Tom Bleecker shares his views on the several dozen drug letters written between Bruce Lee and his drug supplier Bobby Baker in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He was a human being, just like anyone of us. He was amazing, a dedicated martial artist and a constant perfectionist. But he was still a human being. Respect
I don't mean any disrespect with this comment, but why would people think that Bruce Lee was anything but human? What other film celebrity would be revealed as doing drugs, and people would comment that he or she was only human? For example, I've never heard anyone say that "Elvis is only human" or "Michael Jackson is only human." Why do people feel the need to make this comment about Bruce Lee? Thanks for your post.
I still remember when Bruce Lee died, even back in communist Yugoslavia it was perceived as a tragedy as he was a huge superstar. You couldn't get into cinema for any of his movies on Sundays, unless you waited in queue for hours and/or bribed somebody.. Thanks for your testimony.
Many great and highly accomplished people have had serious drug problems that included addictions. The phenomenon is very prevalent in the area of creativity, particularly in the music industry. Bruce Lee certainly made an impact on many people, although in doing so, he paid a high price. Thanks for your post.
Yeah probably because none of this is even true. If Bruce was using all that cocaine his appearance would have shown it, yet we have video evidence from that period that doesn't really. Now the next question is, if the letters are real (and they may not be) how was Bruce financing his movies? Was it possible that he had people who were pushing the drugs to get the money to finance the films? That would be the next logical question, because there was no way Bruce Lee was using that much cocaine, the video evidence just doesn't indicate that.
Actually it does change what his contributions were to the martial arts one being was his abilities caused by drug usage or was it because of hard work and sacrifice like me i trained my body hard i had many sleepless nights because of pain from training i never used drugs of any kind even today as an older man i still train to say this about my grandmaster is indeed not easy and it saddens me to do so but my Tao has nothing to do with his Tao his was just my motivation but my personal success keeps my Tao alive i train for me not my grandmaster Bruce Lee.
Tom, you bring authentic insights into the life of Bruce Lee I've not seen anywhere else. I first read Unsettled Matters roughly 12 years ago, and it helped me to more appreciate Bruce as a human being. Thank you.
ask tom to provide a chain of narrators to his source and lets see how many of them are reliable.. hes just a salty old man without BL he would be unkown
@@regidon6816 Don't be angry, but don't insult anyone for being old. We're both probably far from Mr. Blecker's age, but that doesn't mean you're going to put on his shoes. Be that as it may, Mr. Blecker is certainly an asset to those interested not only in B. Lee, but also in martial arts. And he is a person who has certainly been through a lot for his age and made it somewhere. Although he is not as famous as actors like B. Lee and others. So what? You'll get "older" too, that's life.
I began learning about Lee back in early 1970s. Like many other martial arts practitioners, I found his techniques direct and refreshing. I could see that he had also adopted certain footwork from boxing, which was my first sport. I am sure that like myself, many martial arts practitioners could see an angry side to his expressions in film that was not just acting. He was pulling up that side of his nature because it was there in him. And that was his weakness. I am an expert professional graphologist (handwriting analyst). Bruce Lee's handwriting projected an individual with a very high energy level. But that energy was not balanced by his passive Yin side. His Yang side dominated to excess. He was an obsessive control type-A personality. When the underdeveloped side of his Yin wanted to express itself, his Yang side was not always comfortable with it and would limit its expression. This over dominance of his Yang side is what pushed him to feel that he needed to always prove his power over others. He had learned something about the ancients Philosophy of Yin-Yang, but applied if mostly to developing his martial arts skill, forgetting altogether its precepts and living by them; he forgot that true harmony comes by way of patience in all things. He was living in the fast lane. He was a shooting star crossing the sky from horizon to horizon, burning itself out. His light was diminishing by choice, not by circumstances. In the end, he was more like a meteor that when crashing on earth explodes itself. He had so much to give, but lacked the patience to grow into a true master who could have contributed so much more to the world of martial arts philosophy and sports.
Very thoughtful and perceptive insights. They remind me of the first email review I received on my book, "Unsettled Matters." It came from Will Tracy, the brother of black belt Al Tracy. This is what Will wrote: You’re too close to the book to see what you’ve got. Here’s what I see: "A writer who first met Bruce Lee when he was in high school marries Bruce’s widow. He writes the “love story” of Bruce and Linda, and while doing so falls in love with her. Slowly he is led onto the wine-dark sea of intrigue, cover-up, and greed, until, like Odysseus, who, fleeing Scylla clings to the fig, falls into Charybdis into which he is inexorably being drawn. The more he pries into the Chinese puzzle of the past, the more he finds he doesn’t know where he’s going. His marriage fails (who cares for the truth?) when his wife becomes aware that the writer is discovering “unsettled matters,” which she has long buried in the myth of the man she has created. The writer wants to believe the lies. He tries to believe the lies. He screams to believe the lies. But, like the ghost of Achilles crying for the sacrifice of innocent Polyxena, he must give up happiness for a more consuming passion-the truth. “All he has believed begins to crumble. Friends whom he thought he knew for 30 years, he discovers he doesn’t really know. Obscure individuals now loom large in the life of the martial arts icon who would be god. Step by faltering step, the writer opens one leaf of the onion-like covering that has been placed over the life and death of Bruce Lee. The more he unpeels, the more he cries. The man who would be god slowly devolves to demigod, then to hero, and finally mortal. But it is only as a mortal that the death of Bruce Lee can at last be settled and set him at rest. In the end we know why at his death his enemies sighed with relief and honored him; why his business partner(s) sighed with relief and praised him; why his wife sighed with relief and apotheosized him; why his mistresses sighed with relief and honored him with their silence; why his close household friend sighed with relief and honored him; and why the world mourned him. And when we discover how he died, and the cover up of his death, we know why his soul could not find peace until he was laid bare. In the end, the writer, who only wanted to know the truth, becomes the symbolic psycho pomp who, through his story, conducts the soul of Bruce Lee to a peaceful abode. “Okay, so it’s not the way you wrote it, but it gives rhyme and reason for writing it, and it makes for one hell of a tale to tell. I would give it to Sherry Lansing first. If she passes, I’d take it to John Daily and Derrick Gibson. I’d also take it to Billy Friedkin-this is right up his directorial alley. Bottom line: You’ve got one of the great script ideas of all times. Will”
Thanks for your very honest take on this matter. It honestly humanizes Bruce in a very eye opening way. Its sad he never got to see his legacy truly unfold.
I was born in 1976 and I remember when I was a young boy in the early 80’s being absolutely obsessed with Bruce Lee and being shocked when my dad told me that Bruce Lee wasn’t alive, that he had died a few years earlier. Oddly my dad told me Bruce had probably died from taking drugs. My dad was around the same age as Bruce so he had good instincts on the issues of that generation.
As for the drug letters, it doesn't surprise me that Bruce Lee was on cocaine as well as marijuana. People have to understand Bruce Lee is in the flesh he is not perfect he is not Jesus Christ. Bruce Lee has issues just like all of us do. I still like Bruce Lee, I like his martial arts and I like how he look out for the little guy.
Jesus Christ wasn't known for being perfect he was said to be free of sin. Doesnt mean he didn't sin in the Bible he mentions this in many verses and his actions justified he was only human with prophetic visions.
@@ESFDragxnFistEntertainment Jesus was more than human, he is God. That’s why he’s the only one without sin and who never sinned. Many verses state this.
EXCELLENT!!!! Tom, I was among the first to read your book Unsettled Matters when it first came out many years ago and you and I communicated on Facebook a few times. I've been a HUGE Bruce Lee nut since I was a very little boy in the 60's. But you've always kept it real about Bruce. You've talked about the good and the bad. Bruce Lee was an amazing human being....but people forget that he was human and imperfect like the rest of us. Thanks for sharing your unique perspective and your very valuable thoughts once again.
Your content has real intellectual and historical value, and without your records, huge portion of Bruce Lee information ethos, would be Lost. So please keep continuing, to make these videos. Thank you mr bleecker for all the educational content, that you have made up to this date.
Bruce Lee impacted me probably more than anyone else in my early years. The letters and this video fill in many of the blanks, and questions I've had. I definitely believe the drug problems contributed to his untimely death. For me, it doesn't diminish anything of my feelings about Bruce. It just reminds me that he was just a man, suseptible to the same struggles as I am, and even more so because of his fame and surroundings. It does however, sadden me that he was dealing with this to the degree he was. It also explains why those closest to him, starting with his wife, have always had such guarded responses about Bruce concerning his life and death. They knew...
There was another video that stated Bruce had a Life Insurane policy from Lloyd's of London done only 3 months before his death. One of the questions was if he used drugs. Of course he marked No. After his death they made Linda answer questions under oath to verify that he didn't. It's obvious from the letters that she lied. I think this might be one of the reasons these letters were kept from the public for so long. She was a widow with 2 young kids to support.
@@inneybaby2506 my thoughts exactly ! And isn't the timing of Bruce taking out the policy quite odd, given the kind of business he was in. Given that he was heavily into Martial Arts, there was the constant risk of accidental (or otherwise), injury, it is most surprising that he only took the policy out, three months before his eventual demise. Perhaps he sensed that he couldn't keep up the insane physical pace forever, or maybe the Triads were out to get him and that it was only a matter of time before they succeeded. Linda undoubtedly knew the truth but had to maintain the lie that he was squeaky clean or she wouldn't have qualified for the policy payout.
Nobody perfect everyone has some sort of vice for me I don't care about his drug use Bruce Lee chance the way we look at self defence and all the films he changed the world with his films love Bruce Lee 💙💯
If Bruce not abusing drugs would mean that he would be alive today (age 81), I, along with many of his friends and certainly his family, would gladly forego his contributions to the martial arts and MA action films.
I remember reading where Bruce called the usage of pot or drugs “artificial awareness “. Also his definite chief aim statement could be found in Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich in goal setting. Thanks for addressing the subject of Bruce’s drug use here, Tom. Hopefully others can learn from this story…if they choose to learn from his and other celebrity examples. You’re spot on about that time period, of course. I remember reading about Cary Grant’s use of LSD during those years. It was definitely the thing to do back then in some circles…
@@TomBleecker His wife at that time, Diane Cannon, had tried it and was horrified of what it did to her mind. He wanted her to try it again, she never did. Hence the marriage ended soon afterwards.
I am in the Swapmeet Business. Often people put stuff in Storage and forget about it, then decide it's not worth paying for anymore. Files, Letters are called, Paper Junk. Most often thrown out. Storage Units are Sold at Public and Private Auctions. Then merchandise is often sold at the Swapmeets.
I, for one, was strangely, I don’t know, “relieved” at the letters surfacing because they provided closure for me as someone who’s always wondered what led to or contributed to Bruce’s death (cortisone abuse not withstanding). They also round out what a fascinatingly complex man he was: profoundly wise and mature beyond his years, yet subject to the same weaknesses and temptations and pitfalls as any of us. A comment I read somewhere explained so much: Bruce had an addictive personality. Whatever he was interested in or decided to focus on, he did so to the nth degree-martial arts, physical fitness, self-improvement, filmmaking, drugs. And the drugs weren’t purely for getting high; they were for mind expansion to fuel his creative thoughts, pain relief and energy for working out and working period, and as was mentioned, helped him to sleep and relax given his hyperactive nature-his family didn’t nickname him “never sits still” for nothing. And speaking of family, his dad was an opium addict or at least a habitual user, as was Yip Man, so Bruce had both genetic and environmental factors contributing to his extreme, driven behavior that, when properly harnessed, allowed him to achieve things no one else has come close to. Regarding the letters themselves, I read they were in the possession of Bob Baker’s daughter, she needed money, so she sold them. The flea market story, however, sounds more movie-ish, as does the Lees practically being a mini-drug cartel with the amounts and variety they were asking for and the parties who would’ve been implicated had things gone south. It’s all straight out of a Bruceploitation movie, and the fact that the real-life details are more sensational than what was already known or rumored over the decades, and that they managed to stay secret, is more amazing to me than what they revealed-which is that Bruce Lee was a man. Thank goodness. And when the dust settles at the end of the day, let’s not forget he was a truly remarkable one.
Thanks for your thoughtful post. You're clearly very perceptive. I agree with most of what you wrote yet have a question that is more rooted in curiosity. What are you referring to that Bruce was "able to achieve that no one else has come close to?" As an aside, I'm still puzzled by how those letters landed in that auction house and sold for nearly a half million dollars. If Baker's daughter was the person who sold them, why did she need a half million dollars? I also wonder if she tried to sell them to Bruce's estate. Thanks again for your post.
@@TomBleecker I was referring to him becoming-to use his words-“the first highest paid Oriental superstar." In light of the number and types of Asian roles available in Hollywood today, the lack of Asian performers who are equally successful in Eastern and Western markets, there being no Asian superstar, American or otherwise, on the level of the Little Dragon, I am dumbfounded at what Bruce achieved here and internationally at a time when his stated goal truly seemed impossible. He almost singlehandedly put chopsocky flicks on the map by making EVERYONE take notice of them, brought two major Asian and American studios together for the first time with Enter the Dragon, became a hero not just to Asians but to people of color across the globe. He was a household name in every country right up there with Elvis and Ali. And his open, inclusive approach to martial arts was something that would only be realized collectively decades later with the evolution of MMA. The fact that one man had that vision, that philosophy, and was able to articulate it so successfully through his teaching, writing, and filmmaking that it continues to influence generations of people from every walk of life is, as I’ve already said, dumbfounding to me. If Bruce had never existed and you told people his story, they’d go “Yeaaah, right…”
@@TomBleecker You're welcome. And to answer your other question: Who DOESN'T need a half-million dollars, lol? And you've made me wonder if the Lee estate WAS approached. Hmmm...
@@randalwung8715 Hmmm? is right. Has it been confirmed that it was Bob Baker's daughter that took the letters to the auction house? So far, I've heard speculation but nothing confirmed. Is Baker's wife still living? Seems to me if she is, then she would own those letters. Well, actually that's a sticky wicket, as the British would say. Technically, the owner of the copyright of those letters is the person who wrote the letter. So, in the case of the letters alleged to be written by Linda, she owns the copyright, regardless of who possesses them. But that's a problem for her because in order to stop the sales of the letters she wrote, she would have to admit to writing them, which she wouldn't want to do. Who could blame her? But why the half-million? It seems if Baker's daughter was tight for money, she would take the letters to Bruce's estate and say, "Look, I know my dad really loved Bruce, and I need money for medical reasons, and the last thing I want to do is auction these letters. Could you perhaps buy the letters in the interest of keeping Bruce's legacy in the best light, and perhaps for $5,000?" But then, doesn't this have a ring of extortion? I find it hard to believe that the daughter wouldn't first show the letters to Linda and Shannon, I mean knowing how her father might feel about her opening the door to those letters going public. And finally, I'm surprised that the answers to these questions haven't come to light. The auction house probably had to sign a confidentially agreement that it wouldn't reveal who the owner was. But that presents another problem, which is the auction house had to guarantee the authenticity of those letters, and in order to do that, they had to disclose the chain of ownership to the people who bought the letters. But this would then mean that all those owners know. What a hot mess.
