new sonny west book

[mistymorning]

After three years of writing and research Sonny West and M.Terill have completed their book"Elvis, still taking care of business."
What do you think of Sonny and his book?!
1-Did he write it to make atone for the first one?
2-Did he want to make himself feel better because he is feeling guilty in his old age?!
They told us the first one was the truth and now we are to believe that this one is the truth?!The first one devastated elvis so much, why another?!
I will appreciate your opinions!:happy_ny:

[0349054]

Elvis What Happened, was a true book. While it may not garner the favour of some Elvis fans due to it's blunt honesty, it was true.

It's very hard to argue that by 76'/77' Elvis was the same as 68'/69'. He was dependent on prescription medication, clinically depressed and his body was nearing the end of it's life cycle. How he ever managed to give some shows in the late 70's is beyond me. He was also using cocaine to an extent that the Elvis from only a few years earlier would of found abhorent.

Elvis reacted so badly to it, because he knew it was true.

I do believe they wrote it to make money - they had no jobs. Yes it was sensationalist - but that's what sells. If they wrote a book about Elvis being a quiet shy, humble country boy they would not have sold half as many books.


I am looking forward to reading the book.

[NEA]

Hi 0349054,

Just a couple of things I'd like to query with you regarding your statements in your post:

"Elvis - What Happened?": Was it a true book or was it sensationalistic of true events? If it was sensationalistic of true events then I think this would be classed as not necessarily true?...written with blunt honesty?...Remember, the guys who wrote the book were going through a period that was filled with very blunt bitterness - but you can't blame them for feeling that bitter because Elvis had dismissed them quite unfairly...Nevertheless, I do feel that you have contradicted yourself.

Elvis using cocaine? Well, this certainly throws a whole new perspective on the fact that Elvis was addicted to prescription drugs only - so Elvis had an illegal 'hard' drugs problem too? And, even though no traces of these substances were found in his blood stream - he still went through a period of constant cocaine usage?...Hmm...this is a new one on me...I think this is the first time I've heard this 'claim' coming from a Fan - don't think I've ever come across it from anyone that was a member of Elvis' Family or Memphis Mafia...Although, could I be missing something here and somebody through the years has already claimed this is true?....David Stanley, Marty Lacker, Lamar Fike....Sonny West?....maybe, in his new book of re-written history?...Hmm....

[0349054]

Hi NEA,

It was sensationalist in that it focused on the darker sides of Elvis' life, rather than being sugar coated.

The events described in the book are true. The sensationalism is that they focused on these rather than saying Elvis was perfect.

I don't think I have contradicted myself, well at least I hope you now see what I mean by sensationalism in regard to what was put into the book.

Elvis used cocaine. Red did it with him on the balcony of the Las Vegas Hilton in 75', he used to soak cotton wool balls in liquid coke and put it in his nose. Most of the guys who are honest about events will admit he used it.

He used LSD in the 60's with Priscilla, shes admitted that. But he did use Coke in the late 70's. The fact none was found in his bloodstream only indicates he didn't use it before he died.

[joanne]

I`m very shocked about this as far as I know he never used cocaine.
As for those three scumbags they were short of money because the person who had supplied it had sacked them. Their reaction was to do a book that would depict Elvis in the most wicked light possible and they did that.
In my opinion it wasn`t a true book because it was distorted through anger, bitterness and revenge.
A true book is what reflects the good and the bad of a person and that book was all bad. It was the most awful book about Elvis (apart from Albert Goldman) that I have ever had the misfortune to read.
Sonny West has proved that it was distorted because he admitted that the author Steve Dunleavy had sensationalised it to sell more copies.
Now he says he is writing the truth about Elvis.
All Red West could say was that he did it to help Elvis what rubbish. He later admitted to Todd Slaughter that he did it for the money.
As for Dave Hebler hes that honest that a few years ago there was a programme about a shirt that Frank Skinner had bought at auction and Frank became suspicious that he had been duped because it was claimed to be the one Elvis wore at the Tupelo Fairgrounds but on close inspection it wasn`t that one and the condition was so good and it couldn`t of been it.
Dave Hebler said that Elvis gave it to him in the seventies because it was cluttering up his wardrobe. He is a complete liar.
All three of them make me sick.

[0349054]

I wont comment on Hebler, because I don't like the way he has described Elvis since Elvis passed. His general opinion of Elvis seems to be negative.

Red and Sonny were with Elvis for a long long time, and were very close to him. Elvis should have had the sense to keep those sort of people around him instead of people like the Stanleys. But he was very sick towards the end.

I believe they did it for the money, but also a hope that it may shock Elvis into doing something about his health.

[orwell1976]

As far as I know Elvis did use cocaine, but only for a short time. Somewhere I read that Elvis used it in late 1974 (so Red West maybe wrong with 1975, but you can't blame him for that). When you listen to the shows Elvis gave in late 1974 I would believe it. Elvis was very talkative during these concerts and his mood seems to swing from one second to another. So maybe Red meant that Elvis started to use cocaine during the "Elvis Summer Festival 1974" (remember: the more that engagement wore on, the more talkative and strange he got and he stayed in this "mood" for the next tour and the engagement in Tahoe) and used it until he was sent into the hospital in 1975. After that he seemed to be his old self again.

:hmm:

[0349054]

Your right, he improved in 75' compared to 74'.

They really tried to get all that stuff out of him in hospital - the drugs, both types.

He looks and sounds much healthier in 75' though compared to 74'. But 73' post Aloha was a pretty bad year as well.

[amzietamzie]

i was never aware that elvis used cocaine... i thought he tried it once or something, possibly with priscilla, but didn't like it at all.
as for the book, i don't see how it is possible for sonny west to write 2 "true" books. he claims that the first one, which in my opinion is a very one-sided account from a group of men who were bitter and twisted, was true. it may well have some correct information in, but its ultimate aim was obviously to shock and scare and so its "facts" can't really be trusted. his new book, if it is indeed meant to shed a good light on elvis, can't possibly be written without shaming the first book, or not containing the truth.
i haven't read "elvis- what happened?" and i don't intend to- it is clear that it was written for money, although i can see the ulterior motive, that was an attempt to shock elvis into doing something about his drug use. but it clearly hurt elvis very badly and its timing wasn't brilliant. this second book, it seems to me, will either prove what liers the writers of the first book were, or will show sonny west to be a hypocrite.
but i might be wrong, i don't know many of the particulars and sonny west could truly be sorry for the very negative approach given in "elvis- what happened?" and may now be wanting to make up for it.
:merryxmas

[0349054]

Part of an INterview Sonny did with Leslie Smith..

Q: What was the source of the drugs?


A: Doctors around the country. Many of them had no idea that he was getting
stuff from other doctors. He had doctors in Vegas, Memphis, LA,...dentists,
podiatrists, doctors... The cocaine that came in came from someone who
actually worked for him, and it came from a dealer. Those were the ones we
stopped at times, threatened them until Elvis found out about it and
threatened jobs on our parts. He said he needed the stuff to wake up from
the pills.


Q: Let's just talk about the cocaine for a moment. To your own certain
knowledge he was using cocaine?

A: Yes, no question about it.

Q: You actually saw him doing it. He was sniffing it?


A: Yes. And after that, Elvis used to take these cotton balls and soak them
in his nose. And we were told it was liquid coke. Red and Joe often broke
down the cocaine with another powder to make it less potent.

[NEA]

Thanks for your reply 0349054...this has certainly jogged my memory somewhat regarding Elvis' use of LIQUID Cocaine...

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Elvis started to experiment with it like he did that time in the 60's with LSD. But, the fact of the matter was Elvis didn't like the white powdered version due to the process one had to go through to get the full affect of the drug (a quick snort up the nostril). So, that is why he preferred to use the liquid 'cotton swab' version.

Elvis was hospitalized in January 1975 and cut his usual winter Vegas engagement short. Could this have been the main source of the reason for this stint in hospital? I think this habit was somewhat short-lived and so his addiction for various types of prescribed medication increased soon after this.

I suppose it will be quite intriguing to find out what Mr. West will have to say this time around all these years later...something inside me tells me he really wants to make amends for the "What Happened?" shocker of 1977, and now that he is older he also can put these events of the past into perspective and possibly wants to move on from his guilt and former bitterness.

Let's give him a chance.

[joanne]

I won`t give him a chance.

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

Even though bits of "Elvis - What happened" may be true, or even if it all is, I still refuse to read it. I believe that this book, written out of bitterness and revenge(even if somewhat justified) was one of the causes of Elvis's increased intake of pills ( over 10,000 prescribed by DR. Nick alone in those last 8 months!) anxiety and depression that brought about a quicker end to his life, had the book not come out. And in addition to that, no matter how Elvis dealt with letting them go, does it justify an action of revenge so vile and obviously meant to harm as this book was? ( They were sending him chapters as it was being written, and his copy was heavily read, underlined and written in).
I mean, afterall, they did say they were best friends and Red cosidered him like family. Do you do something like that to someone you profess to love? I mean, look at Johnny Cash. No book, just a loving family and friends that cared more about the man than the gravy train (money) and they didn't write a book or go to the press, they just intervened. I don't care what anyone says, there were people that were around Elvis that could have done it ( his dad, Priscilla, the Colonel, other members of the family.)
I bet Sonny is trying to make up for that a bit, and it would be interesting to read what he has to say, but I'd take it all with a grain of salt. And I will never read the first one. I'm aware of what happened and I don't need to read a heavily slanted, sensationalized version of it. (n)

[Lonniebealestreet]

I am looking forward to reading Sonny's new book. Good for him if it helps him sleep better at night.

There is actually an FBI file on Elvis' cocaine use...

http://www.tcb-world.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4033&d=1093275239

Though I question the total accuracy of this information, I believe there is some truth to it.

A few of the guys have admitted to using cocaine with Elvis.

While it is very significant he was using this illicit drug, it was the abuse of prescribed medications that wrought the most damage to Elvis' mind and body and led to his ultimate demise, as we all know. So I think it is not only due to a whitewashing of Elvis history that not too much is made of this.

[NEA]

I can very much appreciate everyone's opinions on this subject matter of Sonny's new book, but no matter what, it will always revert back to his original attempt to tell it like it was 30 years ago.

When you put it into perspective, and I'm sure Sonny knows this - the three of them ended up looking like complete Jerks who were mad at their boss because he had chosen to fire them in a not too friendly and cowardly way. There are still no excuses for three angst-ridden men who suddenly decide that the only way to get back at him was to write a sensationalised book about 'how he really is' and 'what it was really like'. There are still no excuses for three volatile men who decide to act as 'Judge & Jury' and still claim, to a certain degree, that they wrote the book to get Elvis to change his ways. There are still no excuses for three embittered men who only added to one man's battle against his then turbulent lifestyle. But, book or no book - Elvis would still no longer be with us. But, there are still no excuses.

Sonny West is the guilty voice of the Memphis Mafia. He is now attempting to write the book that would have probably been written anyway (all three needed the money) - but it is the book that addresses their love and friendship throughout all the years. If Elvis would have handled his firing of them in a much more friendly and honest way, perhaps this would have been the book we would have got thirty years ago. It would have been a book with more affection and heartfelt concern for their friend's state of mind. But, there are still no excuses.

I can appreciate what Sonny is trying to do - he is not a bitter and blinkered young guy anymore...he wants to talk about his friend the way he should have talked about him all those years ago. I have heard and read reports that Sonny West is a nice guy, and along with his wife, Judy, they are two of the most honest and humble people in the Elvis World. I have heard and read reports that Sonny West talks about his life with Elvis in a positive way like nobody has ever heard before. I am glad that it is Sonny who is putting pen to paper - I don't really trust his cousin, Red and I certainly don't trust the little man that is called Dave Hebler to do the job that should have been done many years ago.

Well guys, we are now the Judge & Jury and the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, as the saying goes...the pressure is on, and Sonny most probably knows that.

Watch this space.

NEA.

[4THEHEART]

ALL I KNOW OUR MAN DIED WITH A BROKEN HEART, THEIR WORTHLESS,TASTELESS BOOK HURT THAT PRESCIOUS PERSON ,THIS IS WHAT I CONCERN..AND ELVIS NEVER SAID OR WROTE ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THOSE ..... DON'T LET ME SAY WHAT THEY ARE..I HATE THEM "perfect cousins" SO THAT I CAN HAVE A HEART ATTACK RIGHT NOW..APOLOGIZING??..MY ... NOOOOO WAY.. I WON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM..:angry:

[4THEHEART]

so this must be the new trend ..to be wise Elvis fans and to show that we are really grown up, we have to accept that he used everything from baby a spirine to cocain,it was him that didn't want to tour europe,he had soooooooo many darrrrrrkkkk sides,he did everything the way he wanted to so he himself ruined his life and everyone around him was innocent, very good, wise and helping ,sweetest, loyal people but he reject their loving and helping hands .. is that it?..Sorry friends,I'm not that perfect and new age Elvis fan..I always trusted my senses and I will go on doin the same..this world wasted a huuge and amazing potential that was a gift to all of us,Elvis wasn't a clich? so we still have difficulties understanding him.But to my senses (you may laugh at me)he was not the typical,media's fav sex,drugs,and r&r celebrity.. to many narrow mind's understanding capacity, he was too a big energy that we didn't know exactly what to do with him..so I call you miserable so called writers, stop ridicule your very own selves..and let us forget about you for your own good..

[0349054]

I can very much appreciate everyone's opinions on this subject matter of Sonny's new book, but no matter what, it will always revert back to his original attempt to tell it like it was 30 years ago.

When you put it into perspective, and I'm sure Sonny knows this - the three of them ended up looking like complete Jerks who were mad at their boss because he had chosen to fire them in a not too friendly and cowardly way. There are still no excuses for three angst-ridden men who suddenly decide that the only way to get back at him was to write a sensationalised book about 'how he really is' and 'what it was really like'. There are still no excuses for three volatile men who decide to act as 'Judge & Jury' and still claim, to a certain degree, that they wrote the book to get Elvis to change his ways. There are still no excuses for three embittered men who only added to one man's battle against his then turbulent lifestyle. But, book or no book - Elvis would still no longer be with us. But, there are still no excuses.

Sonny West is the guilty voice of the Memphis Mafia. He is now attempting to write the book that would have probably been written anyway (all three needed the money) - but it is the book that addresses their love and friendship throughout all the years. If Elvis would have handled his firing of them in a much more friendly and honest way, perhaps this would have been the book we would have got thirty years ago. It would have been a book with more affection and heartfelt concern for their friend's state of mind. But, there are still no excuses.

I can appreciate what Sonny is trying to do - he is not a bitter and blinkered young guy anymore...he wants to talk about his friend the way he should have talked about him all those years ago. I have heard and read reports that Sonny West is a nice guy, and along with his wife, Judy, they are two of the most honest and humble people in the Elvis World. I have heard and read reports that Sonny West talks about his life with Elvis in a positive way like nobody has ever heard before. I am glad that it is Sonny who is putting pen to paper - I don't really trust his cousin, Red and I certainly don't trust the little man that is called Dave Hebler to do the job that should have been done many years ago.

Well guys, we are now the Judge & Jury and the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, as the saying goes...the pressure is on, and Sonny most probably knows that.

Watch this space.

NEA.

Good post NEA,

Have to agree with most of it.

I take it you will buying the book then?

I am looking forward to reading it.

Anyone know when it will be released?

[NEA]

Hi 0349054,

Yes I will purchase the book.

Let's put it into perspective - It will be a better purchase than "Elvis-What Happened?" and that goes without saying. I'm not too sure of it's release - possibly sometime in 2006, unless they are holding out for the 30th Anniversary year in 2007?

Sonny knows there will be no room for a 'hatchet-job' this time around. We are looking for genuine honesty in this publication which will tell it to us in a very objective way from one man's point of view, and from somebody who was actually around Elvis a lot of the time...I really do hope that he can pull this one off. I think he has possibly done his homework in getting Marshall Terrill on his side to collaborate with this publication - it can't be much worse than that 'cess-pit' newspaper journalist, Steve Dunleavy, from thirty years ago.

I think we shall get a less-clouded and much less bitter account of Sonny's life with Elvis this time. I don't think he will be writing in a style that will portray 'Elvis really owed him something' unlike "What Happened?". In actual fact all that Elvis owed Sonny and the other two was an apology - they owed Elvis much more by the time the first week in August, 1977 was dotted on the Calendar.

Good Luck Sonny...you will need it.

NEA.

[0349054]

Agreed.

Elvis created the whole thing by the way he handled the firing and also by the way his health and lifestyle had deteriorated to an all time low at that stage.

The book should probabaly not have been written, however it was and maybe one good thing that came from it, was that Elvis was forced to start to think how he was going to defend himself when people started asking questions.

Billy Smith has said that Elvis spoke to him seveal times about the book and that he was going to admit to the acquasations contained in it should fans start asking during the concerts in the forthcoming tour. He was prepared to admit he had a problem.

If only he had admitted it a few years earlier he could still be here setting the music world alight.

[orwell1976]

I believe that they wrote the book as some kind of wake up call to Elvis. Not in the case of Dave Hebbler, but Sonny and Red West. Especially Red confronted Elvis with his drug problem and got fired for that. And they had to make money simply because to make a living for themselves and their families.

The book concentrates on all that negative stuff, but the stories are not untrue. Maybe they tried to make them more horrendous, but in their core they where true.

Most fans who are angry about them are just mad at them, because they shattered their picture of Elvis.

And it's not the worst intension to write another book to put the old stories into the right light (a little less horror).

[NEA]

The old part-timer that was Dave Hebler decided to take on the role of a 'Sheep' when Red & Sonny decided to rock 'n' shock the Elvis World with that book. I feel as though he just tagged along for the money-spinning venture that it was.

Hebler had only been employed by Elvis for approximately three or four years by the time they all got the 'heave-ho' in 1976. There was a possibility that Hebler knew Elvis wasn't too keen on him, and Elvis confirmed this in his telephone conversation with Red later that year. Elvis thought that Hebler had created some kind of negative atmosphere in the MM camp. So, naturally if anyone was going to be fired then Hebler would be the first to go. He was just fortunate enough that Red & Sonny were given their cards too in order for him to be involved in their bitter quest of telling 'their' truth. Well, if Hebler didn't realise Elvis wasn't keen on him back then, he certainly realises it now.

On another note, if Sonny remains true to his description of his new book this could possibly be the closest we're ever going to get to the truth about certain events in Elvis' life. This could also be the closest we'll ever get to knowing about the real Elvis - because Sonny was there for most of the time over nearly two decades. When you summarise other so-called 'Family' and 'Friends' books that have been published through the years, for example "Elvis & Me" by Priscilla - that is told from the 'wifey' point of view, and for the latter part of Elvis' life when she wasn't around then it is only based on her opinions of what she thought. Another example is Charlie Hodge's rather nice, but sugar-coated, account of his time with 'The King' in "Me 'n' Elvis". This book presents some nice heart-warming stories which are a nice change from the sensationalistic garb we have been treated to throughout the years since Elvis passed away. Charlie has always remained true to Elvis' memory, but I still can't grasp that Bone Cancer theory.

Will Sonny West's new book become the definitive 'Elvis the human being' type story??

[Scottishthistle]

This makes me sick. they are still at it, still trying to cash in...
Wish they'd stop it! suddenly all my respect for the MM is fadeing.. I will NEVER buy this new book or any other trash which trys to darken Elvis' name ... why can't they write a book about the good times???(n)



:merryxmas

[0349054]

It may very well be.

Revelations still stands out as the best ever Elvis book to me.

Guarnlicks books are ok, good to give an overview, but to get to see what Elvis was like as a person - not as a product, then books by people who spent years with him who are prepared to speak candidly are the best.

[0349054]

This makes me sick. they are still at it, still trying to cash in...
Wish they'd stop it! suddenly all my respect for the MM is fadeing.. I will NEVER buy this new book or any other trash which trys to darken Elvis' name ... why can't they write a book about the good times???(n)



:merryxmas


Elvis By The Presley's was the biggest cash in on Elvis in 2005.

We don't know what Sonny will include in the book yet, im sure it will be more balanced than What Happened.

Good times don't sell unfortunately.

[Dovey]

ALL I KNOW OUR MAN DIED WITH A BROKEN HEART, THEIR WORTHLESS,TASTELESS BOOK HURT THAT PRESCIOUS PERSON ,THIS IS WHAT I CONCERN..AND ELVIS NEVER SAID OR WROTE ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THOSE ..... DON'T LET ME SAY WHAT THEY ARE..I HATE THEM "perfect cousins" SO THAT I CAN HAVE A HEART ATTACK RIGHT NOW..APOLOGIZING??..MY ... NOOOOO WAY.. I WON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM..:angry:

I agree with you 100%.. they wrote that book to destroy Elvis and that is what they did. I read their book once and it made me sick... it starts out talking about Elvis and Mike Stone as I recall. They did not write that book to help Elvis... (If they did sure as "H" glad they are not my friends) I don't think you help a person by running him into the ground. They were nothing without Elvis and they knew it... No way would I pay for anything they write. Dovey

On a lighter note "Merry Christmas to all and Long Live the King":newyear: :merryxmas :happy_ny:

[joanne]

I believe that they wrote the book as some kind of wake up call to Elvis. Not in the case of Dave Hebbler, but Sonny and Red West. Especially Red confronted Elvis with his drug problem and got fired for that. And they had to make money simply because to make a living for themselves and their families.

The book concentrates on all that negative stuff, but the stories are not untrue. Maybe they tried to make them more horrendous, but in their core they where true.

Most fans who are angry about them are just mad at them, because they shattered their picture of Elvis.

And it's not the worst intension to write another book to put the old stories into the right light (a little less horror).First of all when you say they had to make money for themselves why didn`t they try going out and getting a job and working for a living like the rest of us?
They`d spent most of their lives sponging off Elvis up to that point.
As for the stories being true how the hell do you know?
When you put a book together you talk about the good and bad not ALL THE BAD and everything that Elvis was doing they were also doing i.e. the women, the pills etc so they`ve got some room to talk.
They didn`t shatter my picture of Elvis because I know he was a beautiful person and how many women he slept with or how many pills he took doesn`t change that. But there was more to him than that and we all know it i.e. his charity work, his generosity, his love for his family, his god-given talent, his religious beliefs, his love for his fans and the list goes on.
That is why the fans feel angry about the book because they focused completely on the negative aspects of his life which we all have because we`re human.
Elvis had it worse because he had more pressure than the average person.
Sonny is doing this new book once again to make some more money and perhaps ease the guilt which he feels about the first book. As I stated previously he knew it was distorted because he blamed Steve Dunleavy for it.
I`m sure we will read now about the whole Elvis and not the distorted view that we got the first time but I`m afraid for me its come too late.

[0349054]

First of all when you say they had to make money for themselves why didn`t they try going out and getting a job and working for a living like the rest of us?
They`d spent most of their lives sponging off Elvis up to that point.
As for the stories being true how the hell do you know?
When you put a book together you talk about the good and bad not ALL THE BAD and everything that Elvis was doing they were also doing i.e. the women, the pills etc so they`ve got some room to talk.
They didn`t shatter my picture of Elvis because I know he was a beautiful person and how many women he slept with or how many pills he took doesn`t change that. But there was more to him than that and we all know it i.e. his charity work, his generosity, his love for his family, his god-given talent, his religious beliefs, his love for his fans and the list goes on.
That is why the fans feel angry about the book because they focused completely on the negative aspects of his life which we all have because we`re human.
Elvis had it worse because he had more pressure than the average person.
Sonny is doing this new book once again to make some more money and perhaps ease the guilt which he feels about the first book. As I stated previously he knew it was distorted because he blamed Steve Dunleavy for it.
I`m sure we will read now about the whole Elvis and not the distorted view that we got the first time but I`m afraid for me its come too late.


The guys had no experience of working in the real world. They lived in the Elvis bubble for far too long, and quite frankly his dismissal of them, left them high and dry with families. You can sympathise with Elvis, but money makes the world go round and they were never well paid by Elvis to begin with, but to find themselves with no job is a different story.

Most of the guys admit they lived the same life as Elvis did. The drugs, the sex etc.., they actually are similar to Elvis. They lived with him for so long, they couldent but be a bit like him.

The stories are true. Elvis was alive when this book was published, if their was anything which wasnt true, he could have sued. At least they had the balls to write a book while he was alive.

Elvis was a brilliant entertainer and did many many wonderful things. Just some fans have this sugar coated angelic image of him, and some of them would even deny he had a prescription drug problem. He was human, and I hope Sonny shows some more aspects of Elvis' human side in his new book.

[joanne]

I`m very surprised that you feel that way but we all have an opinion honey.

[0349054]

Very true. I just prefer to get my info from people who were with Elvis over an extended period of time, rather than authors who wern't around the man himself!
:merryxmas

[IM4Elvis]

I have absolutley no desire to read or purchase this book. Many of those so-called "friends" of Elvis were part of the problem. Many of them, according to one "friends" testimoney which I heard, even partied so-to-speak with Elvis. And now that Elvis cannot defend himself, or at the very least, cannot offer justification for some of his behavior, a "truthful" book comes out. Why 28 years later?
Beside this, I do not really care what the writer thinks of Lisa of Priscilla. I think both women are very talented in their own right and are doing their best to preserve Elvis' legacy. I have great respect for both.

:happy_ny:

[joanne]

I have absolutley no desire to read or purchase this book. Many of those so-called "friends" of Elvis were part of the problem. Many of them, according to one "friends" testimoney which I heard, even partied so-to-speak with Elvis. And now that Elvis cannot defend himself, or at the very least, cannot offer justification for some of his behavior, a "truthful" book comes out. Why 28 years later?
Beside this, I do not really care what the writer thinks of Lisa of Priscilla. I think both women are very talented in their own right and are doing their best to preserve Elvis' legacy. I have great respect for both.

:happy_ny:What talent?

[KPM]

A good point was made about the opening of "E-What Happened" and the straight to the juggular Stone story told in the most "Star exploitive" way by Steve Dunleavy whos claim to fame at this point was writer for the Star rag. The cover itself was a lesson in yellow journalism and how to sell. The reason for the book was later revised after he died, to be "we wanted to wake him up" They wanted to make as many bucks as they could and hurt Elvis(as they felt hurt by him).
How could they clean him up when they were messing with everything and more than he was?(by most of their own admissions) The bad stories were up front and the good- filler here and there. Now, Red and Sonny claim the book was written badly in a exploitive way and way too much emphasised the bad which they say the good outweighs by far. The errors in the book are many, but when you rush to get to press it happens. Now they are not as hurt as time heals, and Elvis is dead. The good comes forth probably to ease guilt.(and once again make a handful of cash)The first book had truth in it but was presented to sell big and hurt the man who had been their meal ticket. MO

[IM4Elvis]

Hi Joanne, thanks for your question.

As far as the "talent" I mentioned in a previous post I would suggest the following. Lisa has produced a couple of nice CD's recently ("nice" IMHO). I have enjoyed Lisa's first two CD's even though it is not my type of music so-to-speak. As I become "grayer" I find I am drawn to music from when I was growing up, yet I find a liking to her CD's.

I give Priscilla a great deal of credit for being one of the people behind saving Graceland when it was facing serious financial problems and possible bankruptcy in the early 80s. Additionally, I thought both she and Lisa did a very nice job with the recent release of "Elvis by the Presley's." I enjoyed and have purchased both the audio CD and the DVD.

Hope this helps.

IM

[joanne]

Hi Joanne, thanks for your question.

As far as the "talent" I mentioned in a previous post I would suggest the following. Lisa has produced a couple of nice CD's recently ("nice" IMHO). I have enjoyed Lisa's first two CD's even though it is not my type of music so-to-speak. As I become "grayer" I find I am drawn to music from when I was growing up, yet I find a liking to her CD's.

I give Priscilla a great deal of credit for being one of the people behind saving Graceland when it was facing serious financial problems and possible bankruptcy in the early 80s. Additionally, I thought both she and Lisa did a very nice job with the recent release of "Elvis by the Presley's." I enjoyed and have purchased both the audio CD and the DVD.

Hope this helps.

IMIt doesn`t help me darlin because Lisa can`t sing for toffee and as for priscilla saving Graceland I know she likes to take all the credit but the fact is she hired the most savvy people around and it was only done to line her pockets anyway.
As for Elvis By The Presleys it was the most one-sided programme that I have ever had the misfortune to see. She really did a hatchet job on Elvis and once again increased her bank balance.

[Dovey]

Joanne You Go
Girl!! You are right.(y) (y) (y) :lmfao: :doh: :king: Long live the King!!

[NEA]

We're getting off the mark here guys - Lisa is now an acclaimed singer (and song-writer) maybe not to everbody's liking, but she is a singer. I feel her Dad would be very proud of her today and I think he would disagree with the folk who write her voice off, because he was once in that position too.

"Elvis By The Presleys" was/is a very good project - the DVD is outstanding, and I feel that the girls done him proud. There is always going to be an element of selfishness where Priscilla is involved, but it doesn't take it away from the overall production.

Guys, I would rather read an updated, fresh story from Sonny West (Who did do wrong - he retalliated!) which puts aside his bitterness and revengefulness of Steve Dunleavy's comic book portrayal in "EWH". Put it this way, I would rather purchase this than anything from David 'Headhunter' Stanley or Donna 'let's rip his fans off with some jewellery' Pritchett-Early. At least Sonny doesn't have to fill in the gaps in his story - he was always there.

NEA.

[0349054]

Well said NEA.

Its always good to hear from people who were around Elvis for a long long time.

[joanne]

We're getting off the mark here guys - Lisa is now an acclaimed singer (and song-writer) maybe not to everbody's liking, but she is a singer. I feel her Dad would be very proud of her today and I think he would disagree with the folk who write her voice off, because he was once in that position too.

"Elvis By The Presleys" was/is a very good project - the DVD is outstanding, and I feel that the girls done him proud. There is always going to be an element of selfishness where Priscilla is involved, but it doesn't take it away from the overall production.

Guys, I would rather read an updated, fresh story from Sonny West (Who did do wrong - he retalliated!) which puts aside his bitterness and revengefulness of Steve Dunleavy's comic book portrayal in "EWH". Put it this way, I would rather purchase this than anything from David 'Headhunter' Stanley or Donna 'let's rip his fans off with some jewellery' Pritchett-Early. At least Sonny doesn't have to fill in the gaps in his story - he was always there.

NEA.Elvis may have once been in that position but the difference between the two is that he could sing.
You say she is a singer well so is kermit the frog but it doesn`t make him good.
I don`t know how anyone can watch Elvis By The Presleys and not see how bad Priscilla is portraying Elvis. Shes got all her family in to basically show her in a good light.
Where are the Presleys?

[NEA]

Well Joanne, it's your opinion against mine. Lisa is an acclaimed Singer, but obviously a big element of what she does doesn't satisfy your taste. Anyway, Kermit couldn't really sing - he's a PUPPET...er...sorry MUPPET!!! (lol)...Or...is it the fact you just don't like LMP full stop?

Well Joanne, there is a heck of a lot of people out there who rate, and have bought, the "EBTP" project and once again it's your opinion against mine, and once again, if it boils down to Kermit and Co - it's only our opinions that we are expressing on this thread. For the most part, Lisa and Patsy are the original 'Presleys' in the TV Special, and obviously Priscilla is the former-Presley - through her previous marriage only...a tag that she relishes as we all know.

I can't see how Priscilla has portrayed Elvis in such a bad light in "EBTP", especially compared to her 'opinionated' view via the "Elvis & Me" book from 20 years ago....Or...is it the fact that you just can't stand Priscilla either? Naturally, I don't agree with some of her money-making tactics i.e. keeping the 'Presley' name. And, I feel that her Parents were quite objective when it came to talking about Elvis in the special, so even if she did set-out to make herself out as 'Miss Goody Two-Shoes' it didn't really come across that way e.g. The Engelbert Humperdinck 'wolf-whistle' story. You really need to back-up your opinions for you to sell us on these statements that you're making...there are two sides to an argument but just because somebody doesn't like a person it doesn't mean to say that the disliked person can't sing or has portrayed somebody in a bad light. But, once again, that is only my opinion from what I have read in some of your posts on this thread.

[KPM]

It is my understanding that the cotton soaked balls were started in Vegas by a certain doctor who catered to big names he said they were to help Elviss sinuses and relax him. The concoction was a derivitive of cocaine and other medications, supposedly Elvis was at first unaware of what was in them. By the time he found out he was hooked. I have read other insiders say the whole thing was untrue.

[NEA]

Well, a very interesting point you have made KPM...could this very much be the case of Elvis being completely unaware that he was becoming addicted to a hard substance?

Very Nasty.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Lets puts Sonny's behavior at the time of the book "Elvis What Happend?" into perspective! his boss and friend of 20 plus years has given you the old heave-ho and not done it face to face but let his Daddy do it! you have no qualifications you have a family to feed and house to run.

You always hurt the ones you love.......... fact!

The other guys are in it for the money pure and simple. Time as they say is a great healer, I'm not 100% sure if Elvis would have forgiven Sonny or Red, but he sure would have been deeply hurt by the book and it's contents and I'm sure that this would have caused irrevocable damage in their relationship.

What Sonny and the boys did was beyond the pale, with the benefit of hindsight and passing of water under bridges lets hope that a true reflection of Sonny's time with Elvis can be put to paper.

I get the feeling from some of the responses on this thread he is dammed if he does and dammed for doing so already.

If Sonny had wrote EWH now I'm sure the impact would be far less influential and devastating than it was back then. Perhaps the new book will be written with less bile, I would hate for this book to over compensate for the last and give a fluffy rose tinted view. Every piece of the jigsaw adds to the rich tapestry and should be seen for what it is, to ignore it would be to deny first hand experiences whatever there slant.

Matt

[KPM]

In order to do a tapestry you have to be able to blend colors, textures, designs and above all balance each. If you go over board on any one thing you get a terrible picture. Now add an artist who is use to going overboard to cash in on whatever sells and you have a picture only the artist loves as he heads to the bank.

[JerryNodak]

OmiGod: Another book that will promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help him, God. Lord, help us all.

[Dovey]

I promised myself that I would not say anything more on the new book coming out but the truth is some of us older Elvis Fans know the truth and that is the book "Elvis What Happened?" was written to destroy him. I do believe that Elvis loved those guys (he did not write a story about them or even go to the press when he knew the story was coming out... he was so hurt to think these three men whom he thought of as brothers... were out to destroy his life) Sometimes the people we love hurt us the most and I truly belive that is what happened.

Do I think Sonny West is sorry for writing the book? Yes, possible he does regret it because Elvis did give those guys the world on a silver platter. (The book surely did nothing to help Elvis!!!)

Will I read his book? To little to late as far as I am concerned.

Do I think Elvis had a prescription drug Problem? (as one person in here keep pounding into the ground) Yes, he did but can anyone really say that they walked a mile in his shoes? He was way beyond anything the world had seen and even he did not believe the effect he and his music had on the world. I am sure the so called doctors were making enough money from him that they did not care... whatever he wanted he got as long as they got their money!!

Just wanted to get those feeling out... I think Elvis was bigger than life then and now and God Bless him for all he gave to us.

If Elvis' three closest companions enjoyed what telling their shocking, bizarre story helped them to feel happy about themself... so be it.

Dovey

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

First of all I think enough water has passed for Sonny for him to have some sort of perspective he could not reach back then, he has been an outcast of the Elvis world (rightly or wrongly). Sonny was with Elvis for many years and has an insight others just don't have! I think people have pre-judged him for something he has done over 30 years ago.

Whatever the reasons for the book Elvis What Happend and whoever was responsible for the hatchet job that it ended up being, I believe that Sonny is truly sorry and would like to atone in some way.

Books written by those close to Elvis will always be skewed somewhat (more so with the passage of time) and much has been commented on Elvis over the last 30 years that very little is new and shocking as it once was. Elvis was only human, lived as a human and had human failings as we all do. Elvis had talent beyond many and used it to entertain the masses but just like anything Elvis did he did it to extremes.

I'm not saying Elvis deserved to be stabbed in the back like he was, but lets see if Sonny has a more balanced approach to this book, if he doesn't then let the ground open up and take him to were he belongs!

Matt

[Dovey]

Well stated JJ... You have class!!! Dovey

[0349054]

I just want to add something to this thread, as I think an earlier post indicating a poster who continued to comment on prescription drug problems was a veiled hint at me.

If you haven't read What Happened or Revelations then you are really not qualified to comment on them regardless of what someone else tells you.

These books have been written to give the reader, the fan, a better understanding of the human person, Elvis, not the entertainer. You can surmise what kind of entertainer he was by listening to his music, seeing his movies and concerts. You don't need anyone to inform you about that part of his life.

Before you judge any of the guys in terms of thier relationship with Elvis and his with them. He was human, he had his faults and human frailties just as we all do. Loyalty is a two way street, so don't put it all off on Red and Sonny.

[joanne]

Well Joanne, it's your opinion against mine. Lisa is an acclaimed Singer, but obviously a big element of what she does doesn't satisfy your taste. Anyway, Kermit couldn't really sing - he's a PUPPET...er...sorry MUPPET!!! (lol)...Or...is it the fact you just don't like LMP full stop?

