By the time Elvis Presley was well into his accomplished career, his mind was starting to fall apart. The pressure must have been too much. After divorcing Priscilla and knowing she was having a relationship with another man, not knowing who his real buddies were — the anxiety and stress levels of his career were always increasing. These factors combined put an immense amount of pressure on the artist.
Guns are a way of relieving stress for some people. To have power in your hands can be somehow reassuring, a sort of relief. But the king had gone far beyond normalcy on the morning he decided it would be cool to fire his weapon at the headboard just to wake his ex-girlfriend up. That’s a bit too aggressive for a morning wake-up call!
Elvis Had a Pet Chimp
Ownership of an exotic animal perfectly fits the rocker persona, just like the fast cars, attractive women, grand mansions, and all-night partying. Why not add a strange beast into the mix? In Elvis’s case, he had a pet chimpanzee named Scatter. We’re not sure how Scatter got that name, but it was fitting.
The chimpanzee liked to run around the lawn of Elvis’s home, and he loved it even more when guests were over for an event. The king also taught Scatter a bunch of naughty tricks. Once, the cheeky monkey was caught doing something rude and was hit with an uppercut to the chin by one of Elvis’s lady guests.
The King Loved Firearms
It’s hard to tell, between firearms and guitars, what Elvis loved more. While he sure rocked hard on stage with his beloved instrument, guns could be found literally just about anywhere within his abode. Let’s just say he loved them equally.
Tom Jones recalls a time when he discovered one of Elvis’ guns casually discarded in his dressing room. His ex-girlfriend, Ginger Alden, recalls how the king, in one of his fits, deliberately shot at his TV set, obviously upset about something. It blew her mind!
An Illegal Immigrant Worked for Elvis for Years
Contrary to popular belief, Col. Tom Parker wasn’t an American-born citizen, nor was he naturalized after he moved to the United States. His real name was Andreas van Kuijk, and he made it big in the entertainment industry after he left the Netherlands. In fact, it can be argued that he was the most successful talent manager in history.
Elvis Presley had a particular liking for Parker. So much so that he even paid him more than his fair share. He got the job done, and that’s all that mattered to Elvis. That he was an illegal immigrant? Presley couldn’t have cared less.
The King Was Kind and Generous
Elvis Presley was overly giving to his friends and the people he cared about. To his manager, toward the end of his life, he had been far too generous, perhaps, agreeing to share 50% of his earnings. He essentially made him an equal partner — a move unheard of in the industry.
Presley had some wacky ways of expressing gratitude, and they usually involved some lavish spending. His gifts to his family were so expensive they would make the recipients feel guilty. Elvis was lovely that way. He was one of a kind, and rather than corrupting him, his fame only made him more generous and thoughtful.