Your take on the "Memphis Mafia"?

[songs4u]

I've read that the original ones according to some were "Red West, Sonny West, Billy Smith, Lamar Fike, Marty Lacker". Now, I believe other should be included in that group but, that's just my opinion. Are there any guys that were in the MM that you distinctly dislike or genuinely like? I'm going to keep my mouth shut until someone else says something. :smoke:

I hope I'm not starting a thread that's already been talked about.

[JDD]

Every time I see The last two you named Lamar and Marty they seem very bitter and annoyed all the time. Unlike some , I can't really dislike someone I don't know they all know more about Elvis then we'll ever know having lived with him. That said I find those two a bit hard to listen to because they always seem upset. Just my opinion I could be hearing them wrong but thats what I hear from them. I always enjoy hearing Red, and George Klein, and Jerry Schilling talk perhaps they're less bitter because they have all been fairly successful after , during and aside from Elvis .

[orwell1976]

To me they don't seem that bitter. But I can imagine how it feels when you live a superstar's life and suddenly the well of your fortune dies. If you have not lived in the "real world" for such a long time and from one day to the next you are forced to work for yourself, it's pretty hard I guess.

[Supertigre]

I think the Memphis mafia was a necassry evil.Elvis needed protection and needed friends so the mafia performed both tasks. The problem with the whole thing is they were living good and were nothing outside the circle of Elvis. Because of this they were afraid to interveen when Elvi's drug problem took off and they eventually killled the goose that layed the golden egg. This to me shows they were not true friends, as a true friend would risk the frienship to stop somone hurting themselves. I have read many of the Mafia were also hooked on prescription drugs.:supriced:

[Diane]

I personally feel from all the books I've read and the interviews I've seen that only three of the MM really cared for Elvis as a person. Charlie Hodge, Ed Parker and Larry Geller. I think Red and Sonny did care to a degree in spite of the awful book they put out but Red was more interested in the women he could get and Sonny could be violent in his role as bodyguard and caused Elvis a lot of grief in that way.

I don't have any respect for either Marty Lacker or Lamar Fike. Marty had a bigger problem with drugs than Elvis ever did and he whined through his whole book. Lamar Fike comes across as arrogant and enjoys telling the meanest stories about Elvis he can come up with.

Jerry Shilling and Joe Esposito are almost two of a kind. They will be loyal to whomever has power at the time - Joe a bit more so I think.

George Klein seems rather harmless and I don't think all that close to Elvis all in all. Billy Smith I think loved him but is hurt and confused about what happened with the will.

These are just my opinions.

[MISSCLAWDY]

Diane, I basically agree with you ; I think only Charlie Hodge, Larry Geller and Ed Parker really loved Elvis and cared about him , they were what you can call"friends" ; I really dislike Lamar Fike and Red and Sonny West , I dont like the way Lamar talks abot ELvis, and Red and Sonny, well.....about the same.
Joe is quite a "mistery" , not a faithful and sincere guy I think...

[songs4u]

JDD wrote

Every time I see The last two you named Lamar and Marty they seem very bitter and annoyed all the time.
Diane wrote

I don't have any respect for either Marty Lacker or Lamar Fike.... Lamar Fike comes across as arrogant and enjoys telling the meanest stories about Elvis he can come up with.

Jerry Shilling and Joe Esposito are almost two of a kind. They will be loyal to whomever has power at the time - Joe a bit more so I think.

George Klein seems rather harmless and I don't think all that close to Elvis all in all. Billy Smith I think loved him but is hurt and confused about what happened with the will.

Some seem to agree on some of the members of the MM.

Lamar Fike makes me want to puke. My take on him is if Elvis were still alive he'd be doing whatever Elvis told him to do. Now that Elvis has passed away he can carry this arrogant attitude around because he can no longer be fired from the MM.

I gotta agree with Diane about Jerry and Joe. They're the only ones Miss Pris and Lisa have anything to do with. They know who pulls the purse strings.

JDD was saying about Mary and Lamar seeming bitter all the time. I've seen them on Larry King and some Bio channels and they do seem to talk solely about the "hard times" they had while with Elvis.