Well Joanne, there is a heck of a lot of people out there who rate, and have bought, the "EBTP" project and once again it's your opinion against mine, and once again, if it boils down to Kermit and Co - it's only our opinions that we are expressing on this thread. For the most part, Lisa and Patsy are the original 'Presleys' in the TV Special, and obviously Priscilla is the former-Presley - through her previous marriage only...a tag that she relishes as we all know.

I can't see how Priscilla has portrayed Elvis in such a bad light in "EBTP", especially compared to her 'opinionated' view via the "Elvis & Me" book from 20 years ago....Or...is it the fact that you just can't stand Priscilla either? Naturally, I don't agree with some of her money-making tactics i.e. keeping the 'Presley' name. And, I feel that her Parents were quite objective when it came to talking about Elvis in the special, so even if she did set-out to make herself out as 'Miss Goody Two-Shoes' it didn't really come across that way e.g. The Engelbert Humperdinck 'wolf-whistle' story. You really need to back-up your opinions for you to sell us on these statements that you're making...there are two sides to an argument but just because somebody doesn't like a person it doesn't mean to say that the disliked person can't sing or has portrayed somebody in a bad light. But, once again, that is only my opinion from what I have read in some of your posts on this thread.I`ll back it up sweetheart but first let me address some of your points-

First of all in regards to Lisa I am not the first person to say that she cannot sing and I won`t be the last.

I`m not going to sugar coat it because of who she is.

Her live performances are not good enough and that is my honest opinion.

If you were to put her in Pop Idol then I don`t think she would make the final round.

There is no doubt that her surname has helped her in her career but that could be said about any famous offspring.

In response to your comment about me disliking her and thats why I`m saying she can`t sing well I can say 100% that it has nothing to do with it.

I don`t have time for Michael Jackson but I can still say that he is a great entertainer.

It is true that Lisa has pissed me off on many occasions with her attitude and her foul language but once again I`m not alone In saying that.

I went into details about this on the Lisa Marie thread but I`ll just say this and that is that respect works both ways and in order to be liked you have to be likeable and that means in interviews not getting surly when you are asked questions that you don`t like for instance about her famous ex-husbands in particular Michael Jackson.

She married him and so she must face the fact that people will want to know information and not roll her eyes and complain and moan about this and that because at the end of the day it is all part and parcel of being in the entertainment industry and her father knew that more than anyone.

Some people have said well she didn`t ask to be born famous and that is very true but nobody asked her to go into the music business either but she chose to do it and so she has to live it and not complain that she didn`t sing in tune because she didn`t get to sing to small audiences before she did tv shows.

After all she had enough time.

Many fans myself included are hurt by her actions towards us in particular when she called the fans creepy.

She doesn`t go to Memphis in January or August when she knows the fans are there but instead she goes at the quieter times of the year and before anyone says that she does goes in August oh yes once every five years when she walks on the stage at Elvis The Concert to say thankyou, big deal.

Even people that knew Elvis have expressed similar opinions to mine in particular The Jordanaires who told us in Memphis when we asked why Lisa wasn`t there that "Lisa and Priscilla don`t give a **** about the fans they`re only interested in the money."

It wouldn`t take a lot to turn up at graceland just once a year and mix with the fans or are we just too creepy for that.

She says what she cares about are "her fans" so I guess we`re not included.

She has got to remember that she has a very unique position and so doing interviews talking about lesbianism, enjoying rough sex etc are not appropriate.

As I stated previously she`ll attend the opening of an envelope but she will not accept awards on behalf of her father.

She`ll attend the MTV awards and give out awards to Pink and U2 but when Elvis was inducted into the Hall of fame she sent a note to be read out by Jack Soden.

When Elvis was awarded as a founding member into the UK Music Hall Of Fame a year ago people were outraged that it was his ex-wife Priscilla who accepted the award when it was not appropriate for her to do so.

I applaud her work with Presley Place as its a wonderful thing and I like how she doesn`t milk being Elvis`s daughter but she needs to do a lot more to nurture his legacy.

I don`t believe she will though.

[joanne]

Now I`ll address EBTP-

You say that a heck of a lot of people rate it well maybe so but I also know that a heck of a lot of people don`t rate it, particularly myself.

The dvd begins with Priscilla stood in the living room and just to her right are framed photographs of her, Elvis and Lisa stood on a table.

She has placed them there.

"I`m standing in front of our music room" she says proudly and "Tonight our family opens our home."

Notice the word "our" she just loves saying that.

As the dvd unfolds one thing becomes very apparent and that is references that she makes towards the book Child Bride "I wasn`t a calculating young girl" "I made a comment like oh yeah I`m gonna go and meet Elvis Presley".

We have the back-up of her parents who confirm her story of how they were very concerned about the relationship and how they argued back and forth about it.

She moped around, she wouldn`t go out with her friends says her mother when we all know that wasn`t true.

Priscilla then discusses how Elvis used to send her records through the mail then we hear the voice of Elvis saying "It makes me feel a little more like I`m there with her" now I don`t know who Elvis is talking about but I don`t believe that it is in connection with sending records to Priscilla.

There were stories about my parents pushing me but "He is the one who kept the relationship going" as she reveals more to counteract the Child Bride book which states that she kept writing to him.

"I fit his ideal woman" she says.

Then we hear Elvis again "You sometimes think that this is it you`ll never find another one you know" now I have heard Elvis saying this before in an interview he did before he even met Priscilla when he was talking about being in love etc but it is made to look like he is saying it about her.

Then she starts moaning about how he wanted her to be, he rarely said sorry according to her.

She doesn`t want people to think that it was horrible though because they had a good relationship but it had to be on his terms she said.

We go back to Child Bride when Priscilla says to her father that there is a rumour out there that he forced Elvis into marrying her.

It improves when Lisa enters the dvd as she can` be told what to say and the part on Elvis`s spirituality was a refreshing change because for the first time we were hearing about Elvis and not just about Priscilla.

"The happiest times I`ve ever had have been with my family" said Elvis when in fact he is talking about his beautiful parents although its made to look like he`s talking about Priscilla and Lisa.

We see his ex-wife inside Graceland opening up a closet full of dog tags "We had so many" she says.

She said she lived Elvis`s life and she didn`t really have a life well if that isn`t cruel then I don`t know what is.

He would send her back to the shops to return clothes if he didn`t like them she said.

Then we hear Elvis`s negative opinion on womens lib. He would put women down she said.

The reason that the relationship started breaking down was according to her because she could no longer accompany him on trips due to having a baby well excuse me when did she ever accompany him before?

On hand is Jerry Schilling who although a nice guy he has always been in the Priscilla camp and only one of the few I might add as most of the guys can`t stand her.

She certainly couldn`t get anymore to come on the dvd to back her up.

We kinda left the wives he says.

We then hear about Elvis and other women which cuts into the bordello scene from the 68 special.

He would always come home after the affairs states Priscilla.

Jerry says that there was no choice for Priscilla well thats where hes wrong because everyone has choice.

Then she relates how she left Elvis "Is it someone else, are you leaving me for someone else?" he said to her and then how conveniant for Priscilla how it cuts to Elvis singing and never returns for her to answer that question.

In fact there was no mention whatsoever about Mike Stone or any other man.

She said she would have never had a life if she wouldn`t of left Elvis.

Then we hear from the old faithful Jerry as he says that he truly believed that Elvis wanted to be back with his family.

Priscilla said that it was then that she truly realized how much his family meant to him and how much he missed them.

We then hear Elvis sing Its Over, how fitting.

She was seeing Elvis as much after the divorce as when they were living together according to Priscilla`s mother.

She wasn`t told what to say by any chance.

After the divorce "He wouldn`t let go" she said.

They talked more after the divorce and they were closer after the divorce.

Not according to Linda Thompson who lived with Elvis and said that Priscilla wasn`t really on the scene after the divorce.

Elvis rarely dedicated songs but he did to Priscilla after the divorce.

Then we hear about Elvis taking pills and Priscilla saying that he gave her dexedrine when she was 14 but she was always told never to take any pills whatsoever.

Well he didn`t give her pills when she was 14 he gave her A PILL.

She has recounted this tale on various british tv shows whilst plugging the dvd "He gave me my first sleeping pill" she said.

Back to the dvd and Priscilla said that toward the end Elvis`s appearances weren`t doing well. What on earth is she talking about.

Then we move on to Elvis`s temper "He had a temper, we all kinda learned to live with his moods and his behaviour.

You did not want him to be upset with you he would take you to tears.

It would take you a while to pick yourself back up."

Near the end of his life according to Priscilla "I`m sure he looked at himself in the mirror and thought where is he going to go with this, he was so bloated and out of proportion."

I could say the same about her considering the amount of plastic surgery shes had.

"He should have taken responsibility for his own actions." she said.

Then at the very end we hear the words that are unbelievable-
"It`s hurtful for a man that has given so much for others to pick him apart, I`ll die defending him and his legacy because he deserved it."
ha ha.

In my opinion it is a one-sided account and Priscilla has let her bitterness towards Elvis show for all the world to see.
It was done for a couple of reasons no.1 was for money and no.2 was to counter claims that were made in Child Bride.
But according to Priscilla it was done for the new generation of fans coming to Graceland who didn`t know who Elvis was, excuse me while I laugh.
The Child Bride book has obviously rattled her because she continued making references to things said in it throughout the dvd.
She even roped her parents in on it so that they could come across as ordinary people who weren`t starstruck or pushing of the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla.
Her mother even said she was against him, what a crock.
Its a real coincidence how her parents only came out of the woodwork after Child Bride came out.
The dvd consists of her sister, brother-in-law, mother and father who will always slant the story pro-Priscilla and Jerry will back her up.
It is unfair to talk about Elvis this way when he isn`t here to defend himself.
Lisa although I have been critical will always be very honest in her opinions and she did good in it as we heard memories of her father.
It should not have been called Elvis By The Presleys though as it was more like Elvis By The Beaulieus.
Also Priscilla will have had total control of the editing and could make it anyway she liked.
Cutting conversations, removing things she didn`t like to suit her it was all under her control.
Cutting up Elvis`s audio interviews to slant them and make them look like he was talking about her was also an opportunity for her to make their relationship more than it was.
We didn`t hear about Priscillas faults or affairs but Elvis`s were open for all the world to see and so Priscilla hoped to come out saintly.
She talked about her life with him as if it was torture.
She said she was free when he was away but when he came back it all changed.
It hurts me that someone who is new to Elvis could see this and get an unfair observation of the man just like if they watch the Elvis and Me movie and take that as being true.
I`ll sum up by saying that far from Elvis being the one who wouldn`t let go it is she who can`t let go, milking the Elvis cash cow one more time and not just with the dvd but with the book and cd.
Shes been on every tv show she can get on plugging it.
Even on the Oprah show she called graceland her home "They`re opening up our home" she said as she talked about the opening of Graceland.
She just can`t except that she is the ex-wife and she will continue to play the widow until the day she dies as I don`t believe she will ever stop.

[NEA]

Joanne, doll, I'm not patronising you by saying this, but you have certainly done some extensive research regarding your opinions in your posts...a good read!:clap:

And, even though I do like "EBTP" and I do agree on a lot of your points regarding 'butter wouldn't melt' Priscilla, I feel that Sonny West will now probably give a better perspective of Elvis the man as Sonny is not going to make himself out to be 'sugar-coated' just like Priscilla does herself when involved in an 'Elvis Project'.

Cheers,

NEA.

[minni1]

Thanks for your reply 0349054...this has certainly jogged my memory somewhat regarding Elvis' use of LIQUID Cocaine...

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Elvis started to experiment with it like he did that time in the 60's with LSD. But, the fact of the matter was Elvis didn't like the white powdered version due to the process one had to go through to get the full affect of the drug (a quick snort up the nostril). So, that is why he preferred to use the liquid 'cotton swab' version.

Elvis was hospitalized in January 1975 and cut his usual winter Vegas engagement short. Could this have been the main source of the reason for this stint in hospital? I think this habit was somewhat short-lived and so his addiction for various types of prescribed medication increased soon after this.

I suppose it will be quite intriguing to find out what Mr. West will have to say this time around all these years later...something inside me tells me he really wants to make amends for the "What Happened?" shocker of 1977, and now that he is older he also can put these events of the past into perspective and possibly wants to move on from his guilt and former bitterness.

Let's give him a chance.
for what it's worth, one of Elvis' doctors, when asked about the liquid cocaine swabs, stated it was lidocaine, not cocaine.

