alone always needed to be surrounded with the people who love him,both family and fans,i believe it that it was his great dread.

[ehollier]

I think his biggest fear of all of these mentioned -- and there are some biggies here -- is to not be and feel true unconditional love. I believe that is something that he felt had alluded him since his mother died, whose love was completely pure and unconditional.

I honestly believe he thought he'd found it when he finally got married, but again, it alluded him in the demise of that also.

Then there were the fans. Again, I believe he felt that unconditional acceptance and love even slipping away as the drugs took a stranglehold on him and the anticipation of EWH being published.

To not be and truly feel loved has to be ultimate for all of us, whether we are to admit it or not. Some of us have been fortunate enough to experience that completely unconditional and complete love, whether it be from a parent or spouse. But sometimes circumstances have robbed some of something so complete and beautiful.

Elvis was very insecure. His mother was his inspiration for all that he did. She was his sole supporter during those early uncertain months of his career and those doubtful months when he was being so heavily criticized by the media, church, politicians. She was who he counted on, depended on, sought throughout his life. She was the person he returned the same unconditional love. I don't even know if he was able to do that in his marriage, although I think he really tried.

Linda Thompson has said that he needed more love than anyone she's ever known. Many of the other women that have shared themselves with Elvis have said similiar things. When it really comes down to it -- he always felt he could start over (career-wise) - but he truly just wanted to be loved.

I think Ann-Margret said it best when she said:

"He had a great capacity to love, and he wanted to be loved in return. But he knew the world he lived in, as well as all of the people who surrounded him, who hurt him, who wanted something from him made it virtually impossible for him to ever feel that affection; and if he did, he didn't know whether to trust it."

[Lisarose]

His biggest was to become poor again and forgotten

Really? Poor? I guess so, especially since he had the Money to do what ever he wanted. I know, I'd get used to that much cash, but then he worked for it. I think he'd miss the money in that he wouldn't be able to give it away or to buy presents to give to others. I don't think [jmo] he was afraid of working - manual labor, that is. I know that giving up the lifestyle would be hard for anyone and Elvis would be no different.

[elvia7]

I think his biggest fear of all of these mentioned -- and there are some biggies here -- is to not be and feel true unconditional love. I believe that is something that he felt had alluded him since his mother died, whose love was completely pure and unconditional.

I honestly believe he thought he'd found it when he finally got married, but again, it alluded him in the demise of that also.

Then there were the fans. Again, I believe he felt that unconditional acceptance and love even slipping away as the drugs took a stranglehold on him and the anticipation of EWH being published.

To not be and truly feel loved has to be ultimate for all of us, whether we are to admit it or not. Some of us have been fortunate enough to experience that completely unconditional and complete love, whether it be from a parent or spouse. But sometimes circumstances have robbed some of something so complete and beautiful.

Elvis was very insecure. His mother was his inspiration for all that he did. She was his sole supporter during those early uncertain months of his career and those doubtful months when he was being so heavily criticized by the media, church, politicians. She was who he counted on, depended on, sought throughout his life. She was the person he returned the same unconditional love. I don't even know if he was able to do that in his marriage, although I think he really tried.

Linda Thompson has said that he needed more love than anyone she's ever known. Many of the other women that have shared themselves with Elvis have said similiar things. When it really comes down to it -- he always felt he could start over (career-wise) - but he truly just wanted to be loved.

I think Ann-Margret said it best when she said:

"He had a great capacity to love, and he wanted to be loved in return. But he knew the world he lived in, as well as all of the people who surrounded him, who hurt him, who wanted something from him made it virtually impossible for him to ever feel that affection; and if he did, he didn't know whether to trust it."




I think, yhat Ann-Margret know so well our ELVIS then I could agree with her...:'(:blush: