From the latest edition of Essential Elvis magazine-
Andrew Hearn finds out how things are going with Linda Thompson.
Linda Thompson, former beauty queen and Elvis girlfriend, has had a tough couple of years. With a marriage that became increasingly difficult, leading to an inevitable split, Linda feels it`s now time to bounce back with several interesting projects.
During a recent conversation, Linda told me about her current situation, and her exciting plans for the future...
LT: Andrew, thank you for the concern, I appreciate it.
AH: It`s not just me, there are so many Elvis fans over here that are asking me about you, wanting me to pass on their best wishes.
LT: I appreciate that so much, that`s so kind. I`m hanging in there, and really doing quite well. It`s been a long time coming, and I had a few years to prepare myself for the termination of my marriage. There was a separation two years ago, and I filed for a divorce then. We did reconcile, but it just didn`t work out.
AH: You`re still living in the same house in Malibu, right?
LT: Yes, I`m still in the same house, but it has now been sold. It was sold about six, eight months ago when we were still together.
Larry Ellison bought it, along with a couple of restaurants and twelve houses on Carbon Beach. He is the CEO of Oracle Corporation, and he`s a really nice guy.
AH: And he`s a friend of yours?
LT: Right, that`s how come I`m still here, living in the house. He`s been gracious enough to allow me to stay here.
AH: Is David still living there?
LT: No, David has now gone, but he does still use the studio here on the property.
AH: So, now that you`re free to do what you want, what are your plans for the future?
LT: Well, I plan to spend a lot of my time with my sons, Brandon and Brody. I still write music and poetry, and I`ve just written a song for Richard Marx [remember the beautiful love song Right Here Waiting For You? - AH].
One of my friends was talking to me just the other day, and eventually I really have to put that book together. I feel that I owe it to Elvis` memory. It`s not only going to be about Elvis, but about my life too. My life growing up in the South, about discovering poetry, and I think it`ll be inspirational to a lot of people. I want to show that you can be resilient through life, no matter what your circumstances are.
From being twenty years old flying around on the Lisa Marie, to being able to bounce back flying economy.
It`s important to be able to let life flow through you, without it changing the integrity of your character.
You really have to know who you are, and remain as you are.
You also have to remain confident. The circumstances around you might change, but who you are doesn`t. Someone said to me just the other day that true friends stay friends.
AH: Your book would surely reach a large audience for a number of different reasons. Elvis fans have been screaming out for a book from you.
LT: You know, David was so insecure about my relationship with Elvis, even though it was thirty years ago. He prevented me from thinking about Elvis; he made it very difficult. I told him that it`s not as though Elvis is going to come back and reclaim me. I`d tell him that Elvis had left the building, he`s not coming back.
AH: Now your circumstances have changed, there`s been some talk about a possible venture into the Elvis world, maybe even talking at fan club events.
LT: I think I owe it to Elvis; to write a book. I`ve never thought that I`d honoured Elvis as well as I could have. So, I`d love to talk at events, in conjunction with the promotion of the book. We`d need to promote it.
AH: In that case, allow us to invite you to the UK first.
Make me a promise, okay?
LT: Okay, wonderful (laughs).
AH: It`s fantastic to hear that you`re plans involve Elvis. The fans will be delighted.
LT: Please, on my behalf, thank the fans there for their concern and for their best wishes and prayers. I appreciate it, and find it very fortifying. Please let them know that it`s been fortifying to my spirit. I am resilient, and I`m looking forward with positivity and optimism. I`m always grateful for life`s experience, and it`s important to not lose the lesson. You have to appreciate life, and whatever good comes out of it. It`s the same with our marriage. If nothing else, I feel that some brilliant songs came from it. It was all for a purpose; all for a reason.
AH: You mentioned your two sons [from a previous marriage to Bruce Jenner]. How are they both doing these days?
LT: They are both doing great with their bands. Brandon, who is now 24, is in a band with his girlfriend, Leah Felder, who is the daughter of Don Felder, the original guitarist of The Eagles.
Brandon writes music, he writes lyrics, plays the guitar and sings.
Brandon grew up with Elvis music, and he really connected to it. You can sometimes hear Elvis` influence in his music. His band is called Big Dume, and they have a website at bigdume.com.
AH: And Brody?
LT: He has a band called Facehumper (laughs)! They play all the clubs in Hollywood, and they`re both currently models for Guess. They are such good looking boys.
AH: Hey, what`d you expect!
Fantastic to hear shes writing a book, I can`t wait.
Her knowledge that she has of Elvis`s later years is invaluable.
We will get to know just what Elvis was going through and although I`m sure she will talk about the pills etc I do feel she will give a balanced view.
