The Death of Elvis-what really happened

[4THEHEART]

I SOMETIMES LIKE TO WISH,EXACTLY THE SAME HEALTH CONDITION FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO SEE HIM AS A SIMPLE JUNKIE FOR PLEASURE ..NO HE WASN'T..THAT MEN HAD A SPIRIT SO DEEP THAT SOME OF YOURS FAVOURITE "JUNKIE ROCK AND ROLLER " IMAGE,NEVER FIT HIM(sorry for spoiling your dreams) EVEN COULDN'T GET CLOSER THE REAL MAN..

[EnigmaticSun]

It's too bad that contracts go up in smoke whenever people start to become honest about their personal life (like Leroy said). I guess that was just one of Elvis' difficulties - it wasn't at all easy being so famous and he must have been lonely on quite an occasion too.

It's all too easy to tell what Elvis should have done. With today's knowledge he might have been able to stretch his lifespan, but I don't think all the illnesses would have vanished just like that.

It's just that Elvis was a great man (not just in making music) and people should be grateful for it. Leroy, you said it well!

[orwell1976]

C'mon. I am greatful that Elvis was there, because he was the greatest singer/entertainer I have ever heard and seen. But his private life is something completely different. You can be the star in your job and **** up your private life at the same time (and the other way round, of cause). I don't know it all, but I just don't ignore the facts and paint myself a nice little cozy world. Of cause I wasn't there, but thats no argument. It's simply bullshit. You can tell nearly everybody on every subject "You have not been there - You don't know it - You have not seen it yourself - All those stories are complete fabrications". It's the same stuff people always tell if something doesn't fit to their way of seeing things. As an adult you have to pass the point of idolization. You have to see that Elvis didn't use medication because he was sick (at least, not for the most part). He simply abused that stuff like so many other people did and still do. And therefore I call him a junky! Of cause he suffered from some kind of depression (even Dr. Nick and Dr. Ghanem claimed that the major problem of Elvis was his depression, that lead to his abuse of medication). But still Elvis abused that stuff and was addicted to it - in a havy way! I don't think it's funny that Elvis died, but the way he passed away was so strange, that it becomes funny. At least if you have my kind of humor. I don't dislike everything I make jokes of. If the majority of members here don't like my view of the world I can live with that.

But when I read some of your comments, some make me and some make me just .

[MISSCLAWDY]

We all know Elvis had a problem with drugs it's certainly no secret. What we have to remember is that he did have health problems aside from the drugs, had no real help from his "entourage" or his so-called doctors and he felt trapped doing the same concerts year after year - thanks to the colonel. Both his emotional and physical health were compromised.

The way he died has no bearing on his talent, kind heart and his love for his fans. So.....if you're a real fan with genuine respect for him, you'll remember him for those things and forget the the negative articles that have been circulated about him for so long. Even if you've talked to those who used to be around him for information, most of those if not all were covering their own guilt in the matter. They were indulging too! There is still one doctor that maintains he died of a heart attack and not an overdose.

I for one believe he died because of the combination of poor health, depression and drugs that complicated his already weakened system from the poor health and exhaustion of more concert dates than he could handle.

I only remember him for the soothing feeling I always get when I hear him sing and that wonderful smile, beautiful face and the way he reached out to people. I believe he was calling out for help and no one heard him...........so back off negative people, you weren't in his shoes.

I agree 100 % Diane No need to say more..only that if you LOVE someone it's not possible to find ANYTHING funny about his death...

[ajr]

IF one would look back to Ginger Alden's report in 1977 ......
She said Elvis fell out of his black lounge chair . SHE found him , not Esposito or anyone else, And certainly NOT Goldman that started that story about the commode .

I still say; read your history . Goldman trashed everyone he wrote about ..and we're keeping it going.......

[srj1967]

I did a review of this book when it first came out for ELVIS MONTHLY. I thought it was excellent, and gave a dispassionate view of his death, an the amount of drugs he took. After that article, I received a scathing letter from fan Sue Wiegert (one of the Elvis fans in the original TTWII, the one who talks about her cat loving Elvis vegas album).

And Elvis did fall off his commode, despite what others would have you believe. He was trying to crawl to the intercom on the other side of the bathroom, as the one near his toilet was broken. I am as interested in how Elvis died as how he lived. Yes, it was an undigified way to go - he'd fallen face down into shag carpeting, breaking his nose. But I don't think all of this makes a difference to his magnificent legacy, at least not to me.

Personally, I have no problem admitting that Elvis took these sorts of prescribed drugs. It makes no difference to my opinion of him, or the high regard in which I continue to hold him.

As for the word "junkie" : I think it is a disparaging description of "drug addict". And Elvis was addicted to drugs; he clearly needed help. A pity the Betty Ford centre wasn't around then, it might have helped him.

[ajr]

It's a pity to see a lot of people (supposed fans) go on the same merry-go-round on an on. Just re-telling fiction and "so-called" fact and myths, spread around by a bunch of no-good low lifes who had one common interest: whiping their own slate clean.

It's common knowledge Elvis used medication. These were there for extending his life and keep him going on for as long as possible.
It's also common knowledge he over-medicated, but hey.....it was then and we live now. We do know now what was not known then. That means we do not have the right to judge Elvis by today's standards. If we want to discuss this we have to try to look at it from a stand point back then. It was a time where you thought: "If one pill helps, two pills will help better!"

Most of the medication Elvis used was nessecary: Elvis had a congestive heart desease, a twisted, spastic colon, Glaucoma with extremely vascular headaches to go with it, seizures (infammation of the brain from all of the illnesses, which, if you read about seizure disorders can make a person appear to be drunk or drugged).

He also suffered from Pernicious Anemia which means his body was not able to metabolize B complex vitamins, diabetis. Even his inner circle was not aware of these things because he didn't talk about it. In showbiz circles you don't talk about these things because you're next contract can go up in smoke.

Elvis was a dying man even when we thought he was thin and healthy. It was just a matter of "how long can I go on". And he wanted to go on for us.
And what are we doing to pay hommage? We judge his ways. We judge the fact he choose to use this path, the only path he had to keep entertaining us. How thankful

No one has said it better.
We all "know" Elvis did use meds. {at least according to all the books}
But, to see fans fight about something the MM or others have said.....
what does it matter ?? IF we were going to stop the trash being said
it should have been done in 1977 .
Leroy's right .....maybe his "fans" should let him RIP & just remember the music since it's very obvious....none of us were there .

[Lisarose]

I hate to hear people (non-Elvis fans) laugh about the "fact" that Elvis died on the pot. Especially since I very much doubt that he was the only one to have died in the bathroom. Afterall, isn't that the first place most people go when they don't feel well? He was a very sick man. Of very serious, very real diseases. Yes, he was taking medications, prescribed to him or given to him by people he trusted (Army -supposedly where he began his usuage of "speed"). No, he didn't feel these were addictive drugs - because he saw (as most people in that time) these were legitimate drugs, not heroin, ludes & others drugs bought by strung out people in dark alleys. A lot of housewives were prescribed amphetamines in the 60s, 70s for low energy & postpartum depression & weightloss. He didn't see it as an addiction, because he could still do his job - endless concert tours 10-14 days straight - 2 shows a night, even when he was flu-ish & I might add about 90 minutes of endless hi-energy singing, dancing, monologues. He still provided for his family & employees & everyone who depended upon him. He felt that at the end of his day he had done everything he could have to the best of his ability with no regrets.