[vegas 74]

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING ME FEEL SO WELCOME! AND ALSO VERY HELPFUL
SOME OF YOU WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE SHOW WAS LIKE, SO HERE IS "THE" SHOW THAT I WROTE AND IS IN THE BOOK DESERT STORM THAT I HELPED DARRIN MEMMER WITH.
"HOW CAN IT GET BETTER THAN THIS" BY DENNIS BERRY

"HOW CAN IT GET BETTER THAN THIS? SITTING HERE IN THE LAS VEGAS SHOWROOM, JUST BEHIND THE BOOTHS,NEAR TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE WAITING TO SEE ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT. SEATED WITH ME ARE TWO YOUNG LADIES THAT I HAD MADE FRIENDS WITH WHILST TRAVELING OVER FROM ENGLAND WITH THE BRITISH FAN CLUB. EARLIER WE WERE TOLD IF YOU TIP THE PERSON THAT ESCORTS YOU TO YOUR SEAT, THERE COULD BE A CHANCE OF GETTING BETTER SEATS,EVEN STAGE SIDE. ON ENTERING THE SHOWROOM WE DECIDED TO TIP WHAT WE COULD AND HAND OVER A ROLL OF 30 $1 BILLS." "THE ROLLED UP BILLS LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS MORE THAN THERE ACTUALLY WAS AND WE FIGURED THE MORE WE TIPPED THE BETTER SEAT WE,D GET. THE GUY DISAPPEARD WITH OUR CASH AND OUR DESTINY WAS NOW IN THE HANDS IN THE FORM OF $30. OUR PULSES WERE RACING AS THE SHOW WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN AND THE MUSIC STARTED FROM THE LARGE GOLD CURTAINS. THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS AND JACKIE KAHANE PERFORMED AND MY EYES WONDERD AROUND THE SHOWROOM LOOKING FOR THE GUY WHO HAD OUR MONEY. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF HIM AND I CONSIDERED WHAT I,D LIKE TO DO IF I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AFTER THE SHOW!
WHAT THE HECK, WE HAD A GREAT EYE LEVEL VIEW OF THE STAGE. THE 2001 THEME BEGAN AND ALL EYES WERE FIXED FIRMLY ON THE STAGE AND AT THAT MOMENT ALL ATTEMPTS TO GET NEARER THE STAGE WERE FORGOTTEN. A MILLION DOLLARS COULDN,T HAVE MOVED ME FROM MY SEAT. BUT UNBELIEVABLY $30 COULD. THE GUY WAS TAPPING ME ON THE SHOULDER SAYING, "SIR,SIR. PLEASE COME WITH ME NOW." I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.
WE JUST FOLLOWED HIM AS HE TOOK US TO THE LEFT OF THE SHOW ROOM AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE STAGE.HE TOLD US TO STAY WERE WE WERE AS HE CROUCHED DOWN AND REARRANGED THREE CHAIRS AT THE END OF THE RAMP THAT CAME OUT FROM CENTRE STAGE. HE WAVED US OVER AND WE RAN ACROSS AND SAT DOWN, TOTALLY OVERWHELMED WITH EXCITEMENT! BY THIS TIME THE 2001 THEME WAS AT AN END AND RONNIE TUTT POUNDED AWAY ON THE DRUMS. BEFORE WE KNEW WHERE WE WERE AND WHAT HAD JUST OCCURRED, ELVIS WAS STROLLING OUT FROM THE WINGS AND WALKING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE STAGE, SMILING,AND SHAKING HANDS. HE WAS WEARING THE MAD TIGER JUMPSUIT AND LOOKED GREAT. AS HE STARTED TO SING SEE SEE RIDER HE LOOKED AT THE MIKE STAND AS IF TO SAY "WHO,S BEEN MESSING WITH THIS?" ELVIS ROLLED HIS EYES AND CARRIED ON, BLAMING JACKKIE KAHANE AT THE END OF THE SONG FOR ADJUSTING THE STAND. WE COULD SEE ELVIS WAS HAVING FUN. THIS WAS THE LAST SHOW OF THE SEASON AND HE WAS GOING TO ENJOY IT. BEFORE HE STARTED TO SING I GOT A WOMAN HE EXPLAINED THE TRICK OF HITTING THE REALLY LOW NOTES" "HE STARTED WITH A SLOW "WELL, WELL" THEN CAME J.D. SUMNER WITH HIS LOW BASE VOICE AND CLOSE BEHIND WAS THE TROMBONE PLAYER FROM JOE GUERCIO ORCHESTRA. THE "WELLS" BY ALL THREE SHOOK THE HILTON SHOWROOM. IT WAS LIKE AN EATHQUAKE OR A BOEING COMING IN TO LAND. A GREAT RENDITION OF I GOT A WOMAN FOLLOWED WITH ELVIS MAKING THE MOST OF THE AMEN ENDING BY SINGING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN,EACH TIME HIS VOICE GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE. THE FINAL PART OF THE SONG HAD ELVIS SWINGING HIS HIPS AND SHAKING HIS LEGS AND HAD THE TWO GIRLS WITH ME SCREECHING AND SLAPPING THE TABLE WITH EXCITEMENT AS HE MOVED HIS LEGS FROM SIDE TO SIDE,HE GOT FASTER AND FASTER TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUMS BEHIND HIM. WHEN ELVIS FINALLY STOPPED, HE WAS TAKEN ON A FLIGHT ON A B-52 BOMBER WITH J.D. AS THE ENGINE AND ELVIS PRETENDING TO BE THE WINGS. WITH HIS ARMS OUTSTRETCHED AND HIS KNEES BENT, ELVIS WAS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN TO TREE TOP LEVEL ONLY TO STALL THE ENGINES AND STRUGGLE BACK UP.
THIS WAS REALLY FUN. AND TO HEAR J.D.,S RICH AND DEEP VOICE WAS TRULY AMAZING AND EARTH SHATTERING. AS ELVIS SANG UNTIL ITS TIME FOR YOU TO GO HE WALKED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE STAGE BENDING OVER AND KISSING LOTS OF WOMEN. BUT TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF MY TWO LADY FRIENDS, HE DIDN,T COME OUT TO THE END OF THE RAMP. IF YOU LOVE ME LET ME KNOW WAS NEXT. THIS WAS A REAL FOOT TAPPER AND I WAS CLAPPING ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL HE SANG IT,S MIDNIGHT THAT I REALIZED PRISCILLA WAS IN THE ROOM. NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE SONG ELVIS SAID, "LISTEN CILLA". ITS MIDNIGHT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS AND ELVIS WAS LETTING PRISCILLA KNOW HOW HE WAS FEELING AT THIS POINT. HE QUICKLY WENT INTO BIG BOSS MAN AFTER ITS MIDNIGHT AS IF TO SAY THATS ENOUGH OF THAT. PRISCILLA WAS MENTIONED AGAIN AT THE END OF A ROUSING VERSION OF YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN.HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SONG WAS NOT RELATED TO EITHER HIMSELF OR PRISCILLA IN ANY WAY. IT WAS THEN THAT HE INTRODUCED PRISCILLA TO US ALL AS THE SPOTLIGHT DROPPED FROM ELVIS AND HIT ME ON THE BACK. BOY, IT WAS REALLY HOT."
PRISCILLA, LISA MARIE, AND SHEILA RYAN WERE ALL SITTING A FEW YARDS FROM ME! AND AS LISA STOOD UP IN THEIR BOOTH I COULD SEE THAT HER DRESS HAD PULLED UP HER BACK. ELVIS WAS QUICK TO TELL HER TO PULL IT BACK DOWN.AS I TURNED TO SEE ELVIS, HE WAS STANDING ON THE RAMP. I LOOKED UP AND HE HAD THE BIGGEST GRIN ON HIS FACE AS HE ADMIRED HIS DAUGHTER AND SPOKE OF PRISCILLA AND HOW SHE HAD JUST BOUGHT HIM A WHITE ROLLS ROYCE. I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE THIS CLOSE TO ELVIS AND HIS FAMILY. NEEDLESS TO SAY,I WAS ONE VERY HAPPY ELVIS FAN FROM OLDHAM, LANCASHIRE. SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU IS OF COURSE A SAD SONG,WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ENDING I HAVE EVER HEARD. ELVIS AND SHERRILL NIELSEN SANG IT TO PERFECTION. I JUST WANTED TO HERE IT AGAIN. ELVIS THANKED US ALL BECAUSE HE HAD ENJOYED IT SO MUCH, TOO. HOUND DOG CAME FROM NOWHERE AND I NEARLY JUMPED OUT OF MY SEAT. ONE MINUTE SOFT HARMONIES,THE NEXT, BANG! ELVIS THEN ASKED THE BAND FOR TRILOGY BUT AS HE WAS ABOUT TO START, HIS BELT GAVE HIM SOME PROBLEMS.
HE ASKED CHARLIE HODGE TO HELP FIX IT,WHICH MADE THE STAMPS QUARTET LAUGH. SO ELVIS GOT BACK AT THEM WHILE THEY SANG THEIR PART OF THE SONG. AS TRILOGY PROGRESSED ELVIS GAVE IT HIS ALL, WITH A MOST POWERFUL AND MEMORABLE ENDING. ITS NOW OR NEVER WAS NEXT AND AS I WATCHED HIM SINGI COULD SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS ON HIS FACE-HE JUST LOVED TO SING THAT SONG. THE BAND INTRODUCTIONS FOLLOWED AND FEATURED SOME MAGIC MOMENTS. WHEN JAMES BURTON DID HIS THING ON LEAD GUITAR IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY. TO OUR SURPRISE (AND TO THE SURPRISE OF EVERYONE ON STAGE) ELVIS ASKED FOR "PETE FROM SWEDEN" TO COME OUT ON STAGE AND PERFORM A SONG HE HAD WRITTEN. AS HE DID, ELVIS TOOK A BACK SEAT AND MADE HIS WAY TO THE RAMP. CROUCHING DOWN IN FRONT OF ME, THIS GAVE ME A CHANCE TO CHECK OUT THE TIGER SUIT. WHEN VOICE SANG ALONG, ELVIS GOT UP TO SING WITH THEM BUT THE ROOM WAS DARK. A SMALL SPOTLIGHT FOCUSED ON PETE HALLIN. AND I COULD SEE ELVIS WAS TRYING TO GET ATTENTION OF THE LIGHT ENGINEER TO MAKE THE LIGHT BIGGER, NOT JUST FOR HIM, BUT FOR VOICE AS WELL"
"TWO MORE VOICE SONGS CAME ALONG, BRINGING IT BACK AND AUBREY, WITH ELVIS NEVER TAKING THE LEAD,JUST ENJOYING THE TALENT ON STAGE WITH HIM AND JOINING IN SINGING BASS. ALL THIS REMINDED ME OF THE TIMES THAT ELVIS MUST HAVE SPENT WITH HIS FRIENDS IN HIS HOTEL SUITE OR AT HOME AT GRACELAND, JUST SINGING HIS FAVORITE SONGS. ELVIS THEN FINISHED ALL HIS INTRODUCTIONS AND PROCEEDED TO TELL US A COUPLE OF PREVIOUS SHOWS HE HAD TO CANCEL BECAUSE OF A BUG HE HAD CAUGHT. ALSO TELLING US ABOUT A LIVER BIOPSY HE HAD TO GO THROUGH, EXPLAINING IT IN A WAY THAT WE COULD NOT HELP LAUGHING AT. ELVIS THEN THANKED BILL COSBY FOR FILLING IN FOR HIM WHEN THE TWO SHOWS WERE CANCELLED AND THE SINGER VIKI CARR, WHO HAD BEEN PERFORMING AT THE TROPICANA HOTEL. SHE HAD ARRIVED AT THE SHOW LATE AND ELVIS ASKED HER HAD SHE HEARD HIM PERFORM ITS NOW OR NEVER EARLIER IN THE SHOW. SHE SAID "NO, TO WHICH HE REPLIED, "OH GOD NOW I GOTTA DO IT AGAIN!, WHICH HE DID AND IT SOUNDED EVER BIT AS GOOD THE SECOND TIME AROUND.
ELVIS RELLY ENJOYED SINGING LET ME BE THERE, AS DID ALL THE BACKUP SINGERS ON STAGE. AFTER REPEATING THE ENDING WE ALL GAVE HIM A ROUSING ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THEN ELVIS SAID, "WALK IN YOUR SLEEP", AND I NEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE ELVIS- KARATE STYLE. SURE ENOUGH IT WAS! AS THE FUNKY MUSIC PLAYED HE SLOWLY MADE HIS WAY ACROSS THE STAGE, STOPPING ONLY TO MAKE A KARATE STANCE, TO PUNCH THE AIR, SPIN AND KICK OUT AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO CHARLIE HODGE. HE THEN COMPOSED HIMSELF BEFORE THRUSTING HALF A DOZEN PUNCHES TO EACH SIDE OF CHARLIE,S HEAD AND STOMACH, JUST MISSING THE LITTLE GUY BY INCHES. YOU COULD TELL CHARLIE HAD TRUST FOR ELVIS AND HE HAD BEEN IN THIS SITUATION MANY TIMES BEFORE, BECAUSE HE NEVER FLINCHED, IT MUST OF BEEN HARD FOR ELVIS TO SING AND MOVE AT THE SAME TIME LIKE THIS, BUT HE MADE IT LOOK SO EASY. IT WAS SIMPLY FANTASTIC TO WATCH. ELVIS INTRODUCED ED PARKER WHO HAD RECENTLY, ALONG WITH KANG RHEE, PROMOTED HIM TO EIGHTH DEGREE BLACK BELT"
"ELVIS THEN TALKED ABOUT JOHN O" GRADY AND A NEW BOOK HE HAD OUT AND ALSO EXPLAINED O" GRADY,S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS. WHAT WE HEARD NEXT ROCKED ME AND WE COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WE WERE HEARING FROM ELVIS PRESLEY HE BEGAN WITH TELLING US OF HOW HE HATED THE MOVIE GOSSIP MAGAZINES AND THAT THEY WERE ALL JUST "JUNK" HOW THEY MADE UP STORIES ESPECIALLY ABOUT HIM. HE SAID THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE "YOUR NOT JUST SICK, YOU ARE STRUNG OUT!, HIS EYES BECAME WIDER AS HE SPOKE AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE EYES. THE ONLY TIME HE EVER GOT STRUNG OUT WAS ON HIS MUSIC, HE TOLD US. WE ALL CLAPPED AND CHEERED, BUT HE ONLY GOT MORE AND MORE ANGRY AS HE CONTINUED. FINALLY GETTING SO ANGRY HE HIT THE STAGE FLOOR SAYING, I WILL PULL YOUR G-DAMN TONGUE OUT BY THE ROOTS!, IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE ELVIS WAS CLEARLY SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THE RUMORS AND GOSSIP AND THIS WAS HIS WAY OF GETTING IT OFF HIS CHEST. BY GOLLY HE DID! NEXT HE SANG HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG. TO MY AMAZEMENT HE CALMLY, ALTHOUGH A LITTLE ANNOYED, BEGAN TO SING. ELVIS SANG IT SO WELL THAT I BEGAN TO FORGET ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPEND.
HIS ANGER HAD NOW TURNED BACK IN TO FUN. HE WANTED TO SING THE ENDING OF THE SONG AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WITH THE LIGHTS ON. PLACING HIS HAND ON KATHY WEST MORELAND,S SHOULDER, HE SANG THE WORDS SLOWLY MOVING HIS HAND DOWN TO HER...CHEST. KATHY MOVED BACK BEFORE ELVIS HIT THE TARGET. MY NEXT SURPRISE WAS TO MEET THE REST OF THE PRESLEY FAMILY. ELVIS,S FATHER CAME ON STAGE AND ELVIS ALSO ASKED FOR COLONEL PARKER ,BUT HE WAS PROBABLY OUT IN THE CASINO SOMEWHERE. ELVIS TALKED ABOUT HIS JEWELRY THAT HE,D WORN FOR THE ALOHA TV SPEACIAL AND ONE RING IN PARTICULAR. WITH A CHEEKY GRIN TOLD US WE HAD HELPED PAY FOR IT. WITH A LITTLE LAUGH AND A WAVE HE STARTED TO SING THE FINAL SONG, CANT HELP FALLING IN LOVE. IT WAS NEALY THE END OF THE SHOW, BUT ONE MORE SURPISE WAS STILL TO COME FOR ME. ELVIS ASKED CHARLIE TO BRING HIM A GUITAR. WICH CHARLIE DID, THEN HE WALKED STRAIGHT OVER TO ME AND POINTED DOWN AT ME AND SAID, "THIS GUY HAD THIS GUITAR MADE JUST FOR ME" " OF COURSE IT WAS NOT ME BUT JIM CURTIN. HE WAS LEANING ON MY SHOULDER TRYING TO SHAKE ELVIS, HAND- MANY MORE WERE TRYING TO DO THE SAME. I REACHED OUT AS FAR AS I COULD AND FINALY ELVIS GRABBED MY FINGERTIPS, MOVED AWAY STOOD UP, TURNED AND DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE GOLD CURTAINS, LEAVING ME WITH SO MANY MIXED FEELINGS. ITS BEEN HARD TO KEEP SO MANY EMOTIONS AND UNBELIEVABLE HAPPENINGS IN MY MIND. THIS WAS MY LAST ELVIS SHOW, BUT BOY IT WAS A TERRIFIC SHOW AND ONE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. HOW CAN IT EVER GET BETTER THAN THAT!"

[Elvis_Priestly]

Thank you Dennis, a well described account of an important concert. Having Elvis make contact with you sounds electric.

I've, in recent months, got into a few online scuffles about this concert. I know it was unusual in that Elvis publically lost his temper but I often thought that was appropriate. I also thought the other things from that night which people speak of as shocking and showing he was lost were nothing more or less than the usual high jinxs and demob happiness of Elvis and the team on the last night of the engagement. I've listened to a few of these closing nights and even back in the early concert days it was always a night for tom-folery and the unexpected. Thanks again!

[memphis 77]

a great account of the performance, many thanx for sharin.

[JohanD]

Thank you Dennis for the honnest account.

By hearing the audio,it's a strange show,compared to all the others..
Strange,but in some way so great.
For once he was defending himself,in a strange way again,but he did!!
It did not affect his singing that night,he sang very good.

One question tough...
Do you had the idea Elvis was "straight" on that stage?
To me it must have,a druggy King could not have performed like that,remembers the lyrics..ect.... (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/undecided.gif)

[Guest_kingofspades77_*]

I've always found this show to be a very strong one. Elvis obviously is pissed off throughout the show and lets it out in the end. But some strong vocal performances imo, and a pretty good show. Thanks for the post!

[NightRider]

Thank you Dennis, that was a wondeful read. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

I love that show, and have read many people opinions of/on Elvis that night. I think that he was at boiling point, and believe that it was nothing to do with drug as some would claim. I may be in the minority in that fact, i am not sure. But Elvis was a normal person with emotions just the same as the next man. I just feel, that night, that he let those emotions get the better of him. Apart from that outburst ( and to be fair i don't even mind that - it shows that the man was indeed human), i think the shows around this time were very cool. In fact, most of 1974 was. And much of it different, with many new songs and suits. Its a shame that he would end the year badly.

Thanks once again for posting (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

[vegas 74]

Thank you Dennis for the honnest account.

By hearing the audio,it's a strange show,compared to all the others..
Strange,but in some way so great.
For once he was defending himself,in a strange way again,but he did!!
It did not affect his singing that night,he sang very good.

One question tough...
Do you had the idea Elvis was "straight" on that stage?
To me it must have,a druggy King could not have performed like that,remembers the lyrics..ect.... (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/undecided.gif)

HELLO,
I THINK THE BEST WAY TO REPLY TO THIS IS TO SHOW YOU "SOME" OF THE INTERVIEW THAT I HAD WITH DARRIN MEMMER.
THIS IS ALSO INCLUDED IN HIS BOOK "DESERT STORM:THE SHATTERING OF A MYTH!

DARRIN:
"HOW DID THE FANS REACT TO THE SHOW?

DENNIS:
"I CAN ONLY SAY WHAT I COULD HEAR AND NOT WHAT I COULD SEE OF THEM. MY EYES WERE FIXED TO THE STAGE,
APART FROM THE CILLA INTRO,BUT MAN THEY WERE GOING CRAZY BEHIND ME! AND LOVIN EVERY SECOND. TO PROVE THIS FACT ELVIS SAID TO US, "BOY YOUR,RE OUTTA SITE. YOU ARE FANTASTIC"
THE ONLY TIME I GOT TO SEE THE AUDIENCE WAS AT THE END OF THE SHOW AS THE CAME FROM ALL DIRECTIONS TO THE STAGE
SIDE TO REACH OUT TO ELVIS. SO HOW ON EARTH WOULD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE REACT IN SUCH A WAY, IF THEY HAD JUST BEEN
WATCHING AND LISTENING TO A SINGER HIGH ON DRUGS? THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS ELVIS WAS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY IN
COMMAND AT ALL TIMES, ONLY HIS EMOTIONS GOT THE BETTER OF HIM, AND THAT WAS JUST TO PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
IT WAS NO MORE THAN THAT.

DARRIN:
"HOW DO YOU SUM UP DESERT STORM?"

DENNIS:
"HE COULD NOT HAVE PERFORMED LIKE THAT IN A DRUGGED STATE. EVERYBODY IN THE SHOWROOM WAS TOTALLY ENTERTAINED BY A MAN WHOSE ONLY DESIRE WAS TO DO JUST THAT, ENTERTAIN. AND IN RETURN, WE IN THE AUDIENCE GAVE ELVIS A BOOST OF ADRENALIN. SO IF YOU WANT TO CALL ADRENALIN A DRUG, THEN THAT IS WHAT ELVIS WAS ON DURING DESERT STORM. AND THAT,S ALL HE WAS ON. I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT!"
TCB
DENNIS

[C.C.Rider]

A wonderful read Dennis. Thank you !!

[fonziesplace]

I know someone who went to the show too. They say that the soundboard doesn't do Elvis justice for that show. They said that the show was great. He was full of life it was just things that ticked him off is what is so bad. They like when he told the person off. The soundboard he sounded drugged up. But the person said that Elvis was on a drug, the drug was the pure energy from the audience. They loved the show.

[First In Line]

Great memories Dennis! It must have really been something to see him live. Even better knowing that there is a very legendary recording of this show now

[Gordon]

Usually people who are really under pressure by the media perform MUCH better than usual.

Take the example of soccer.....the last 2 world cups won by Italy just at the time when they were most harshly criticised and while football scandals were being unfolded in the country.

I think Elvis had some of that same chemical combination in him....and you can't call that drugs.

[pacer1965]

Thanks Dennis for sharing that with us (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

TCE
Lorraine