May 01 - Elvis and Heli and Lino

The German Booy Verlag published a third, 296-page updated edition of the dual-language paperback 'Elvis und Heli'.  

Description: Heli von Westrem was more than just friends with Elvis Presley during his service as a G.I. in Germany. She gives us insight into her life at the time and no longer wants to passively watch the sometimes outrageous myths surrounding their relationship. 

Heli takes us back to her time with Elvis in Bad Nauheim, Friedberg, Frankfurt, and Paris. A supposed kidnapping of Elvis on the Johannisberg led to a flood of fan letters addressed to her, some of which are included in the book. Heli’s memories and these letters serve as a mirror of that era.

Elvis and Heli were in love in the late 1950s during his military service in Germany. Fame, love, rock 'n' roll, a longing for freedom, and the post-war era shape Heli von Westrem’s autobiography.

'Elvis and Heli' was supplemented in the third edition with a chapter about the press due to a recent incident with a journalist during Priscilla's visit to Bad Nauheim in March 2025. 

EPIC

Movie maker Baz Luhrmann was at the Met  Gala this week. He posted on Facebook: "Five days to Met, can’t forget the time we took over the carpet for 'ELVIS' - it was the beginning of a special Year! Speaking of EP…………EPiC (Elvis Presley in Concert) before the end of the year ⚡️⚡⚡"

Note: "EPIC" would make a great title for the new movie :-)

Lino Leggio Died

Italian Elvis fan and author Lino Leggio died. He was 80. 

In 1959, he traveled from Italy to Germany to personally deliver the musical score of the song 'Santa Lucia' to Elvis Presley. As a "thank you", Presley gifted Leggio his Ray-Ban sunglasses as a thank-you.

In 2011, Cierre Edizioni published his 116-page hardcover book, 'Lui Non È Qui' ('He Is Not Here'), in which Leggio details the wild and daring journey he and his best friend embarked on to meet their idol. 

Hitchhiking through Austria and West Germany, without proper documentation and with only a few Italian lire in their pockets, they faced snowstorms, hunger, cold, hardship, and hostility to fulfill their mission: delivering the musical score of Santa Lucia to their musical idol, Elvis Presley. Through their friendship, the two young men overcame every obstacle and succeeded in their mission.

(Source: Amazon / Baz Luhrmann / Elvis Friends Fan Club Italy)