In "Killing the Legends," Bill O'Reilly takes readers on a journey through the later years of three iconic figures of the 20th century: Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Muhammad Ali. These cultural titans, who shaped music, film, and sports, shared not only their legendary status but also similar patterns in their lives after reaching the pinnacle of success. O'Reilly's book delves into the complexities of fame, the price of success, and the tragic circumstances that led to the downfall of these beloved figures.
Introduction: The Weight of Legendary Status
Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Muhammad Ali were more than just celebrities; they were cultural phenomena who defined an era. Each rose from humble beginnings to achieve unparalleled success in their respective fields, changing the very nature of music, film, and sport along the way. However, their stories didn't end at the height of their careers. O'Reilly's book focuses on the often-overlooked later years of these legends, examining how they grappled with their own iconic status and the challenges that came with it.
As we explore their stories, we'll see how these three men, despite their different backgrounds and careers, shared similar experiences in their final years. They became isolated by their wealth and fame, surrendered control of their lives to those closest to them, and ultimately faced tragic ends that shocked the world.
The King's Decline: Elvis Presley's Final Years
The Day the Music Died
On August 16, 1977, the world stood still as news broke of Elvis Presley's death. The 42-year-old King of Rock and Roll was found lifeless on the red shag carpet of his bathroom in Graceland. Despite his recent decline in both health and popularity, his passing sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and left millions of fans in mourning.
The official autopsy cited various medical complications as the cause of death, pointing to Elvis's unhealthy lifestyle, grueling tour schedule, and the cocktail of medications prescribed by his personal physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos (known as Dr. Nick). However, the true story of Elvis's decline began long before that fateful day in August.
The Colonel's Iron Grip
At the heart of Elvis's story lies his relationship with his long-term manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Parker, who signed Elvis to an exclusive contract in 1955, was instrumental in the singer's early success. He devised the winning formula of pairing hit singles with films of the same name, such as "Love Me Tender" and "Jailhouse Rock," which catapulted Elvis to superstardom.
However, Parker's influence over Elvis's career was not always beneficial. The manager's contract entitled him to 50% of every dollar Elvis earned, creating a strong incentive for Parker to maximize profits at any cost. As the music scene evolved in the mid-1960s with the rise of socially conscious artists like the Beatles and Bob Dylan, Parker resisted any attempts to update Elvis's image or style. He insisted on churning out lightweight love songs and silly movies, causing Elvis's reputation to suffer and his career to stagnate.
Control and Manipulation
Parker's control over Elvis extended beyond his career choices. In 1967, he orchestrated the proposal and wedding of Elvis and Priscilla, carefully managing the publicity to keep the press intrigued. As Elvis's career continued to decline, Parker pushed him into starring in increasingly frivolous movies like "Clambake," solely to sell more records.
When Elvis began reading books and showing interest in more intellectual pursuits, Parker actively discouraged it, claiming it would clutter the singer's mind and detract from his image. This level of control over Elvis's personal development showcased the extent of Parker's influence and his willingness to stifle Elvis's growth for the sake of maintaining a marketable image.
Financial Ruin and Exploitation
Parker's selfishness and mismanagement reached new heights in 1973 when, desperate for cash after gambling away most of his money, he made a disastrous deal with RCA Records behind Elvis's back. The contract gave Elvis royalties at half the rate of other top recording artists and removed any possibility for Elvis to challenge the terms. It also gave Parker full control over Elvis's public performances.
To make matters worse, Parker sold Elvis's entire music catalog for what amounts to $33 million in today's currency. This deal meant Elvis would no longer receive any income from record sales or have any control over the use of his work by other artists. While this was a paltry sum for Elvis's life's work, Parker was content with his 50% commission.
The Final Act
These financial setbacks, coupled with his declining health and increasing reliance on prescription drugs, set the stage for the final years of Elvis's life. Despite his deteriorating condition, Parker continued to push Elvis through grueling tour schedules, often relying on drugs to get the King through his performances.
When an opportunity arose for Elvis to revitalize his image by starring alongside Barbra Streisand in "A Star Is Born," Parker's exorbitant demands for money scuttled the deal before it could even begin. This missed opportunity exemplified how Parker's greed and control were actively harming Elvis's career and well-being.
On June 26, 1977, Elvis Presley performed his last concert, pushed to his mental and physical limits by the man he had trusted with his life and career. Less than two months later, on that fateful August day, Elvis took three packets of sleeping pills and retired to his bathroom with a book, never to emerge alive.
The King of Rock and Roll's tragic end was the culmination of years of exploitation, mismanagement, and loss of personal agency. While Dr. Nick would face some blame in the years following Elvis's death, it was Colonel Tom Parker who had truly sealed the King's fate through his relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of Elvis's health, happiness, and artistic integrity.
Imagine: The Troubled Later Years of John Lennon
A Day That Shook the World
December 8, 1980, started as an ordinary day for John Lennon. The former Beatle signed an album for a fan outside his New York apartment before heading to the recording studio with his wife, Yoko Ono. Little did he know that this seemingly innocuous interaction would be his last. When Lennon returned home that evening, the same fan, Mark David Chapman, was waiting. In a shocking act of violence, Chapman shot Lennon four times in the back, ending the life of one of music's most influential figures.
Chapman, a disturbed individual who believed Lennon to be a phony for singing leftist songs while living a millionaire lifestyle, brought a tragic end to Lennon's tumultuous journey. But to understand how Lennon found himself in this vulnerable position, we need to look at the decade leading up to this moment.
The Shadow of Yoko Ono
Since the Beatles' breakup in 1970, John Lennon's life had been marked by the constant presence of Yoko Ono. While many fans blamed Yoko for the band's dissolution, the truth was more complex. The split resulted from a combination of tensions between band members, managerial disputes, and Lennon's struggles with heroin addiction. However, Yoko's influence on Lennon and the band's dynamic in their final days was undeniable.
Stories of Yoko's presence in the studio during the recording of the Beatles' final album are legendary. She had a double bed delivered to the small Abbey Road studio, where she would lie while taking pictures of the band and entertaining guests. Her behavior often caused friction, such as when guitarist George Harrison angrily confronted her for taking one of his biscuits without permission.
Post-Beatles Turmoil
After the Beatles' breakup, John and Yoko moved to New York, where Lennon quickly became embroiled in controversy due to his radical anti-war protests. His activism drew the attention of both the FBI and CIA, who began investigating him in hopes of finding grounds for deportation.
The stress of the Beatles' breakup, coupled with his new troubles in the U.S. and ongoing struggles with heroin addiction, left Lennon more bitter and cynical than ever. His relationship with Yoko also began to show strain, culminating in a separation in the summer of 1973.
The "Lost Weekend" and Yoko's Manipulation
Lennon referred to his time away from Yoko as his "lost weekend" – a wild period marked by excessive indulgence in sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. Interestingly, Yoko later claimed that the separation was her idea, suggesting that John needed a "vacation" from their marriage due to his growing irritation.
During this time, Lennon began dating the couple's assistant, May Pang. Once again, Yoko's influence was apparent, as she had approached Pang and suggested that she date John during their separation. Yoko's reasoning was that she didn't want John to be with someone who would be "nasty to him."
The Return to Yoko
By the end of 1974, Yoko decided it was time for John to return. She convinced him to visit her for hypnotherapy to help him quit smoking. What was supposed to be a brief visit turned into days of absence, during which Lennon missed a scheduled recording session with his former bandmate Paul McCartney. When Lennon finally returned to Pang, it was only to announce that his marriage to Yoko was back on.
This incident highlighted the extent of Yoko's influence over Lennon. Despite the apparent happiness he had found with Pang, Lennon quickly abandoned that relationship and returned to Yoko at her behest.
