Andreas Roth lives in Germany. In 2004 he published what EIN considers to be one of the best Elvis books of all time, 'The Ultimate ELVIS IN MUNICH Book'. Andreas took time out of his busy schedule to talk to EIN's Nigel Patterson in June 2006

EIN: Who is Andreas Roth? AR: I was born in Munich/Germany on 19 November 1968 and have lived here practically all my life (except for 10 months spent in Chester/England). I am married, have no children and work as a translator. EIN: When and how did you become an Elvis fan? AR: My mother grew up in the 1950s and bought records of many famous R&R singers, including three Elvis singles. She only kept the records, no picture sleeves. So, I didn’t know what Bill Haley, Fats Domino, etc. looked like. I only heard their voices, and I liked Elvis’ voice best. 'The first time ever I saw his face' was on August 17, 1977 when Bavarian television changed its programme to show "Viva Las Vegas“. Opposite: Andreas Roth with Elvis World's (and EIN's) Bill Burk

I liked that cool, great-looking guy immediately and asked my mother who he was. She said, „That’s the singer whose voice you like so much“, and I said he looked cool, but then my mother showed me that day’s paper with a picture of the fat Elvis on the front page. I was shocked, but also intrigued: Why had Elvis’ life come to such a terrible end? What had happened along the way? I wanted to know more about him, and the more I knew, the more he fascinated me.

EIN: Thanks to your extensive research uncovering little known facts and fantastic photographs about Elvis' stay in Germany, "The Ultimate Elvis In Munich Book" is arguably one of the most important books ever released about Elvis.  You must be very pleased with the outcome? AR: Well, of course, I am pleased, but there are many very good books out there.  EIN: What gave you the idea for the book? AR: Chris Schäfer, a good friend of mine, and I discuss Elvis a lot. One day, we talked about Elvis’ time in Munich , and Chris showed me a special issue of the – now defunct – “Let’s Be Friends With Elvis” magazine dedicated to that subject. We thought it might be a good idea to do a guided tour and, if possible, to find out a few more things. So, I began to work on it and I found so many facts and photos that Chris suggested I write a book. However, I felt that I needed more photos and eye-witnesses if I really wanted to write a book.

EIN: How long did it take you to research and write it?

AR: It took me about 4 ½ years. 

EIN: You chose an interesting title.  What was your thinking in deciding on it?

AR: I wanted to tell people right from the beginning that I had found out more about Elvis in Munich than anyone else, so I thought I should call it “The Ultimate…”, but I usually just call it “Elvis In Munich”.

EIN: How many people did you interview for the "The Ultimate Elvis In Munich Book"?

AR: I did about a dozen interviews. 

EIN: What were some of the major discoveries you made during your research?

AR: My first major discovery was a set of 6 rare photos of Elvis visiting the Bavaria film studio lot with Vera Tschechowa. Then, I got that unique photo of Elvis at the Moulin Rouge night club, signed by him. That’s extremely rare: a photo of Elvis taken in Munich and signed by him in the same place the next night! I discovered that Elvis and Vera did not meet during the “March Of Dimes” photo session, but at a different session with the same little boy in the wheelchair. I also found lots of photos of Elvis and Vera (some even in colour). Then, there are the photos taken at the “Theater Unter den Arkaden”, and finally, the sensational Eve Bar photos.

EIN: If you had to name the most important piece of information or visual you uncovered during your research, what would it be?

AR: Well, the most important piece of information must be that Elvis visited the Eve Bar night club with Vera, because no one knew that before I found out. The most important visual (apart from all the great photos) is the menu which Elvis autographed on the train to Munich.

EIN: What can you tell us about Elvis' relationships with the opposite sex during his time in Germany , for instance, with Vera Tschechowa, Angie from the Moulin Rouge, and the "mystery girl" you write about in your book?

