Elvis: What Happened? -

: Initially dismissed by many as tabloid sensationalism, the book gained massive credibility and skyrocketed in sales immediately following Elvis's death on August 16, 1977. Key Revelations

: Accounts of Elvis shooting television sets when performers he disliked appeared and his intense fascination with death and firearms.

is a landmark tell-all book published in August 1977 that forever changed the public's perception of Elvis Presley. Released just two weeks before his death, it was the first major publication to shatter his "clean-cut" image by detailing his severe prescription drug addiction and erratic behavior. Origins and Controversy

: The book remains a primary source for biographers and was a central part of the 1970s tabloid explosion surrounding celebrity culture. Elvis : what happened? : Dunleavy, Steve - Internet Archive

: It was the first time those in Elvis's inner circle broke the "code of silence" that had protected his public image for twenty years.

: For decades, the contents of this book defined the "Fat Elvis" era of the 1970s, overshadowing his musical contributions with a focus on his tragic decline.

The book provided a graphic, "un-sugarcoated" look at the darker side of the King's life, including: