On August 16, 1977, the music star died at the age of 42 in his Graceland mansion
During the last months of his life, Elvis Presley suffered a great deal of physical pain. The “King of Rock” had divorced his wife Priscilla Presley in 1973 and became addicted to drugs to get by with him, all while he maintained a grueling schedule. He turned to food for comfort and came to weigh 130 kilos. On August 16, 1977, 45 years ago, he was found dead in the bathroom of Graceland, the mansion he owned in Memphis, with his head submerged in a pool of vomit. He was 42 years old.
"It's hard for us to imagine that he was in physical pain because he seemed so perfect on the outside," said Sally A. Hoedel, author of the book "Elvis: Destined to Die Young" (2020), which explores the health history of the icon. music and what contributed to his untimely death. "Those health problems have become more difficult for him because of being on tour in recent years," the writer said in statements to Fox News.
On August 16, 1977, the singer of songs like "Can't help fall in Love" and "Jailhouse Rock" was found unconscious by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy determined that he died of a heart attack. Later reports, however, focused on substance abuse.
For "Elvis: Destined to Die, Young," Hoedel spoke with numerous friends of Presley's.
In the book, Hoedel described how Presley confided in showgirl Kathy Westmoreland, who told him that her "eyes were a constant source of pain along with other ailments." He would ask her: “Would you rub my legs? They are killing me". Presley's doctor, George Nichopoulos, or “Dr. Nick," said Elvis "suffered from chronic pain from degenerative back and neck problems as a result of severe arthritis."
"Elvis knew there was something terribly wrong with his body," said Larry Geller, the artist's hairstylist.
Hodel claimed that Presley continued to use medication not only to relieve chronic pain but also to be able to continue a grueling tour.
“Elvis was a strong individual,” reflected his stepbrother Billy Stanley. “He believed that he could overcome all of his problems by himself. He once told me: 'You never hear Superman asking for help.'
“In 1956 it was unknown that these pills could become addictive. And in the 70s he suffered from insomnia. He took things like Valium to get him to sleep. His doctor tried at one point to see if he could sleep without anything. I think he was awake for three days. They finally had to give him medication so he could sleep,” Hodel explained.
Yet as Presley's body fell apart, Hoedel said his determination to go on tour remained
“Elvis had an incredible work ethic,” she explained. “When he played Las Vegas, he played two shows a day for 30 days, that's 60 shows. But his immune system wasn't fighting infections like it should. He often had a fever and flu-like symptoms.
In the year that Presley died, he had a fourth tour scheduled for May 20. Hoedel claimed that those who knew Presley were concerned about the physical anguish and stress he was enduring to meet his commitments.
The book alleges that during the second show of that fourth tour, Presley, who was semi-conscious, had his head plunged into a bucket of ice water. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, reportedly yelled, "The only thing that matters is that he's on that stage tonight!"
Hoedel said Presley was "concerned" about his deteriorating health
“In the last years of his life, he was very aware of how sick he was,” he said. “And he wasn't honest with everyone about it. He was also surrounded by many people who said 'yes' to him. And he was the boss. No one was going to question it. He also worked very hard to hide it. He was only honest with a few people about it."
Hoedel recounted that Elvis refused to cancel his presentations despite knowing that his body was no longer giving. "'Can't. They all trust me.' He had such a great obligation as a provider. He lifted the whole family out of poverty from him. That always stayed with him. He felt the pressure. So when he was sick, he didn't stop like he should have. He just took more medication to keep going."
The fifth tour of the year, consisting of 10 cities, and 10 shows in 10 days, began on June 17 and ended on June 26. In his last concert, which took place in Indiana, Presley confessed: "My body hurts a lot, but whatever happens tonight I'm going to go out and give everything I have... whatever happens."
Westmoreland said she was horrified to hear that even in her condition, Presley was already preparing for another tour. She allegedly told him, “I can't baby, I can't stop now. The Colonel owes a lot of money in gambling debts and some of the boys will be in bad financial shape if I don't keep working. They have families to take care of."
The day Presley died, Colonel Parker was already planning the start of his next tour
His father, Vernon Presley, tried to revive him and begged his son not to leave him. He was later pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. More than 80,000 people took part in the procession to Forest Hill Cemetery, where Presley was buried next to his mother.
"Elvis' story has long been told as one of self-destruction," Hoedel said. “I see it as a survival story. He had to survive extreme poverty, and then he had to survive extreme fame. He achieved the American dream, but he was also human. He had weaknesses ”.
