2003 - Michael invited the Wolfs - a German family affected by the floods - over to Neverland.
Michael was horrified when he saw TV footage of the floods that devastated parts of Europe in August, 2002.
Heiko and Susann Wolf and their daughters, Saskia and Sabrina, had watched in horror as their Meissen home was washed away by the floods.They visited MJ and spent 3 days enjoying the ranch's facilities and also met with MJ's kids.
Michael also donated 16 autographed items: CDs, videos and cotton napkins to aid in the support of the victims of the floods.
Susann Wolf said the 3-day trip to Neverland was a "magical experience" which has given her and her husband a new perspective of pop's strangest star:
"Before, I was fascinated, like everyone else, with the way Michael Jackson looks. I read about all the horror stories and I was panicking a bit.
When I met him briefly in Germany and then again at his home I realized he's normal - like us.
The children immediately became friends with his. Paris ran to her dad and said,
'Dad, here is my friend Saskia.'
It was wonderful and they all played great together!
My children ate with his children and it was spectacular. They just talked and talked. Saskia can speak a little English, but they found another way of communicating using hand gestures."
1984 - Just one month after the accident, Michael had recovered well enough to enjoy his big win at that year’s Grammy Awards on February 28, 1984, taking away a total of eight trophies for the Thriller, including the coveted Record of the Year that had eluded Off The Wall.
At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards Michael won 8 Grammys in ten categories: Album Of The Year ["Thriller"], Best Pop Male Vocal ["Thriller" LP], Record Of The Year ["Beat It"], Best Rock Male Vocal ["Beat It"], Best R&B Male Vocal ["Billie Jean"], Best New Song Of The Year ["Billie Jean"], Producer Of The Year [with Quincy Jones] and Best Children's Recording ["E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial" with narration by Michael Jackson].
Michael's date for the evening was Brooke Shields.
It is the most ever won in a single year and entered The Guinness Book of World Records.
Michael Jackson wins a total of 8 awards at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.
On receiving the Grammy award for ‘Album Of The Year’ – ‘Thriller’ – Jackson declares:
“This is a great honor, I’m very happy. I’d like to thank Epic Records – it’s the best record company in the world and the best – the best President of any record company, walter Yetnikoff, come up here, Walter, where are ya? Walter Yetnikoff, ladies and gentlemen. […] I – I also would like to say something very important that some people are entertainers, some people are great entertainers, some people are followers and some people make the path and are pioneers. I’d like to say Jackie Wilson was a wonderful entertainer. He’s not with us anymore [voice slightly trailed off], but Jackie, where you are, I’d like to say I love and thank you so much. […] This is one of my best friends in the world, I love Quincy Jones and he’s a wonderful producer and he’s a wonderful person.”On winning the Producer Of The Year Grammy Award with Quincy Jones, he briefly states: “I don’t wanna take up much time, I just wanna say thank you and I love you all.”On accepting the "Best Recording For Children" Grammy award, he declares:
"Of all the awards I’ve got now, I’m most proud of this one, honestly. Because I think children are a great inspiration and this album is not [only] for children, it’s for everyone. And I’m so happy and I’m so proud..And I’ll just say thank you so much."He makes the following speech on accepting the award for ‘Best Pop Vocal Performance’ – ‘Thriller’:
‘Beat It’ wins the ‘Record Of The Year’ award.“Thank you. Thank you. When something like – when something like this happens, you want those who are dear to you up here with ya. I’d like to ask for my sisters, La Toya and Janet, please come up. My sister, Janet, as well, come up. First of all, I’d like to thank God, who is – Rebbie, I’d like to have you up here too, you know -, also I’d like to thank my mother and father who is – who are with us all the way. My mother, she’s very shy, she’s like me, she won’t come up. [laughs mildly]. [Here is] my other sister. I have three sisters. Also, I’d like to thank all my brothers who I love very dearly, all of – including Jermaine. I forgot to thank Steven Spielberg on the E.T. album [award], I love him very much, and I also forgot to thank Quincy’s wife – Peggy Jones, she was a great help on the E.T. album. I’ve made a deal with myself - if I win more – one more award, which is this award, which is 7th, which is a record, I would take off my glasses. [smiles] You know, I - I don’t wanna take them off, really, but… [fans screaming] [to his approving sisters:] Should I take them off? Okay. Well, Katherine Hepburn, who is a dear friend of mine, she told me I should and I’m doing it for her, okay? And the girl – and the girls in the balcony. [takes them off, gets embarrassed] Thank you.”
Producer Quincy Jones reads his speech, after which Jackson adds:“I love all the girls in the balcony. [smiles] Again, thank you, my mother and father, thank you, Epic Records Promotion Department, Walter Yetnikoff, thanks, the disc-jokeys, for playing the records. Thanks to the public. I love you all. Thank you.”