I want to get back to something Diane said about Billy Smith. I think he was done unfairly. I think he genuinely cared about Elvis. He was blood kin. When I hear Lisa say the family in Memphis is taken care of. I wonder, what about Billy?

I think Charlie was a pretty decent guy and loved Elvis.

[joanne]

As Larry Geller said -Elvis was more intelligent than any of the guys who worked for him.

[Diane]

And therein lies the problem Joanne. Elvis was surrounded by "family" that had similar backgrounds and made him feel at home BUT none except for Larry Geller and Ed Parker could he talk to about his deep inner feelings. No wonder the drugs got out of control with the frustration and depression. He was like a caged animal with no escape.

[franny]

I've read that the original ones according to some were "Red West, Sonny West, Billy Smith, Lamar Fike, Marty Lacker". Now, I believe other should be included in that group but, that's just my opinion. Are there any guys that were in the MM that you distinctly dislike or genuinely like? I'm going to keep my mouth shut until someone else says something. :smoke:

I hope I'm not starting a thread that's already been talked about.

Wasn't Joe Esposito an original MM? I thought he was because they did meet in the army...Joe doesn't come across as being honest IMO...

I've seen some of them talk about Elvis and his temper, but I'm pretty sure they have a temper as well...It's okay to talk about Elvis, but sometimes it seems like all they do is put him down...

Billy Smith seems nice...

franny

[Diane]

Gayle, Lamar Fike makes me sick too in the same way he does with you. He only got to be included because he wouldn't go away. He even admits it. Marty Lacker comes next to the bottom of the barrel with me. In his book he mentions he went to Elvis many times for financial help. I think he had his hand out a lot.

Franny, I think Joe is considered to be one of the original MM having met Elvis in the army and so was Charlie.

I don't know why I have this gut feeling that Red and Sonny West cared also in their own way but they both caused Elvis a lot of problems. Red with a streak of jealousy and constantly "chasing" women (that's a nice word - June Juanico is much bolder about it in her book), and Sonny with his temper that resulted in law suits Elvis had to pay for. HE certainly had a worse temper than his boss, no one can dispute that. Elvis never meaningly hurt anyone, he took his temper out on objects.

Dave Heber was bad news.

I've already stated my feelings about Joe and Jerry. My two favorites are Charlie and Ed Parker and third, Larry - the rest are neither here nor there.

Poor Billy Smith I do feel sorry for as he was done wrong. Elvis was in a bad state that last year and may not have been clear thinking when he made out his last will. I don't know if Vernon changed the will, substituted it for another or what happened there or whether Vernon had anything to do with it or was it someone else who wanted Lisa to have it all? I'd like to know more about who was around Vernon a lot when he was sick and dying. In any case if PP had any heart he would at least be included in the yearly Christmas dinners at Graceland.

And that's my take on the MM...

[JDD]

I'd like to know more about who was around Vernon a lot when he was sick and dying. ...



Often wondered this myself. In fact my interest in him is even deeper then the dying days, they've written tons of books on the King, some great some sucked. They've written several on the Colonel, and even Priscilla and Lisa have been the subject of books. Vernon though seemed to have been an enigma. He was inolved in some underhanded dealings , did time in Prison , served in a position for Elvis that he wasn't qualified for and probably cost Elvis Millions and millions by always talking him out of Dumping the Colonel, but always stuck by his son for better or worse. From what I can tell , He was an interesting charicter and I'd also like to know more about him from someone that could shoot straight, and tell the truth good and bad.

[PiersEIN]

Hi Gang,
We must remember that a lot of these guys did nothing in their lives but work for Elvis, because he wanted them to be there. Of course I would have loved to be there too - but it wouldn't have been that easy a ride.

I give Lamar & Jerry & Red credit for going out & finding other "real" jobs when they could have just stayed on 'the pay roll'.

It is all too easy for us to bash these people for what they did or didn't do - but it all comes down to the fact that we weren't there, And they lived it.

It is well worth viewing the 6 hour video 'All The King's Men' to see that whatever we think (with our prejudiced views) they truly loved Elvis.

Billy Smith is one of the kindest souls you could ever meet and it breaks my heart to see him upset about his cousin.

Interviews with most of these guys on Elvis Info Net. Click here> (http://www.elvisinfonet.com/interviews.html)


If I was choosing just two to sit around my table to talk Elvis for hours I would, this week, choose Larry Geller & Red West.
Larry for his alternate view-points. His healthier/alternate lifestyle had to be good for Elvis. He always has plenty to say and HATES what the uncaring Col did to Elvis. (Read Larry) (http://www.elvisinfonet.com/gellar.html)
Red for knowing Elvis from school, being there, but also being involved in the creative musical side of Elvis.

It is all too easy to condemn these guys. Elvis fired everyone of them multiple times but always wanted them to come back. That says a lot.

Oh, and Diamond Joe pisses me off for being too much of a spy/side-kick for The Colonel.

Cheers
Piers

[graceland123]

i did not like the kings men it was crap
they came across as a set of *****s bringing up as much shit about elvis as they could
i bet they were worst than elvis thats the best part.

[Diane]

I bought the VHS video set of All The King's Men and I couldn't believe how disloyal those guys were to Elvis. What a waste of money! Was Elvis the only one who didn't talk about everyone else?????

[JDD]

I didn't find it disrespectful. Myself I thought it was cool like sitting around hearing them tell stories about Elvis. Almost all of the stories were good things.

[Donut]

I don?t dislike any of them specially but i think it wasn?t necesary to tell some intimacies they have told about Elvis. There are details that the world don?t need to know and they are completely irrelevant. I think they all loved Elvis but being grown men like they are some should have known when they were crossing the line but i can see some things have been said out of anger for things they endured with Elvis and didn?t have the guts to tell him in live.
Anyway ... i still enjoy reading their books because everything they tell isn?t bad and they dedicated their lives to Elvis for many years, some of them untill the end and he liked to have them around so they should have made a work then.

[0349054]

Every time I see The last two you named Lamar and Marty they seem very bitter and annoyed all the time. Unlike some , I can't really dislike someone I don't know they all know more about Elvis then we'll ever know having lived with him. That said I find those two a bit hard to listen to because they always seem upset. Just my opinion I could be hearing them wrong but thats what I hear from them. I always enjoy hearing Red, and George Klein, and Jerry Schilling talk perhaps they're less bitter because they have all been fairly successful after , during and aside from Elvis .

Klein is a fraudster. His new book will belong in the fiction part of a bookstore. Heck, next he will say he got Gladys pregnant!

[JDD]

Klein is a fraudster. His new book will belong in the fiction part of a bookstore. Heck, next he will say he got Gladys pregnant!




Explain ?

I kinda have a hard time buying him as the Big Evil here, because with the exception of Lacker and Fike he has all the guys from both factions of the MM on his show all the time. He's remained on air and in the business for over 50 years , I've heard very few people big names or execs and certinly not Elvis ever have anything bad to say about him and he's never had anything bad to say about Elvis in all the years I've listened to him, despite several fans calling in trying to get him to bash others he refuses to take the bait. The guy is a class act as far as I'm concerned. He often has spoke of Gladys and never in anything but the most respectful terms.

[Diane]

I agree JDD, I don't think George Klein is a bad guy either. He may not have been as close to Elvis as is sometimes claimed that HE claims (you can't trust everything you read about what a person has said if it's not straight from the source). Come to think of it, sometimes you can't trust the source either.:D

[Sammy4Elvis]

I think Charlie and Joe were good to Elvis but the most sincere and caring i think is Jerry, the ones i dislike will remain nameless. Its what Elvis wanted and he kept the guys with him all the time, they had more good then bad times. We are always looking for someone to blame but nothing will change whats happened. We all get mixed up with people we shouldnt and sometimes hurt those dear to us by doing it,Elvis was no different.

[0349054]

Explain ?

I kinda have a hard time buying him as the Big Evil here, because with the exception of Lacker and Fike he has all the guys from both factions of the MM on his show all the time. He's remained on air and in the business for over 50 years , I've heard very few people big names or execs and certinly not Elvis ever have anything bad to say about him and he's never had anything bad to say about Elvis in all the years I've listened to him, despite several fans calling in trying to get him to bash others he refuses to take the bait. The guy is a class act as far as I'm concerned. He often has spoke of Gladys and never in anything but the most respectful terms.

Klein is a fraudster. His claims are completely fictional. He's so far into EPE he can't see out the other side and the thing is that most of the people on his show are into EPE as well.

Elvis spoke to President Jimmy Carter about getting Klein off his fraud charge and it didn't work. Klein is an ex-con and to be honest you should read more into ALL in the Memphis Mafia before deciding who is telling the truth or who is telling porky's.

Just remember, none of the guys into EPE EVER say anything disrespectful of Elvis, and at the end of the day 99% of people KNOW he abused drugs and slept with many many women. Sometimes the truth just hurts, but Klein is a whole different kettle of fish, hell if Elvis had walked the moon he'd claim responsibilty for it!

[jak]

I think Klein's main role in Elvis life was securring Elvis female companionship.Im sure Klein has a few stories that would bruise your ears but you will never hear them.His book will be the sanitized version with the E.P.E. stamp of approval.The other guys are probably all decent guys.Elvis picked them to be in his inner circle so they met his approval and thats what mattered at the time.We may not like what a few of them have to say about their time with Elvis but its their story so I guess they have a right to speak of it.Some of them come off somewhat cocky and arrogant but Elvis was probably the same way out of the public eye.Birds of a feather flock together as the saying goes.
Jak

[JDD]

Klein is a fraudster. His claims are completely fictional. He's so far into EPE he can't see out the other side and the thing is that most of the people on his show are into EPE as well.

Elvis spoke to President Jimmy Carter about getting Klein off his fraud charge and it didn't work. Klein is an ex-con and to be honest you should read more into ALL in the Memphis Mafia before deciding who is telling the truth or who is telling porky's.

Just remember, none of the guys into EPE EVER say anything disrespectful of Elvis, and at the end of the day 99% of people KNOW he abused drugs and slept with many many women. Sometimes the truth just hurts, but Klein is a whole different kettle of fish, hell if Elvis had walked the moon he'd claim responsibilty for it!


I listen to his show every week, I never hear anything resembling what you say. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[0349054]

Yeah I guess so.

Just a few notes on GK.


GK claimed on Sirius radio that he was there when Elvis and the Beatles met and that he was the go-between between Elvis and the Beatles.
First of all he wasn't there and if he had of been he wouldn't have been the go-between. Brian Esptein called the Colonel and set it up and Parker sent Esposito to meet the Beatles and bring them back to the house.

Klein has also claimed....the story of when He, Priscilla, and Elvis were all at Graceland sitting around in the Living room, just the 3 of them, and Elvis looks at GKnd says " I need a symbol, I need something that signifies who I am", GK started sketching the TCB Logo, a rough draft of it. The next day GK presents it to Elvis, Elvis and Cilla approve, and thus the TCB Necklace was born.

Strange seeing as everyone else agrees Elvis and Priscilla came up with it on a plane and that's even the version she has in her book!

Klein has on occasion claimed to be a BEST MAN at Elvis's wedding, has said he convinced Elvis to record at American Sound Studio's in 69' (that was Marty Lacker's doing) and says he made Elvis record suspicious minds.....(Joe Esposito got Elvis to record it)

That's just what I can think of, but that coupled with the fact he's an ex-con jailed for fraud just leaves a sour taste in my mouth when GK start's claiming X,Y and Z about Elvis. To be honest a lot of people consider him a joke. Just my opinion though.

[JDD]

Yeah I guess so.

Just a few notes on GK.


GK claimed on Sirius radio that he was there when Elvis and the Beatles met and that he was the go-between between Elvis and the Beatles.
First of all he wasn't there and if he had of been he wouldn't have been the go-between. Brian Esptein called the Colonel and set it up and Parker sent Esposito to meet the Beatles and bring them back to the house.

