Elvis at the end

[Supertigre]

I have been looking at old pictures and video of Elvis in all eras of his life and though he definatley gained some weight durring his later life I don't realy think he was fat as some people describe him.
I do see a man in later pictures that is extremely ill looking and bloated for some reason but I dont see an obese person. Elvis looked worn out at the end and was extremely pail as if he never went out in the sun anymore. I also noticed how he was very sweaty in his concerts and seems to have to sing some of the songs from song sheets that just a few years earlier he knew all the words to.
Has anyone else noticed that he seemed to forget the words to songs at the very end and do you think this was because he was ill or did he just not give a dam any more.

[FlamingStar]

Well i don't know.. But My Way is a great excample of one song that he forgot the words to. In 1976 he began to use the lyrics to this song, maybe because he didn't knew all the world (and that's normally on a song like My way with so much text), but Elvis NEVER forget the lyrics to songs like "How Great Thou Art", bacause he loved gospel.

But i don't think that Elvis gave **** in those songs he needed lyrics to, but maybe he just lost his mind.

I know how it feels. And you know, maybe Elvis know the song when he should sing it, but he wanted a lyrics cheat to make safe to not fail, like some versions of My Way, who he have to start it over...

[riley]

Elvis had to take a lot of pills due to his illness and forgetting a lot and being stoned where sideeffects.

[Albert]

It was very normal for Elvis to gain weight. Even during the Hollywood years he gained a lot of weight between the movies. Same goes for the periods between the tours in the 70s.

But during the 60s and early 70s Elvis always managed to train of that extra weight and get in shape for the next movie/tour. And Elvis lost that weight in a very bad way: a combination of eating almost nothing, diet pills and exercise (which is a good thing of course).

This jojo-effect is extremely hard for your body. And when the 70s continued Elvis had more and more problems following this routine. This had to do with Elvis becoming older (nothing to do about that) and problems in his personal life (the endless touring, problems with his relations/friends and so on). Elvis was prescribed lots of drugs by doctors to keep following the devasting tours and concerts. These medications had side-effects, which lead to having more drugs prescribed truying to deal with the side-effects.

So it was almost like the end was becoming in sight (".....and now, the end is near.... and so I face the final curtain....") and there was nothing more to do then to except it. It sometimes seems like the body broke the spirit.

[Sgt. Presley]

Sheet or no sheet, Elvis will always be the greatest !(y) :king:

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

It was very normal for Elvis to gain weight. Even during the Hollywood years he gained a lot of weight between the movies. Same goes for the periods between the tours in the 70s.

But during the 60s and early 70s Elvis always managed to train of that extra weight and get in shape for the next movie/tour. And Elvis lost that weight in a very bad way: a combination of eating almost nothing, diet pills and exercise (which is a good thing of course).

This jojo-effect is extremely hard for your body. And when the 70s continued Elvis had more and more problems following this routine. This had to do with Elvis becoming older (nothing to do about that) and problems in his personal life (the endless touring, problems with his relations/friends and so on). Elvis was prescribed lots of drugs by doctors to keep following the devasting tours and concerts. These medications had side-effects, which lead to having more drugs prescribed truying to deal with the side-effects.

So it was almost like the end was becoming in sight (".....and now, the end is near.... and so I face the final curtain....") and there was nothing more to do then to except it. It sometimes seems like the body broke the spirit.

As sad at it is, I agree. I was just thinking today about all the people that took advantage of his generosity and his seemingly inability, at most times, to say no. If you think about all the people we know about, the colonel, MM, family, record execs, movie people, etc... and then think about all the people that he did things for like" A friend of mine needs...., my sister has to have.., if you could do this favor for me this once...., if we could get your help on..... etc...) And factor in how famous he was as a multiple to how many people were doing this and I think he was literally bled dry. He had no more to give, but he kept doing it, for his family, friends, fans, even when, at times, he knew he was being taking advantage of. ( ie.. Racquetball courts, personal loans, televised concerts, tours, etc...)

I think he felt he owed it somehow to people, and possibly felt he needed to do it to be loved or appreciated?

Anyway, no matter how you slice it, over and above his God-given talent, he was a good man. You can say and print, show and tell all you want about all the negative stuff but you'll never take away that from him, and of course the fact that he was the most talented and dynamic entertainer that ever lived, or will live.

[Cherokee]

Well i don't know.. But My Way is a great excample of one song that he forgot the words to. In 1976 he began to use the lyrics to this song, maybe because he didn't knew all the world (and that's normally on a song like My way with so much text), but Elvis NEVER forget the lyrics to songs like "How Great Thou Art", bacause he loved gospel.

But i don't think that Elvis gave **** in those songs he needed lyrics to, but maybe he just lost his mind.

I know how it feels. And you know, maybe Elvis know the song when he should sing it, but he wanted a lyrics cheat to make safe to not fail, like some versions of My Way, who he have to start it over...

He already read the lyrics of the first verses to "My Way" from a sheet during the Aloha from Hawaii concert. It just wasn't so noticable then because he did it from under those LONG eyelashes:)

[Elvis-fan]

He Was A Very Good Looking Man

Elvis Always The Best. (y) (y)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elviszingt5.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elviszingt7.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elviszingt4.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elvis/Dancing_Elvisklein.gif

[Unchained Melody]

Thanks for posting these pictures Elvis-fan I like the top one the best, thanks.