“I’d like to thank Lionel Richie, who is here tonight, and he’s a wonderful person and a wonderful songwriter. I’ve been knowing him ever since I was 10 years old. Also, I’d like to thank again Quincy Jones and the fans in the balcony.” , says the entertainerThat night, he also wins the ‘Best Male Rock Vocal Performance’ award for ‘Beat It’, the ‘Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ‘Billie Jean’ and the ‘Best Video Album’ award for ‘Thriller’.
The Jacksons' Pepsi commercials were aired during the award telecast and are amongst the most successful and most popular ads ever, and the first and only set of advertisements ever to be included in the weekly "TV Guide" listings.
Michael Jackson is on the Blues & Soul Magazine [United Kingdom].
1986 - Michael telephones and invites 14-year-old Donna Ashlock from California - convalescing after a heart transplant - over to "Hayvenhurst" mansion in Encino, there dining and watching a film with the young patient, the actual visit taking place on March, 8. That same year, he invites 12-year-old Danielle Finmark (attending "Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times", an organization for children with cancer) to the ranch, where she tours the residence, visits his menagerie, has lunch with Jackson and watches movie "Short Circuit" with him, according to Finmark.
1996 - Michael and Janet Jackson take home the “Best Music Video, Short Film” Award for “Scream”, alongside producer Cean Chaffin and director Mark Romanek at the 38th Annual Grammy Award ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Ca.
2003 - Michael Jackson won an early skirmish Friday in his legal fight to ban a British television company screening unseen footage from a controversial behind-the-scenes documentary about him.
The American singer had asked the High Court in London to grant an injunction preventing Granada Media Group showing any more footage from its hugely popular "Living with Michael Jackson" show but lawyers for both parties said they had managed to reach a private agreement.
Granada's lawyer, Geoffrey Hobbs, told the court that his client had agreed not to exploit copies of the program or any out-takes until a full hearing of the case after March 31.
Feb 29
Today in MJJ HIStory
1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in Avignon, France.
1974 - The Jackson 5 performed at The Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
1992 - While in England, Michael and his young friend Brett Barnes visit comedian Benny Hill at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London for a reported 35 minutes.
The 67-year-old comic has been convalescing from a heart attack, but refused to undergo a heart bypass. Jackson hands him a bouquet of flowers and enthusiastically tells him: "Great to see you at long last", and keeps repeating "You’re my hero". Jackson is said to also have asked Hill if he wanted to appear in a video with him, to which the comic replies, "Of course, why not?" Jackson then confesses to Hill that he watches his shows every day and that he has hundreds of his videos. Benny Hill's best friend, TV producer Dennis Kirkland, reveals, "Michael has invited Benny to stay with him next time he is in L.A. [...] Michael's visit was the tonic he needed." Benny Hill passes away three months later from coronary thrombosis.
Michael Jackson was a big Benny Hill fan. "I just love your Benny Hill (impression)!" the young Michael Jackson told a bemused English music-press critic during a 1970’s tour. "He's so funny!". In a ‘New Musical Express’ 1981 interview with The Jacksons, the entertainer reveals that Benny Hill makes him laugh: “Uh! Are you kidding? Every day! I love Benny Hill. I like him better than Monty Python. […] He just cracks me up. A genius.”
1994 - "The Jackson Family Honors" is televised on NBC. The earnings of the show are given to their own newly formed charity, "Family Caring for Families".
2003 – Michael Jackson is on Derniere Heure[France] magazine.
1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in Leeds, UK.
1990 - At a breakfast press conference held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Michael was honored with the "Top Selling Artist Of The Decade" award by CBS Records for selling 110 million records during the 80's.
Michael attended the press conference dressed in red and black sequined military jacket, black gloves, and sunglasses.
As usual, his thank yous were brief: "Thank you Tommy, and thank you ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure it won't surprise you that I'm gonna make this one short again, but I have to say, however, that no album sells itself. It's up to the people out there to buy it, and so, I not only want to thank CBS Records and Epic Records, but I especially want to thank everyone everywhere who helped make this award what it is, first a possibility, and now a reality. Thank you Quincy Jones, thank you Dave Glew, thank you Bruce Swedien, John Branca, Mother and Joseph, Walter Yetnikoff and Hank Caldwell. And all of the children of the world. I love you Goodbye."Among those in attendance were Michael's parents, Berry Gordy, Little Richard, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Siedah Garrett.
1992 - Michael Jackson and young friend, Brett Barnes, visit Hamleys Toy Store and Rock Circus on Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain.
Bravo magazine featured Michael on their cover story: "General" Jackson
1998 - Michael goes to Seoul to attend the investiture ceremony of President Kim Dae Jung on the 25th.
2003 - Michael strikes back!!!