A Quiet Life and Final Return to Music
The years following Lennon's return to Yoko were marked by a retreat from public life. He took a break from music, focusing on domestic life – baking bread and caring for his and Yoko's new son, Sean. During this time, he also reconnected with Julian, his son from his previous marriage.
Lennon's return to music was inspired by Paul McCartney's new single "Coming Up." This spark of creativity led to the recording of what would be his final work, the album "Double Fantasy." Tragically, it was this very album that Lennon signed for Mark David Chapman outside his apartment on the day of his murder.
A Silent Farewell
In a final act that seemed to embody the private control she had exerted over Lennon's life, Yoko Ono opted for no public funeral for the beloved musician. As the world mourned the loss of a cultural icon, Yoko quietly scattered John's ashes in Central Park.
John Lennon's later years were marked by the overwhelming influence of Yoko Ono. From the Beatles' breakup to his final day, Yoko's presence shaped Lennon's decisions, relationships, and public image. While the true nature of their relationship may never be fully understood, it's clear that Lennon's life was profoundly impacted by Yoko's influence, for better or worse.
The Greatest's Last Rounds: Muhammad Ali's Decline
The Thrilla in Manila
On October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight champion of the world, stood in the ring in Manila, Philippines, having endured 14 brutal rounds against Joe Frazier. The fight, dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila," had pushed both men to their absolute limits. Ali had been hit approximately 440 times, and ringside doctors feared that one or both fighters might die if the match continued. Mercifully, Frazier's trainer threw in the towel before the 15th round, allowing Ali to retain his championship title.
But the victory came at a great cost. At 33 years old, Ali had been badly broken by the fight. Little did he know that this punishing bout was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey that would see him pushed far beyond his limits.
The Relentless Manager
One of the key figures in Ali's later career was his manager, Herbert Muhammad. As the son of the leader of the Nation of Islam, Herbert saw Ali not just as a client but as a valuable asset for the religious organization. His approach to Ali's career was driven by a desire to maximize profits and keep Ali focused on the Muslim way of life.
Herbert's strategy involved arranging as many fights as possible, even when Ali was clearly in need of rest and recovery. In the year following the Thrilla in Manila, Ali fought five more times, despite the toll the Manila fight had taken on his body. Herbert's attitude towards Ali was summed up in his own words: "Standard Oil doesn't try to sell a small amount of oil." This approach treated Ali more like a commodity than a human being.
A Punishing Schedule
The relentless pace of fights continued, with Ali facing Jean-Pierre Coopman in February 1976, Jimmy Young in April, and Richard Dunn just two weeks after that. A controversial draw against wrestler Antonio Inoki in Japan left Ali severely injured, but Herbert insisted on Ali fulfilling his paid public appearances in South Korea and training for an upcoming battle with Ken Norton, ignoring doctors' advice that Ali should not leave Tokyo.
This grueling schedule was driven by financial considerations. Herbert was in charge of Ali's finances, and he used the boxer's earnings to fund the Nation of Islam and boost his own standing within the organization. As a result, Ali found himself in dire financial straits despite his success in the ring.
Loss of the Title and Attempted Comeback
In 1978, the toll of this punishing regimen became apparent when Ali lost his heavyweight title to the relatively unknown Leon Spinks. This loss marked a turning point in Ali's career and highlighted the extent to which his skills had deteriorated.
Sensing that his time in boxing was coming to an end, Ali agreed to a rematch with Spinks, which he won. This victory should have been the perfect end to an illustrious career. Indeed, Ali announced his retirement shortly after, and a star-studded tribute celebration was held in Los Angeles to mark the end of boxing's greatest era.
The Ill-Fated Return
However, Ali's retirement was short-lived. Struggling to find ways to stay relevant and facing financial pressures, Ali was lured back into the ring. Herbert, ever the opportunist, accepted a huge offer for another fight. Ali's return to boxing was met with great fanfare and large audiences, but the results were disastrous. He lost two more fights, against Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick, before finally hanging up his gloves for good.