I can`t wait to see her on tv talking about him, Priscilla won`t be happy, tough...
Top Woman. Had she stayed with Elvis he would be still with us.
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
I think you are right on that one for sure "03" But I guess it wasn't meant to be for some reason.... Dovey
Did Linda leave Elvis or did he get rid of her?
I ask that question because Linda has always said that she left Elvis but there has been talk that Elvis got rid of her because he had met Ginger.
I do like Linda and I`m not against her but I would be interested to know what really happened.
Linda said she left Elvis because she wanted a family and children and she knew with Elvis' life style she couldn't have it with him. She said he understood.
I dream a world where man no other man
will scorn. Where LOVE will bless the earth
and peace its paths adorn...
She's also always said she left him because she could not bear witnessing him self destruct anymore. She'd tried various ways to get through to him, but he was too far gone and she was not going to stay there and watch the man she loved willingly go to pieces. She gave him several ultimatums, but apparently he didn't think she would follow through.....
I do not like her since the day I saw her on the Larry King's show.
What happened on the Larry King Show?
I've always liked her- I think she took great care of Elvis and saw some of his worst moments and helped him get through them. She seems to have always shown respect and love towards him, unless I've missed something, and I think in a way he depended on her. She also seemed to be exactly the type of person Elvis needed- very different from Priscilla and Ginger- more down-to-earth.
Without her, maybe Elvis would have been taken away from us even earlier and I agree- if she had stayed then maybe Elvis would still be alive... she seemed to care about him a whole lot more than Ginger.
The very fact that the first person Lisa rang when Elvis died was Linda seems to me to say a whole lot.
Why not, I thought she came across very friendly.Originally Posted by Indre
I haven't seen that video (I have that conversation on a tape) in a year or so, I hardly remember any details, but all I know is I didn't like her, and she talked as if she had been some goddess that the humble Elvis had the courage to ask the phone number of.And all that big friendship with Lisa - I think Linda is the only one that imagines (or imagined) that.
It's just my own personal opinion - please keep your rotten tomatoes to yourselves, if you could be so kind
I actually like Linda more than any girl Elvis every had. She seemed to really care for him, and she hang in there as long as she could bear with Elvis. She came along way to late and she was fighting a losing cause, and because she tried as hard as she could, and really hang in there, I will always respect her for that.
On the hills of Georgia
Across the plains of Tennessee
I've seen and I've done most everything
That a man can do or see
I don't know a lot about Linda after the end of the relationship with Elvis but, to be honest, I like her, maybe more than Priscilla.
I don't know if Elvis could have been "better" with her in his life but I think she really loved him and she had to take a difficult decision when she decided to leave.
I knew she had a good relationship with Lisa Marie and that when Elvis died Lisa called first Linda than her mother. Is it true? If it were true it would be quite sad for a mother...
IT IS NOT TRUE
Lisa didn't call anyone.
Her brother Sam Thompson called Linda and then Lisa grabbed the telephone and talked to her, in disspair.
Priscilla was called by Joe Esposito.
I am a huge Priscilla fan but didn't dislike Linda at all. She was a nice lady too. But the truth may not be forgotten.
Ginger I dislike. She didn't care about him at all. The fact that she was freshly showered and had make up on when she called for help gives me the shills really.
There were phone calls made with the press to tell her story before she called out for help. Imagine
I do not understand that there never was a serious investigation.
Where was she during the funeral???
I always heard that Priscilla took charge. Was Ginger alreaddy out of the picture. Or was she send away by an anger Vernon.
As for Linda I liked her till the day I saw an episode of the princess of Malibu where she and her former husband and her rotten spoiled sons made fun of Elvis. I was mad really. From then I dislike her
Priscilla made mistakes and she cheated on him but we never walked in her shoes. Elvis wasn't an angel either. I think despite everything she was the love of his life and she loved him too.
And the way she keeps his memory alive
Of course it has made her wealthy but in the first place she saved Graceland for Lisa and she was and still his the living proof of their love.
It was not Cilla that saved the Graceland. It was done by smart managers.IT IS NOT TRUE
Of course it has made her wealthy but in the first place she saved Graceland for Lisa and she was and still his the living proof of their love.
Whoa, somebody better help you brush up on your Elvis History!IT IS NOT TRUE
Priscilla made mistakes and she cheated on him but we never walked in her shoes. Elvis wasn't an angel either. I think despite everything she was the love of his life and she loved him too.
And the way she keeps his memory alive
Of course it has made her wealthy but in the first place she saved Graceland for Lisa and she was and still his the living proof of their love.
She may have loved him for a time, but she ended up - as he'd always say - "profiting" from him, even in death.
And just HOW does she keep his memory alive? By rewriting history to suit her self invented sainthood, in which she neglects to mention her extra-marital afffair(s), the fact that she legally dropped the name Presley in 1973, the fact that she allows ***** merchandise (like Elvis dog collars for Christsake!) to be sold for attrocious amounts. Yes, bless that greedy tart!
Me agrees with Cherokee - "Riley", you should really get deeper into the Elvis story. There are many things that I'm not aware of as well, but I do know that Cilla has been making her living out of the Presley name for more than 30 years now.
Can you name someone close to Elvis who never earned one dollar due to elvis passing away.
Can you name someone who never ever told one story, wrote a book, gave an interview, shared pictures, didn't gave one tiny little interview.
Cilla was not a saint, she cheated on him and he cheated on her.
He was human, she was and the life they led was a special life. Not many showbizz marriages last.
I never had the feeling that she wanted to be called a saint.
She simply can't ignore the fact she cheated on him, lots of pictures to proove that. But why do you tell that she reinvented her Elvis past.
Don't get me wrong. My loyalty goes first towards Elvis. I'm a fan since I was nine and never stopped loving and defending him.
Not everything she choose to do had my approval neighter.
There are so many stories and mysteries surrounding him what is truth what is false. Been to Graceland, spoke with some who knew him personnaly and I can tell you some stories will never be told publicly.
Some of his inner circle liked Cilla some didn't. The same goes for Linda.
As for the merchandising, well I don't know exactly that Priscilla must approve everything that EPE wants to sell.
And how far is Priscilla still in charge after Lisa came more and more in the picture and sold a great share.
(Just wanted to add that this discussion would be much easier for me in my own native language. It is sometimes hard to write a reply saying everything you have in mind in another language)
Riley- you're right. Everyone who was connected with Elvis will of course have some gain from it- financial, social or in their own memories.
I think that there are numerous reasons why people have a problem with Priscilla in particular though.
First of all- the very fact that she still calls herself "Priscilla Presley" when SHE left and divorced him about 30 years ago. She never had the audacity to call herself a Presley when he was still alive and I think that she shouldn't change.
She neglects to mention her son and partner when she's been with Garibaldi for a very very long time.
It has been found that she changes her story according to who she's talking to her and what she wants people to think- particularly of herself.
In Elvis By the Presleys (note Presleys), there was discussion at great length of Elvis' faults and affairs, but none of Cilla's own escapades with other men.
She is still called by many "Elvis' widow" because that's the picture she paints of herself. It's just not true.
There are more reasons why people feel that they dislike her and many why we should like her.
I personally think that she and Elvis did care about each other- holding hands at the divorce shows this greatly to me. I think Elvis did depend on her at times and they loved each other. But I also think that they may have been slightly incompatable together.
I can imagine Elvis would have been hard to be with at times but I don't think that excuses people making him out to be some kind of bad husband and bully when his legacy is constantly in some kind of jeopardy anyway with narrow-minded *****s only thinking of him as the "fat guy in jumpsuits" which is not true and so very sad.
What I don't like is some of the things she's done since Elvis' demise. But she has also done great things for his legacy, in a way. I guess it does depend on how you view events.... but Priscilla isn't as great as she makes herself out to be.
By the way, great English Riley!
English isn't my native language either, so we're even.
From what you write it seems that you haven't seen most of her post-1977 interviews, first for networks and later on products like the "Elvis by the Presley's (!!!!!!)" DVD.
Everybody here is fully aware that we'll never know as much about the situation as those who actually lived it, from what perspective (friend, wife, girlfriend, child or whatever) that may have been. But most people here ARE fully aware of what took place before, during and (especially) right AFTER the marriage between Pris and Elvis. Fact is that she legally dropped the name Presley because, as she stated literally in printed and other media she "wanted to be her own entity" and "no longer be viewed as owned by Elvis".
Before the body was cold, she became Beaulieu-Presley again and the longer he was dead, the more she acted "the widow" instead of the ex.
She talks about Graceland as if it was her home at the time of his death. She now calls him a wonderful husband and great father, which wasn't exactly what she said in interviews around the time of their divorce and a few years after that.
Elvis was no saint, God, what a revelationFact is that she already knew that WAY before she married him. She was the "other woman" in Germany, remember, as Elvis had Anita Wood waiting for him at home.
Before she got married to Elvis there already were many others, not least of whom Ann Margret, but still she insisted on becoming Mrs. Presley. Why? So that she could whine about it later, that he was so mean to her? Come on, she went in there with her eyes open. Her parents at first tried to talk her out of it, but she put her foot down. Somebody in another thread said it looked like she was now getting even for all the years she spent near Elvis "suffering". That seems to be a good explanation.
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