[NEA]

Well, minni1 has given us yet another version of the so-called 'cocaine habit'....very intriguing!

[joanne]

Joanne, doll, I'm not patronising you by saying this, but you have certainly done some extensive research regarding your opinions in your posts...a good read!:clap:

And, even though I do like "EBTP" and I do agree on a lot of your points regarding 'butter wouldn't melt' Priscilla, I feel that Sonny West will now probably give a better perspective of Elvis the man as Sonny is not going to make himself out to be 'sugar-coated' just like Priscilla does herself when involved in an 'Elvis Project'.

Cheers,

NEA.Is that all I get my fingers are killing me. :D

[KPM]

I feel the Wests were wrong in writing the first book, but can see why they did it. Love and hate are a fine line -You always hurt the one you love as was stated before. They picked a terrible guy to write it, he is worse than an ambulance chaser IMO. He heard they were thinking of writing a tell all book and like a vulture swooped in to scavange. They needed money and were mad at Elvis, the vulture had up front money and they went for it. The bad(prescription drug abuse, temper tantrums, sex habits) took up the bulk of the book. Thats what sells-SEX DRUGS ROCK-IN-ROLL! He knew how to frame it to make Elvis look like crap. I'm sure a lot of it is based on true incidents, but framed to make it look worse. If you never read another Elvis book you would come away thinking he did nothing 24 hours a day but sit totally spaced out or in a stupor without a lucid thought.
He made 33 movies and not one account I have read, from a director, producer or co-star ever said he was stoned on a set. He did over 700 recordings and until the mid 70s I never heard anyone say he acted stoned or was on something at the sessions. He met in the 60s with people from all walks of life and no hint of a huge drug problem was ever there, he had a modem of control and restraint. In the 70s Elvis and his life began to get out of balance and the drug dependency magnified into a huge problem. But to stress those troubled years and downplay everything which did not paint the picture the vulture wanted was unfair and wrong. That they allowed him to do it was wrong. But listen it happened and I'm sure they regret it to some extent and wish it was done differently. I wish I had not done a lot of things- so do you. Life happens not as we want but as it unfolds.
I hope the new book helps him in every way he needs it to and hope it is more balanced in every way.

[joanne]

I feel the Wests were wrong in writing the first book, but can see why they did it. Love and hate are a fine line -You always hurt the one you love as was stated before. They picked a terrible guy to write it, he is worse than an ambulance chaser IMO. He heard they were thinking of writing a tell all book and like a vulture swooped in to scavange. They needed money and were mad at Elvis, the vulture had up front money and they went for it. The bad(prescription drug abuse, temper tantrums, sex habits) took up the bulk of the book. Thats what sells-SEX DRUGS ROCK-IN-ROLL! He knew how to frame it to make Elvis look like crap. I'm sure a lot of it is based on true incidents, but framed to make it look worse. If you never read another Elvis book you would come away thinking he did nothing 24 hours a day but sit totally spaced out or in a stupor without a lucid thought.
He made 33 movies and not one account I have read, from a director, producer or co-star ever said he was stoned on a set. He did over 700 recordings and until the mid 70s I never heard anyone say he acted stoned or was on something at the sessions. He met in the 60s with people from all walks of life and no hint of a huge drug problem was ever there, he had a modem of control and restraint. In the 70s Elvis and his life began to get out of balance and the drug dependency magnified into a huge problem. But to stress those troubled years and downplay everything which did not paint the picture the vulture wanted was unfair and wrong. That they allowed him to do it was wrong. But listen it happened and I'm sure they regret it to some extent and wish it was done differently. I wish I had not done a lot of things- so do you. Life happens not as we want but as it unfolds.
I hope the new book helps him in every way he needs it to and hope it is more balanced in every way.I think that sums it up very well. One of the things I remember from the book was that they said that when Elvis was making Jailhouse Rock playing Vince Everett he became that character in real life, yeah right.

[IM4Elvis]

Hi Joanne

Thanks so much for your empasioned messages. You have given me something to think about with regard to EBTP. I hadn't really considered all of the "pieces" of EBTP the way you presented it. Thanks for your honesty. I do appreciate the opportunity for each of us to feel free to share openly in this forum. I still enjoy Lisa's music, however ;) AND I'm still not buying Sonny's new book. :xmas:

IM

:happy_ny:

[NEA]

Yes, Joanne really loves 'our man' you can just sense her passion in her posts. I'm sure she has given a number of us something to consider in the thinking behind "Elvis By The Presleys".

Guys, this has been a cracking thread - it has taken something by the name 'West' to stir something in all of us...if ever there was a name to get us going on this, then that was going to be the name.

A big Thank You to 'mistymorning' - the creator of this topic, and long may the opinions come flooding in...

Elvis Forever!

NEA.

[Lonniebealestreet]

for what it's worth, one of Elvis' doctors, when asked about the liquid cocaine swabs, stated it was lidocaine, not cocaine.
I believe that Lamar Fike reported in the Revelations book that Dr. Nick called it that. The way I took that, and I could be wrong, is that Lidocaine is how he referred to it in the presence of others. I don't think that he was keeping the true identity of the drug from Elvis.

[0349054]

I feel the Wests were wrong in writing the first book, but can see why they did it. Love and hate are a fine line -You always hurt the one you love as was stated before. They picked a terrible guy to write it, he is worse than an ambulance chaser IMO. He heard they were thinking of writing a tell all book and like a vulture swooped in to scavange. They needed money and were mad at Elvis, the vulture had up front money and they went for it. The bad(prescription drug abuse, temper tantrums, sex habits) took up the bulk of the book. Thats what sells-SEX DRUGS ROCK-IN-ROLL! He knew how to frame it to make Elvis look like crap. I'm sure a lot of it is based on true incidents, but framed to make it look worse. If you never read another Elvis book you would come away thinking he did nothing 24 hours a day but sit totally spaced out or in a stupor without a lucid thought.
He made 33 movies and not one account I have read, from a director, producer or co-star ever said he was stoned on a set. He did over 700 recordings and until the mid 70s I never heard anyone say he acted stoned or was on something at the sessions. He met in the 60s with people from all walks of life and no hint of a huge drug problem was ever there, he had a modem of control and restraint. In the 70s Elvis and his life began to get out of balance and the drug dependency magnified into a huge problem. But to stress those troubled years and downplay everything which did not paint the picture the vulture wanted was unfair and wrong. That they allowed him to do it was wrong. But listen it happened and I'm sure they regret it to some extent and wish it was done differently. I wish I had not done a lot of things- so do you. Life happens not as we want but as it unfolds.
I hope the new book helps him in every way he needs it to and hope it is more balanced in every way.

Just wondering if you have read What Happened?

There is more to the book than just sex and drugs. Elvis' generosity is shown, good times with him are also portrayed. All the pranks they used to get up to.

Elvis is very jittery in some of the movies. Also he fell and banged his head before Double Trouble was shot, think it was Double Trouble or Kissin Cousins, and the whole filming had to be put back. Colonel really clamped down on E's lifestyle for a bit after that.

[NEA]

Hi 0349054,

What was the reason for Elvis' 'jittery behaviour' in some of the movies? Was it because he was expecting some prank to take place during the shooting of a scene? Are there any movies that spring to mind that provide a good example?

I suppose it was Dunleavy's doing that the dark aspects of Elvis' life were brought to the fore and focused on in "EWH", more so than the aforementioned good times.

NEA.

[0349054]

His use of medication. Elvis tripped on an electrical cord going into the bathroom in 67' and the movie had to be put back a week. He was possinly taking hallucinagenic drugs at the time that it happened. Regardless, the Colonel took control and basically brainwashed Elvis for a week. Got him away from Religion, severed his relationship with Larry Geller for a few years and attempted to reign in the Memphis Mafia fully.

Elvis' speech is quite fast in many of the mid 60's movies - an effect of the uppers he was taking.

[NEA]

The Colonel brainwashed Elvis for a week in 1967?!...Hadn't he been doing that since 1955??!!

In saying that, how do you brainwash somebody for a week?...does "Elvis-What Happened?" go into detail about the technique The Colonel used on Elvis in order for this to take place?

I suppose with the state of Elvis' career at that time, when compared to the groundbreaking creativity of such British rivals as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, no wonder he needed some kind of fix to get him through a working day. Making those movies would have drove anybody to drink...and...er...take drugs. And, no wonder his religious faith was his only sense of 'freedom' and 'meditation', I bet he longed for a quiet moment during the day or night when he could tuck into a bible as opposed to one of those sappy movie scripts.

"Elvis' speech is quite fast in many of the mid 60's movies - an effect of the uppers he was taking." - is that a quote coming out of "EWH"?

[joanne]

Hi Joanne

Thanks so much for your empasioned messages. You have given me something to think about with regard to EBTP. I hadn't really considered all of the "pieces" of EBTP the way you presented it. Thanks for your honesty. I do appreciate the opportunity for each of us to feel free to share openly in this forum. I still enjoy Lisa's music, however ;) AND I'm still not buying Sonny's new book. :xmas:

IM

:happy_ny:Thankyou sweetie.

[KPM]

to 0349054-Yes I bought and read the book in September 77. I bought it after an intense publicity spree that DID NOT stress any good times or pranks (which ARE in the book) The stress in the move to sell it (2 million paper backs to K-Mart in a weeks time) was on the sensational. The book was written to stress what sold -Come on the Wests have even admitted the story they told was not portrayed the way they told it, to Dunleavy. On the cover THE DARK OTHER SIDE ... and lower on the cover SHOCKING BIZAIRRE STORY. Now honestly does that sound like a balanced book- before you even open the cover you are hit with dark- shocking- bizairre? This book was depending on people wanting to hear dirt whether it was all truthful or based on some fact, or even out and out lies. You have an opinion, and so do I. So do many. I just do not believe everything written in the name of TELL ALL to sell books is completely true. Shrinks say when a person gives an account of any experience they were directly involved in, it is almost always slanted to their benefit in one way or another. Now we have hundreds of books written about Elvis, first hand accounts of his every move from people like the Wests, Esposito, Stanleys and on down the Elvis food chain, maids, associates, one time meetings etc....The only one who can answer the different accusations is dead. He will never give his account, nor his memory, nor his justifications or possibly make a few accusations of his own. Just because someone has a first hand account does not always mean totally true accounts without embellishment for monetary gain. The first book is a prime example.

[Dovey]

:cool: KPM "Amen" and I do mean A-M-E-N!!!!;) :king: Dovey:happy_ny: :bangin:

[joanne]

to 0349054-Yes I bought and read the book in September 77. I bought it after an intense publicity spree that DID NOT stress any good times or pranks (which ARE in the book) The stress in the move to sell it (2 million paper backs to K-Mart in a weeks time) was on the sensational. The book was written to stress what sold -Come on the Wests have even admitted the story they told was not portrayed the way they told it, to Dunleavy. On the cover THE DARK OTHER SIDE ... and lower on the cover SHOCKING BIZAIRRE STORY. Now honestly does that sound like a balanced book- before you even open the cover you are hit with dark- shocking- bizairre? This book was depending on people wanting to hear dirt whether it was all truthful or based on some fact, or even out and out lies. You have an opinion, and so do I. So do many. I just do not believe everything written in the name of TELL ALL to sell books is completely true. Shrinks say when a person gives an account of any experience they were directly involved in, it is almost always slanted to their benefit in one way or another. Now we have hundreds of books written about Elvis, first hand accounts of his every move from people like the Wests, Esposito, Stanleys and on down the Elvis food chain, maids, associates, one time meetings etc....The only one who can answer the different accusations is dead. He will never give his account, nor his memory, nor his justifications or possibly make a few accusations of his own. Just because someone has a first hand account does not always mean totally true accounts without embellishment for monetary gain. The first book is a prime example.I do agree with that because the Stanleys for instance have a first hand account but I still wouldn`t believe a word that any of them say.

[0349054]

I do agree with that because the Stanleys for instance have a first hand account but I still wouldn`t believe a word that any of them say.

Really? Sure according to Rick John Lennon rang the doorbell at graceland and he answered the door to him? ( Lennon never visited Graceland )

oh and Elvis used drive him to school in a Pink Cadillac.....

should I continue!

[0349054]

The Colonel brainwashed Elvis for a week in 1967?!...Hadn't he been doing that since 1955??!!

In saying that, how do you brainwash somebody for a week?...does "Elvis-What Happened?" go into detail about the technique The Colonel used on Elvis in order for this to take place?