The Aftermath
After a total of 548 rounds in the ring, Ali's boxing career was over. He largely disappeared from public life, making a poignant appearance to light the Olympic torch in 1996. By this time, the toll of his boxing career was evident – Ali was suffering from Parkinson's disease, and his quality of life was rapidly deteriorating.
In 1999, a court declared Ali's business relationship with Herbert Muhammad null and void. It was revealed that the manager had sold the rights to Ali's life story without the boxer receiving any compensation, a final act of exploitation in a long history of mismanagement.
The Final Bell
On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali passed away in a hospital after being admitted for what was initially described as "a little cold." The world mourned the loss of a man who was truly the Greatest, not just in the ring but as a cultural icon and activist.
Ali's daughter, Rasheda, summed up her father's impact beautifully: "You shook up the world in life; now you're shaking it up in death." This statement encapsulated the enduring legacy of a man who had changed not just the sport of boxing, but the world itself.
The Price of Fame: Common Threads in Legendary Lives
As we reflect on the later years of Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Muhammad Ali, several common themes emerge. These cultural icons, who rose from relatively humble beginnings to achieve unimaginable success, all faced similar challenges in their twilight years.
Loss of Control
Perhaps the most striking similarity is how each of these legends lost control over their own lives. They surrendered their autonomy to those closest to them, often with disastrous consequences:
Elvis Presley fell under the complete control of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, whose greed and mismanagement led to financial ruin and contributed to Elvis's declining health.
John Lennon's life was heavily influenced by Yoko Ono, whose presence shaped his personal and professional decisions, often isolating him from others.
Muhammad Ali was pushed beyond his limits by his manager Herbert Muhammad, who prioritized financial gain over Ali's well-being and exploited the boxer's fame for personal and organizational benefit.
Isolation and Vulnerability
Their immense fame and success ultimately left these men isolated and vulnerable. As they aged and their careers began to wane, they found themselves increasingly detached from the real world and the people around them. This isolation made them susceptible to manipulation by those who claimed to have their best interests at heart.
The Struggle to Remain Relevant
All three men grappled with the challenge of maintaining their relevance as they aged and the world changed around them. Elvis struggled to adapt to new musical trends, John Lennon retreated from public life only to attempt a comeback, and Muhammad Ali was lured back into the ring long after he should have retired. These attempts to recapture past glory often ended in disappointment and further damage to their legacies.
Health and Addiction Issues
Each of these legends faced significant health challenges, often exacerbated by the pressures of fame and the physical toll of their careers. Elvis and Ali both struggled with prescription drug use, while Lennon battled heroin addiction. These health issues contributed to their decline and, in the cases of Elvis and Ali, their premature deaths.
Financial Exploitation
Despite their enormous success, all three men faced financial difficulties later in life due to mismanagement and exploitation by those they trusted. Elvis and Ali, in particular, saw their fortunes dwindle due to the actions of their managers, while Lennon's finances were closely tied to Yoko Ono's decisions.
Conclusion: The Lethal Danger of Celebrity
"Killing the Legends" serves as a stark reminder of the dark side of fame and success. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Muhammad Ali were more than just celebrities – they were cultural phenomena who shaped the 20th century. Yet their stories ended not in triumph, but in tragedy.
Their experiences highlight the complex and often destructive nature of celebrity. The very fame that brought them adoration and success also isolated them, made them vulnerable to exploitation, and ultimately contributed to their downfall.
While we can never truly know the inner thoughts and motivations of these men or those around them, their stories serve as cautionary tales about the price of fame and the importance of maintaining control over one's own life and legacy.
As we remember these legends for their incredible talents and the impact they had on the world, we should also consider the human beings behind the myths. Their struggles remind us that even the brightest stars can be extinguished by the very forces that propelled them to greatness.
In the end, "Killing the Legends" is not just a recounting of the tragic final years of three cultural icons. It's a meditation on the nature of fame itself, and the toll it can take on those who achieve it. It challenges us to look beyond the glitz and glamour of celebrity and consider the very real human costs of living life in the spotlight.