Fox aired outtakes from the controversial interview with Martin Bashir titled "Michael Jackson, Take Two: The Interview They Wouldn't Show You." The outtakes, coming from Michael's private camera man, will later be shown all around the world and showing closely how things really were and how much Martin Bashir commented Michael on his abilities as a father, Neverland etc... opposite to what was shown during his interview.
"The film shows extraordinary scenes of Martin Bashir praising the way Michael treats children and commenting on how good a father he is," a statement said.
"The Jackson footage clearly shows that Bashir was actually continuing to praise Michael's abilities as a father and [shows] Bashir making statements about how he feels it is a pity that the world is so quick to criticize Michael."
"On the face of it, either Martin Bashir was lying to Michael or was misleading his audience on the voiceovers on the film," a statement said, adding that Bashir had been aware he was being filmed during his interviews.
A verbal disclaimer repeatedly made known on behalf of the presenter of this rebuttal film, Maury Povich states that the singer had no control whatsoever upon the directing and producing of it. Part of the footage was not aired, because the videographer Hamid Moslehi refused to hand it over, owing to a financial dispute with Jackson. It was found by police in a search of Moslehi's home in November 2003, when the false allegations against Jackson rose, and showed the accuser's family praising Jackson for saving his life.
Michael leaves for Miami with his children and they stay at Al Malnik's mansion. Three social workers come to Jay Jackson's to interview Gavin & his family. Once again they defend Michael and say nothing inappropriate ever happened.
Chris Tucker's girlfriend Azja Pryor is there to support the family and after the interview she takes the children to Neverland while Vinnie takes Janet to a federal office in LA in order to obtain birth certificates of the family that they will need to get visas & passports for a planned trip.
2006 - Visionary: The Video Singles; a series of 20 Michael Jackson's hit singles on video, is released on Europe.
The limited edition cover artwork for the boxset is a photomosaico using images from Michael's career.
2008 - The "Thriller 25" album was released in Japan.
1977 - The Jacksons performed "Enjoy Yourself", "They Can't Take That Away from Me"/"Puttin' on the Ritz", "Blues Away", "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" and "Keep on Dancing" with guest star Redd Foxx.
1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in Geneva, Switzerland.
1993 - "Give in to Me" was officially released in Europe with a video clip featuring Slash, filmed in Germany in two hours in front of a live audience.
2003 – Michael Jackson is on Heat Magazine, United Kingdom.
2005 - Michael Jackson was admitted to Marian Medical Center with flu-like symptoms.
1975 - The Jackson 5 performed in concert at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in London, UK on Destiny tour.
1984 - Michael had been inducted into the Guinness book of Records, in recognition of Thriller having broken all album sales records at twenty-five million copies sold.
Braving sub-freezing weather, hundreds of excited fans stood shivering behind the police barricades outside the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Natural History on a cold February night in 1984 hoping for a glimpse of a famous face. Inside, CBS Records hosted a party at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Natural History to honor Michael Jackson. There were 1500 invitations mailed out on white cloth gloves, which were required to gain admittance into the museum. Michael specifically asked that the party be held there because he was interested in animals and natural history.
At the party, CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff presented Michael with presented with the first edition of the 1984 paperback version of the Guinness Book of World Records, who had stopped their presses to include the new record holder for the biggest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's THRILLER.
THRILLER had surpassed the 25 million mark in sales, making it the most successful album in history. It had outsold the soundtrack album for Saturday Night Fever to take over the top spot.
Allen Davis, president of CBS Records International, read from a long, impressive list of awards and record breaking sales figures of his label's biggest selling artist, presented Michael with the honor:
Tonight, Michael, your international milestones for the album, THRILLER are a total of 67 gold awards, 58 platinum awards in 28 countries on 6 continents. And the singles with 9 million in sales have earned 15 more awards, bringing the total to 140 gold and platinum awards.To date, 'Thriller' has sold over 25 million copies worldwide - more then any other album in recording history.
Confetti falls everywhere as dance girls surround during Michael receives one of many tributes. In the longest public speech that close associates could recall during his two-decade career, 25 year old Michael, the shy and sensitive singer, told the invitation-only audience of 1,500 how he felt about epic $1.4 million party staged to salute him. Clutching the wireless microphone in his sequined-gloved right hand, the child star who became a grown-up superstar smiled and said softly: "I’ve been performing for twenty years. I started at 5 years old touring with my brothers, The Jackson 5, and still I haven’t – you know, I feel like I’ve just begun, you know...As modest Michael relinquished the mike, Yetnikoff grabbed it, beaming and blushing. "We have a little surprise," he began. "I don't know if I'm the best record company president in the world but Michael is sure the best artist in the world." He continued:
And I’ve always wanted to do great things and achieve many things, but for the first time in my entire career I feel like I’ve accomplished this, because I’m in the Guinness Book Of World Records.
I'm so honored and deeply touched by it and thank you all.