Klein has also claimed....the story of when He, Priscilla, and Elvis were all at Graceland sitting around in the Living room, just the 3 of them, and Elvis looks at GKnd says " I need a symbol, I need something that signifies who I am", GK started sketching the TCB Logo, a rough draft of it. The next day GK presents it to Elvis, Elvis and Cilla approve, and thus the TCB Necklace was born.

Strange seeing as everyone else agrees Elvis and Priscilla came up with it on a plane and that's even the version she has in her book!

Klein has on occasion claimed to be a BEST MAN at Elvis's wedding, has said he convinced Elvis to record at American Sound Studio's in 69' (that was Marty Lacker's doing) and says he made Elvis record suspicious minds.....(Joe Esposito got Elvis to record it)

That's just what I can think of, but that coupled with the fact he's an ex-con jailed for fraud just leaves a sour taste in my mouth when GK start's claiming X,Y and Z about Elvis. To be honest a lot of people consider him a joke. Just my opinion though.

I won't say you made anything up, you have your opinions I'll have mine, we can probably get along fine even if we never agree on anything. Though I'm sure there are several things we'd see eye to eye on and have the same info on. Just wanted to say that before I reply. Now.......

I've rarely missed one of his shows on Sirius maybe 3 - 4 since it started and
I've never heard him say He was Elvis Best man or that he was even there for that matter and the only mention of the Beatles story was that he wasn't there but told it just as I've heard it from 10 other people over the years . I've heard him say Elvis was the best man at his wedding, and then I've seen the photos of that . I heard Joe Esposito say that Elvis paid for GK's wedding and got a big kick out of planning it himself.

The only time I ever heard him talk about TCB on the radio he said Elvis got it from Captain Marvel.

You sure you heard that on Sirius? , and not just that you read that he said it somewhere, because its odd that I listen every week almost always the full show since my Job allows me to be flexable on my hours and I plan for it, and always hear those stories told differently. I have read a few times that various guys claimed this and that and when I had a chance to ask they deny it. I myself have been misquoted a couple of times in the local paper so I know that happenes.

When did George Klein do time in Prison? Not saying he didn't , just asking when and where so I can read into it for myself. I did a google and got nothing on it so maybe you can point me in the right direction if you know for sure something on the topic I don't.

[0349054]

Klein has a proven track record of making stuff up. Check out a few internet message boards and websites and you'll see.

He used to be the Program Director of WHBQ Radio, Memphis. During a radio rating period, he was in cahoots with the mailman who delivered the mail in an area of Memphis that delivered a number of ratings books. For those who are not aware, a ratings book is what a company like Neilsen Rating Service mails to people's homes that have agreed to fill out the logs in the book indicating what programs they are listening to daily and on what station. They do that for an entire month and then send the book back to Neilsen. That's how radio and TV stations got their ratings that they sell advertising off of.

Because they are mailed and because radio and TV stations are regulated by Federal Agencies, it is a Federal offense to tamper with them.

They investigated the mailman because the people who were supposed to get the ratings books didn't receive them and they complained, and the mailman ratted out on George to lighten his own sentence.

What happened is the mailman gave George the books and George filled out the books making his station look good and signing the people's names.

He got caught, indicted and sentenced to time, which he served in the county jail.

He didn't go to a Federal Prison because of strings that were pulled.

This was 1977 and Elvis rang President Carter to try and get Klein off the charge. However Carter didn't grant Elvis any such favours. Story goes that Klein bugged Elvis to do it and all.

But that's what happened and I know for a FACT he has claimed the above things as well, several of the guys have told me.

[joanne]

I think Klein's main role in Elvis life was securring Elvis female companionship.Im sure Klein has a few stories that would bruise your ears but you will never hear them.His book will be the sanitized version with the E.P.E. stamp of approval.The other guys are probably all decent guys.Elvis picked them to be in his inner circle so they met his approval and thats what mattered at the time.We may not like what a few of them have to say about their time with Elvis but its their story so I guess they have a right to speak of it.Some of them come off somewhat cocky and arrogant but Elvis was probably the same way out of the public eye.Birds of a feather flock together as the saying goes.
JakYou should know.
By the way 0349054 great to have you back. I always enjoy your posts.

