Elvis, "It's Midnight" and he says " listen Cilla"

[Getlo]

Anybody that listens to Desert Storm and says Elvis isnt stoned that night absolutely refuses to see the truth.That is one recording that I wish never would have surfaced.I bought the Baxter release when it was first released.I was absolutely shocked when I played it.It's an audio document of Elvis slipping away and losing control.Nothing about his behaviour that night can be justified as him merely "venting" his frustrations.This is when his drug use got to a point that he could no longer be counted on to function properly on stage.The signs were there before 74, but when Elvis allowed himself to go on stage in that condition it was a lost battle.That's not a slam or just my opinion,it's the way it was.You cant change history by trying to explain things away because you want to sympathize with Elvis.
Jak

Perfectly well said, jak!

[Getlo]

The ironic twist is that he was stoned while going on his tirade about drug rumors. Jak

Yes. Elvis railed against drug addicts and the drug culture because, in his mind, he wasn't part of it.

He saw street drugs like heroin etc as different to what he was taking. But he was addicted to the "medications" he took. Denial is part of the addict's psyche.

Having said all that, I still think the show itself is pretty good, with some great performances. It's the between song stuff that is just awful to hear!

[Getlo]

Frank Sinatra was in Australia on tour in the 70s and he made statements which outraged the country. It was in the news and gossip columns for weeks. No one questioned if he was over medicated or that he was "wacked out of his head" or even drunk.

It was one comment. He referred to a female journalist as a "two-bit *****" because she asked a stupid personal question. Unionists then held him captive for a week, refusing to transport him and his crew around or out of Australia.

I remember the event well.

So, there was no question of Frank's mental state. However, if he had spent too many minutes on stage - as Elvis did in this show - raving and going off in all sorts of directions, then maybe questions would've arisen.

Totally different situation.

[King_Creole]

Yes. Elvis railed against drug addicts and the drug culture because, in his mind, he wasn't part of it.

He saw street drugs like heroin etc as different to what he was taking. But he was addicted to the "medications" he took. Denial is part of the addict's psyche.

Absolutely

Your sense of logic and reasoning is a breathe of fresh air around here.

There are basically two camps on this issue; those who look at it rationally and those who view it emotionally.

Therein lies the fundamental reason why this is forever destined to be a perennially contentous topic amongst the fandom.

Having said all that, I still think the show itself is pretty good, with some great performances. It's the between song stuff that is just awful to hear!

Agreed

[Tony Trout]

Yes. Elvis railed against drug addicts and the drug culture because, in his mind, he wasn't part of it.

He saw street drugs like heroin etc as different to what he was taking. But he was addicted to the "medications" he took. Denial is part of the addict's psyche.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that Elvis did try stuff like cocaine and especially Dilaudid and codeine (the Codeine usage is perplexing to me because I thought I read somewhere that he couldn't take Codeine in large doses?? Anybody have any more info on this? Dilaudid, if I'm not mistaken, is five times stronger than morphine and two and a half times stronger than heroin...that's some pretty strong stuff.

Having said all that, I still think the show itself is pretty good, with some great performances. It's the between song stuff that is just awful to hear!

I agree.

[Getlo]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that Elvis did try stuff like cocaine

I never said he didn't. He also used LSD as you know.

He never took these regularly and - in his own mind - was able to separate his type of addiction from that of other "dirtier" drugs.

But addiction is addiction ...

[elvis himselvis]

I like Elvis very much,but i think what he did was not OK.
First of all,because he was against the street drugs,and he gets a badge from president Nixon to protect people for it,and while he was against this,he was taking street drugs.....
I think that's really a bad thing and i think it's stupid of him...if you take it by yourself,don't say bad things about drugs,because you also take it by yourself.
I think Elvis don't have a point on this....

[franny]

Anybody that listens to Desert Storm and says Elvis isnt stoned that night absolutely refuses to see the truth.That is one recording that I wish never would have surfaced.I bought the Baxter release when it was first released.I was absolutely shocked when I played it.It's an audio document of Elvis slipping away and losing control.Nothing about his behaviour that night can be justified as him merely "venting" his frustrations.This is when his drug use got to a point that he could no longer be counted on to function properly on stage.The signs were there before 74, but when Elvis allowed himself to go on stage in that condition it was a lost battle.That's not a slam or just my opinion,it's the way it was.You cant change history by trying to explain things away because you want to sympathize with Elvis. Jak

I totally agree! Best post in this thread!

Elvis had a drug problem, but it doesn't mean we love him any less!

franny

[KPM]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that Elvis did try stuff like cocaine and especially Dilaudid and codeine (the Codeine usage is perplexing to me because I thought I read somewhere that he couldn't take Codeine in large doses?? Anybody have any more info on this? Dilaudid, if I'm not mistaken, is five times stronger than morphine and two and a half times stronger than heroin...that's some pretty strong stuff.




I agree.

Try reading the book "Elvis Up Close" it goes into detail at the end with quotes from several specialists about what drugs in Elvis's body were for etc. It may surprise you. Also Dr Nick discusses several health issues which Elvis had including a congental (from birth) colon problem he was born with. Also theres the report from 1994 by Dr. James Davis a noted Dade County Medical Examiner who was asked to review the autopsy reports and the toxicology reports from Elvis's death. His findings might also surprise you. I have posted this before but no one seems interested. These were doctors giving opinions from the reports made in 1977.

[ksimms2]

Well I'm one who's been told and read all about the "uglies" in Elvis' life and it doesn't change my admiration for the "real" person he was and his unbelievable talent.

Diane

well said Diane! well said!

[Merry]

Try reading the book "Elvis Up Close" it goes into detail at the end with quotes from several specialists about what drugs in Elvis's body were for etc. It may surprise you. Also Dr Nick discusses several health issues which Elvis had including a congental (from birth) colon problem he was born with. Also theres the report from 1994 by Dr. James Davis a noted Dade County Medical Examiner who was asked to review the autopsy reports and the toxicology reports from Elvis's death. His findings might also surprise you. I have posted this before but no one seems interested. These were doctors giving opinions from the reports made in 1977.

Thank you KPM.

I remember asking you for these personally months ago, as they set the record straight.

Not rumour mongering and where people "go", because it is "more exciting" ..........who knows what some people think and why they do this!! grrrrrrrr

Sigh.

Kimmi

[Merry]

Thank you KPM.

I remember asking you for these personally months ago, as they set the record straight.

Not rumour mongering and where people "go", because it is "more exciting" ..........who knows what some people think and why they do this!! grrrrrrrr

Sigh.

Kimmi

KPM I was going to post what you sent me all that time ago, and I have accidentally erased it! grrrrrrrr


Kim

[Miss Clawdy]

Try reading the book "Elvis Up Close" it goes into detail at the end with quotes from several specialists about what drugs in Elvis's body were for etc. It may surprise you. Also Dr Nick discusses several health issues which Elvis had including a congental (from birth) colon problem he was born with. Also theres the report from 1994 by Dr. James Davis a noted Dade County Medical Examiner who was asked to review the autopsy reports and the toxicology reports from Elvis's death. His findings might also surprise you. I have posted this before but no one seems interested. These were doctors giving opinions from the reports made in 1977.

I am very interested in reading this book, thank you for posting it. I ordered it a second time as it was no longer available from the first seller. The price is also interesting, I hope I will get it for 16.95 Euro now, others want up to 128 Euro for it
I also agree with your previous posts about 'Elvis the image' and 'Elvis the man'. I listened to Dessert Storm and didn't find it embarrassing or awful to hear. He expressed his personal opinion on several things, it seemed to be important for him to tell his fans.




And I agree with you too, Diane

[elvislady]

Thanks for sharing this video, i just posted it to i did not realise it was already on.
elvislady

[The King's Queen]

KPM I was going to post what you sent me all that time ago, and I have accidentally erased it! grrrrrrrr


Kim

Hey Kimmi...if you get it back, maybe you could share it with me???

Hugs!

[jak]

I totally agree! Best post in this thread!

Elvis had a drug problem, but it doesn't mean we love him any less!

franny

That sums it up perfectly.
Jak

[jak]

Try reading the book "Elvis Up Close" it goes into detail at the end with quotes from several specialists about what drugs in Elvis's body were for etc. It may surprise you. Also Dr Nick discusses several health issues which Elvis had including a congental (from birth) colon problem he was born with. Also theres the report from 1994 by Dr. James Davis a noted Dade County Medical Examiner who was asked to review the autopsy reports and the toxicology reports from Elvis's death. His findings might also surprise you. I have posted this before but no one seems interested. These were doctors giving opinions from the reports made in 1977.

Elvis did have some health issues that required some medication.However he obviously was taking more than he needed and things he didnt need.Dont forget that Elvis would also injure himself on purpose to get drugs from doctors.That says it all.Another point is that Elvis carried around his PDR manual as far back as the early 60's.No normal person does that.Elvis was on drugs most of his career but he kept it under control early on.
Jak

[KPM]

Elvis did have some health issues that required some medication.However he obviously was taking more than he needed and things he didnt need.Dont forget that Elvis would also injure himself on purpose to get drugs from doctors.That says it all.Another point is that Elvis carried around his PDR manual as far back as the early 60's.No normal person does that.Elvis was on drugs most of his career but he kept it under control early on.
Jak

All I can say is try getting acopy of the book if for nothing else to read what several medical people get from reviewing the reports on his death. Some of their observations will not be surprising and others will be.
As for the PDR you are correct no normal person would carry one and try to look for medications for ailments or for what they do and what they are for.
That is my point that seems to get lost or ignored. Why was he like this? I have tried for months to show their are things which affect someones mental make up which they have little control over. I have tried to show this is not a new radical idea. Just because its Elvis is he not entitled to some understanding for things which he may not have been able to control. No one has ever said :
"Gee why did he think there was a drug for every ailment?"
"Why did he look for all the crazy treatments and diets for his weight and sleep problems?"
"What caused the dreaded fear of going to sleep at night which plagued him since his childhood?" "
What caused the insecurity that made him need someone by his side everynight when he went to bed"
These are not small items they are major phobias and quirks. Some do not believe in these things as being a medical problem, they see it as personal choice being covered by psychiatric double talk.
Was his congential ganglionic fold in his colon caused by drug abuse? No he was born with it and he would have had extreme pain as he aged without ever taking any drugs. This is a fact not opinion. His addiction to a fatty diet
(such as he grew up on) and his addictive personality which led him to any pill for any ailment made this condition even worse that is true. But the congenital problem would have caused him extreme pain even if he had not had the diet or drugs. The congenital ganglionis fold would have slowed down digestion, caused clogging of the colon and expansion of the colon- bowel movements would become more and more painful as he aged amd harder and harder for natural movement- regardless of any other factor. So from what I have read, and explored on this subject IMO he probably had great pain in his bowels. But lets face it we are never going to agree oh this topic. I see all that Elvis was-flaws and greatness. We are constantly seing threads about what was it that made Elvis great. What is the single factor which sets him above other entertainers in our opinions. Well I see the flaws and also say what made them? To me its too easy to dismiss them as "He did it to himself?" Many obviously do not agree and they have that right. But it will not stop me from commenting on it and researching in my spare time for other legitimate answers-other than just black and white. I say this with all due respect.

[marina]

I wanted to ask isn't this also the night where he introduces Sheila Ryan as his girlfriend?
If so, how would that have made her feel with Elvis dedicating this song to Cilla.

[4THEHEART]

"some health issues " are too light a sentence to discribe the health conditions of his..and those are,can not be treated with only "some pills"..if you have to carry on as Elvis did,the treatments can only be symptomatic and temporary and takes a lot of stuff(medicine)and for sure this is the wrong thing to do as well...I'm not a doctor but being around many sick people,these are general facts about improperly treated chronic health issues..insomnia alone, makes one a dependent for lots of drugs without needing to injure one's self..where did you get that idea for god's sake..