Tom thank you, you have a calming likable personality. You are also honest and intelligent. Losing Bruce, was like if we lost Muhammad Ali after he beat Sonny Liston. The beginning of something so incredible. But with Bruce we never got to see it play out. Along with DeNiro, Pacino, The Fonz, and Travolta. Bruce would have ruled the 70”s I can envision Bruce Lee at Studio 54 every weekend! Oh well. Our loss is Heavens gain.
Believe it or not, a lot of people wouldn't think of Bruce Lee!! When I drawn pictures of Bruce, an old timer assumed I drawn Flash Gordon instead Bruce Lee
As Elvis represented for music, we must remember Bruce Lee for what he represented for martial arts. Both got caught up in the controlling system, tried to be independent, but the controlling machine of showbusiness is treacherous and relentless. But Bruce and Elvis fans will always be extremely loyal, and loyalty to their idols trumps everything that is bad for their memories.
There's a huge difference between Elvis, who had been a major, worldwide star for decades, and Bruce, who hadn't reach fame in the U.S. until after he died. Because of this, although they both fell victim to drug abuse, Elvis was in full control of his career and called all the shots with Colonel Parker. Regarding loyalty, I agree with you that the diehard Bruce Lee fans will never abandon their idol no matter what may come to light. That said, many of his fans, who are the majority, clearly haven't overlooked his drug abuse. You can see this by reading the comments. Thanks for your post.
Mr. Bleeker this is an amazing channel to listen to. I remember Manyyyy years ago no one believed you on what you said of bruce and his drug use. Times of change and now everyone is believing and listening! Im very surprised Bob Baker didnt burn them letters when he was alive.
Most of the people who knew Bruce personally believed what I was saying. It was those whose experience was rooted in his commercialization who had a hard time believing what I was saying. More than ever, today people are realizing the power of the media to shape the thinking of the masses.
@@TomBleecker Mr Bleecker....do you believe that Bruce suffered from any kind of seizures ? Did he have a seizure disorder when he was a child ? It's been said that he was on the medication Dilantin.
@@yhideit4427 You are correct. Bruce did have seizures as a child, which weren't all that uncommon in children. He also at one point was prescribed Dilantin, although he tended to not take it.
Just look at Bruce in Enter The Dragon: more ripped than Arnold. One might suppose that a single-minded ferociously ambitious artist used everything available in the fitness and body-building community of the time. Whatever: the greatest physique of his generation; the greatest martial Artist ever. Absolute Art. Like Hendrix: stop the film at any frame and you have a poster. Uncountable levels above The Next Level. Unsurpassable.
The major problem is that the media, frenzied fans, and even the Bruce Lee estate has made Bruce Lee's image - especially with each decade that has passed after his death - to be such a infallible, perfect idol, that his image and legacy is not allowed to have skeletons or any sign of errors. My problem with that, as a fan who has read voraciously about him including Linda Lee's book, "Bruce Lee: the Man Only I knew", and Alex Ben Block's "The Legend of Bruce Lee" is that by creating an illusion about Bruce Lee, the facts eventually get diluted with the fiction. The man was human. He was not perfect, he had his weaknesses and temptations and that's fine -- I would prefer it that way. His life is far more interesting with the truth: about his struggles with achieving his dreams but ultimately those struggles that gave him the drive to keep moving forward to become a success. Isn't that far more interesting than making him out to be some Superman who never lost a fight (figuratively and literally speaking). It was also a different time. He was far from a "boat person" naive in America. Many pictures reveal that he was very Americanized. He wore hip and stylish clothing of the day and he and Linda probably delved into the late 60's counterculture of recreational drug use. It was common during that time: Jim Morrison. The Beatles, etc. It wasn't Bruce Lee who made him out to be some god. It was his legion of frenzied fans who cannot accept anything but perfection from their idol. It's also in part by those who would profit off his image like those who own his image with product licensing. Here's the thing that bother me about those who try to live off his image -- especially those who knew him. They are all quick to associate themselves with him, and add to his invincible image. However, these same people do nothing, and say nothing, when something totally misrepresents or exaggerates his life. Where was Linda Lee, and others to point out all the exaggerated B.S. in the movie Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story? Even good BS - not just bad BS - should be called out when it is misrepresenting truth and facts. This sudden expose revealing Bruce and Linda Lee did drugs is not damaging. In fact, it's a very necessary fact that needed to come out so we can understand Bruce Lee, and his life, better. What is far more damaging is all the bull and hyperbole that people or media (Chinese made movies that bloat and embellish his actual life) constantly making things up with no evidence (e.g. "Nobody could beat Bruce Lee", "He was a master of 100 styles", "He once beat up an entire biker gang"). That BS is doing far more damage by misdirecting facts and taking us farther away from understanding the real life and times of Bruce Lee.
You are very perceptive, and I agree with everything you wrote. In my second book on Bruce, in the chapter Parting Thoughts, I touched on all the areas that you mentioned, summing up my thoughts by pointing out that the real life telling of the life of Bruce Lee is far more compelling than the fictionalized version.
@@TomBleecker I read your book about 5 years ago. It is a good book. Bruce Lee was a good marital artist, but people over exaggerated his power and skills. He became a super human being after his death.
The fact this has come to light does not change my opinion of Bruce in the slightest. He was still an incredible human being who made tremendous contributions to the world of martial arts and so many other areas. If anything, it highlights that even with such struggles one can still achieve greatness if determined to do so.
Many people who don't share your sentiment wonder how much Bruce Lee would have accomplished had it not been for him making his chief aim in life to become rich and famous and also do whatever it took to reach that goal, which included serious drug abuse and breaking the law. Personally, I believe he would have accomplished far more than he did because in all likelihood he would have lived much longer and been far better grounded. Many years ago, when I was in college, a wise professor told me that if a person wanted to achieve short-term goals, drugs would be a huge asset. In sharp contrast, when it comes to achieving long-term goals, drugs are a huge detriment. History has shown the wisdom of this teacher's warning.
Don't pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one. One of my favorite quotes from Bruce. I think of him often. He's been a big inspiration in my life. My drive and my ambition has definitely been fueled by his philosophy about life, and I guess you could say I have an undying adulation for him. I purchased your book and read it. It was very good. Very insightful. Very surprising, too, but at the end of the day, I think anybody would be a little taken back or surprised of Bruce's drug use. He was a human being just like everybody else. We all have flaws. We all have done things that we're not proud of. But, I always say, proof doesn't lie, and it doesn't water down or change my opinion of Bruce one way or another. I miss him. I really loved his films and everything that you've brought to the table regarding him has been amazing. More of a real understanding on who Bruce was. I watch all your RU-vid videos, and yeah, I've been enlightened a lot the last few years, especially what you've told us regarding him. Thank you, Tom! 🙏🙏
Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you're finding my videos and book worthy of your time. As an aside, to clarify, "Don't pray for an easy life," etc., didn't originate with Bruce. Those words came from a poem titled “Stronger Men” by Phillips Brooks. When I began seeing people attribute those words to Bruce, I thought it odd because Bruce didn't pray or believe in God. Cheers
Based on his vast library of books on multiple subjects, I would venture to guess several or more books about spirituality influenced his views beyond the belief of a certain "God" who watched over humanity. One can surmise that he did appreciate various works by many authors of the East and West on spirituality and religion. Hence, the quote on 'prayer'.
