From Bodie at Fecc.In her book, "The Colonel", Alanna Nash revealed that in the 1970s Saudi billionaires offered the Colonel initially $5m, and then increasing the offer to $10m, for Elvis to stage a concert in front of the pyramids in Egypt.
Marty Lacker was aware of this offer and said Elvis had shown him a brochure that they sent of the Pyramids where the show was to take place. He wanted to do it but Parker killed it.
As far as Elvis touring overseas, here is what Charlie Hodge said about it in an interview:
" Touring overseas was a real big issue for Elvis. He wanted to tour Europe badly and especially wanted to perform in Germany and France as he had such happy memories of being in both countries. He wanted to repay the people for their hospitality and of course his fans in other countries. There were so many big offers for Elvis to perform in other countries and we never really knew why the Colonel said no to them. We used to talk about why it never happened. Sometimes the Colonel would say it was security concerns or there weren't suitable auditoriums and other times the price of tickets would be too high. But it used to annoy the hell out of Elvis. He got very angry about it more than one time".
Well Brian looks like the topic has risen from the grave. It's only been a few weeks now
Leave it to that darn Colonel Parker to ruin a one in a lifetime oppurtunity like this would have been. Heck you think as much as Parker loved money even he would have sent Elvis to do this and stayed in the States.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
it does not surprise me any more parker was a greedy money graber but i'm sure even he could see this was a great oppertunity can you just imagine elvis in egypt in front of the pyramids doing his thing it would have been as memorable as the hawaii concert and $10m is not a bad fee
Hi Mr. Burrows
yes I have been having a discussion about this with Bodie over at Fecc
I had know about the concert in Egypt for a few years now, I think it was offered in 1975 after the Desert storm incident, college park and around the time he started making comments about Kathy Westmorland on stage about her being loose it was also around the time he accidently shot Dr. Nick in the chest, and I think after he almost accidently killed girlfriend Linda with a gun in Las Vegas
Sonny West has said Colonel Parker didn't want to go through the hassles of booking Elvis with the quantity of pills and guns he would have carried fearing he would get caught with them and it would cause a international incident, people would find out about Elvis severe pill popping habit etc.
Interesting information I have found is that when Colonel Parker managed Eddy Arnold he did book him outside the U.S.
He booked him in Canada, Europe and Mexico
the Colonel didn't go with Eddy to Europe or Canada he let his assistants handle it but he did go with him to Mexico though
He didn't have to go with Elvis he could have let his assistants handle it.
(Tom Diskin etc.) and he would have got his share of the money anyway
Sonny West went on to explain in another interview that Colonel Parker was looking at venues overseas for a possible European tour for 1978 (Wembley arena was one of the venues being looked at) but he doubted Elvis would have toured Europe in 1978 as his drug use was real bad toward the end of his life. Sonny says Colonel would have set up the tour had Elvis only taking the prescription drugs that were absolutely necessary (sleeping pills to help him sleep) and left the rest of his drugs and his guns completely at home Elvis would have headed for Europe but at the point Elvis needed to got to rehab or a hospital facility
(Charlie Stone has confirmed that Colonel Parker sent him to Europe to get info on doing foreign tours in 1977)
DO not agree-its subjective opinion no way to prove it.Originally Posted by Brian
Been down this road before and it leads to nowhere.
True, same old story over and over again...
yep sonny l couldn't agree more. Some things are better left alone and this is one of them.
It's the same old topics over and over again...weight gain, drugs, overseas tour, the MM and Priscilla. One of us HAS to be able to come up with something that hasn't been rehashed and gotten nowhere thousands of times. I'm thinking.......
Diane
Elvis' manager was a person having control in mind and he right about helped to kill him. My opinion is that he had a darker presence, some people have what they'd call a negative aura.
He did anything for money, including painting sparrows yellow and selling them as canaries. Complaining customers were told the birds just needed to adapt to another environment, but that was of course before being the manager of Eddy Arnold and later Elvis.
The point is he would have had to give up some control by letting Elvis travel abroad without him.
Last edited by EnigmaticSun; 07-30-2008 at 12:31 PM. Reason: correct a word
all the goons I left behind,
memories still linger..
It wasnt meant to go back down that ol road just thought it was an unbelieveable deal and couldn't believe parker would pass on that kind of money
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
I couldn't agree more with the statement above. To me like, like the original poster of this, Bodi from FECC, it makes sense that Parker was an illegal alien and was not going to let Elvis go on a World Tour, because he couldnt go with Elvis.Interestingly, i have just come across something in Jerry Shilling's book 'Me and a guy name Elvis', on page 262, it reads that Elvis was so upset with Parker for not booking an overseas tour that Parker said to Elvis 'If you want to go over there, you will do it without me' then Elvis fired Parker.
So Charlie Hodge,Marty Lacker and now Jerry Shilling have all said that Elvis really wanted to tour overseas but Parker was so against it.