I suppose with the state of Elvis' career at that time, when compared to the groundbreaking creativity of such British rivals as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, no wonder he needed some kind of fix to get him through a working day. Making those movies would have drove anybody to drink...and...er...take drugs. And, no wonder his religious faith was his only sense of 'freedom' and 'meditation', I bet he longed for a quiet moment during the day or night when he could tuck into a bible as opposed to one of those sappy movie scripts.

"Elvis' speech is quite fast in many of the mid 60's movies - an effect of the uppers he was taking." - is that a quote coming out of "EWH"?

I dont know if your familiar with that week in 67 or if you have spoken to any of the guys about it but the Colonel took over Elvis properly for that week.

Yes he had always brainwashed him, but he had complete control over Elvis for that week. Its in quite a few books about Elvis and the guys will tell you about it if asked.

No that's not a quote from EWH, its just observation.

Your right though, who wouldent get depressed making movies like those.

[0349054]

to 0349054-Yes I bought and read the book in September 77. I bought it after an intense publicity spree that DID NOT stress any good times or pranks (which ARE in the book) The stress in the move to sell it (2 million paper backs to K-Mart in a weeks time) was on the sensational. The book was written to stress what sold -Come on the Wests have even admitted the story they told was not portrayed the way they told it, to Dunleavy. On the cover THE DARK OTHER SIDE ... and lower on the cover SHOCKING BIZAIRRE STORY. Now honestly does that sound like a balanced book- before you even open the cover you are hit with dark- shocking- bizairre? This book was depending on people wanting to hear dirt whether it was all truthful or based on some fact, or even out and out lies. You have an opinion, and so do I. So do many. I just do not believe everything written in the name of TELL ALL to sell books is completely true. Shrinks say when a person gives an account of any experience they were directly involved in, it is almost always slanted to their benefit in one way or another. Now we have hundreds of books written about Elvis, first hand accounts of his every move from people like the Wests, Esposito, Stanleys and on down the Elvis food chain, maids, associates, one time meetings etc....The only one who can answer the different accusations is dead. He will never give his account, nor his memory, nor his justifications or possibly make a few accusations of his own. Just because someone has a first hand account does not always mean totally true accounts without embellishment for monetary gain. The first book is a prime example.

I agree, that it's not balanced but for people who have not read the book - they simply cant comment on it. A lot of people here have not read it, and any opinion they form on it is baseless and naive.

It is more balanced than a lot of them would like to believe though as you noted. People do try and make themselves look better when they give an account of something. Look - most of them claim they were his best friend - especially Esposito. I don't know who was his best friend - but I do feel Billy Smith was when he died. The amount of time he spent with Billy before he died is testimony enough for me, and also the way Billy doesent really sell out much.

I agree that just because its a first hand account does not guarantee its reliable. But I do feel its more reliable than someone like Goldman stepping in, or Guarnlick.

This is a good thread!
:happy_ny:

[NEA]

0349054,

I was in the audience a few years ago when Brother David claimed that it was HE who opened Graceland's front door to find John Lennon and Brian Epstein standing there!

I wonder if Brother Billy would also care to stake a claim?

Christ, who the hell does one believe!!

NEA.

[KPM]

Yes everyone was his best friend, and everyone claims to have the whole truth and nothing but the truth. To look a little deeper I don't think Elvis had a best friend. He had a few friends and thousands of aquaintances. Nomatter what he did they would all have had a much different life if not for him. They experienced a life that was brought only by the talent Elvis had.

[joanne]

Yes everyone was his best friend, and everyone claims to have the whole truth and nothing but the truth. To look a little deeper I don't think Elvis had a best friend. He had a few friends and thousands of aquaintances. Nomatter what he did they would all have had a much different life if not for him. They experienced a life that was brought only by the talent Elvis had.Yes they would have had a different life thats for sure. They certainly never had to do a 9-5 job like most of us.

[0349054]

They did have to do a 5-9 job with Elvis though!

[joanne]

They didn`t have to worry about their bills, working extra shifts, doing a hard manual job like most men. They were the luckiest son of a *****es and they knew it.
They all landed on their feet when they got with Elvis and that goes for all the women too, they all saw dollar signs.

[NEA]

I think even though a number of the guys saw only dollar signs, and it just so happens that they were lucky to be classed as Elvis' close circle of friends, it still came with a substantial amount of stress. Somebody had to be trusted to take on the roles of the Road Manager, the Valet, the Sound Engineer, the Chauffeur, the PR Man, the Bodyguard, etc. Afterall, they were a part of the biggest Rock Show ensemble the world had ever seen and that meant big responsibilities.

They did work extra shifts due to the majority of them being at Elvis' beck and call more or less twelve hours a day, especially in Hollywood and on tour. Granted, they didn't really have bills to worry about but that was an immediate perk of being part of the 'Memphis Mafia'. Yes, they all landed on their feet but Elvis chose them to do what was required and if it hadn't been them, then it would have been other people by choice. Yes, the women landed on their feet too and naturally, immediately saw the dollar signs first - what woman wouldn't!! (lol).

[KPM]

They did have to do a 5-9 job with Elvis though!


Well they all could have said I will live independent of him and his money and stand on my own. They chose to stay, if it was so terribly bad they can only blame themselves. I have had many crisis's in my life and had no where to turn, I'll bet most of us here have had money problems and lay-offs out of no-where and had literally no where to go for immediate help which was virtually free. By their own accounts they usually did not even have to mention their need and it was done. I would not know what to do with that kind of friend. In a couple of companys I worked for I was on call 24-7-that is not a new and unusual situation. In the age of beepers and cell phones many are in those positions. It went with the territory. I felt owned after a few years and went elsewhere-that was their option also. Some tell storys of being fired and having quit a few times they had an opportunity to stand alone and meet the "real world"but most came back. Red West made a pretty good living as an actor and stunt man (still does)I give him credit he did stand alone and usually came back on his terms- pretty much. The rest I can not say as much for.

[NEA]

Well they all could have said I will live independent of him and his money and stand on my own. They chose to stay, if it was so terribly bad they can only blame themselves.

How could they have lived independently from Elvis when he created these positions for them because he felt a chauffeur, a valet, a bodyguard etc., was needed?...How could they stand on their own and earn money when Elvis wanted them to work for him?....should they have worked a good few hours every day for him and done it for free?

If all those guys would have agreed to live independently and not take up his offer of a job that was needed doing, then those positions still would have been available - that's the way Elvis was, he preferred to have guys around him that he knew, especially in Hollywood, so that he could create some familiar, home surroundings and not feel a total Hollywood outcast.

So, for example, if Richard Davis hadn't undertaken the role of Valet then 'Fred Bloggs' would have done it...if Sonny West hadn't undertaken the role of gopher and extra then 'Peter Perfect' would have done it...Elvis always took care of his friends and this was his way of showing that. I have not really heard any of them complain about it being so terrible apart from the fact that there was obviously a great amount of stress that came with the working schedule which is only natural anyway. I feel that the Wests and Hebler didn't really paint of picture of it being such a terrible job but it was a job that could cause a substantial amount of concern. I do feel that when Elvis was paying somebody in the MM a little more attention than anyone else, that old childish nutshell of 'Jealously' crept in. This was probably a major downside that they didn't handle very well.

[joanne]

Well they all could have said I will live independent of him and his money and stand on my own. They chose to stay, if it was so terribly bad they can only blame themselves. I have had many crisis's in my life and had no where to turn, I'll bet most of us here have had money problems and lay-offs out of no-where and had literally no where to go for immediate help which was virtually free. By their own accounts they usually did not even have to mention their need and it was done. I would not know what to do with that kind of friend. In a couple of companys I worked for I was on call 24-7-that is not a new and unusual situation. In the age of beepers and cell phones many are in those positions. It went with the territory. I felt owned after a few years and went elsewhere-that was their option also. Some tell storys of being fired and having quit a few times they had an opportunity to stand alone and meet the "real world"but most came back. Red West made a pretty good living as an actor and stunt man (still does)I give him credit he did stand alone and usually came back on his terms- pretty much. The rest I can not say as much for.Red West admitted that Elvis helped him with his acting career due to his contacts etc.
Did anyone ever see the film with Matt Damon and Danny De Vito called The Rainmaker which was filmed in Memphis in 1997.
Red West was in it albeit it was only a small part and I don`t think he spoke at all in the movie.
It was great to see a few parts of Memphis including The Courthouse. It was a great film.
This is the kind of movie that Elvis should have done I can just see him playing Matt Damon`s part.
John Grisham movies are usually set in the deep south and The Firm (1993) which starred Tom Cruise was also filmed in Memphis and I remember seeing Tom Cruise walking down Beale Street and at the end it shows him on Mud Island.
The Client (1994) was also filmed in Memphis.
I really like John Grisham movies and they are usually superb.

[KPM]

How could they have lived independently from Elvis when he created these positions for them because he felt a chauffeur, a valet, a bodyguard etc., was needed?...How could they stand on their own and earn money when Elvis wanted them to work for him?....should they have worked a good few hours every day for him and done it for free?

My point in independent is that if it was to much of a drain on their life to work for Elvis they should have quit-period. Then they should have got a job outside of the Elvis world and been a friend in their off time, as they could without any on call situation involved. In other words just because Elvis wanted them to work for him did not mean they had to. Sure it was hard to be on Elvis's payroll as friend and worker,but if they did not like it they should have quit and stood on their own in a world where you do not get jewelry given to you for no reason, and cars, vacations motorcycles, houses, parties with the most famous and rich in the world. Its a lot to give up and lets face it they did not want to-they enjoyed this life in the Elvis world and were willing to take whatever to stay there.
You are right Elvis would have got other people to do the various jobs he had them doing, but if he had I think he may have been better off in a lot of ways. It is a Catch -22 to have friends as employees and friends as your boss. You feel obligated to them on both sides and friction always crops up. They were not always the best people for the jobs (as most of them never did the jobs before Elvis hired them and they learned as they did) He wanted the guys, as friends, but blending them into part employee- part friend really seems now, listening to them and their stories,(and books) not to have worked well on many levels.

[joanne]

I have many differing views on this first of all I`ve always felt that Elvis needed people around him and I feel that he gave them jobs as a way of keeping them there on the payroll.
I`m not saying that he didn`t need certain jobs doing for him but I feel that some of them were perhaps made for the person if you know what I mean.
This is perhaps true when you look at the guys that were around him before he went into the service compared to the amount afterwards when he obviously felt the need for more company due to his emptiness after the loss of his mother.
He certainly did not need the amount of guys that he had during the movie years for instance compared to what he needed when he went back to touring but he needed the companionship 24 hours a day.
Perhaps someone can list all the jobs of the guys and we can put it into perspective.
Thats why I felt they had an easy ride somewhat and I feel a lot of them thought their real job was just to laugh at Elvis`s jokes and be a yes man.
Having said all that though and watched other entertainers with their entourage I have come to the conclusion that stars need people around them, particularly Elvis.
Sammy Davis Jnr once said in an interview about Elvis that "There would always be 10 or 15 people in the room not in his private dressing room but I`m talking about sitting around cause that meant that if he wanted to be alone he could go in there and do whatever he had to do beside getting dressed or he could come out and he had the comradery, he thrived on comradery, he thrived on what he called his family y`know and you read things that people put him down for it, the Elvis entourage, there was no entourage, their people that make you exist because what you gonna do you can`t go up to the top of the Himalayas and sit in a box and say people are no **** good."

[0349054]

One thing I would like to add, is that while it was a choice for them to be with Elvis, and they chose to be with him, it should also be made clear that they did not get paid well. They got perks, but over all, there pay was not that good.

All I am saying is that while it may seem like a great job, most of them were there because they loved Elvis, especially the guys from the start - not because they loved the job or being away from home for long periods of time.

Look at most of them now, when Elvis died they were left with nothing. No jobs and no obvious qualifications, except they were with Elvis for a long period of time. Although, Vernon doctored that will after Elvis died, that I believe for a fact. Elvis looked after they guys in it, untill Vernon had a little fiddle with it. He always hated anyone getting anything.

[joanne]

One thing I would like to add, is that while it was a choice for them to be with Elvis, and they chose to be with him, it should also be made clear that they did not get paid well. They got perks, but over all, there pay was not that good.

All I am saying is that while it may seem like a great job, most of them were there because they loved Elvis, especially the guys from the start - not because they loved the job or being away from home for long periods of time.

Look at most of them now, when Elvis died they were left with nothing. No jobs and no obvious qualifications, except they were with Elvis for a long period of time. Although, Vernon doctored that will after Elvis died, that I believe for a fact. Elvis looked after they guys in it, untill Vernon had a little fiddle with it. He always hated anyone getting anything.I agree with Vernon, he probably felt that they had had a very sweet life with Elvis so they had had enough and I agree with that.