At the close of his remarks at the 1963 National Prayer Breakfast, JFK quoted Reverend Phillips Brooks: "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." The majority of quotes attributed to, Bruce Lee are from others. James Bishop is doing some excellent research into this area, his "Who wrote the Tao" is a must read.
Spot on. Especially regarding the quest for fame and fortune - Because here’s an example of an entertainment super star who also fell victim to drugs, but so far has survived: Johnny Depp. The difference with Depp is that from the very beginning he made it clear he didn’t like the fame and was into it (movies, drugs) for the art and the creative process.
My dad, decades ago nailed it. He was with me while I was watching a Bruce Lee movie. He stated that he saw signs of cocaine abuse in Bruce. Years after that I saw a documentary where it was states Lee used pot. 20 years later now these drug letters confirm all. It's ok, doesn't take anything away from what I think about the man.
When I read Linda’s 1st book on Bruce back in ‘75 I could tell something was being covered up to keep the false image going. It was easy reading between the lines
Of course Linda had to cover things up - she would nevet have got that Life Insurance payout, if she'd told the truth. I mean, what was she gonna do afterwards, had she come clean about Bruces' drug use - she was a housewife with two kids in tow, but no other discernable talents. Were it not for the insurance payouts, she would have been left high and dry. Both her and Shannon, had to keep interest in Bruces' legacy alive, or they would have been skint ! Also - Shannon was so very young when her Dad passed, it never ceases to amaze me how she talk about him, as if they had had many more years together than they actually did do - the grift is strong with this one ! Her whole existence is based in riding on the coat tails of her Dads' success. When Bruce passed away, none other than Jacky Chan himself, stated that everyone in Hong Kong knew what really happened him, but didn't elaborate further. Perhaps he will do so, before he eventually passes on himself - he's pretty old now, and it would end years of speculation as to what actually went down. I won't hold my breath though......
What exactly do you mean by leave him alone? Do you want everyone to stop watching his four movies and TV reruns? Should everyone stop buying Bruce Lee T-shirts and copies of "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do"? Should his statues be removed from LA's Chinatown and Hong Kong? Are you suggesting that everyone simply forget about him? By the way, there are thousands of noteworthy people who are deceased. Are you suggesting that biographers stop writing about anyone who is deceased?
@@blanchekelso7882 Many people respect him and many don't. All that really matters is how you, personally, feel about him. Bruce's legacy is what it is, and it now includes those drug letters. There are some great lessons that young and old can learn from Bruce's drug abuse. But how drugs negatively impacted his life is of no use to anyone if it's covered up or people take the position that those letters are fake. The same applies to Elvis's drug abuse, and Michael Jackson's, and many more people who are now deceased and were a lot more famous than Bruce when they were alive. We live in a world today where people are demanding to know the truth. Heroes and gods have their place in the movies but not in real life.
@@TomBleecker I think she means let's not tarnish the man's image in his death, but rather let him rest in peace and let his fans continue without blemish to hold him in high regard. I think.
@@lionness62-82 I understand her position as a "fan" of Bruce Lee and her desire to continue to idolize him as a perfect, "unblemished" celebrity. Most people I talk with and hear from today don't see Bruce in this light, but rather see him as a talented individual who had flaws. I think the key here is your wording "tarnish the man's image." If one part of Bruce Lee's image is that he would have never used drugs, and the drug letters that came to light clearly expose that image as false, it's not tarnishing Bruce's image to point out the truth that he was not opposed to using drugs. Bruce's use of drugs was his real image. To promote him as someone who didn't use drugs in the name of "letting him rest in peace" is a disservice to Bruce Lee. I would have the same response to Elvis's fans, and the fans of many other celebrities who were much bigger celebrities than Bruce Lee.
I THOUGHT ROBERT BAKER AND BRUCE LEE WERE BEST FRIENDS But Never Knew That Baker Actually Supplied Durgs To Bruce Lee Since Bruce lee and robert baker were Long time friends !
You may be too young to be familiar with the Beatles song "With A Little Help From My Friends." www.google.com/search?q=beatles+i+get+by+with+a+little+help+from+my+friends+lyrics&sca_esv=568044437&sxsrf=AM9HkKk7MO5Ov6Bqtw-v5UxbQE_Hgj1r6A%3A1695587236199&source=hp&ei=pJsQZY7LCab8kPIPk8iAqQk&iflsig=AO6bgOgAAAAAZRCptOQFXHv5AuzJYgndEHE0TQx9xFbD&oq=beatles+i+get+by&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhBiZWF0bGVzIGkgZ2V0IGJ5KgIIADIFEAAYgAQyBRAuGIAEMggQABiKBRiGAzIIEAAYigUYhgNIrS9QAFj_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&sclient=gws-wiz
That's what I heard, too, which is more feasible than them showing up at a flea market or something. You couldn't really blame Baker's kids for choosing to sell them, they were worth a lot, obviously, & were basically just sitting in storage somewhere collecting dust, right?
Thx for the insight as to the goings-on at the time i wasn't born until 1970 so there are alot of missing pieces and here say alot of what i still believe was based on Bruce's teachings
To help clear up much of the hearsay and misinformation, I highly recommend a book written by James Bishop, which I believe it titled "Who Wrote the Tao." Copies are available on Amazon. Cheers
I was born during the late 1940s. The first time i saw martial arts fighting was about 1957. Our Chinese friend protecting me and my brother from a black bully. Of course me and my brother are young 8 and 9 years old living near Chinatown in Chicago. That Chinese fighting look exactly like ballet dancing, but extremely dangerous.
Although it is possible, I remain skeptical about the drug use and the letters. There still appears to be speculation surrounding the issue and many questions still arise. Firstly, drug use can usually be detected on individuals particularly on their skin and eyes in due time. If Bruce had been using drugs since the mid 60's and beyond until the time of his death, it would've been readily noticeable on his appearance and reported widely in the media/magazines/newspapers. Bruce's popularity began in the late 60's until the present day. Secondly, It's quite strange how the letters all of a sudden appeared quietly out of nowhere in an auction house. Given Bruce's popularity in the early and more recent years with Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and with the subsequent resurgence of B. Lee storybook movies, coupled with today's social media's far reaching capabilities, it's hard to believe these letters didn't blow up as scandalous material which any individual/reporter/media house, would jump on just "Because It's Bruce Lee". So although it is possible the letters may be real, I would have to see a lot more on the issue rather than believe it outright as many would, and accept it completely without further due diligence and deeper investigation. But that's just me as a lone fan wanting to know more on this issue.
Excellent observations. With regard to the validity of those letters, it seems to me that Heritage Auctions, which is a highly reputable company, would never have sold those letters for nearly a half-million dollars had there been any chance that the letters were not authentic. Second, if those letters weren't authentic, then Linda and/or Beverly Baker would have filed a massive civil lawsuit against that auction house, and yet, to my knowledge, none have been filed. Thanks for your post.
@@rancedavis5106 I don't believe that five decades later there are any "Bruce haters" around. There has been over the decades since his death, a large number of his followers who expressed disappointment over being misled about the facts about his life, as well as his death.
@@TomBleecker yes i think he was a great man and often mis understood. its a sahame some people have built him up to be godlike cos that has opened doors to people slating and disrespecting him unfortunately.
@@TomBleecker so you met and befriended Bruce then. did he have an aura of someone rather special about him ? ? i too am a m artial artist and like many before me bruce was definately a big influence on me.
Great channel! When i first read insettled matters i wasnt surprised. Spent many years in hongkong and being there regularly i heard a lot of stories from the elders in the martial world.. also about other martial actors..