This is enough evidence to suggest to me that Parker was hiding the fact from Elvis that he was an illegal alien and couldnt leave the US.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
I couldn't agree more with the statement above. To me like, like the original poster of this, Bodi from FECC, it makes sense that Parker was an illegal alien and was not going to let Elvis go on a World Tour, because he couldnt go with Elvis.
Hi Mr. Burrows
you still say that after the message I sent you
Yes sir I will. It's blantly obvious to me anyhow that Parker wouldnt allow the world tour because of the Illegal Alien issue. sorry thats my opinion and you telling me different is going to change it. I don't buy the it was beause of Elvis' drugs theory. I did for awhile but after reading what Jerry, Charlie, and Marty had to say it makes sense it was because Colonel was an illegal alien therefore Elvis could not tour worldwide. Colonel made a huge deal when Elvis just wanted to take a vacation to Europe for crying out loud.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
Elvis = employer
Colonel = employee
If Elvis really wanted to do it, he would go without Parker....in my opinion.
Too bad Elvis never had the balls to fire Parker. Just think of what Elvis could've done had he went with a manager like Steve Binder
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
Yes sir I will. It's blantly obvious to me anyhow that Parker wouldnt allow the world tour because of the Illegal Alien issue. sorry thats my opinion and you telling me different is going to change it. I don't buy the it was beause of Elvis' drugs theory. I did for awhile but after reading what Jerry, Charlie, and Marty had to say it makes sense it was because Colonel was an illegal alien therefore Elvis could not tour worldwide. Colonel made a huge deal when Elvis just wanted to take a vacation to Europe for crying out loud.
Do you know why they say that sir
It's because they don't know that the Colonel was friends with Ambassador Walter Annenberg and President Lyndon Johnson and a slew of other powerful politicians.
Sonny was around constantly from 1960-1976 and got to know the Colonel very well and his reasoning for things. Jerry was in and out pursuing other opportunities. Marty couldn't stand the Colonel and didn't want to be around him
it would have been very benefitial for the Colonel to set up a world tour for Elvis think of all the money.
When the Colonel managed Eddy Arnold he ran his career with an iron fist much like he did with Elvis later on. He still booked Eddy in Europe, Mexico, and Canada.
Colonel Parker was the World's most famous manager who had been living over here for a long, long time and paid taxes who had many powerful friends
Do you think it would have been that difficult for him to get a passport?
What happened to Colonel Parker when the United States government found out he was over here illegally?
Like I said you have your opinion and I do aswell.
And I believe no world tour was because Parker was an illegal Alien.
Ok Brian how about this ? Parker and Elvis on Closing night september 1973 when him and Elvis were fighting. And parker said if you want to do a world tour you will do it without me? Why would Parker willing to loose Elvis over that if he couldve sent elvis on a world tour as you say ?
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
Thats the way it should have been-but when each get 50/50 in pay its more partnership IMO
The one time Elvis made a serious effort to fire him, we all know Parker sent a bill which only Parker could have known what was correct and what was not. The bill was so large for one reason only-to make Elvis and Vernon get cold feet about the firing. To dare them-come up with my price without me to help.
Elvis should have got rid of Parker long before that confrontation I agree.
But I'm sure he feared being taken in the entertainment industry- or he would have never signed with the Col. to start with. For better or worse he had trusted this guy since 1955-and he had been listening to this guy (for better or worse) since 1955. I've said this before he was the "Snowman"
His title for himself speaks volumes to me.
I don't think Elvis ever thought Parker was "snowing him" until the mid 70s but by then he was not strong enough to make the break. I agree he should have been able to make the break-but I also agree I should not be afraid of enclosed places--but I am.
Everyone has their own personal Achilles heel, some have more than one.
Strengths and weaknesses we all have them.
The forula was set for the 70's. Elvis was doing the shows and the money train had been well established by the 70's. Parker wasn't going to change something that was making so much money
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
Once again my friend-then why didn't he? Why not get it in 1947 Eddy Arnold did not carry guns or have medication problems? Or in 1955 Elvis did not have medication problems nor the gun situation? Or in 1965?
Money to be made hand over fist, big money, more money than he and Elvis had ever seen was waiting overseas. Sorry Brian it just does not make sense to me.
Parker did not address this problem. A man who made sure every "I" was dotted and every "T" was crossed on every contract he ever drew up-never bothered to legally straighten out a situation of "major importance" in his life.
As you state it-it seems it would have been easy as pie-but he never did it. That would have been the smart thing to do, the correct thing to do-and according to your own estimation-the easy thing to do.
That is the stumbling block in this theory for me.
Every time you say it would have been easy-I ask myself then why didn't he?
That's the same question I find myself asking too Ken is why didn't he. But then I thought about the answer he will get from him which is because Elvis' drugs would've caused a problem which is again BS IMO.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Kind Regards,
Brad
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