[franny]

As sad at it is, I agree. I was just thinking today about all the people that took advantage of his generosity and his seemingly inability, at most times, to say no. If you think about all the people we know about, the colonel, MM, family, record execs, movie people, etc... and then think about all the people that he did things for like" A friend of mine needs...., my sister has to have.., if you could do this favor for me this once...., if we could get your help on..... etc...) And factor in how famous he was as a multiple to how many people were doing this and I think he was literally bled dry. He had no more to give, but he kept doing it, for his family, friends, fans, even when, at times, he knew he was being taking advantage of. ( ie.. Racquetball courts, personal loans, televised concerts, tours, etc...)

I think he felt he owed it somehow to people, and possibly felt he needed to do it to be loved or appreciated?

Anyway, no matter how you slice it, over and above his God-given talent, he was a good man. You can say and print, show and tell all you want about all the negative stuff but you'll never take away that from him, and of course the fact that he was the most talented and dynamic entertainer that ever lived, or will live.

I agree, he was a very generous and kindhearted man, but I think he gave a lot to others because of the joy he felt in doing so...I think the main reason he gave is because he grew up so poor, that he wanted others to have and he wanted to be the one that gave it to them...he never forgot where he came from...

franny

[Unchained Melody]

I agree Franny thats it, he never forgot where he came from and never forgot what it was like to go without. Probably the most generous man whoever walked the earth;) .

[Sgt. Presley]

Sometimes I think our man gave too much, don't you guy's agree ? :king:

[Supertigre]

Essentially he gave so much he was bled dry and there was nothing left for himself.
Why did'nt Vernon or Priscilla do something about it ?

[EnigmaticSun]

I don't think that his spirit had been broken. He was convinced that making music was his God-given talent and destiny right til' the end. They broke his body but not his soul. Don't fear those that can kill the body, but not the soul. From my own experience I can tell that trying to steal (=to take advantage of) the soul is very scary. No one was succesful in seperating Elvis from his God, no matter how hard they tried to do so.

I agree that his lifestyle wasn't healthy. I surely wouldn't opt for a jojo-effect (from overeating to eating almost nothing), which is extremely harmful. But nobody will be able to take away his positive contribution to the world. People should consider looking at politicians instead of Elvis. At least The King never sent people to war to die - he brought us a lot of happiness instead.

[graceland123]

Essentially he gave so much he was bled dry and there was nothing left for himself.
Why did'nt Vernon or Priscilla do something about it ?
thats a joke she was one of them that was milking him

[TCE]

In my opinion Elvis was still a very handsome man in the late 70's, even though he had gained weight. Like some of you said, however, he looked ill, wornout and you could see the effects of the pills he used. I don't think he always forgot the lyrics, but was often foolin' around. Just pretending he didn't knew the lyrics. For instance if you look at his last concert he says he doesn't know the lyric of "My way" and takes a peace of paper, but after a short while he throws the paper away. I had the feeling he was fooling around and we all know that Elvis enjoyed to play jokes on people. I did notice, however that the sparkling in his eyes had gone. Ofcourse he also was so under the influence of the pills that he couldn't think clear anymore in times and his mind played tricks on him. That's why he had those mood changes. It most have been enormously painfull and scary for Elvis to realize he wasn't the person anymore that he normally was (A loving, careing and social human being.) and that he didn't have his life under control anymore. I'm glad though that he never forgot his roots and that he knew his goal in life: That God gave him his tallent and he used this tallent and I'm sure he was God very greatfull for that. For me he will always be the greatest,

Be safe and take care,

Christel (TCE)

[graceland123]

In my opinion Elvis was still a very handsome man in the late 70's, even though he had gained weight. Like some of you said, however, he looked ill, wornout and you could see the effects of the pills he used. I don't think he always forgot the lyrics, but was often foolin' around. Just pretending he didn't knew the lyrics. For instance if you look at his last concert he says he doesn't know the lyric of "My way" and takes a peace of paper, but after a short while he throws the paper away. I had the feeling he was fooling around and we all know that Elvis enjoyed to play jokes on people. I did notice, however that the sparkling in his eyes had gone. Ofcourse he also was so under the influence of the pills that he couldn't think clear anymore in times and his mind played tricks on him. That's why he had those mood changes. It most have been enormously painfull and scary for Elvis to realize he wasn't the person anymore that he normally was (A loving, careing and social human being.) and that he didn't have his life under control anymore. I'm glad though that he never forgot his roots and that he knew his goal in life: That God gave him his tallent and he used this tallent and I'm sure he was God very greatfull for that. For me he will always be the greatest,

Be safe and take care,

Christel (TCE)I agree but of course he was still loving and caring .

[franny]

I agree, graceland123...
He gave cars and bought homes for friends and strangers....I don't think too many stars do that...

franny

[EnigmaticSun]

Hitting the nail upon the head, graceland123 - of course Elvis was a loving human being right 'til the end. He didn't kick people around during his last tour. And if he did, only if it was really necessary. I think it was difficult to make him angry - if you were looking for trouble you came for the right place though; rightfully so I think.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

He Was A Very Good Looking Man

Elvis Always The Best. (y) (y)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elviszingt5.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elviszingt7.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/elvis-fan/elviszingt4.jpg

When you look at these pictures from June 77 he looks more like the Elvis from the early 70's then he did in 1976 (minus the hair).

Matt

[Supertigre]

I was looking at some pictures of Vernon in the late 60's and he was quite full figured then.His face was kind of chubby and Gladys was too.I think then its fair to say then that Elvis had the genes to put a little weight on over time. I still agree it was the bloodsuckers that killed him and not the cheeseburgers.

[graceland123]

yes the famous picture of gladys and vernon with elvis from the elvis country cover where elvis has the hat on
it is apparent how different they both looked particularly gladys she was very thin in that picture but i suppose they had no money for a lot of food in t hose days