And I also thank CBS Records, which is the best record company in the world and Walter Yetnikoff, who is the best record company president in the world. And thank you all. You are all wonderful people. I'm very embarrassed but thank you."
"Michael just got a presentation for the best solo performer of all times. I'm reading from The Guinness Book of Records. The best-selling album of all time is Saturday Night Fever with 25 million copies globally. I have news for you. Today, we surpassed 25 million copies for THRILLER! Michael Jackson - the number one artist in the world!" Yetnikoff shouted.
Then, with the recording of Michael's hot-selling Billie Jean blaring through the loudspeakers, Brooke Shields bounced onto the stage and hugged the handsome hero to millions and the superstar with whom she shares a special friendship. As the guests shifted from the VIP reception area to the area of the museum where collection of stuffed elephants and other animals are on exhibit, holding Brook's gloved hand, Michael, an unabashed animal lover, sled the tour and mingled with celebrity guests. He carried with him the special bound copy of the Guinness Book of World Records, which had been presented him earlier by Norris McWhirter, editor of the Guinness Book, who said: "We stopped the presses for Michael at 23 million. But now he is already on 24 million."1989 - Michael Jackson paid a visit to Cleveland Elementary School to see the children and families effected by the massacre occurred on January 17, 1989, at Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California, United States.
Michael had just returned from his Bad World Tour. He arrived at the school to comfort the surviving children by giving them confidence to view the world more positively after such a traumatic experience. Michael visited two children who were still hospitalized and met with the other children at a nearby church.Fans gathered outside the hospital, church and school never saw Michael. He entered through back entrances accompanied by bodyguards. He wore black pants with multiple zippers and buckles, a black & red military jacket. He handed out gifts to each child, an autographed photo, a BAD tour t-shirt, and a BAD cassette.
Patrick Purdy may have destroyed many lives that day, but Michael Jackson's presence helped bring more attention and compassion to the victims than anybody else on planet Earth could have done in a hundred years.
Michael Jackson visits each classroom from the "Cleveland Elementary School" in Stockton, California, the parents of the children at the nearby Central United Methodist Church, as well as the children checked in the hospital, 3 weeks after a gunman had fired 100 bullets into a playground, then committing suicide. 5 children were murdered and 39 injured during the attack.
The pop star arrives to comfort the surviving children by giving them the confidence to view the world more positively subsequently to the traumatic experience. 8 year-old Thahn Tran, who had lost his younger brother during the massacre, speaks about the effect Jackson’s visit had on him: "I didn’t want to go back to school, but Michael made it all right again. If he goes there, it must be safe. Michael is my friend and I’m very glad.", sharing the sentiments of other children there, according to Diane Batres, a counselor from the district support unit. In addition to making another visit to the nearby church hosting the injured ones from the attack and the parents of the dead – to whom he offers words of sympathy, signs plaster casts on the wounded youngsters’ legs, while chatting and joking to them.Michael makes another stop at the "San Joaquin General Hospital", and talks to two wounded children under treatment there. 7-year-old Alice Montejano says, while raising her autographed picture: "I’m not frightened about going back to school now, because Michael will keep all of those bad men away". Afterwards, Michael Jackson says the following to the children in the mentioned hospital: "You are very brave. When you are better, perhaps you will come and visit my private zoo." Vice-Mayor of Stockton, Ron Coale, has this to declare on Jackson’s goodwill visits: "Words cannot say how much turmoil this town had been through over the past few months. Michael Jackson’s visit has helped us to try and overcome it a little."
1998 - Michael has dinner with Lisa Marie at the Ivy Restaurant in Los Angeles.
2003 - Michael decides to cancel the press conference with Gavin's mother, Janet Arvizo and return to Neverland to give an interview.
He leaves Miami in a private Jet with Prince, Paris, Blanket, their nannies Grace & Patricia, his physician Dr Alex Farschian, Marie Nicole & Aldo Cascio, the bodygards Mike LaPerruque, Chris Carter & Danny Crawford as well as Gavin, Star; Davellin & Janet Arvizo.
2004 - Michael hires Raymone Bain as new official Spokesperson.
2005 - "At Large With Geraldo Rivera" T.V. Interview
2009 - Michael goes to the Bel Air Hotel for a business meeting with Dr Tohme.
1970 - The Jackson 5ive are on top of Billboard Number One Hits Chart with I want you Back.
The song, along with a b-side cover of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", was the only single from the first Jackson 5 album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, released on October 7, 1969.
I Want You Back is one of the biggest hits of Motown, and certainly the record that cost him the more, the recording sessions, usually curled in a half-day is endless - it was not rushed the beginnings of the group.
Berry Gordy wrote in the chorus (The team with the Corporation), which was originally intended to Gladys Night, under the name of I Want To Be Free. The lyrics, which were not suitable for kids, are due to be reviewed and adapted.