[0349054]

You should know.
By the way 0349054 great to have you back. I always enjoy your posts.

Many thanks Joanne, great to be back!

[Tony Trout]

If there was one 'favorite' member of the Memphis mafia for me, it would have to be Billy Smith. If Elvis ever had a 'best friend' (besides his mother) it was Billy Smith.

[Dovey]

"03" I agree with Joanne.... sure great to see you are back!!!

Always enjoy reading your posts :cool: Thanks Dovey ;)

[0349054]

Thank you Dovey I always appreciate your comments.

[jak]

Joanne
Actually its Klein who likes talking about his role in getting Elvis his girlfriends.Its well documented including the infamous Ginger Alden.
Jak

[joanne]

I was meaning cocky and arrogant like you.

[graceland123]

i think your wrong calling elvis cocky and arrogant
he was not either of those
you are on your own there

[jak]

The Elvis presley that sat behind the walls of Graceland was a little different than the image carefully presented to the public.He was a great person but he absolutlely showed his arrogance and cockiness on many occasions.Maybe some of you honestly dont know details of his life to some degree.The guys around him have stated over and over about the fact he was Elvis and you better not forget it.Nobody could say no to him remember?Its that attitude that led to his destructive behaviour.Elvis and those guys played out their macho games on a continous basis.Someone as famous as Elvis couldnt help but be that way sometimes its just human nature when you have so many people telling you how great you are all the time.
I would rather be somewhat cocky than completely naive.Right now i need to go right click some neat new photos in the gallery:D

[Dudcowboy_1]

Well first one I don't like is Elvis Stepbrother. I hate how he's on ET/Insider talking nothing but bad stuff. He never found Elvis. Joe did...

I like Red but I can't stand Sonny. All Sonny was his bitter, because half of Elvis lawsuits in my mind is because Sonny was on power trip. But that's just me. And editor/publisher worked for gossip magizen am I right or wrong?

Lamar worked more for Col. didnt he? lol

One of the nicest guys I got to meet and are Sam Tompson, Joe, Dick Grob, and many more threw these Elvis Contest and etc I have done. You can tell who loved him or who's bitter.

I know I will not watch the TV Speical coming out in future that Elvis Stepbrother directed, because it be nothing but lies. He was more high than anyone.

Take care and God Bless!

Tim

[JDD]

Hey Dud, I'd be surprised if anybody picks up Stanleys "headhunter" for an actual TV network. Maybe I'm wrong but why would anybody be interested in a movie about Vernons short term step son?

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

I've just been listening to George Klein's show on sirius, ( free trial) and I have to agree agree with 03'. He sells himself on the show as THE Elvis expert, all knowing with a sectiion just for that. Someone from Lebanon called and George went into how his "good friend" (which he referred to everyone as) Danny Thomas was Lebanese and all he did with St. Jude and Elvis helping him with that. He said that Danny worked closely with this doctor who was an minister and named the hospital after him . George said" and I believe his name was Saint Jude, hence the hospital's name". Ok, there's some fabrication there.

I got he feeling after watching the show that he has to have all the answers even if he doesn't know them. He reminded me a little of the postman on "Cheers" that always knew everything.

He may know a lot , and may have been a friend but he is definately a bull-shixxer.

[diamond]

Well said, all Elvis is to any of the guys is a pension.

By the way who is the guy with the numbers instead of a name........especially when someone wrote ''you should know''. It had me intrigued lol

[hounddog]

The thing that i wonder is would Elvis still be alive if any of them really talked to him about what was going on with him. It seems to me they all told their woes to Elvis but he had no one to talk to. He seemed to want to reach out, to be understood.

They all say that they saw his demise but in reality they seems to have done very little to help him. If someone is in trouble you don't ingore it,

They also say no one said no to Elvis, maybe he wanted someone to say no to him. Maybe if one of them stood up to him and really questioned his drug taking he may still be here.

I know that will irk some people, but in all the MM books i've read they say they had no control over what he did, that's true he was a grown man, but no one confronted him either.

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

The thing that i wonder is would Elvis still be alive if any of them really talked to him about what was going on with him. It seems to me they all told their woes to Elvis but he had no one to talk to. He seemed to want to reach out, to be understood.

They all say that they saw his demise but in reality they seems to have done very little to help him. If someone is in trouble you don't ingore it,

They also say no one said no to Elvis, maybe he wanted someone to say no to him. Maybe if one of them stood up to him and really questioned his drug taking he may still be here.

I know that will irk some people, but in all the MM books i've read they say they had no control over what he did, that's true he was a grown man, but no one confronted him either.
I agree with you alot. I have read all these books by the MM and everyone else, saw all the videos and interviews and I still have the opinion that some type of intervention could have happened. I know legally, his father and the colonel were the only ones, well why the hell didn't they do something. They could have gotten some muscle though from the MM. I know he was a grown man and I feel for some of what the more respectable members of the MM had to go through. But, I also feel it was a boss/job relationship and they were on the payroll. They all say it wasn't about the money because they weren't paid much. Through gifts, travel, expenses, houses, cars entertainment, I'd say they're entire lives were paid for. Yeah most of them had trouble gaining employment after, because they did not seek other oppurtunities while they were with him, they relied on Elvis. They were scared to get off the train and didn't want to (Hell, some of them still don't want to). They didn't want Elvis mad at them, because it was much easier on everyone when Elvis got what Elvis wanted. Billy Smith says he tried to help the last year or so, and in retrospect thinks he could have done more. I'd hate to be in theyr'e shoes when it got bad with Elvis, but I would have had to get with Vernon and Elvis' family and discuss what had to be done and do it , fired or no firing. I know they didn't have the organizations back then that they do now, but they did have some and it was done, even with famous celebrities, and even political figures. Johnny Cash had friends step in and do it. They didn't get arrested and prosecuted. It was different with Elvis I know, but I just feel that he might have lived had he been surrounded with a different quality of people from the beginning. It might not have even got that far.

[Dovey]

I agree with you 100% Menwithbrokenhearts. I have often though the same things. Elvis needed help and he needed someone to step up to the plate and make him get the help. ( Yes, I know easier said than done) But nobody really tried ... He loved his daughter and perhaps they could of built their case from there... to get him to realize he needed the help .. we will never know what might of been but sure would of been nice to know that someone cared enough to try.

It would not of been easy but then love can move mountains when used in the proper way.

You speak with much wisdom Menwithbrokenhearts, to bad he did not have people like you around when he was going through his hell.

I think Parker also destroyed Elvis' spirit.. stirling his artistry in third-rate movies, suffocating his ambitions in 837 Vegas performances from 1969-1976, and killing his will to live by refusing to challenge him in meaningful ways, like a European tour, a dramatic film role in a movie to reclaim his self-respect. Elvis needed someone to tell him to get a new manager also...
(Just my opinion) Dovey :)

[jak]

I just saw an interview on tv last night with Tom Jones and he was asked about Elvis' problems towards the end.He didnt mention names but he said a couple of Elvis' bodyguards asked him for help to get Elvis off drugs thinking he might have some influence.He said Elvis wouldnt respond to him because he didnt like being reminded he had a problem to begin with so you couldnt help him.He says near the end he wouldnt even return his phone calls.That's a perfect example of why Elvis couldnt be reached.I think people tried but he wouldnt have it.
Jak

[Diane]

Tom Jones was not the person to go to for help. He and Elvis were friendly but not close friends. Ed Parker would have had more influence on him but even he didn't try hard enough. I agree with MWBH and Dovey that Vernon was the person they should have gone to as he as his father was the only one with the power to have him committed. The colonel wouldn't have gone along with it as it would have pulled him away from making the $$$$$$$ so there is no way that he would have wanted him to go away for a "rest".

