What would you ask Sonny West....

[Getlo]

Did you ever see Red or Sonny West grab a fan and SHOVE THEM?

No, did you?

The boys were doing their job ... they just got a bit bosterous sometimes.

[TotallyInsane]

No, did you?

The boys were doing their job ... they just got a bit bosterous sometimes.

Yes, I did. There were times when they were doing MORE than their job!

[Diane]

If they are doing that Gail then they'd better not push it too far as Elvis isn't he to bail them out anymore.

Diane

[MissyM]

And there were plenty of time that they saved Elvis's neck too. I guess it was a two way street.

[May]

Cousins of Smiths.
I do realize that some people will think/form and opinion and nothing said will ever change their minds. And often I just let things pass and say "Oh well." And then there are times when I do speak up because not all people have enough info to form that opinion and well, the truth means alot to me.
I do think one thing; as dysfunctional as these relationships may seem to us, as unbalanced as they may see, I'd bet my last dollar that most of the MM would have taken a bullet for their friend. I'm not defending all of what has been said and done by all of the MM but had they not done some of what they did, and protected Elvis in some ways they did, he very possibly could have been gone even sooner. I try to remember that.

So Billy Smith is your cousin?? Hence you are Elvis's cousin?

[May]

Yes, I did. There were times when they were doing MORE than their job!

Wasnt that why there were so many lawsuits around at that time? Because the MM (some of them) were too rough with the fans ... ?

[KPM]

Yes, I did. There were times when they were doing MORE than their job!

I have often thought of them doing there job-and I think that when Elvis returned to live performing and the threats became more numerous perhaps a paronoia set in. In the 60s we had all the assasinations, this worried Elvis and in turn it worried them. The constant touring had to wear on them as much as Elvis-I think maybe the close relationship with Elvis, the tours, and the paronoia may have led to their over the top responces sometimes.
I know in the one concert I saw live in St. Louis on 3-22-76 there were several stage rushes and the famous woman who almost tackled Elvis on stage-we were amazed at how rough the guys were with the fans. One girl was actually thrown hard off the stage into the crowd.
They had been use to the 60s and protecting Elvis-which I'm sure they would admit was much easier than touring in the 70s. So I have to agree for what ever reasons they were more than just doing their jobs at times(which were becoming more frequent)
The big lawsuit that I mentioned was settled out of court for big bucks(the one Red mentions in his phone conversation with Elvis as the one that started the lawsuit bandwagon rolling) is a prime example IMO of why it was time to make a change- Supposedly The guy was handcuffed on a bed in the suite and waking up, after Sonny had knocked him out, Elvis was trying to talk to him and find out why this guy was trying to get in to see him-as the guy was waking up he saw Red come toward the bed and he kicked at him-Red hit this handcuffed guy so hard he knocked out teeth. Elvis yelled at Red-cussing and told him hes handcuffed!
I am not going to say Elvis should not have told them himself-maybe he should have-but the violence was escalating & the lawsuits were piling up.

[Diane]

I can understand how they could get out of hand while protecting Elvis but what is their excuse for manhandling fans now?

Diane

[utmom2008]

I know in the one concert I saw live in St. Louis on 3-22-76 there were several stage rushes and the famous woman who almost tackled Elvis on stage-we were amazed at how rough the guys were with the fans. One girl was actually thrown hard off the stage into the crowd.

The big lawsuit that I mentioned was settled out of court for big bucks(the one Red mentions in his phone conversation with Elvis as the one that started the lawsuit bandwagon rolling) is a prime example IMO of why it was time to make a change- Supposedly The guy was handcuffed on a bed in the suite and waking up, after Sonny had knocked him out, Elvis was trying to talk to him and find out why this guy was trying to get in to see him-as the guy was waking up he saw Red come toward the bed and he kicked at him-Red hit this handcuffed guy so hard he knocked out teeth. Elvis yelled at Red-cussing and told him hes handcuffed!
I am not going to say Elvis should not have told them himself-maybe he should have-but the violence was escalating & the lawsuits were piling up.