I Want You Back is the first gold record in the group. The title enters the Billboard Hot 100 November 15, 1969, and in the Black singles chart 22 November 1969. It reached the # 1, stayed there for 4 weeks and remained in the chart for 80 weeks! The original song was released in 1969, shortly after the J5 had signed with Motown and just before the release of their debut album Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.
I Want You Back is part of the list of choices of Michael during his tours, including the most recent, This Is It, since the title is included in the program all the shows since 1969!
It has sold 6 million copies worldwide. In 1999, "I Want You Back" was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
1975 - We're Almost There, the first single off Michael's final Motown album, Forever, Michael was released.
The song is a soul-type of ballad that sparked a departure from Michael's previous material which had included bubblegum pop. As Michael's voice matured, Motown found Holland brothers Brian and Edward, who wrote material to suit Michael, who had sung in a higher voice for most of the duration of his Motown (1969-1975) tenure. Performing more modestly, the song eventually peaked at #44 on the pop chart while hitting #7 on the R&B chart.
1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in London, UK on Destiny tour.
The Jacksons performed Shake Your Body, Blame It On The Boogie & Destiny at Top Of The Pops. Mick Jackson finally meets the group who covered his song "Blame It on the Boogie", The Jacksons, when he performs "Weekend".
1984 - Jet magazine features Michael & Emmanuel Lewis on their cover with the story Michael Jackson, Emmanuel Lewis: Singer shares his success with those who inspire him.
Michael arrives in NYC and takes a suite at the Hemsley Palace.
1995 - Michael & Lisa Marie visit lawyer Johnnie Cochran at his new office in L.A.
2003 - ABC's "20/20" aired the British documentary "Living With Michael Jackson."
Michael released a press statement regarding the Living With Michael Jackson:
"Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before, that someone who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair program," Jackson said in a statement released in London.Debbie Rowe, Michael's ex-wife and mother of two of his children, was quoted as supporting him.
"Everyone who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child."
"It breaks my heart that anyone could truly believe that Michael would do anything to harm or endanger our children: they are the most important thing in his life," she said, according to the statement, released by a London public relations firm.
2009 - Michael goes to Dr Klein's in Beverly Hills.
1974 - The Jackson 5ive perform at Sorano National Theatre in Dakar, Senegal.
"Dancing Machine" from the Jackson 5 1973 album G.I.T.: Get It Together was released.
The group's first US Top Ten hit since 1971's "Sugar Daddy", "Dancing Machine" reached #2 on the Billboard pop music charts and #1 on the R&B charts. It bought The Jackson 5 their second Grammy Award nomination in 1975 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, losing to Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good".
"Dancing Machine" was also the title track of their 1974 album Dancing Machine released in 1974 as a remix for a response to the success of the single.
Recorded in 1973 at the Motown Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California.
1979 - On their 10th anniversary in the music business, Soul Train and The Jacksons celebrated with a Jacksons special. They performed 'Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)' and 'Things I Do For You', Michael performed 'Push Me Away'.
1990 - Michael Jackson is offered the "Role Model Award" from Japan. He accepts the award via satellite.
1992 - Michael held a press conference at Radio City Music Hall in New York to announce plans for a new world tour to raise money for his newly-formed "Heal The World" Foundation - which, beside "Camp Ronald McDonald" and "Make A Wish Foundation", battles against AIDS and Juvenile Diabetes.
After descending the opulent staircase at Radio City Music Hall to the accompaniment of his song "Black or White," Michael joined Peter Kendall, vice president for Pepsi-Cola Int. in announcing the $20 million deal, which was the largest ever between a corporation and a music entertainer.
Dressed in black leather and a red armband, he informs on the creation of "Heal The World Foundation", the mission of the foundation being that to provide rescue to world-wide children; protection against abuse; caregiving; to deliver medicines for children and fight world hunger, as well as to convey awareness on children’s rights and necessities, and improve world’s life standards.
Before the kick-off of his Dangerous World Tour, Michael signed a Pepsi endorsement deal in front of the media.
At the press conference, he issues a statement in appreciation for the sponsor of this new tour - the Pepsi-Cola Corporation:
"Good afternoon. I like to thank the Pepsi-Cola Corporation for sponsoring the Dangerous Tour, which we plan to kick off in June. The only reason I’m going on tour is to raise for the newly formed, Heal The World, an international children’s charity, that I’m spearheading to assist children and the ecology. My goal is to gross one hundred million dollars by Christmas, 1993. I urge every corporation and individual who cares about this planet and the future of the children, to help raise money for the HTW charity. The Heal The World Foundation will contribute funds to pediatric aids in honor of my friend, Ryan White.
The "Heal The World Foundation" will also offer support to such worthwhile organizations as Camp Ronald McDonald, Make A Wish Foundation, Children Diabetes, Minority Aids Foundation and other charities. I’m looking forward to this tour, because it will allow me to devote time to visiting children all around the world, as well as to spread the message of the global love, in the hopes that others too will be moved to do their share to heal the world. Thank you for coming. I love you very much. Thank you, all."