[0349054]

I think Vernon should have left Elvis' will intact. Besides it was through Vernons judgement that Priscilla became involved with the estate following Elvis' death. Something Elvis never made any provision for in his will, just as he left Priscilla nothing in his will.

[joanne]

I think Vernon should have left Elvis' will intact. Besides it was through Vernons judgement that Priscilla became involved with the estate following Elvis' death. Something Elvis never made any provision for in his will, just as he left Priscilla nothing in his will.Can you let me know what happened as I`ve heard some conflicting stories?

[0349054]

In so far as the will is concerned or how Priscilla became involved?

Elvis' last willwas originally written in November, 1976 at the urging of Vernon but was not signed until March, '77 just before Elvis left for a Hawaiian vacation.

The will he signed was probated when he died with three pages being deleted by Vernon after Elvis died.

Elvis gave a copy of the will to Billy Smith and showed him how much he had left to everyone in it, Billy wasnt that interested and he just filed the will away, but he did see that Elvis was looking after the guys.

After Elvis' death Patsy Presley called Billy and asked for that copy of the will, which Billy gave her. Vernon had asked her to do that, so that the detail of the 3 pages he deleted would never be known.

As for the ex-wife...Priscilla, along with the National Bank Of Commerce and Joe Hanks, Vernon's accountant, were named by Vernon as executor of the estate should he die. It is true that Priscilla begged Vernon on his death bed to add her.

They were to be executors until Lisa became 25. She then allowed her mother to keep running it until she was 30.

What most people are not aware is that there was/is a Board of Advisors from the bank and a few from the business community in Memphis who advise Priscilla and Jack Soden.

The fact is Elvis didn't want Priscilla to have anything to do with his estate should he die. He expressed that to the guys and that's probably why Vernon hesitated to name her

[joanne]

Thanks darlin.

[KPM]

I am a little confused about the doctored will. My father in law died a year ago. His will was drawn up by his lawyer, and my father in law signed the will in front of witnesses and a notary. The lawyer had the original which his office had drawn up and my father in law had a copy. When he died that will went to probate, if any one had tried to delete anything from the original the lawyer who drew up the document would know. How could this have happened without the lawyer and his office knowing, unless you're saying they were in on it? If Billy is sure- he should have contested the will as a great injustice was done to him and anyone else who may have benefited. I know in my father in laws piddly small estate some of my wifes family almost did that until they saw the original will in the lawyers office. In an high profile estate like this it seems funny to think anyone would try and change anything knowing the scrutiny it would be getting, from family and friends (as it is in many wills for normal people) but in this instance from the press and government, who looked very closely at this situtation because of the tax issues involved.
When I read these differing accounts of something I personally have no direct knowledge of I can only go by what I have experienced which is similar in some way. If so many people seem to have a knowledge of pages deleted, why did no one come forth and contest this will? Any lawyer would chomp at the bit to maybe get a stake in the, then future, revenue of that estate. Did any of them even consult a lawyer? (Billy, Patsy, Billys wife- whoever had even a hint of this) Not only were they cheated, but Elvis's last wishes were not followed.(if this is all true) I tell you its such a tangled web of accusations and stories I am coming to the belief that the truth on most things Elvis will never be known in totality. But that adds to the mystique.

[0349054]

I am a little confused about the doctored will. My father in law died a year ago. His will was drawn up by his lawyer, and my father in law signed the will in front of witnesses and a notary. The lawyer had the original which his office had drawn up and my father in law had a copy. When he died that will went to probate, if any one had tried to delete anything from the original the lawyer who drew up the document would know. How could this have happened without the lawyer and his office knowing, unless you're saying they were in on it? If Billy is sure- he should have contested the will as a great injustice was done to him and anyone else who may have benefited. I know in my father in laws piddly small estate some of my wifes family almost did that until they saw the original will in the lawyers office. In an high profile estate like this it seems funny to think anyone would try and change anything knowing the scrutiny it would be getting, from family and friends (as it is in many wills for normal people) but in this instance from the press and government, who looked very closely at this situtation because of the tax issues involved.
When I read these differing accounts of something I personally have no direct knowledge of I can only go by what I have experienced which is similar in some way. If so many people seem to have a knowledge of pages deleted, why did no one come forth and contest this will? Any lawyer would chomp at the bit to maybe get a stake in the, then future, revenue of that estate. Did any of them even consult a lawyer? (Billy, Patsy, Billys wife- whoever had even a hint of this) Not only were they cheated, but Elvis's last wishes were not followed.(if this is all true) I tell you its such a tangled web of accusations and stories I am coming to the belief that the truth on most things Elvis will never be known in totality. But that adds to the mystique.

The pages in Elvis' will were not numbered. Beecher - the lawyer was used because it was done in Memphis not Calif, and therefore governed by Tennessee laws.

As far as challenging Vernon, the thing is and most people don't like hearing it, but the guys wern't interested in looking for anything from Elvis' estate. They did not want to further upset Vernon who had a serious heart condition and had just lost his son, and most important of all they did not want to start taking from Lisa Marie's inheritence. When Elvis died he had very few liquid assets.

Vernon and Beecher were in it together. He purposely had Charlie and Ginger witness the will, because under Tennessee law the witnesses cannot inherit anything. Vernon grew up poor and had an innate fear of ending up that way again, Elvis' spending scared him, and he also didn't want to give money out to anyone at any stage, especially if Elvis died.

[joanne]

The pages in Elvis' will were not numbered. Beecher - the lawyer was used because it was done in Memphis not Calif, and therefore governed by Tennessee laws.

As far as challenging Vernon, the thing is and most people don't like hearing it, but the guys wern't interested in looking for anything from Elvis' estate. They did not want to further upset Vernon who had a serious heart condition and had just lost his son, and most important of all they did not want to start taking from Lisa Marie's inheritence. When Elvis died he had very few liquid assets.

Vernon and Beecher were in it together. He purposely had Charlie and Ginger witness the will, because under Tennessee law the witnesses cannot inherit anything. Vernon grew up poor and had an innate fear of ending up that way again, Elvis' spending scared him, and he also didn't want to give money out to anyone at any stage, especially if Elvis died.I don`t blame him. Vernon deserved it all anyway, he loved his son dearly.

[KPM]

Like I said the tangled tales get even more tangled as the years go by. How they changed a will of one of the most scrutinized people of the modern world is a pretty tall tale of many I've read or heard. If its true its a crime that needs to be investigated. Do you think Billy would have any problem, after all the years that have gone by, of having a hint on this dropped to the Attorney General in Tennesee? If there is any legal proof (beyond heresay) it could change a lot of things for the people who were cut out. Also it would Show Elvis did not cut out people who many expected to be included. In the copy of the will I got in 1978 it is numbered and it is (as most will are)in an item by item form
Item I- Debts, Expenses and Taxes
Item II-Instructions Concerning Personal Property:
Enjoyment in Specie
Item III-Real Estate....there are a total of 15 Items of seperate interest in all the pages are numbered to 13 with the 13th page being
the notary page with witnesses signatures. My copy is from the Shelby County Probate court and is stamped from that court. It is stated on that page
I, B.J. Dunavant, Clerk of the Probate Court, do hereby certify that the forgoing Thirteen (13) pages contains a full, true, and exact copy of the Last Will and Testament of Elvis A. Presley, Deceased. As the same appears of record on file in Will Book 209, Page 266 the date is 8-24-77
If this story is true the Will was not just missing 3 pages, it would have had to be totally rewritten to keep the Item by item running in a proper order. One of the Items would be dealing with the bequests to others or something similar and it would have to be listed as"ITEM-?" If it was missing the whole will would be out of sync. I'm afraid this would involve more than just Vernon and the lawyer if its true and "if it is" someone needs to look into it. (even if its only Geraldo)

One other thing about this story which troubles me is Vernon had done 3 years in prison for altering a check in Tupelo and from all accounts had learned his lesson the hard way about altering documents and breaking the law. It was an incident he never spoke of even to closest friends. He and Elvis when dealing with the government always stayed well within the law(IRS did there taxes every year to avoid any mishandling of there affairs etc...)Would Vernon, being scared as a young man from prison time for altering a check, allow a document to be altered which would be a million times more scrutinzed than that dinky check in the 30s? 3 years would be nothing compared to the mess it would cause if found out. I just don't know about this. But stranger things have happened.

[0349054]

All I can go on is what I have been told. I think Billy would have a problem doing anything about it, because he did not all those years ago want to take anything from the estate, and judging by his lack of action he still does not.

Vernon was well capable of doing it, and Billy has nothing to gain from lying about it.

The thing most people forget is that most of the guys don't want anything from Elvis' estate.

[KPM]

Like I said it seems far fetched from the will I've got, but why would Billy lie is a good point. As I have no direct knowledge I haven't a clue. As with a lot of things involving Elvis it is yet, another unsolved mystery to which no definitive answer will be found.

[joanne]

In so far as the will is concerned or how Priscilla became involved?

Elvis' last willwas originally written in November, 1976 at the urging of Vernon but was not signed until March, '77 just before Elvis left for a Hawaiian vacation.

The will he signed was probated when he died with three pages being deleted by Vernon after Elvis died.

Elvis gave a copy of the will to Billy Smith and showed him how much he had left to everyone in it, Billy wasnt that interested and he just filed the will away, but he did see that Elvis was looking after the guys.

After Elvis' death Patsy Presley called Billy and asked for that copy of the will, which Billy gave her. Vernon had asked her to do that, so that the detail of the 3 pages he deleted would never be known.

As for the ex-wife...Priscilla, along with the National Bank Of Commerce and Joe Hanks, Vernon's accountant, were named by Vernon as executor of the estate should he die. It is true that Priscilla begged Vernon on his death bed to add her.

They were to be executors until Lisa became 25. She then allowed her mother to keep running it until she was 30.

What most people are not aware is that there was/is a Board of Advisors from the bank and a few from the business community in Memphis who advise Priscilla and Jack Soden.

The fact is Elvis didn't want Priscilla to have anything to do with his estate should he die. He expressed that to the guys and that's probably why Vernon hesitated to name herYes I knew Elvis didn`t want her to have anything he knew she was money hungry.

[mistymorning]

thenwhy didn,t vernon respect his son,s descision?

[joanne]

thenwhy didn,t vernon respect his son,s descision?I can`t get my head round it because by all accounts Vernon didn`t trust her. After the divorce she was still using Elvis`s credit card and he stopped it. I think he was just thinking about Lisa and her future.

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

I can`t get my head round it because by all accounts Vernon didn`t trust her. After the divorce she was still using Elvis`s credit card and he stopped it. I think he was just thinking about Lisa and her future.

I think that is exactly why he did it.

[Elvisman76]

It makes my heart sick when I read this post. But to read Joanne's input was a pleasure to read.
There are so many people who were connected with Elvis. The main question is which one of them do we trust and believe. I believe that answer is Your own heart. Sure I was not there. I did not see what Elvis did.
But as far as I am concered, its none of my buisness. Elvis did what he did and thats it.
Wasnt he trying to say that when he sang My way in his last concert? Look at the conviction in his face.
I wouldnt read this book by the West's if my life depended on it. As a 20 year fan of Mr Presley, I do not need to read that stuff !
Elvis continues to give us his gift of Music. There is not a day when I dont listen to his music. When I listen to him sing "How great thou Art" or songs like Unchained melody, I am alsways so moved.
Best yet, the new love in my life now likes Elvis. I made her a 70's CDR. She loves it. The girl has good taiste.
Elvis was and always wil be the king of Rock n Roll, and I dont care about any of that other crud. To end I will recount something Sammy Davis Jr said on a documentry..."All I want to know is if he was my friend? Because all that other jazz doesnt matter !"

Mark
Lost Wages, Nevada

[Donut]

I like to read all points of view from people who were around Elvis and come to my own conclusions so i will buy it. Anything in life isn?t entirely black or white and every one of them tells the story the way they lived it or they felt it was and it won?t change a bit what i feel for Elvis. The sad part is we won?t be able to read the story from Elvis himself and the reasons he had to do some of the things he did. But we are adults enough to read between the lines, aren?t we ?

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

But we are adults enough to read between the lines, aren?t we ?

No-one should ever believe everything they read! Those that are on Elvs' side e.g. EPE and the like will always put forward the glossy side and talk up the good things........... on the other hand those who have an axe to grind and MONEY to make; will always look at the darker side, that's just the way of the world :hmm: somewhere in the middle and between the lines lies the truth.