Great post Ken. Why didn't they just get the guy(one on either side) and escort him down to the lobby and let the police or hotel security take it from there? Weren't they called "bodygards"? They stopped the guy early in his mission...what was the point of beating the crap out of him?

[TotallyInsane]

I can understand how they could get out of hand while protecting Elvis but what is their excuse for manhandling fans now?

Diane

Diane,
I'm not saying they're doing it now - it was then. But, it would seem to me that experienced bodyguards would be able to tell that a 100 pound woman wasn't REALLY a threat to ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, there were times they needed to get a little tougher with the guys - but the girls and the women - SORRY NO WAY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPENING!!

[TotallyInsane]

It just so happens this was brought up Saturday afternoon to Mr. Sonny. He owned up to punching the guy ONE TIME!! However, he failed to mention that the guys was handcuffed and literally beaten!! His response was "he punched the guy one time and he got $600,000 out of court settlement"!! Sorry guys, but people didn't get $600,000 back then one punch - I'm sure the guy had pictures and medical records!!! Funny, how Sonny forgot to tell the rest of the story - wouldn't you say?????

[utmom2008]

Very true ! Just amazes me at how some can be so blinded at the truth somtimes..

Who is blinded by the truth Bradley? Not me...I'm the first to say that Elvis had a severe drug problem. What's blinding is that some of you don't want hear anything positive about those days. If a "good" story is told then you treated as though you are a blind, naive *****. That does NOT often set well, ya know?

I don't get where you are coming from.
Umm What exactly did they see we don't today.
So someone seen him in concert alot through the 70's how does that give them more of an insight then what he have today with the books and information sources etc.

Go read KPM's response on the next page...then we will talk.

Books don't always tell the turth no matter how much you want to believe that and thats why l don't bother with books anymore but listern more to the fans who were around than. Some fans have been around in the 50's and 60's and the 70's so there stories are going to be different than what you read in the book. imagine if rosanne or gail wrote a book l can bet there stories are going to much different than what we all know from the mm or others.

No one would buy our books..after all who wants to read about the good times? We would get tossed into the room with Charlie and Jerry.

[KPM]

Great post Ken. Why didn't they just get the guy(one on either side) and escort him down to the lobby and let the police or hotel security take it from there? Weren't they called "bodygards"? They stopped the guy early in his mission...what was the point of beating the crap out of him?

I agree-I can even understand Sonny knocking him out at the start.
Its the handcuffed part of the story which bothered me (as it seemed to bother Elvis also) Its probably that part of the story which cemented this guys case and got it settled out of court for so much cash.

[TotallyInsane]

I agree-I can even understand Sonny knocking him out at the start.
Its the handcuffed part of the story which bothered me (as it seemed to bother Elvis also) Its probably that part of the story which cemented this guys case and got it settled out of court for so much cash.

Plus the fact the guy no longer had any TEETH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Diane]

Thanks Gail, I misunderstood your post. I thought Sonny etc. was still shoving around the fans.

As far as when Elvis was alive, they were known to use excessive force and I doubt very much if the man who was handcuffed received only one blow if he was awarded that much in damages.

Diane

[4THEHEART]

well,what a shame, Sonny was unfortunate for not having a true friend who'd write a book about him to show how he needed a behaviour rehab,to get rid of the violence issues ..

[utmom2008]

As far as when Elvis was alive, they were known to use excessive force and I doubt very much if the man who was handcuffed received only one blow if he was awarded that much in damages.
Diane

I agree Diane. Good gosh...I would take A punch if it were going to get me $600,000.00 back then. Think of how much the guy would get today.

[Diane]

You and me both Rosanne.

Zey, maybe that very thing will happen once Sonny is gone and the writer can't be beaten up for it.

Diane

[4THEHEART]

he he! don't think so Diane.. not everyone's life takes place in written history..

[Diane]

Well he seems to think he's important enough.........? I don't think Elvis had half his ego.

Diane