After his speech, The St. Thomas Boys' Choir sing "Heal The World", which touches the singer: "When I composed the song, it was my dream to hear it performed the way they just performed it, with such innocence and beauty. It took everything to keep me from crying", declares Jackson.
1994 – Michael Jackson is on the Cover of Bravo Magazine (Germany). The inner article is entitled: “Michael: Die Alptraum ist vorbei!” –The nightmare is gone
2003 - The controversial “Living With Michael Jackson” documentary conducted by British journalist, Martin Bashir first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV. The interview will air later all around the world... and a storm began.
He interviewed Jackson over a span of eight months, from May, 2002 to January, 2003, the documentary containing much commentary by Bashir, which was very critical and judgmental of Jackson. Jackson's decision to make the documentary was made on a suggestion by his then friend, Uri Geller.
Michael spoke openly about money, plastic surgery, his childhood, Prince Michael II and much more.
But instead of portraying Michael in a fair way, Bashir tried all he could to twist things in the wrong way.
However, most of the viewers did not fall for Bashir... after the interview viewers all around the world expressed their support for Michael.
The interview was a rare occasion for Jackson to allow such access to his personal life, thus felt all the more betrayed by Bashir’s negative portrayal of him. As a consequence, he soon issues the following statement:
"I trusted Martin Bashir to come into my life and that of my family because I wanted the truth to be told. Martin Bashir persuaded me to trust him that his would be an honest and fair portrayal of my life and told me that he was `the man that turned Diana's life around'. I am surprised that a professional journalist would compromise his integrity by deceiving me in this way. Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before; that someone, who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair program. Everyone who knows me will know the truth which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child. I also want to thank my fans around the world for the overwhelming number of messages of support that I have received, particularly from Great Britain, where people have e-mailed me and said how appalled they were by the Bashir film. Their love and support has touched me greatly."
2006 - Michael, Grace & the kids leave Florence and go in the Neapolitan Riviera resort of Sorrento where they stay in The Villa Savarese.
2007 - Michael attends the Beatles Love musical, and meet the cast backstage at The Mirage in Las Vegas.
1974 – The Jackson 5ive perform at Dakar, Senegal Demba Diop Stadium.
The Jackson 5 expanded their global reach yet again in the new year, traveling to Africa, where they performed in Dakar, Senegal, a visit that was filmed and is the subject of a soon-to-be-released documentary. Upon arrival, the group was greeted like royalty, as Michael would later remember:
“When we came off the plane in Dakar, Senegal, Africa, we were greeted by a long line of African dancers. Their drums and sounds filled the air with rhythm. I was going crazy, I was screaming, ‘All right! They got the rhythm… This is it. This is where I come from. The origin.’”The Jackson 5 receive the Organization of African Unity award – For Strengthening Afro-Americans.
1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in Amsterdam Netherlands on Destiny tour.
The Jacksons are on the cover of Jet Magazine featuring Special Report: The Jacksons 10 Years Later.
1984 - Michael receives an official letter from United States President Reagan wishing him a speedy recovery.
1988 - The Song "Man In the Mirror" enters the charts. The proceeds from the sales of this record goes to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer.
1994 - Michael telephoned Lisa Marie Presley at her estate in Hidden Hills, California. He was at his hide out in Westwood.
"Hey, listen up, girl," he said, according to her memory, "I’m heading up to Las Vegas to see The Temptations and The Fifth Dimension. Come with me. I’ll get us a suite at the Mirage and we can party like there’s no tomorrow."2003 – Michael Jackson is on the cover of Play Magazine, United Kingdom. This is a supplement from The Times.
"Am I staying in the suite with you?" she asked.
"Hell, yeah," Michael said. "What do you think, girl?"
"I think I’m still married," Lisa said.
"Then separate rooms, if that’s what you want," Michael responded.
The Cascios join Michael in Miami (Frank, Aldo & Marie Nicole). Mark Lester is also there.
Wiesner & Konitzer try to block the airing of Martin Bashir's documentary after obtaining the final transcript.
2007 – It is pusblished that Michael Jackson meet High School brood personally, and even brought his three rarely seen tykes along. The stars of High School Musical, the über-successful Disney Channel movie, took their show on the road and toured across the U.S. (minus Zac Efron, who was filming Hairspray with John Travolta), finishing up in L.A. at the Staples Center. The cast had a very special surprise visitor during their Vegas stint Sunday. Michael Jackson requested to meet the High School brood personally, I’m told security was superheavy as Michael & Co. entered the building. “He was taller than expected, really soft-spoken and wore sunglasses the whole time. " Jackson acted like the light was bothering him, but he told [the cast] he and the kids loved the show.”