As I stated in another post on this matter, Jackie Chan once said that everyone in Hong Kong knew what really happened to Bruce - have you heard anything on the grapevine, since it would seem that Chan isn't going to spill the beans ?
I already suspected this when I saw Bruce's drastic weight loss from The Enter The Dragon movie compared to his earlier movies which were not too far apart in time. The side effects of marijuana and the combination of pain killer tablets he took for his headache make it more intense for someone who has a very healthy gut and lean body
I seriously doubt that Bruce was popin pain pills like they were candy. Isn't the ingestion of hashish one of the ways that Bruce delt with his back pain ?
the thing is, although we're all disappointed (or surprised, or shocked) the rumors of drugs have always been out there, until now, there hasn't been much proof outside of the Marijuana and pain pills.
@@mozfonky Yup. But then, during the time he passed away, there were simply too many rumours and theory passing around. Most are from tabloid journalists to sell their newspaper.
He was no saint. In a lot of biographies about his life, you hear of him being brash or violent. Others knew about him taking marijuana. But I dont think many knew about the hard drugs he was doing. In a letter to Shih Kien, he mentioned to him that acting was just a "side hustle." Pretty foreshadowing. Strangely enough, before the letters came out, my friend said at an Inosanto seminar and afterwards some students trained and worked out where they mentioned Bruce's hard drugs selling. I have no idea how they would have known that.
Thank you for relating this . I think its important becuase we all grow up with people we idolise but at some point we all have to grow up and realise that everyone has their weaknesses. Thankfully Ive never been brought up idolising popstars who do often abuse drugs and I thought Bruce wasnt into this so its kinda sad that that myth has been shattered. Still the truth will set you free as they say
Makes me wonder what other letters are out there. Hell what other footage is out there that we haven't seen yet. Quite an interesting, very human, conflicted and talented man.
Interesting and thought-provoking commentary. Thanks for sharing. I have couple thoughts, and then a question. This doesn't change the fact for me that Bruce was groundbreaking in his approach to martial arts, many of his philosophies, his inspirational training techniques, etc. I also agree with you, as I had the very same thought about the sudden appearance of these letters ... after managing to stay hidden for nearly 5 decades!! I myself spent quite a bit of time thinking about that. It's such a huge thing that managed to basically remain unknown, then suddenly revealed. And it definitely casts more perspective on some things and even helps explain a few others that happened there towards the end. The only positive from this is it may serve as a cautionary-tale, and lesson to others out there. Sad Bruce ended up going down that road but as you said hopefully since time of his passing he has at least been at peace. My question is - you also mentioned in the video about large shipments of guns also being ordered or sent for Bruce overseas. I'm aware of a couple stories of him purchasing some guns, but never heard/read anyting as described on a larger scale level, as what you mentioned in this video. I understand it may be too much to get into in a comment thread, but wondering if you might be able to explain in a little more detail? or lead me somewhere I could get more info regarding that subject? Thanks for your time.
It seems that I misworded what I meant to say, which was that there were large shipments of drugs (but not guns). I'd have to find that point in the video, but I may have misstated and combined guns and drugs with "large shipment." Bruce had only a couple of firearms brought into Hong Kong. Thanks for your post and for pointing out this error. Cheers
@@TomBleecker thank you for your response. I somewhat midquoted you (or read possibly more into it than what you meant) but just to pinpoint... at about 11:30 in your video - "he was having some Firearms smuggled in there as well". I have read that there was Bruce was exhibiting symptoms of Paranoia the last year or two. And I suppose that's very understandable, when we take into account the stress he was under at that time, not to mention only escalating and complicating his frame of mind was the various drugs & medications. So it really didn't shock me when I heard your statement. But does make me curious as to what extent. The more I learn the more it seems clear the poor young man got himself caught up in a whirlwind that tragically consumed him & wore him out.
@@jayviviano109 Over many decades, I watched many Hollywood actors get caught up with cocaine, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. Thankfully, although I, myself, did coke, it wasn't my drug of choice. Many of those whom I observed doing excessive cocaine often ended up with extreme paranoia. Of course, abuse of cocaine eventually destroys one's sleep cycle, which adds to the nightmare. What a shame, really.
@@TomBleecker Yes, admittedly I myself also had my experiences with those drugs. I feel those of us that were able to manage it from becoming something that overtook us, we are quite fortunate. Not part of my past I'm necessarily proud of but it does allow us to at least understand a little bit and empathize. I'm just thankful in the midst of those days I wasn't tempted with the alure and extra temptations that come w/Fame & Fortune. As you point out, historically, so many in pop-culture history do not fare well with that battle
@@jayviviano109 My drug of choice was alcohol that I began drinking in high school. Eventually, it caught up with me, and I had to quit, but not before it caused substantial problems in my life.
Eerie how Elvis Presley’s drug/pill behavior in the 70’s also mirrored that of Bruce Lee. Downers to come down from the adrenaline pumping through his veins after shows, and from all the excitement constantly surrounding him incl all-night parties with friends, and celebs, and then downers and sleeping pills to get some sleep from the morning until the afternoon. Then same cycle repeating itself in the evening, doing 60 shows in 30 days in Las Vegas 2 times a year, going on different tours especially more from 1972 onwards, short and long in between the Vegas and Lake Tahoe stints, also recording several times/year, always having to be “up” for the masses, no matter how you’re feeling, no matter the mental state, the natural energy, the people always expecting a dynamite show.
@@ubonsolavong999 I agree that we are all flawed. Concerning his heavy drug use, without his use of drugs, I think it's fair to assume that he would have achieved far more because he would have lived much longer. The same could be said of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, and a long list of other creative people whose lives were cut short because of their drug use.
I know Hollywood stars who made many more successful movies than Bruce did, and they all died before their time, most of them having lived miserable lives near the end. I'm sure if they could do it over again, they wouldn't do it the same way. I'm sure Bruce would have accomplished a whole lot more than one big box-office movie had his lived beyond 32 years.
@@TomBleecker He was so attracted to Hollywood fame and fortune that it most likely contributed to his death. Cocaine has been known to cause cerebral edema directly or indirectly.
@@TomBleecker I believe you may be right. Strange how Bruce had cerebral edema 10 weeks prior to his death. No Equagesic, (meprobomate) mentioned, only marijuana.
I doubt that anything said about Bruce today would diminish his legacy. The greatest icons of history are quite often as imperfect as they are great. It would be better to know them in the light of imperfect truth than to remember them as fabrications of lies and expectations. It might actually help the generation today.
As an extraordinary martial artist, I agree with you. That said, I'm not sure that the disclosure of his extensive use of drugs will not diminish his life philosophy.
@@swangonzalez4797 Well, sad as it might be, his philosophy of life resulted in his early, albeit tragic, demise, which Stirling Silliphant pointed out.
Tom is a Bruce close friend. Im sure Tom expose this because this is the truth and make people realise that Bruce also a normal human being. Made mistake. In fact a lot of them and thats it. Not because to destroy Bruce legacy
I was 21 in 1969 and at Woodstock. That Bruce was using weed, acid, coke and probably other stuff is not surprising because it was our culture. The 80’s were a big coke time, too. Many of us survived somehow. Someone like Bruce who was a genius in his art, pushed everything he did to the limit. It is understandable. The heartbreak is that he didn’t live. I will always admire and love him for his accomplishments and his attitude and philosophy. I am so sorry he is not here now.
As I mentioned in my video, I, too, was part of that Hippie drug generation. The reality, however, only a small percentage of our country's youth during that era used drugs. Stirling Silliphant said after Bruce died that the one thing that should have saved Bruce - his kung-fu - failed him. I admire Bruce as a martial artist and applaud Bruce and the entire cast and crew for their success of "Enter the Dragon." With regard to Bruce's philosophy, my sense is that if he had his life to do over again, knowing how his first life turned out, he would have followed a different philosophy. Thanks for your post.
@@TomBleecker Thank you, Tom. Yes, of course, you are correct. I grew up in NYC so it felt like everyone was using something! :) What happened with Bruce really was tragic because as you said, he had the foundations that should have prevented it. But he also was the kind of person that pushed himself, and I think he did not realize where the drug thing was going to take him. It happened to a lot of my friends who are also no longer with us, unfortunately. I love your videos! Wow. Just watching your video re steroids and the boundless energy part...maybe that had something to do with what happened, too?
@@Zihannya I think an important element of Bruce's drug use is that he very much wanted to identify with and be accepted by the Hollywood community. Two stars that he idolized were Steve McQueen and James Coburn, and both used drugs. Although I didn't know Steve McQueen that well, Jim and I were good friends and actually worked together on an MGM film in 1971. When Jim last saw Bruce in Hong Kong, he told me, upon his return, that the Bruce he saw in Hong Kong was not the same Bruce he had known for several years, he had undergone such a radical change. Thanks for your compliment regarding my videos. Cheers
I believe that one important aspect about the drug use and involvement including shipping to Hong Kong is that it was at that time the chic, hip, exciting, rebellious and adventurous thing to do do during that period and that could have clouded their thinking.
And remember that Bruce in his youth was a streetwise kinda kid.. i'm sure some of that carried on in to his early adulthood, but this time it was in a different ball game with so much pressure that he could'nt simply run off and be annonomus some where else in the world. If you had to look for places where Bruce would be annonomus, start with some remote tribe in Africa or south America.. maybe in greater Asia.
Sounds very believable. I read in Patrick Swayze's autobiography, fame and fortune did not bring him happiness. It drove him to loneliness and alcoholism. He knew the stories of predecessors like Bob Marley but he couldn't escape it himself. He wrote in his autobiography: The best way to destroy a person is to give him what he wants (the fame and fortune).
I agree. Faust believed that if he had wealth and power, he could control his environment. The problem with this is that love and control are incompatible. When a person comes to that stage in their life when they are less able to accomplish but more able to enjoy, they will have attained the wisdom that Ecclesiastes finally found after so many false stars and disappointments. Perhaps what Bruce needed was more time.
@@TomBleecker ya, i'm sure it is, just mentioning that Silliphant said it too, Bruce's getting caught up in the hype was understandable and he most likely would have gotten it together a bit better had he lived. But who knows, Bruce might also have burned a lot of bridges if he'd lived. One thing for sure, Hollywood bigshots would not tolerate the stuff he was pulling in Hong Kong, they'd just blackball him.
Unreal it comes out 50 years later but does not detract from his legacy one bit! Bob Baker would smuggle drugs in his rectum when he went to Hong Kong to give to Bruce Lee because getting caught going in to Hong Kong from US would have serious repercussions, just putting them in his pockets or luggage was far too risky, he was able to smuggle a decent quantity that way. Some drugs were also shipped to Hong Kong. Bob stayed quiet about it probably out of loyalty to Bruce but also in the 20 years that he lived after Bruce died, he might have got a visit from the Police even years later if he publicly admitted smuggling drugs in his rectum. THE BIG QUESTION : had they known at the autopsy would it have changed the verdict??????????
To clarify, there is no evidence that Bobby Baker smuggled drugs in his rectum. Most of the illicit drugs were sent via the mail to Golden Harvest. Second, none of the participants would have faced criminal charges any time after the drugs no longer existed or Hong Kong was handed back to the Communists. And lastly, the revelations in these drug letters have had a negative impact on Bruce's legacy, that is the majority of his following, although most likely not his diehard fans.
@@TomBleecker I did not say Bob would face any charges, just that entirely possible had he publicly said he was sending and bringing in drugs to Hong Kong, he would have got a Police visit - even just to ask how much, where you doing this for other people too, have you done it since for anyone, etc. Hong Kong went back to China in 1997, Bob died in 1993, had British Police, Interpol, politicians, etc got word i.e. Bob publicly doing a tell all, then possible they may have looked in to it but incredibly unlikely as you said any charges would be brought. Regarding smuggling drugs, that was told by Bob himself at dinner with 4 other people after a Bruce Lee conference that he did it in his rectum, he laughed about it and said it was far too risky to try conceal them in his clothes or luggage; he did not talk at length about it, and he never mentioned cocaine, etc, it was in response to a question on Bruce using cannabis but as not recorded or documented you could say hearsay like e.g. Jon T. Benn (Way Of The Dragon co-star) saying at dinner with Chuck Norris, he asked him who would win in a real fight with him and Bruce, Chuck told him ''no doubt about it Bruce would''' but Chuck has never said that publicly.
A handwriting expert would have no difficulty noting the two different styles of writing. Look at how different the two cross the letter T for example.
@@TomBleecker same L's, same I's, same flourishes, awkward language giving the impression of a non native English speaker writing, same emphasis on 'very hard' that existed in Bruce's previous letters.
Bruce said he wanted people to know that hes a human being (he told in an interview) i believe he was being humble and admitting that he has flaws and weaknesses and temptations and addictions that all humans face in life - he wasnt trying to pretend to be Super-human.
Greetings Mr. Tom. You speak on the subject of Br. Lee very well read and trustworthy. Please continue to create and show people what they will not learn otherwise and elsewhere, it will certainly contribute to a better understanding of the life and personality of Br. Lee's. Both the good and the bad. You have something to pass on, don't keep everything you know to yourself if such a thing still exists in your memory or physically. You may not realize it, but you have the power and the power to continue to show things as they are. We can also learn how life was in the 60s and 70s. About the drug letters = I don't think anyone bought them from B. Baker's wife, she could have sold them herself and made a lot more money. It's a mystery how they got to the flea market and I sense some false manipulation around this thing. Personal wish Br. Lee's written letter in the 16th minute of the video is probably evoked by some of his personal hardships in the past, when he was still living in occupied China. It is also known from the position of graphology that he was already under long-term stress at the time when he wrote it. Mr. Lee was a very independent person, and he also had great inner strength, if he set his mind to something, he was able to stick to it. Even though he set high goals that few would have the courage to achieve, he was so confident that he knew he could do it. And he really managed a lot. In the case of his last film, however, he exhausted his strength, because he did NOT have a solid point in his life, which was not given to him by his wonderful wife Linda, who I think was otherwise his great support, but he probably still needed something else. That he had no money at the end of his life? According to information, at that time he bought a beautiful house and a more expensive car. But what I don't understand is that Mrs. Linda was so lacking in authority that she allowed Br. Lee was a financial mess and had little legal treatment, it's true that he didn't know much about the business and was apparently a bit lazy about it and didn't think of backdoors. He was also naive in some ways. But it was also in his wife's interest to control this. Also for the future provision of their children. So thanks for your sharing and keep it up Tom! And if you want to add anything to my comment, I'd love to read it all. 🌷
Hello, Anna, and thanks for your comments. If Bobby Baker's wife tried to sell those letters on her own, it would have been unlikely that she could have gotten anywhere near the half-million dollars for them. There also would have been the problems of authenticating the letters and maintaining her anonymity. Moreover, by having the highly reputable auction house broker the letters, she avoided being the target of a potential lawsuit. I think the flea market story was simply put out there to protect her anonymity. Clarification: Bruce never lived in China. In his youth, he lived in occupied Hong Kong, which was briefly occupied by the Japanese, and then for a much longer period, the British. His "Chief Personal Aim in Life" was written when he lived at the luxurious Barrington Plaza and was likely founded in what he was taught as a child, which was that money was all that mattered. Before Bruce's death, Raymond Chow purchased Bruce a home (although a car was ordered, it was never delivered). The house, however, was in the name of Bruce's butler and childhood friend, Wu Ngan, and after Bruce's death, the house sold at a loss. As I pointed out in my book "Unsettled Matters," although Bruce had very little money when he died, he was owed a lot of money by Raymond Chow. Collecting it, however, proved to be a monumental task that took ten years. Lastly, Bruce's legal and financial mess can be attributed to Adrian Marshall, who acted as Bruce's attorney and financial advisor. Adrian Marshall was sued a few years ago for his decades of unprofessionalism by Lee's daughter and Linda, who settled their case out of court. Cheers
@@TomBleecker Thank you for your reply and providing the exact context. As to the sale of the letters, if I understand it correctly, the wife in question could therefore sell them through an intermediary who offered them to the auction house and split the profit with him. I would like to ask about the book you mentioned, even though I don't promise to buy it yet = do you sell it in person and in electronic form? Mr. Lee's lawyer must have been an outrageous person! I don't want to believe that, but still I believe that he and his wife should have been more careful, even lawyers have to check themselves, then surely he had friends among the actors who could help him in some way, recommend another lawyer. I am also unclear about Mr. Chow's debts to Br. To Lee, maybe the disagreements between him and Lee play a role here, when Lee wanted to become independent and Chow did not want to let go of the "golden calf" that would make him money. Br. Lee didn't want to be owned by anyone. This show business is pretty dirty. After all, what isn't today. Thank you.
@@annabudasova8258 It's more likely that the letters were cosigned to the auction house, which then sold the letters and were paid a commission. This put authenticating the letters as the responsibility of the auction house. In any case, to me, it makes the most sense that Baker's wife initially had the letters. Many of my books are listed on Amazon, "Unsettled Matters" being one of them. Amazon has both hard copies and kindle editions. Regarding Bruce's difficulties with being paid for his acting, the main problem was Bruce and Chow never had any written contracts. As an aside, there's a huge difference between Hong Kong producers in the 1970s and producers who work in the Hollywood film and television industry. Cheers
@@TomBleecker Many thanks for the reply! And your last sentences explained a lot to me, yes the differences between these two production worlds must have been really big at that time, and so you actually gave me the answer to what I was thinking about, it's clear to me now. Mr. Tom, it's great that I found you, maybe you won't appreciate it, but for me it's nice that I was able to meet a person who was part of a lot of what happened in the 60s-70s around the film environment and all that happening. Thanks to you, I seem to have gone back in time to a time that interests me and is close to me. It is another thing to read a book, where there is certainly a lot of information, but a direct way, where I write you a comment and you respond, it is like writing with a close friend, even if we do not know each other personally. I hope you understand me. It is a great joy for me. Thank you!! A beautiful day.
I have always loved Bruce Lee & martial arts. I was disappointed to not only hear that he was doing hard drugs & that he had affairs. But, he was, after all, only human. I really think that he used drugs for multiple reasons. There are some people who are so serious minded that they use drugs to escape & some use it for creativity. But I think what was going on with him was physical. He had injured his back & still had lingering effects. Not to mention, he was getting older. Know matter what you do, your body cannot take constant physical abuse. I do believe that we pick out our lives before we incarnate. Some do not want to grow old. I see that in people who live life to the fullest in a short amount of time & then die. My nephew died at 16. When he was little, his hair was so blonde & when the sun/light hit it, he had a "halo." I've always said that he was an Angel that snuck down to Earth to play baseball ,football & hunting. Then God saw he was gone & took him back. He was young but he did leave his mark on his schoolmates & family. ALL these years after Bruce's death & he is still leaving his mark on the world also.
I think it's important to focus on Bruce's "Personal Chief Aim in Life," which was to become rich and famous, and that he seemingly was willing to take whatever measures necessary to achieve that. Most would agree that living a life to become rich and famous has proven to be a poorly conceived main goal. To clarify, Bruce's back injury wasn't as serious as the brand would like to make it. In reality, what he had was a nagging muscle spasm that cleared up with muscle relaxants and Jacuzzi and was not a factor after he departed for Hong Kong in the early 1970s. Also, Bruce mainly used drugs recreationally, as did many of his closest friends and colleagues. The Bruce I knew never envisioned himself dying in his early 30s but, in fact, intended to live to a ripe old age, which I feel he would have done had he not been so obsessed and focused on fame and fortune. Lastly, all said and done, there is no question that he was an extraordinary athlete, a seeker, and an exceptional martial artist for which he continues to be remembered by martial artists. Thanks for your comments.
@@davidtrani190 Me and you both. In a scary way, when I look at a photo of Bruce lying in that bronze coffin, I feel that just as easily could have been me because I was overwhelmed by the same quest for fame and fortune and did all the same drugs. Thank God for good therapists!
I've heard it said that a legacy is a difficult thing. Not one dimensional and definitely not defined by single acts (good or bad). The saddest part of Bruce's life to me is that he didn't believe in God.
What I have found is that some people have no problem accepting a lie about Bruce's life as long as it promotes a positive image and legacy. In sharp contrast, these same people will vehemently oppose a truth when it promotes a negative image and legacy. Thankfully, for the last several decades, this tendency has been on a steady decline.
ust look at Bruce in Enter The Dragon: more ripped than Arnold. One might suppose that a single-minded ferociously ambitious artist used everything available in the fitness and body-building community of the time. Whatever: the greatest physique of his generation; the greatest martial Artist ever. Absolute Art. Like Hendrix: stop the film at any frame and you have a poster. Uncountable levels above The Next Level. Unsurpassable.
It's not really a surprise, considering the people who he was friends with and times. I mean drug use in Hollywood is not only restricted to that time period. Today it's not much different, I believe. Also, cocaine was made first as performance enhancing drug, i can imagine, that helped him to in that regards as well, but maybe went out of control.
Indeed they were. As I mentioned in the video, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I used every one of the drugs that Bruce used, both recreationally while in college, as well as when I was working in Hollywood.
I love how everyone is now "Bruce isn't perfect.". But before these letters those same people were like "Bruce would never do drugs. He would never do cocaine. He cared about his body too much!"
Well, they're not entirely to blame. After all, they were fed that image of Bruce by the MA mainstream media for decades, as well as MCA Universal's marketing team. If you recall, there was never an issue of Black Belt magazine that didn't either feature Bruce on the cover or as the subject of its main article - and oftentimes both.
It was revealed after his sudden death that he was a hash user. Probably no coincidence Bruce started losing weight after Fist of Fury, once Bob arrived on the scene.
Finally the truth emerges yes it was a great legacy a great Era that inspired millions but let's get real Bruce was a man like any one else susceptible to the trapping of super stardom.
Well, Mr. Bleecker, it seems like Bruce Lee did not achieve inner harmony and happiness toward the end of his life, even though he was reaching his professional goal. For all his supposed studying of philosophy, Bruce was still chained by the spell of fame and money, and ultimately paid his life for them.
Thank you Tom for your insight. It's sad that Bruce Lee was so destructive and irresponsible in his personal life, his negligence and hubris caused his early demise. He was never able to enjoy the benefits of the mega-stardom that he worked so hard for. We all missed out on some of the greatest martial-arts action films never made.😞
Amen. Bruce certainly knew the steep price that could be handed to him when he told Linda, "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up." And he almost made it. I certainly admire him for giving it his all.
Mr. Lee was a product of his environment and the culture at the time the uses and experimentation with drugs to enhance and improve performances was the north the norm
I can only speak from my own experience, but I was very involved in the martial arts in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and I recall only a small percentage of practitioners using drugs to enhance their performance. I don't recall drugs being the norm.
The man wasn't God , he was only human ...the old adage about walking a mile in someone's shoes comes to mind. We ought not to judge , after all he did sustain a lower back injury and was originally diagnosed not to be able to perform Martial Arts or any athleticism at that rate , ask anyone with the type of injury he had how much chronic pain he must have been dealing with and muscle spasms I'm telling you is unbelievably intense. No one can take away the fact that he's the greatest Martial Artist and Martial Arts Innovator of the 20th Century !
I don't see people judging Bruce for his drug use but simply reporting the facts and correcting decades of misinformation. Moreover, Bruce Lee was never diagnosed with a back injury that prevented him from doing martial arts or any other physical endeavor. The facts are that he was given two full sets of X-rays that showed that he had a normal spine. The discomfort that he had is relatively common and straightened out with muscle relaxants and Jacuzzi. In one of those drug letters, Bruce writes that this injury amounted to a temporary nuisance (I paraphrase). Bruce's use of the drugs identified in those letters had nothing to do with alleviating pain.
@@VideoVortexYTAnything is possible, given the weaponry Bruce had at his disposal. Of course, Bruce's major obstacle would be Ali being considerably taller, heavier, and with a much longer arm reach with a lightning jab.
@@VideoVortexYT I can't confirm that happened, at least to the degree that Joe couldn't touch Bruce. Joe Orbillo was a close friend of the family. He is seen in the wedding video in several places - extending well wishes and talking with Ed Parker. I spent time with Joe, and he never mentioned the sparring match with Bruce. Joe was one hell of a professional boxer and street fighter. Thanks for your post.
Hello Mr. Bleecker, I am very surprised that nobody around Bruce has reacted or made any statement about those letters, especially Linda, since she wrote some herself, Do you know about any statement from her or Shannon about it? I only hear a loud silence !! Greetings
I am not aware of any statements made by Linda or Shannon. My sense is there isn't a plausible explanation that would satisfy the majority of Bruce's following.
@@confuxio2 As an afterthought, the only two people living who would know if those letters are forgeries are Linda and Baker's wife Beverly if she is still living. And if they are forgeries, then Linda and Baker's estate will undoubtedly be filing a massive civil lawsuit. Heritage Auctions is a highly reputable company that has been in existence for a long time. In my view, there is no way it is going to risk being totally destroyed for selling fake letters for nearly a half million dollars. They don't need that kind of business, and they certainly don't need to be defending a multimillion defamation lawsuit.
Not trying to put Bruce as being perfect ,but his acquaintances and friends would have been more using these types drugs with the culture , all I say is do you think Elvis used all those drugs he acquired just to himself ? I suggest no ,so I have a different understanding of these drug letters ,as I'm seeing you to also have an open mind
Bruce was the star of the room wherever he went.I doupt very much anyone wanted to do or say anything that might have offended Bruce such as pulling an "intervention".Some people had their suspicions but they kept it quitely to themselves.As for whether Bruce was sharing his drug supply with his friends...Maybe,James Colburn definitely did coke and smoked weed and hash,so did Steve Mcqueen and most likely a lot of others.He may have even been selling coke and weed to the Hong Kong Triads.Otherwise why order such large quantities like those letters obviously imply....But that's the entertainment world.
If you're suggesting that Bruce used drugs to fight pain, I think it's clear from those letters that, as millions of young people were in that era, he was using drugs recreationally.
I doesn't surprise me hear he was broke. His house in Hong Kong was worth 300, 000, 000. I'm not sure what currency that was valued at, but as far as I know Raymond Chow paid for the house and so whatever was left of the house payment was owed to Chow which would have been alot as Bruce died a few years after returning to Hong Kong. I think he intended to pay Chow back out of a five movie deal. So really the only money he would have made was from Way of The Dragon most of which would have been pumped back into Game of Death during which he died.
Bruce's house on Cumberland Road was legally owned by Bruce’s corporation, Lo Yuen Enterprises. It took nine months to sell at a loss for US$180,000. The equity of US$40,000 was used to hire accountants and attorneys to fight Raymond Chow.
I was always able to use and not get hooked on just about every drug except opiods, absolutely horrific withdrawals and the biggest killer of all drugs, I was lucky to finally be free of them after a lot of pain and misery and friends that didn't make it.
Nice to hear that you're enjoying my book (I presume you're referring to "Unsettled Matters"). At the present time, I'm under a writing contact. Perhaps at some point down the road, there will be enough new information or another view of Bruce that would merit another book. You're correct that I'm the only biographer of Bruce Lee who actually had a personal relationship with him. I'm often surprised (and flattered) when biographers plagiarize my books. Cheers
@@TomBleecker I enjoyed your biography and the one from Bruce Thomas. I did not like the recent one from Matthew Polly. Did he get in touch with you to get informations.? His opinion about the cause of death of Bruce is ridiculous.
@@bertrandderegnaucourt8265 Matthew Polly did contact me via email and asked me dozens of questions. I didn't know at the time that he was doing research for a book he was writing. I didn't find that out until I learned he had published a book. I agree with you that his theory of what caused Bruce's death is far-fetched. Cheers
The problem is the letters don't match up with the video evidence we have of Bruce in 1970. If Bruce was a gigantic cokehead, as the letters seem to indicate, we should see some change in his mannerisms and his appearance from that period, and it should dramatic... If you became a huge cokehead right now we should be able to look at your recent videos and see some evidence of you changing as a result of it. Something doesn't add up, the letters can't say one thing and the videos say another.
The majority of those letters were written well after 1970. I think the first question that one needs to address is whether the letters are authentic? In my view, it's clear that they are for a host of reasons. Moreover, there were many changes in Bruce's behavior and his physical appearance, as well as his personality, when he was in Hong Kong during the last two years of his life. These things aside, if it were true that Bruce wasn't using those drugs, then the next question is what was he doing with those major shipments of such a wide variety of street drugs?
@@TomBleecker The answer to that seems clear... he was selling the drugs to finance his films. Was it possible he was sampling his own merchandise here and there? Possibly... but he was receiving "large shipments" for a reason. He makes mention that another actor likes a certain kind of drug, was Bruce part of a network that could provide them? Where did he get the money for his films if he was broke prior to making them? Were his first films financed by drug money?
In his letters he mentions James Coburn, here's a quote from James Coburn... "The outspoken actor also bares all on his years of "experimentation" with marijuana, cocaine and other drugs. "I was never addicted, and the thing I found was that after a certain period of time, it gets really boring," he says. "I must say, though, I did like LSD, peyote and other psychedelics." Where was Coburn and his friends getting those drugs from?
@@BillySBC The only film Bruce coproduced (Concorde/GH) was "The Way of the Dragon." His other films were financed by Golden Harvest and Warner Brothers, both of which were flush. Neither Bruce, Golden Harvest, and especially Warner Brothers ever needed to sell drugs to finance any of Bruce's films.
@@TomBleecker There was a time when he did need the money though. When his wife was working as a switchboard operator. He was under significant pressure to provide for his wife and his child. Maybe he found a way to do it... We don't know how much drugs Baker sent him, might have been a suitcase full of cocaine. Pretty easy to break it up into kilos and sell it to some drug dealer and get paid. The idea of him actually using all those drugs doesn't add up.