AR: Well, it seems that his relationship with Vera Tschechowa (who was referred to as his “mystery girl” by a movie magazine) was just a publicity stunt. Elvis was apparently interested in her, but she didn’t go for him. Angie from the Moulin Rouge and Elvis. They had an affair, and Elvis took her to his hotel room in Munich.

EIN: Most fans will be familiar with the photographs of Elvis' visit to the Moulin Rouge.  You also discovered Elvis visited the Eve Bar and you secured photographs from that evening.  Please tell us about that.

AR: When I had almost all the material to complete my book, it really bugged me that I could not find any more pictures of Elvis at the “Cinema Club”. All I had were a few magazine clippings, but no original photos. So, after browsing the internet for about two weeks or so, entering all kinds of search terms, I finally found a new picture that I had not seen, and the caption mentioned the copyright owner. So, I wrote them a letter, and they sent me contact sheets saying that these were taken at a place called “Eve Bar”. I immediately browsed through one of the old newspapers from 1959, found out the address and went there. The building still exists pretty much unchanged. Although it is not open to the public, I was allowed in and immediately recognized the staircase on which Elvis had stood in some of the Eve Bar photos!

EIN: It is surprising nothing was known about Elvis' visit to the Eve Bar until your research.  Given that virtually every aspect of Elvis' life and career has been thoroughly researched and dissected, why do you think his visit to the Eve Bar remained unknown for so long?

AR: I think the reason it remained unknown for so long is because everyone accepted the “fact” that these pictures were taken at the “Cinema Club” which, by the way, never existed. The “Cinema Club” was invented by a magazine which published some of those photos back then. If I had not found the original photos with that note about the Eve Bar, I would not have known better myself. 

EIN: There are many absolutely stunning photographs in "The Ultimate Elvis In Munich Book" which fans will appreciate, including a number of high gloss colour shots.  How difficult was it to secure the visuals for your book?

AR: That was one of the most difficult parts, but it earned me the nickname “Sherlock Roth”. I knew, for example, that there was one photo of Elvis, Vera and Robert Marquette (the boy in the wheelchair) in an out-of-print German Elvis biography. Unfortunately, as a young boy, I had cut out the photos and thrown away the copyright captions. So, after some research on the internet, I discovered an antique book shop in Denmark that still had a copy of that book. I got it, read the copyright caption, found out the address of the stock photo agency and contacted them. They said they only had two colour (!) photos of Elvis and Vera. I asked them if I could perhaps come and search their archives myself, which they allowed me to do, and I found another ca. 30 photos, also two more color pix, that had been filed, not under “Elvis”, but under “Vera Tschechowa”.

EIN: The photos of Elvis "arm wrestling" with Irene Mann and out pedal boating with Vera, Red and Lamar are incredible.  So are the visuals of Elvis giving the photographer "a wild look", and Elvis and Vera in Elvis' white BMW sportscar at night.  All so unusual and interesting.  What are your favorite photographs in the book? AR: There are so many, but my favourite photos are those on the front (see above) and back (see opposite) of my book and, of course, the Eve Bar photos.  EIN: Please also tell us about how you uncovered important issues regarding Rudolph Paulini's set of studio photos. AR: I found out the address of Rudolph Paulini's son in the very early stages of this project. In fact, this was my second interview for the book. I showed him many photographs that, according to rumor, had been shot by his father in his Munich studio. However, Paulini's son said that they were definitely not taken by his father for various reasons (mentioned in my book). By comparing those photos with each other and in light of my research on the subject, I came to the conclusion that there must have been at least two, if not three, different photo sessions, but definitely not at Paulini's studio.

AR: I always wanted to write the book in English, because most Elvis fans in the world understand English. However, many German Elvis fans who do not speak English very well have complained over the years that all the really good books about Elvis are written in English. So, instead of publishing the book in English first and then in German, I decided to provide the text in both English and German.

EIN: Your decision to publish "The Ultimate Elvis In Munich Book" yourself.  Was this always your plan or did it come about for other reasons?