Yep, not only did Michael do a meet 'n' greet with the stunned cast, he stayed for the show. Evidently, they turned the light box at the Thomas & Mack Center into VIP seating with a canopy to protect the Jackson crew from any curious looky-loo audience members.
1995 - Michael and Lisa Marie welcome King Nana Amon Ndoufou IV, ruler of Sanwi, at Los Angeles airport on a 4 day visit.
King of Pop Michael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson played host to King Nana Amon Ndoufou IV, ruler of Sanwi on the Ivory Coast, during a break from his recording sessions in Los Angeles.
Smiling broadly and exuding a special joy, Jackson greeted the exalted ruler who had crowned him King of Sanwi three years ago when the "King of Pop, Rock and Soul" visited the West African nation, one of six countries he toured on a goodwill trip to Africa.
It was Black History Month in 1992 when Jackson was crowned King of Sanwi during impressive ceremonies held in the Village of Krindjabo, located near Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Called the "prodigal child of the Bible," the King of Pop was regal in bearing as the crown of gold was placed upon his head.
During the King's visit to Los Angeles, Jackson took pride in hosting King Ndoufou IV, the most important Akan ruler in the Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
Commenting briefly on the visit of the King who crowned him King of Sanwi, Jackson told:
"Michael Jackson was extremely pleased and delighted to host the King."During the 17th and 18th centuries, four Agni clans crossed the Camoe River and established themselves at Krinjabo. The head of the first clan was immediately crowned King of Sanwi, because the Akan cannot conceive of human society without a King.
King Ndoufou is more than a symbol, he is the spirit of his people and the father of his subjects. His person is sacred and inviolate. The King identifies with his deceased ancestors. That is why, according to tradition, he is called "Nana," which means old wise man.
No matter what his actual age, the King is a sacred man and is called "Nana" by all of his subjects, even the elderly, because he is ageless and, therefore, the eldest.
While in the U.S., King Ndoufou and his representatives brought greetings from President Henri Konan Bedie and the people of the Ivory Coast. Ndoufou and his representatives made tentative plans to meet with U.S. businessmen to inform them of investment opportunities in the Ivory Coast. They also scheduled a meeting with Atty. Johnnie Cochran, the chief defense attorney for O.J. Simpson. Cochran is honorary consulate for the Ivory Coast.
2003 - It is announced that Michael Jackson is to be the subject of a fly-on-the-wall documentary after Martin Bashir was granted permission to follow the singer for eight months.
Granada say Bashir was given "unprecedented and exclusive access" to Jackson for the 90-minute profile, which will be shown on ITV1 on Feb. 03, 2003 as a Tonight with Trevor McDonald special.
Bashir's previous high profile subjects have included Princess Diana and Michael Barrymore
Tonight editor, James Goldston, said: "The film is an extraordinary insight into the life of one of the most famous and controversial figures in the world.
"We have been filming with Michael Jackson throughout one of the most turbulent periods in his life. The results are utterly compelling - viewers will not believe what they are seeing."
1971 - The Jackson 5 attend the Salute to Muhammad Ali charity held at Hollywood Palladium, to raise money for the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade.
1973 - The song Melodie was recorded by Michael Jackson, but it remained unreleased until it appeared – newly mixed – on Michael's album, FAREWELL MY SUMMER LOVE.
1976 - Michael and his brothers all gave sworn depositions in the Jackson 5′s counter-suit against Motown records. Recounting his private meeting with Berry Gordy nine months earlier, he described it as one of the most difficult things he had ever done in his life.
1997 - Michael stayed two weeks in the Tower Suite at the Montreux Palace in Montreux, Switzerland to complete work on his album Blood On The Dance Floor.
Every day, he went to the Mountain Studios where he recorded the album. No way for him to pass by incognito, in his big limousine, surrounded by body guards!
The King of pop music liked Switzerland for having there all the calmness he needed for the recording of part of his album Blood on the Dance Floor. The album was produced while Michael traveled the globe on his HIStory World Tour. Thus, the songs were produced in a variety of countries that included Sweden, Switzerland and Germany.
After a divorce and a re-marriage, Michael records Blood on the Dance floor in the Mountain Studios in Montreux. It was the calm of this city which decided Michael Jackson to come and work in Montreux. The news of Michael's presence in town was spread out very quickly, and fans from all over Europe came to Montreux: They tried to see him day and night, gathering at the entrance of Montreux Palace and desperately hoping for a photo or an autograph, or just to see him. But Michael often used hidden doors or accesses for employees and soon disappeared in a limousine with dark windows.
During his stay in Montreux, Michael Jackson wanted to acquire the house owned by the Chaplin family, former long-time residence of Charlie Chaplin, but his offer to buy the property was declined by the heirs of the famous artist.
2003 - Michael pays a last respect to Bee Gee's Maurice Gibb.
