Elvis' Bodyguard Dave Hebler talks to Elvis The Ultimate Fan Channel 

Let me simplify this, friends like this who needs enemies...

people can get another job at 38 years old elvis didnt owe you a living

Elvis story will never really be heard because he never told it. He didn't wish to tell it. It was his business and should have stayed that way.

A very controlled interview Steve, well done for letting him say his thing....its all part of the history of EP so as much as many fans have never forgiven him for his words in "What happened" ..it was still a very interesting listen, no matter how you feel about this man!! Thanks again for your time and effort in keeping the Legend alive ...take care Steve.

38 years old isn't too old to get a job

How can anyone be an Elvis fan and defend these 3 men’s actions writing that book. Talking about kicking a man when he’s down! What’s wrong with people to think that’s ok? Elvis was struggling with his mental/ physical health and prescription dependency, and they thought humiliating him was going to help him? give me a break! They wanted to destroy Elvis’s popularity. Well, it didn’t work.

i have mixed feelings about Dave too. But i really appreciate this interview. Tyvm!

Great interview as usual, thank you! I found much of what he said unbelievable though. First of all, that must have been the worst deal in publishing history, if he only made one and a half cents per book, and no say about what went into the book. Why bother? And then there's the old issue of - if you love Elvis - why publish something that could destroy his career and claim it was to "help" him? Help him how? He said right in this interview that they were fired with 2 weeks pay and how could he take care of his family? So that's the real truth right there. As Lisa said, they "took away his dignity" and I agree. I especially was turned off by his asides about Vernon. The subject is not Vernon, it's him. He sounded like a sincere guy, but I found what he said very hard to swallow.

As I recall wasn't it Dave Hebler who said in an interview, "how do you protect a man from himself"...............I wasn't there, but that response to a question at the time, seems so genuine and tells me they did all they could in their position at the time to try and stop the madness...........The question was always why didn't someone try an do something to help Elvis.............well, they did and were fired.......Elvis was not going to let anyone tell him what to do.........I used to call my Mom, my female Elvis.......she is no longer with me, but she was addicted to cigarettes and the multiple cancers and chronic issues that it caused made our family life very difficult, I was the caregiver ........ but finally I had full control.......and I got her another 12 years of life..........I shut it down and was demonized for it........so, I do have some insight into this on some level.........unfortunately I had family and friends bringing her cigarettes and medications behind my back, the complete opposite of Red, Sonny, and Mr.Hebler who tried to stop it...........I will stop there, but in conclusion.....I was the Elvis guy in school.......I miss him like all of you.......being a kid waiting for those movie albums to show up at the store was the highlight of my youth........I remember sitting on the sofa in our living room waiting for Elvis to come on Dec 3rd , 1968.....I can still feel the fabric of that sofa ........I wish I was there sometimes to help Elvis if I could........take care.....stay safe

Elvis’ depression was the real problem. The self treatment with medication was the result. Add on the physical ailments that were to come from his genetic makeup & lifestyle and he was a ticking time bomb that went off mid-August 1977. RIP EAP

Great interview! So few of the original gang left and their info is so valuable...thank you SF

Elvis was very generous with everyone except Bill and Scotty! Elvis sounded the very best in the recordings with them.🌹🎶

Love to hear Elvis memories, stories and history!! ❤️🎵🎶⚡️TCB

He gave you a mercedes. You gave him a stab in the back. Wow.

Elvis 😇❤️ told someone that he gave Sonny West, Red West, and Dave everything: houses 🏘️ money 🤑💰 vehicles 🚜 (bought Dave a Mercedes 💰) jewelry 💍💎 paid 💰 their medical bills, they went with him on paid vacations 💒 and Elvis 😇 spend a lot of time 💜 with them being their friend.

Great interview, thanks

I've been a fan since 75 Didn't consider that Vernon saw the bills for his pills

Hi Steve, I can't believe I missed this interview. I think you handled this interview excellent Steve, you were very diplomatic. I don't think anyone else would have got so much information off Dave than you did Steve. Loved the interview Steve thank you so much xxx 💝

excellent interview, thank you for expanding my Elvis IQ

Dave is a good guy, Elvis liked him, 4 years with Elvis wanted him there, $350 a week in 1972 was good money, most average jobs don't pay 350 after taxes in 2021, Dave I wish you meany more years 😉👍

Out of all of Elvis' friends and associates, Hebler strikes me as the most honest. He didn't have any personal ties to Elvis Presley, just got hired on. I believe him.

I was wondering if he stayed in touch with Red and Sonny and if he went to their funerals.

At least these 3 guys had a CONSCIOUS ,and knew they tried to save Elvis from himself 💊 They had to know even though they were fired trying to help him, they had a PURE CONSCIOUS, and proved to be his REAL GENUINE FRIENDS. I IMAGINE👉these guys cried and hurt very badly for Elvis when they heard he died.

Another excellent interview Steve!!

At least Red admitted to George Klein he regretted ever having anything to do with that book. I truly think he did. This guy however…. Blaming others of course.

True friends doesn't sale you out for money. Like they all did Elvis presley. Elvis presley didn't deserve that kind of treatment after what he did for them all. It broke Elvis Presley heart when they wrote that book on him ,,,he was already going through a heartbreaking time w Priscilla.

Another well done interview...Thanks for taking the time to conduct it...

Ooooohhhh I didn't get an alert about this nearly missed it well I would of found it like ..I'll go enjoy

They asked Dave! Why didn't you protect Elvis? He had a good answer, How can you protect someone from himself.

I believe he was jelious of Elvis Presley to everyone was.

In 1973 Elvis spent six months on the road touring. This was a grueling schedule especially for Elvis’ energy sapping shows. That just wouldn’t be allowed to happen these days. It was after his divorce - he needed money - it was the same year as Parker’s ruinous royalties deal for Elvis’ back catalogue. Elvis also paid more tax than any other citizen that year I believe.

Great interviews. I am just finding these now. Keep them coming!

Unbelievable generosity that Elvis bestowed on you Hebler! Then you turn around and stab him in the back! SMDH.

Amazing. Dave Hebler still out there telling his story - and after all these years he still hasn't got a clue. Made me laugh, when I listened to his take on Elvis and the Denver policemen. Robert C. Cantwell, one of them, published an interesting book (The Elvis I Knew) in 2013. And guess what, he tells a totally different story.

Excellent interview.

Thank you for the effort and and all the work you are doing presenting all this great entertaining information on Elvis.

I was a full time Nurses Aid at a nursing home in 1975, my take home pay was around $ 65.00 per week . So when he says he made $350.00 that was not to bad.

Mr. Steve, Awesome podcast! Awesome interview! You are a class act! TCB ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Just finished listening to the whole interview. I also bought the book back in 1977, mine is also yellow, split at the binding. I have heard Sonny West say that most of what they told Dunleavy was not printed, he chose only the juicy bits of their stories. Sonny also said that they had no say in what was actually in the book. So I do believe what Dave said. I wonder if those tapes still exist. I do believe the 3 of them were conned, as Dunleavy was a tabloid journalist who rushed the book straight to paperback to make a fast buck. He had no intention of publishing their honest recollections. Anyway, that was a very good interview Steve - Thank you very much. 💖

None of us were there. I do believe Red & Sonny loved Elvis, Dave too sounds like a good fella. Sounds like he developed a good relationship with Elvis too, at least until Elvis addiction really took hold. My gut tells me they did try to stop the medication and that's why Elvis had them fired. It's a shame the rehab plan didn't come off. Why shouldn't they write a book on their experience with Elvis, the friendship was practically over. It may have forced him to do something about his lifestlye, they weren't to know it would do more damage. Just like Dr Nick stated he regrets taking the contents out of capsules as all it did was spur Elvis on to take more. Fans need to accept life happens and leave these matters alone. All of them would have been deeply upset when Elvis died and they knew they weren't welcome at the funeral. Great interview, I believe him.

Elvis 😇❤️ had a lot of physical health problems 🏥 😦 and he was in a lot of physical pain 😦 for a long time.

Nice interview, I though he sounded quite honest and balanced personally.

Hi Steve, I think you did a great job with this interview. They are not always going to be easy, but you did a wonderful job as always-- Take care Granny M lol

Excellent! I wondered what happened to him..... pun unintended. I have never read the book but I would like to. I have read excerpts on-line. His account of how the book was written seems plausible and Steve Dunlevy would have naturally embellished or sensationalised it as that was his job. I have some Sydney Daily Mirror (Australia) newspaper artictles from April 1977 by Steve Dunlevy about the so-called darker side of Elvis. I haven't read them for probably 30 years so I will dig through my small but valuable Elvis collection and have another read. Cheers.

Fantastic hand technique along with incredible speed Dave.

This is hard to listen to. Honestly, it’s hard to believe Elvis even had him in his entourage to begin with.

I totally understand why they wrote the book given the circumstance they were in upon being fired, wether it was right or wrong only those who were there can determine that.

Thank you Steve and Mr. Hebler. I enjoyed the cordial interviewing style, yet you didn’t avoid the hard questions. I do have one constructive critique, if I may, the interview ended quite abruptly. Maybe if you could give the audience and the interviewee a notice that you have so many minutes left, or for whatever reason, that you need to to wrap things up, it would have a less disruptive feel. Then possibly end with a final question. Appreciate your podcast non-the-less. All the best.

Great interview. I actually feel it for this man. We don't know what Elvis was like. As much as we LOVE him we didn't hang with him like these guys did. Vernon didn't help this situation. Never keen on Vernon. Seems a lazy man who never wanted to work. Never wanted Elvis to run out of money cos Vernon wouldn't of wanted to work. He was workshy. Sonny protected Elvis for many years. Iv never actually heard of Dave. Red was a nice chap and I actually think all the Memphis Mafia helped Elvis. They weren't hangers on like ppl call them. Elvis wanted them around. They saw what Elvis was doing to himself. No one could help Elvis but himself. Could u imagine telling Elvis he is doing things wrong or he shouldn't be doing something. Thank you for this interview. I'm fairly new and just making my way round the videos. X

What an excellent interview. Thanks for posting. I am the same age as Elvis so grew up listening to him and following his career. The people who surrounded him like Lamar Dave Sonny and Red all had a love and respect for him it seems that maybe Elvis didn't realize

I remember when their book came out. No one wanted to believe it. But we now know that Elvis had serious problems. Liked this interview.

I read 'that book' when it came out as well and was not happy with what was written. However, hearing Dave say the publisher was the one that sensationalized it helped a bit. While I believe that much that was included in 'that book' was NOT necessary, in my heart I truly believe they wrote it out of their love for Elvis and was hoping it would help him see that he indeed needed help. Steve, I believe you asked very appropriate questions and I feel you did an excellent job interviewing Dave. As always, thanks for your interviews!

When they wrote that book the guys should have said we won’t put our name on it unless we get to give final approval. But they were new at writing so they didn’t know the stuff they should have known about writing the book but that’s all water under the bridge.

Thank you 😊 Steve 👏🏻 so interesting to hear Dave’s experiences, what a nice man 👍🏻

I love Elvis and it’s tragic that this brilliant, superstar - gorgeous and talented -got addicted to drugs. Just like millions of victims of the Opioid epidemic. No one can stop an addict unless he wants to be stopped. Not his wife nor his father nor scores of girlfriends or friends. And they do not want to be confronted about their problem.

I don’t think I’ve heard this interview before. So I’m enjoying it.

Good interview. Dave also loved Elvis. He loved him to bits. Just like Red and Sonny. The publisher made a horror version of their narrative. Shit happens.... Vernon did really a bad job of getting rid of them.

Fantastic. Fantastic. Nice questions. Great job my man. T c b. Canada. Loved to have heard REDS version.

This was the best interview I've ever heard great job

I believe Dave. He makes a point to not comment on anything he didn’t witness himself. I respect that. Dave, Red, and Sonny respected and loved Elvis and did what they could do to keep Elvis healthy and alive.

Good interview Steve! Dave I believe to be telling the truth about the book, but the 3 of them should have told publishers they were not gonna sign off on their 📚 book until they made changes, but they probably would’ve put it out anyway!!!! Snakes in the grass!!! But most of the Mafia guys were doing the same stuff with Elvis so they probably weren’t helping E any?? He went couple times to Baptist Hospital to get cleaned up but shortly went right back to same drugs again!! Linda was best thing that EVER HAPPENED TO ELVIS!!! He should’ve married her, I believe she truly loved him!!!!! But jus a great conversation with Dave, thanx for your time to get him!!!

It's great that these guys are speaking of what they know now ?

Another great interview you could actually be a talk show host basically the same thing but I think you would be a natural

Nice to hear his account in his own words

1.6 Cents X 3,000,000 Books Sold Is $480,000 In 1977! That Is A Lot Of Dough. $1,400 Monthly Is About 45-50% More Than The Average Household Income For That Year. All Expenses Paid; Lots Of Gifts, Including Cars.

You did a good interview as always. He came across ok but a few contradictions like he didnt do it for the money but was earning previously as much as an instructor minus the gifts. If they had come out before been fired I could have understood it was to help him. Like he said about Frank Skinner doing a hatchet job on him seems if elvis were their 'Best' friend why is that no more of an hatchet job? Too much blame was laid on Vernon who had come from poverty. The one thing that I do agree with that Dave once said 'how do you protect a man from himself'. I truly wish elvis had cleared house after his divorce when he met Linda including the Stanley boys. No offence to Dave Hebler as he says I was there...TCB

Dave is simply a class act and a great guy! 👍👍 Great interview with a great guy!

Elvis and that fantastically crazy tuorbon hat he actually looked great in that photo 🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕 he loved,hats,gloves, flashlights,badges,, chewing gum just anything to play with,I'm sure to counter act his extreme shyness,but what a great man 🤺🤺🤺

TCB⚡ Steve I found this fascinating it puts a lot of things into perspective regarding that "infamous" book .I have no doubt Dave,Red and Sonny really loved Elvis and now Dave Hebler telling how the book was sensationalised by the publishing company puts it to rights so to speak.all 3 of the bodyguards always are upfront and honest in interviews they gave on Elvis,but I really enjoyed this interview so thank you my friend for this.⚡ I'm sorry I've not been on in awhile I'm battling pancreatic cancer and haven't been well enough to watch much but I'm glad I'm back for now anyway and will continue to love and cherish your fantastic channel my friend.at least I won the Elvis Fan of the week the very first one ever I'm proud of that , just good at lip reading I guess,but I'm still very proud

Dave Hebler is and has always been true to himself, people may not like him because he told the truth ugly as that may be .

Elvis Presley couldn't believe people he loved like family could turn on him write such a book a try to destroy him a his career. People he supported a was good to. Just goes to show like the Bible says. The Love of money is the Root of All Evil.

Interesting interview, very skillfully managed Steve. Unfortunately Dave Hebler found out that publishing companies are not interesting in hearing the nice side of Elvis - it does not sell books or make them money. It was very interesting to hear Dave Hebler's reasons for writing the book, Elvis What Happened with Sonny and Red West.

I have only just listened to this interview. I remember so well when that book came out. It was sensationalised in the press. I never read the book and never will, neither did I read the newspaper articles on it. Unfortunately there was so much publicity surrounding it that it felt as if I did read it. No I have not forgiven them as betrayal is a big no no. He may be a nice guy but he must have known what he was doing. The problem is we only know everything 2nd hand as we were not there, no matter who says what and in what manner and their motive.

Linda Thompson said that Elvis 😇❤️ inform Vernon to lay them off for a few weeks or one month. Elvis 😇❤️ told Vernon to pay each of them Sonny West, Red West, and Dave $5,000 🤑💰 each as a severance check ✅🤑

Dave is saying that Elvis 😇❤️ was a GIVER 🤑💵 💰 to everyone including strangers, Dave, charities 🤑 and so many people.

this guy sounds like a backstabber.

I read that the Tupelo shirt that Elvis wore at that particular concert was gifted to Elvis from Natalie Wood for that show.

I have never heard Dave say anything about Elvis. At all! So anything I hear here is new to me. I don’t think I ever heard anyone speak much about him! So this a new refreshing listen for me. All I knew was he wrote the book which I haven’t read, with Sonny and Red. I chose actually not to read it. I don’t want to read what someone who is negative wrote about Elvis. Sonny said he wrote it with the other two and he was angry at the time he did it. I really don’t think had it not been for a joint effort with two others he wouldn’t have done it. He said he was sorry he did it and then wrote one on his own. To try to make up for what he did. I knew he regretted it. So I decided to not read it. That was another thing how they didn’t get to read the finished book till it was published. I don’t like that a publisher can do that. Too bad they couldn’t stop it. See that’s why chose not to read it cause of what Sonny said.

Don’t care! Can’t wait to read you’re book. My brother studied at you’re studio in Glendora, Elvis walked in. I latter we go to train T the Glendora studio. Wish I had stayed with it. Only did a few years.

They weren’t trying to save Elvis’ life - they lived the same lifestyle as Elvis did! Elvis could have written a tell-all as bad, or worse, than what they wrote about him. Elvis was too noble to ever do such a thing. The bottom line: they were all in it for what they could get. In addition, Elvis said outright that he didn’t trust Hebler. Clearly, his take on this weasel was spot on.

IT WAS BEING DISLOYAL TO ELVIS, BY COMING OUT WITH THE DETAILS OF HIS LIFE. ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THEY WERE SINCERE, AS ELVIS WAS HARD TO CONVINCE OF HIS DRUG ISSUE. I AM SAD TO HEAR ALL THIS AGAIN, IT IS AN OPEN WOUND, AS WE ALL LOVED HIM. SOME OF IT HAS TO BE TRUE, THOUGH WE, INCLUDING MYSELF, LIKE TO BE IN DENIAL......IT IS HARD EVEN AFTER 42 YEARS, IT IS SO HARD TO ACCEPT HIS PASSING. I AM STUCK FOR WORDS, BUT LETS BE THANKFUL HE GAVE US GREAT MUSIC FOR 3 DECADES, AND PERFORMANCES, THE MOVIES. WE MISS HIM, AND WISH HE COULD HAVE OVERCOME HIS PROBLEM WITH REHAB, WHICH WAS A NEW WORD BACK IN 1977. IT BECAME MORE KNOWN WHEN PRES. FORDS WIFE, STARTED ONE IN PALM SPRINGS. BEFORE THAT IT WAS TABOO SUBJECT, IN 2020, IT IS NO BIG DEAL , MANY ARTIST GO IN AND OUT OF REHAB TO HELP THEM CONTROL THESE ISSUES. IF ONLY REHAB WAS MORE FASHIONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE BACK IN THE LATE SIXTIES, HE MIGHT STILL BE ALIVE. THATS IT I GOT WHAT I HAD TO GET OUT, AND DONT WANT TO DISCUSS THIS ANYMORE, AND WANT TO REMEMBER HIM FOR THE WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING, HE WAS, WITH HIS GENEROSITY, HUMBLENESS AND LOVE FOR GOD.

He said that artists normally work 100 days /year but not sick ones . shame on them.

In my heart ❤️ I believe Red west wishes he never done that book but I understand he had Family and needed money GodBless all the ole gang not many left

Steve, Dana from Bama here. What is wrong with the video, just hear the talking, can't see the video picture. I listened but couldn't see it.

I know a person right now who gets his meds from the VA. He’s very addicted to them which I kinda understand. He broke his back in 3 places in a terrible trucking accident. But he pours alcohol on top of it. I expect any day for him to not wake up. His sons live with him in his own home. And they take care of him.

Dr Nick didn't release a book on Elvis for decades because the publishers only wanted sensationalised stories on Elvis being a drug addict etc etc . That's why he released his book not too long ago , because he wrote the book on his terms

I love Elvis with all my heart since I was 5 I'm now 55 so along time I can say people who have never watched someone slowly kill themselves with drugs of any kind, really cant say how they would react to it Its very hard to care about someone and stand by and do nothing Maybe the book wasn't the best choice But I think Sonny, Red,and Dave wanted to help get him cleaned up,and I also think They were bitter about being fired to and thaught exposing would give him a wake up call Tough to be in that situation

Hi Steve one of the original Memphis mafia guys Ma boy Ma boy WOW !😎

Do you think you could get hold of Dolores Hart Steve? Her story from Hollywood to the Convent is so interesting, and the two pre army movies. You'd be just the man for it xx

Everyone wants to blame different ones for not doing anything to stop it.. but they're angry at these guys who DID try to do something to save Elvis. 😣 I appreciate him.. God Bless

Who writes a book & does not proof read it? They wrote the book because they were pissed off. The book was THE END. Elvis was sick mentally & physically. He then goes for Ginger? That is insane to get a young girl who you cant really talk to. A trophy of loneness.

I thought Elvis mom made the shirt he wore at the concert?

👍👍

I never read the book! This guy is just a bitter excuse of a friend. All three of them wrote a revenge book they all felt. Elvis owed them money but they were young enough to find work. Besides who gets paid when you are fired. The book was just another nail in his coffin. Elvis' world was glamorous to the world but in reality it was almost like a prison. Not knowing who you could trust and who loved you for your fame or money ! Do we blame this book for his death no but it was a series of events that helped to speed it up a d they truly needed to accept their part in it. What hurts the most when. I listen to old interviews is they all didn't think he was going to die Just makes me sad.he surely must have thought that no one really cared about the real. Elvis the human being.in so much physical and mental pain ! !

The thing is before I listen, what ya said about axes to grind etc look I wasn't happy about the book they did, Ive not read it yet I'll probably won't maybe I don't know but it's happened now isn't been a lot of years and I don't do grudges even short ones.

Why do people protect Elvis. Not saying he was a bad person the man had a good and kind heart, but he had emotional issues big time. Dave once said when asked about the book. How can you save someone from themselves and that was Elvis to a tee. He loved being a image and had no touch of reality or wanted to deal with it.

No picture pod cast

I think Dave, Sonny and Red were unbelievably, stupidly naive to not realise what the book would become. What parts of their stories they would use, and so forth. That goes for Lamar Fike too, with his collaboration with A*** Goldman.

Fantastic interview Steve, and personally I thought Dave’s accounts were balanced and accurate to what I heard happened by various other characters who were around Elvis at the time

I will never buy ANYTHING of his or watch a MOVIE about him.