AR: At first, I tried to find a publisher, but none of the publishing houses I contacted were interested. They said it wasn’t commercial enough and that it was too specialized. That’s when I started looking into the possibility of publishing it myself, and I am very glad I did, because I can now truly call it my book.

EIN: In researching and writing "The Ultimate Elvis In Munich Book" did you form an opinion on how important Germany was to Elvis, and conversely, how important Elvis was to Germany at the time?

AR: Yes, I got the impression that Elvis had much more freedom here in Germany . That may sound a bit contradictory, because he was in the Army, but he enjoyed a lot of freedom here. He could go out – even to striptease bars – travel around, etc. when he was off duty. It was also his only opportunity to see parts of Europe . On the other hand, while he was here, he received a great deal of attention, especially from Germany’s most popular teen magazine, “BRAVO”, and German fans had quite a good chance to meet their idol in person. There was no better time for German Elvis fans than that period from 1958-1960 when Elvis was in Germany.

EIN: What does Andreas Roth do in his spare time?

AR: I listen to Elvis’ music, I read a lot, and my favourite sports are football (soccer), swimming and jogging. 

EIN: Andreas, do you have plans for any more books about Elvis?

AR: I have a couple of ideas, but no specific plans. My greatest wish though would be to write a book with Ernst Jorgensen.  

EIN: How can fans obtain a copy of "Elvis In Munich"?

AR: They can send me an e-mail at: rothandi@aol.com to order a copy of the book. Anyone who orders the book directly from me will receive a bonus photo not included in the book. The price of the book is US$ 49.00 INCLUDING worldwide shipping.

EIN: Andreas, on behalf of all our readers, thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.

AR: Thank you, Nigel.

Quote:

"Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture"

(Dr. Gary Enders)

Quote:

"Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together....which subconciously gives our world meaning"

(Anonymous)

Quote:

"Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis"

(humorist Dave Barry)

Quote:

"He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying"

(Greil Marcus, "Dead Elvis")

Quote:

"I think Elvis Presley will never be solved"

(Nick Tosches)

Quote:

"He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here"

(Carl Perkins)

Quote:

"When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybody...hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail"

(Bob Dylan)

Quote:

"When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley"

(Sir Paul McCartney)

Quote:

"You can't say enough good things about Elvis. He was one of a kind"

(Johnny Cash)

Quote:

"And don't think for one moment he's just a passing fancy....he's got enough of it to keep him on top for a long time"

(R. Fred Arnold, Fury magazine, Aug 1957)

Quote:

"It isn't enough to say that Elvis is kind to his parents, sends money home, and is the same unspoiled kid he was before all the commotion began. That still isn't a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public"

(Eddie Condon, Cosmopolitan)

Elvis records reaching #2 & #3 on the Cashbox Pop Singles chart:

#2: A Fool Such As I (1959)

#2: A Big Hunk Of Love (1959)

#3: Hard Headed Woman (1958)

#3: One Night (1958)

#3: (You're The Devil) In Disguise (1963)

Elvis Facts:

Tickets for Elvis' show on March 29, 1957 in St. Louis cost $2.00 to $2.50

While in Germany Elvis was hospitalised with tonsillitis in October 1959

Despite being an illegal immigrant, photographic evidence shows Colonel Tom Parker traveled to Canada with Elvis in 1957

Elvis strongly believed there weren't enough good songs in King Creole to justify releasing a soundtrack album. RCA initially agreed, releasing two very successful EPs from the movie. A soundtrack LP eventually followed

During the 1960s Elvis had his own football team, Elvis Presley Enterprises, which played in the Memphis touch football league. In the 1962 final, EPE narrowly lost to Delta Automatic Transmission, 6-13

In Clambake, (Elvis) Scott Hayward's driving licence shows February 23, 1940...taking 5 years off Elvis' real age

In the 1970s Elvis was offered $5m to stage a concert in front of the Pyramids in Egypt. When the Colonel declined the offer, Saudi billionaires raised the offer to $10m