Matt

[0349054]

Well said Jumpsuit Junkie

[Dovey]

Yep :doh: :doh: J.J. You got it right for sure!!!!! Dovey :D

[Donut]

No-one should ever believe everything they read! Those that are on Elvs' side e.g. EPE and the like will always put forward the glossy side and talk up the good things........... on the other hand those who have an axe to grind and MONEY to make; will always look at the darker side, that's just the way of the world :hmm: somewhere in the middle and between the lines lies the truth.

Matt
I never said i do .... just the opposite :blink:

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I never said i do .... just the opposite :blink:

I wasn't challenging your quote, I was agreeing with it (y)

JJ

[Donut]

I wasn't challenging your quote, I was agreeing with it (y)

JJ

Oh ...ok i thought i didn?t express myself right, english is not my language you know ... :blush:

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Oh ...ok i thought i didn?t express myself right, english is not my language you know ... :blush:

No problem :D

JJ

[elvislady]

heres what i found on elvis news.com Home > News > Book
Sonny West Inks Book Deal With Triumph/Random HouseSonny West, Elvis Presley’s longtime bodyguard and charter member of the Memphis Mafia, has signed a publishing deal with Triumph/Random House for his upcoming book, “Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business.”

The deal was inked on June 1, 2006, and is set for a 2007 release to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Presley’s death.

West, who was Presley’s bodyguard from 1960 to 1976, said he’s extremely happy his long-awaited book has the backing of one of the world’s largest and best-known publishers.

“I’m extremely appreciative that Triumph/Random House sees the value of this work and I look forward to working with them,” West said. “I hope the fans will respond in kind, because my book is a tribute to Elvis.”

West’s co-author, Marshall Terrill, said Triumph/Random House’s involvement will give “Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business” a much bigger promotional push than most other Presley books.

“The publisher has very high hopes and they’re going to make every possible effort to promote our book,” Terrill said. “Even though I’m biased, I feel it’s the best and most objective look at Elvis Presley in many years. I believe most Elvis fans will come away with a deeper understanding of the man and his life because of Sonny’s insights.”

The collaboration, which started in 2002, is follow-up to the 1977 book, “Elvis: What Happened?” in which Sonny West co-authored with Red West and Dave Hebler.

The book will cover West's 16 years with Elvis Presley from 1960 to 1976, the aftermath of “Elvis: What Happened?” to his thoughts today on Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.

The book will include photos from West’s personal collection as well as photos donated from the Russ Howe Collection. The book also includes two appendices – “All The King’s Men” and “Myths, Facts and Frequently Asked Questions”. The former is a section on former Memphis Mafia members while the latter is a list of questions West answers directly from Presley followers.

In addition to combing through hundreds of documents, the two had several Presley experts read the manuscript to ensure its accuracy.

“It was my privilege and pleasure to help edit the book because I was able to relive a lot of the memories,” said author and longtime Presley fan Sandi Pichon. “I also learned quite a bit about Elvis through many untold stories. Sonny’s book will make a welcome addition to any Elvis Presley library.”

Chicago-based Triumph Books was acquired by Random House in May and will now exist as an independently-run imprint of the Random House Publishing s elvislady.

[songs4u]

I wonder about a few things when they wrote "Elvis, What Happened?". In the first place when they wrote it I think they were angry and maybe rightfully so, I don't know.
Secondly all these episodes and events they describe in the book - weren't they all under the influence of some substance? That can impare your judgment. I wonder if they remember every detail about every incident and maybe embellished upon them to make them more sensational. I'm not saying this because my mind doesn't want to see Elvis in this light. I would have accepted Elvis however he was. After all he was human.

I will say with complete certainy I think this book hit Elvis below the belt. I've wondered if he had not have died how would he have handled this with the public. You know the media would have tried to rip him apart. With his charismatic way do you think he could have turned this all around on those guys and gained the public's sympathy because of all these "lies" (as Elvis might have put it). I, personally, think true Elvis fans would have looked past this book and stuck with Elvis. Maybe, giving him more support because of what he was going through.

I'm sorry I think I went a little off the subject matter here. When I look at people, sometimes, I see dollar signs in their eyes :greedy: . I don't know if this is true with Sonny or if he's doing it for a genuine reason.

[graceland123]

Wow this has been a long read! I had to go through everyone's posts before replying to this thread. I should have done it earlier.:)

I will probably buy and read Sonny's new book when it comes out in hopes that he can redeem himself a little and reduce the smear tactics he used in his first book. But, I bet I will still see him tooting his own horn as it has been in EVERY single book that someone has written to date.

I can't make any statement to Elvis' use of cocaine for a time - I don't know - but I prefer to believe the lidocaine story. Maybe he just tried it like Priscilla said with the LSD, like I said I don't know and I don't feel that it became of any importance.

I agree totally with everything Joanne had to say about Elvis By the Presleys. I also believe in my heart that Priscilla engineered this program to offset what was said about her in the book Child Bride. I read that book and by gosh a lot of it rang true to me. I never thought from looking at the photos of her at the airport seeing Elvis off when she was fourteen as being young, innocent and sad at his leaving by any means. Her expression, again to me, was one of complete smugness as in "I'm the girl who got Elvis Presley", and she did get him but he wouldn't be wound around her little finger like she wanted so her nose got very out of joint and it still is and you don't do that to the "princess".

In some cases I'm for Lisa Marie, in others against. I feel she can sing but her voice isn't anything special and I don't care for her material. I like that she has a wonderful smile unlike her mother and it looks genuine. She seems to have a good sense of humor like her dad. On the downside she's very immature, is too led by her mother, doesn't present herself well and I feel she should take up for her dad more than she has thus far.

I will read ANYTHING I can get my hands on about Elvis, good or bad. I LIKE reading between the lines in hopes that I'm seeing things the way they really are but that's the question isn't it for all of us?

My summation: Priscilla stinks, Lisa is wishy-washy and only human Elvis got the shaft.well said Di and talking about the footage of priscilla waving elvis off in 1960 she didnt look upset at all did she?
yet in the Elvis and Me movie when they recreated the scene she is shown crying uncontrollably and screaming elvis s name frantically.
it just didnt happen and that is very instrumental I believe to the whole movie (which i hate by the way) because if she portrays a scene that we have the real footage from and completely twists it then what has she done in the scenes that we never witnessed.

[Diane]

Well Graceland 123, I think Priscilla does look a little worried there in the photo of her seeing Elvis off but not the one waving goodbye. There's another photo of her with a woman looking at her and it looks like she was worried but it could have been she was worried that he was getting away from her and I do believe no matter how often she says that it was Elvis calling her after he left, that it was actually her that did the chasing. But then again who really knows?

I'm a woman for heavens sake, maybe I'm just reacting out of jealousy. I will never ever understand how she could have left him for someone else. Lucky stinker and she threw it all away!:'(

[datalore]

ALL I KNOW OUR MAN DIED WITH A BROKEN HEART, THEIR WORTHLESS,TASTELESS BOOK HURT THAT PRESCIOUS PERSON ,THIS IS WHAT I CONCERN..AND ELVIS NEVER SAID OR WROTE ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THOSE ..... DON'T LET ME SAY WHAT THEY ARE..I HATE THEM "perfect cousins" SO THAT I CAN HAVE A HEART ATTACK RIGHT NOW..APOLOGIZING??..MY ... NOOOOO WAY.. I WON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM..:angry:

I just want to comment on your avatar. What a gorgeous drawing. Did you do it yourself?

[sweetelvis]

I will not buy the book or read it.I think what:sonny and the others done was very disrespectful to elvis. I think their out to make money off of the 30 anniversary just like they did off the first book. And no matter want they say it cannot make up for what they have done. :angry:

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

Him appearing with "FAT Elvis" to promote the book put me off. Still can't believe he did that.

[srj1967]

Elvis' speech is quite fast in many of the mid 60's movies - an effect of the uppers he was taking.

Or maybe he was just trying to get through the crappy dialogue as quickly as possible! :lol:

[0349054]

Or maybe he was just trying to get through the crappy dialogue as quickly as possible! :lol:

lol :clap:

Singing to Dominic wasn't that bad was it! :clap:

[0349054]

Well, I knew I wouldn't be around to have to deal with it. More of a concern for Lisa and how she would feel. Actually, I thought evrything would die out. I didn't realize people were going to keep these things going. I thought maybe people would forget, the image would die down and Lisa could live a somewhat normal life and hopefully the money from royalties, etc. would help er financially.

Are you saying you were a freind of Elvis's?

If so whats your name?

Anyway....royalties? Elvis sold them in his 73 deal with RCA and post 73 isnt much as you should know............

[0349054]

As you should know there were royalties from different sources. But why Should I tell you my business. Oh you may know me, Elvis Aron Presley.

I do know that. But the songs took a big dent.

You need not tell me your business as I have little interest.

Being anonymous is not something desirable....especially if you are claiming to have known Elvis.

Many of his friends post using real names on message boards.

It seems you may belong in the Wanda camp, as you can not be taken as a credible source unless you disclose how you knew Elvis if that is indeed what you claim.

We are fans, we don't claim to know Elvis, and if you claim to know him.....and refuse to disclose your identity while continuing to post with authority then that's frankly pathetic.

[8mmlowa]

sorry guys i don?t buy the stories...

[Trev1]

I personally like the book and am really interested in some of his recollections (y)

[utmom2008]

Hi NEA,

It was sensationalist in that it focused on the darker sides of Elvis' life, rather than being sugar coated.

The events described in the book are true. The sensationalism is that they focused on these rather than saying Elvis was perfect.

I don't think I have contradicted myself, well at least I hope you now see what I mean by sensationalism in regard to what was put into the book.

Elvis used cocaine. Red did it with him on the balcony of the Las Vegas Hilton in 75', he used to soak cotton wool balls in liquid coke and put it in his nose. Most of the guys who are honest about events will admit he used it.

He used LSD in the 60's with Priscilla, shes admitted that. But he did use Coke in the late 70's. The fact none was found in his bloodstream only indicates he didn't use it before he died.
Elvis and Priscilla tried an LSD tablet ONCE...only ONCE

[utmom2008]

I`m very shocked about this as far as I know he never used cocaine.
As for those three scumbags they were short of money because the person who had supplied it had sacked them. Their reaction was to do a book that would depict Elvis in the most wicked light possible and they did that.
In my opinion it wasn`t a true book because it was distorted through anger, bitterness and revenge.
A true book is what reflects the good and the bad of a person and that book was all bad. It was the most awful book about Elvis (apart from Albert Goldman) that I have ever had the misfortune to read.
Sonny West has proved that it was distorted because he admitted that the author Steve Dunleavy had sensationalised it to sell more copies.
Now he says he is writing the truth about Elvis.
All Red West could say was that he did it to help Elvis what rubbish. He later admitted to Todd Slaughter that he did it for the money.
As for Dave Hebler hes that honest that a few years ago there was a programme about a shirt that Frank Skinner had bought at auction and Frank became suspicious that he had been duped because it was claimed to be the one Elvis wore at the Tupelo Fairgrounds but on close inspection it wasn`t that one and the condition was so good and it couldn`t of been it.
Dave Hebler said that Elvis gave it to him in the seventies because it was cluttering up his wardrobe. He is a complete liar.
All three of them make me sick.
AMEN to your entire statement!

[utmom2008]

I won`t give him a chance.
I would not read his book for a million dollars. He makes me sick...........

[utmom2008]

The guys had no experience of working in the real world. They lived in the Elvis bubble for far too long, and quite frankly his dismissal of them, left them high and dry with families. You can sympathise with Elvis, but money makes the world go round and they were never well paid by Elvis to begin with, but to find themselves with no job is a different story.

Most of the guys admit they lived the same life as Elvis did. The drugs, the sex etc.., they actually are similar to Elvis. They lived with him for so long, they couldent but be a bit like him.

The stories are true. Elvis was alive when this book was published, if their was anything which wasnt true, he could have sued. At least they had the balls to write a book while he was alive.

Elvis was a brilliant entertainer and did many many wonderful things. Just some fans have this sugar coated angelic image of him, and some of them would even deny he had a prescription drug problem. He was human, and I hope Sonny shows some more aspects of Elvis' human side in his new book.
The book was released Aug. 1st, 1977. I guess Elvis had 16 days to get a lawsuit underway....

[utmom2008]

Or maybe he was just trying to get through the crappy dialogue as quickly as possible! :lol:
LOL...one of the truest statements on this whole thing! LOL...:lmfao: