‘You mother******’: Elvis’s drug-fueled rage erupts in newly published private letters

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To the most ardent admirer of Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll King lived forever in their hearts. According to Colonel Tom Parker, his manager, in the days following Presley’s demise, “Elvis didn’t cease to exist.” He emphasized this to a journalist, stating, “The physical body may have perished, but I had a conversation with him this morning, and he instructed me to keep going.

As an ardent admirer, I couldn’t fathom the idea that the music world’s brightest shining star had been snuffed out, a notion that “Colonel” – as Elvis often referred to him and as he himself preferred – adamantly rejected.

The colonel stated that it seemed as though nothing had altered since Elvis was in Germany, making this observation several weeks following Presley’s death from a drug-related heart attack in the bathroom of his residence, Graceland, located in Memphis, Tennessee, in August 1977.

However, a fresh book, based on countless letters from the colonel to Elvis and private interviews with his late wife, Loanne Parker, sheds light on the near-misses when it comes to the colonel potentially ending his professional relationship with his celebrated artist in the later stages of their alliance.

Scholar Peter Guralnick, known for his expertise in rock history, managed to win Colonel’s confidence prior to his passing in 1995. Over the years, Guralnick has diligently unraveled the untold tale of both Colonel and Elvis Presley, which he later presented in his work titled “The Colonel and the King.

To numerous Elvis enthusiasts, Parker was perceived as a selfish and controlling individual who pocketed half of everything the singer earned. They believe that any misfortunes experienced by the King, from his interrupted early career due to military service in 1958, to the production of below-par movies during the 1960s, were largely orchestrated by his manager.

But as this book proves, Colonel steered Elvis away from self-destruction on numerous occasions.

He grasped the singer’s nuances better than anyone else, and intuitively knew when to allow his eccentricities free rein, then gently guide him away from potential danger.

As someone deeply acquainted with pushing limits myself, I can relate to Colonel Tom Parker’s predicament. Much like his addiction to prescription drugs was to Elvis Presley, my own struggle with gambling was just as debilitating. In 1973, finding myself at a crossroads, I sold off Elvis’s precious music catalog for a mere fraction of its actual worth – a decision I deeply regret.

At his lowest point, he even considered selling the contract that bound them together.

Meanwhile, Elvis was exploring potential replacements for his manager. Then, on the early hours of Wednesday, September 5, 1973, following Elvis’s night performance in Las Vegas, they mutually terminated their professional relationship.

The disagreement began after a heated outburst on stage, where Elvis criticized the Hilton hotel chain using inappropriate language, targeting its CEO Barron Hilton, the entire Hilton family, and expressing anger over the termination of his beloved waiter.

In a more explicit rendition of Love Me Tender, he sang: “Farewell, you wretch, goodbye, Father, goodbye / I curse the entire Hilton Hotel, and I despise the stage as well.

In their familiar spot, Colonel and Loanne found themselves. As Loanne reminisced, she recounted, “‘He faced me,’ he admitted, ‘and he confessed, ‘I’ve never felt as mortified as I am today. If only I could burrow myself under this table at this moment.’

Simultaneously, he remarked, “He seems to think highly of himself. How on earth will I manage dealing with the Hilton team? This can’t go unpunished.

As the show ended, Colonel marched backstage to confront Elvis.

In my expertise as a lifestyle guide, I’ve witnessed few arguments as intense as the one that echoed from behind a closed door, an event unparalleled in the seventeen years since I took on the role of managing this exceptional singer’s career.

After angrily returning to his room, the Colonel drafted a letter filled with simmering rage, cognizant of the fact that Elvis had immediately proceeded to a gathering that would undoubtedly persist long after sunrise.

In case our paths don’t cross when I drop by tonight and find you asleep, here’s my message instead:” (The text remains essentially the same, but written from a first-person perspective of an eager fan.)

You boldly chose to humiliate the top brass of the Hilton Corporation during your performance in front of a crowd of 2,000, making offensive comments. To many spectators, this unexpected display came as quite a surprise.

Your comments about the hotel terminating that employee, suggesting he was a good person and so on, were quite inappropriate – since it’s important to remember that hotels don’t require our input when it comes to hiring or firing staff.

Previously, they had significantly reduced your bills for meals, drinks, and accommodation by a substantial amount, including a reduction of up to $20,000 in this specific trip. However, you mentioned that you felt the Hilton staff were not as accommodating as usual regarding the services provided.

‘I can’t find anything small-time about them.’

The letter ended with a savage swipe against the paid hangers-on and yes-men who surrounded Elvis.

‘Perhaps you feel I am sticking my nose in something that is not my business,’ Colonel wrote.

Here’s one way to rephrase that sentence: “I want you to understand that I’m being truthful with you, fulfilling my duties both as a friend and manager. I’m sharing this information with you, but most of your other friends, who happen to be my employees, are hesitant to pass it on due to their employment status.

It’s likely that Elvis didn’t read the letter. He tended not to respond to lengthy messages filled with financial information that his assistants and messengers would deliver to him.

Because Parker carefully saved carbon copies of each letter, it’s evident that he primarily wrote them for personal use, serving as a written account if any disagreement occurred later on.

Despite the possibility that he wasn’t aware of Colonel’s anger over his actions, Elvis continued to harbor his personal grudge.

Even though it’s uncertain if he knew how upset Colonel was about his actions, Elvis was still holding onto his own resentment.

Both versions convey the original message in a more natural and easy-to-understand manner.

Around 1:00 AM on a Wednesday, Colonel received a call from the King, summoning him. The Colonel had two options: he could head over to the Imperial Suite at the Las Vegas Hilton for a confrontation, or else the King would personally visit his room.

Upon arriving at the suite, Vernon Presley, Elvis’s father, was already present. After the meeting concluded, the Presleys insisted on his resignation, which he ultimately complied with.

In the evening, Colonel spent time with Loanne in his room until 7:30 am, drafting the specifics of his separation agreement in writing.

He requested a single upfront payment of five million dollars, with two-and-a-half million due within thirty days. Additionally, he was willing to provide ongoing advice and information for free for one week, should the new management choose to utilize this offer as a means to facilitate the transition smoothly, without any additional cost to the artist.

In a private correspondence addressed to Elvis, I expressed my frustration at being called upon so late in the night: ‘I stayed awake until around 9:30 PM, hoping to hear from you. Naturally, I’m perfectly fine with this, since it’s your right to rest for as long as you desire.’

‘I could see no reason for a pressure meeting at 1.00am. You knew I was in bed.

‘I have no ill feelings – but I am also not a puppet on a string.’

It was only a matter of time before things fell apart, as the correspondence reveals that tension had been escalating ever since Elvis’s Las Vegas comeback in July 1969, marking the start of what became known as his ‘Heavyweight Elvis’ phase.

In 1970, Colonel penned a letter encouraging the musician to recall the ‘TCB – Handle Your Responsibilities and Earn Money’ principle that symbolized their joint work ethic and financial ambition.

‘Remember your slogan TCB,’ the manager warned. ‘It only works if you use it.’

He was concerned that due to his heavy alcohol and drug use, Elvis had become more emotionally unstable than before. Openly expressing camaraderie and warmth towards him was not appreciated.

Col. mentioned that since we’ve always expressed our feelings through sharing the stage and standing near it, physical gestures like hugging aren’t necessary to convey emotions between us.

However, by the onset of those shows at the Hilton in 1973, Elvis’ health was at its poorest.

To shed approximately 25 pounds, equivalent to almost two stones, he opted for an extreme diet involving daily injections derived from the urine of a pregnant woman.

He lost the weight – but within six weeks put it all back on again.

The trend persisted. On July 28, 1976, following a lackluster show in Hartford, Connecticut, Colonel scolded Elvis backstage. Later, in his hotel room, he shared with Loanne that the star had been too drowsy to react.

(In this paraphrase, I’ve used “the trend persisted” instead of “The decline continued” for a more natural and engaging start. Also, I replaced “chide” with “scolded” for clarity and “told Loanne” with “shared with Loanne” to make the sentence flow better.)

He implored, ‘Is there anything I could do? The true Elvis is both shrewd and intelligent, yet the individual I encountered tonight failed to recognize me.’

I deeply yearn for the genuine Elvis, a feeling that’s hard to put into words. Wishing there was a way to resurrect him, as he was such an important friend in my life. Oh, how I long to be reunited with him again.

He began to sob uncontrollably, and nothing Loanne could do would comfort him.

Approximately a year and a half past, it was confirmed that Elvis had passed away. During this unfortunate incident, Colonel Tom Parker received the news in an early morning call at around 4:00 AM, which was from Joe Esposito – one of Elvis’s close companions and associates who were collectively known as the “Memphis Mafia”.

Straight away, the manager began processing cancellations for the concerts and arranging refunds for the tickets. However, Loanne mentioned to Guralnick that he seemed unusually composed in the situation. (Paraphrased from original)

In my own words, I’d say, “I found myself going through the motions mechanically, as if I had erected an invisible barrier separating my personal thoughts from the external reality around me.

At the funeral, Colonel firmly requested that he and Loanne should wear their usual attire. “Elvis wouldn’t know me without my hat,” he added. (Informal)

The Colonel made it clear at the funeral that he and Loanne needed to be dressed as they usually are. “Elvis wouldn’t recognize me without my cap,” he stated. (Formal)

He gave a firm motivational speech to his team before their flight to Memphis: “Let’s avoid any emotional displays or scenes once we arrive.

In this setting, we ask everyone to refrain from displaying strong emotions. Let’s pay respect to Elvis Presley by maintaining composure and acting with decorum.

We continue our efforts for Elvis, striving to make him proud. This involves standing firm and handling our responsibilities effectively, despite the challenging conditions we’re facing.

‘I mean it – NO TEARS.’

He strictly adhered to that rule for the remainder of his days, always reminding Loanne, “Elvis and the Colonel remain constant.

‘It will always be Elvis and the Colonel. I’ll never stop trying to keep his name alive.’

 

The Colonel And The King, by Peter Guralnick, is published by Little, Brown

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2025-08-05 07:35