People who have strong addictions DO need other people to get in there in intervene and not give up until they convince the addict to go for serious help. Addicts CANNOT think clearly for themselves everyone knows that, or they should! An addict will fight tooth and nail to stay in denial. If you really care for someone's health and happiness you don't give up. Never mind the temper tantrums, threats or whatever , just get in there do it! Unfortunately few people have the guts......:'(

[Dovey]

Tom Jones was not the person to go to for help. He and Elvis were friendly but not close friends. Ed Parker would have had more influence on him but even he didn't try hard enough. I agree with MWBH and Dovey that Vernon was the person they should have gone to as he as his father was the only one with the power to have him committed. The colonel wouldn't have gone along with it as it would have pulled him away from making the $$$$$$$ so there is no way that he would have wanted him to go away for a "rest".

People who have strong addictions DO need other people to get in there in intervene and not give up until they convince the addict to go for serious help. Addicts CANNOT think clearly for themselves everyone knows that, or they should! An addict will fight tooth and nail to stay in denial. If you really care for someone's health and happiness you don't give up. Never mind the temper tantrums, threats or whatever , just get in there do it! Unfortunately few people have the guts......:'(

I agree 100% Diane .... you hit the nail on the head for sure!!!!

What I was trying to say above (and did it badly) was that Elvis
had a lot to live for and needed help from people who cared about him to seek the much needed help from professionals.
(no shame in that)

With the proper help he would of seen that he did need to get rid of people like Parker and others that only cared about the $$$$ aspect of his life.

Such a shame nobody had the guts to do it.. Dovey ;)

[Shake A Hand]

I totally agree with Diane, Dovey and others. The MM say they loved Elvis as a brother and yet nothing was done to stop him. I know some claim they approached him individually to no avail. Elvis was a force to be reckoned with, BUT if they would of tackled him as a united front, maybe they could of got somewhere.

I was just curious about the guys that have written 'their' story. What happened to all the profits made from the sales of the books or was it all personal gain?
If they had donated their $?$?'s to a drug rehab centre or some other worthy charity, then I may be persuaded to look at them in a more favourable light. Does anyone know?

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

I agree with you 100% Menwithbrokenhearts. I have often though the same things. Elvis needed help and he needed someone to step up to the plate and make him get the help. ( Yes, I know easier said than done) But nobody really tried ... He loved his daughter and perhaps they could of built their case from there... to get him to realize he needed the help .. we will never know what might of been but sure would of been nice to know that someone cared enough to try.

It would not of been easy but then love can move mountains when used in the proper way.

You speak with much wisdom Menwithbrokenhearts, to bad he did not have people like you around when he was going through his hell.

I think Parker also destroyed Elvis' spirit.. stirling his artistry in third-rate movies, suffocating his ambitions in 837 Vegas performances from 1969-1976, and killing his will to live by refusing to challenge him in meaningful ways, like a European tour, a dramatic film role in a movie to reclaim his self-respect. Elvis needed someone to tell him to get a new manager also...
(Just my opinion) Dovey :)

Thanks for the kind words Dovey. And... I agree with you 100% about the Colonel!!:doh:

[MauriceColgan]

Millions of Elvis Presley fans enjoyed the best of Elvis's beautiful voice and music from 1957 - till 1977 Without ever considering the Memphis Mafia. That's how important they were.

Yes they lacked backbone..........I walked out on employers when I really need to consider my family committments.... But self respect demanded it. I always got another position within days. I could not have worked for Elvis and watched him throw away his tallent on mediocre songs and movies.Vicarious fame and Money is not THAT important!!!

Why they could not have cleaned up Elvis and placed him on his bed 16th August 1977 beats the life out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Consequences....Blow the consequences!!!! Elvis Presley deserved better from his, "Friends".

[franny]

I totally agree with Diane, Dovey and others. The MM say they loved Elvis as a brother and yet nothing was done to stop him. I know some claim they approached him individually to no avail. Elvis was a force to be reckoned with, BUT if they would of tackled him as a united front, maybe they could of got somewhere.

I agree with what you all have been saying...and I believe the above quote is very true as well! I think it's too bad they didn't all talk to him at the same time, unless they did and he wouldn't listen...Really the only person that could help Elvis was Elvis himself, but in the shape he was in at the end, it was too hard!

franny