Gibb, 53, died on January 12 after suffering cardiac arrest shortly before undergoing emergency surgery on a blocked intestine. Gibb's private funeral was held at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapel in Miami Beach at noon and was followed by a cremation service.
The private funeral service for Maurice Gibb was attended by family and close friends, including his fraternal bandmates, twin brother Robin Gibb and Barry Gibb, Michael Jackson and Gibb's first wife, singer-actress Lulu.
An hour after the official funeral Barry and Michael went to the coffin to honor Maurice for the last time. Michael was wearing a turquoise suit and went in quickly protected by a black umbrella to show his friend the last respect.
Michael Jackson is a close friend of the Gibb family, and had been working on a song with the Bee Gees just prior to Maurice's sudden illness.
1972 - The Jackson 5 headline the first annual Martin Luther King Birthday Commemoration Concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
1994 - Michael wins the trial for The Girl Is MIne, Thriller & We Are The World
2003 - Martin Bashir meets with Michael Jackson in his Miami Hotel for the final interview for Living with Michael Jackson documentary.
When Bashir brings up the subject of his face, a visibly upset Jackson says that he has only had two operations on his nose in order to facilitate his singing, to which Bashir tries to ask how he looks so much different from when he was an adolescent. After the singer states that there is nothing wrong with plastic surgery, and that it was "not invented for Michael Jackson," Bashir comes to the conclusion that Jackson wanted to change his appearance as a result of his troubled youth and father's insults.
When he asks about a comment Jackson's son Prince made that "I haven't got a mother," Jackson tells him that Deborah Rowe bore his two children as a gift for him, because he wanted to be a father so badly. On the subject of Blanket's mother, Jackson contradicts his earlier statement that he had Blanket with a woman with whom he had a relationship by stating that Blanket's mother was a surrogate mother and that they didn't know each other.
Bashir also repeatedly questions Jackson why he invites children into his room. Jackson defended himself stating that such activity is natural when the children are of close friends or family, and that "many children," including the Culkin family children (including Macaulay and Kieran) have slept in the same bed as him. Jackson strongly denied that there was any sexual motivation for this. During these defensive comments he also stated that he would allow his children to stay with his friends including Barry Gibb, saying that they are "sweet people" and are not "Jack the Ripper". Due to the confidentiality agreement, he refuses to talk about the 1993 allegations, but he reveals that he paid the accuser a settlement, since he "didn't want to go through a long, drawn-out affair, like O.J."
The same day, he hears that Maurice Gibb has died from an heart attack.
2008 - Michael and his 3 children attended the 'Tournament Of Kings' at the Excalibur hotel ans casino in Las Vegas (USA). 'Tournament Of Kings' is a famous dinner show. It features invading armies, dancing maidens, fireworks, and eating with your fingers.
1984 - At the first annual Black Gold Awards, produced by Dick Clark, Michael wins four awards.
Michael Jackson - Top Male Vocalist
Thriller - Best Album
"Billie Jean" - Best Single of the Year
"Beat It" - Best Video Performance
1996 - Michael Jackson's "History: Past, Present & Future Book 1" was certified 6 times Platinum.
2003 - Michael Jackson visited Maurice Gibb in a Miami hospital. Gibb died the next day.
Dieter Wiesner & Ronald Konitzer officially take over Michael's management in a written agreement. The first act is to fire MIchael's previous managers Trudy Green & Howard Koffman. They also work on a plan named MJ Universe which Is supposed to relaunch Michael's career
1987 - Michael, Quincy Jones & Bruce Swedien start recording the BAD album at the Westlake Studio in Los Angeles.
How do you follow the world’s most successful album – ever?
Even thinking about following THRILLER must have been daunting which may explain, at least in part, why Michael took so long to do so. Certainly Michael felt if he didn't top THRILLER, he would be perceived by many as a failure. So not only did he want the follow-up to be 'as perfect as humanely possibly', he set his sights on an impossible sales target: 100 million.
BAD was the first studio album Jackson released after leaving The Jackson 5 and the first in an almost five-year period following THRILLER. BAD was the third consecutive solo project(fifth, if The Wiz and the E.T. storybook are included), and final, musical collaboration between Jackson and Quincy Jones. The album was produced by Jones, with co-production credit given to Jackson.
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| Singer Michael Jackson, shown during a recording session for his first LP since THRILLER. The album entitled BAD, uses Hugo Zuccarelli's Holophonics sound system on several tracks. Michael chose to record the pillow-talk sequence for "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", while lying in a bed with zuccarelli's head-shaped robotic recorder. |
They began by sifting through the 60 or so songs Michael had written himself for the new album and recorded thirty, wanting to use them all on a three-disc set. Jones had suggested that the album be cut down to a ten-track single LP. 'Fifty percent of the battle is trying to figure out which songs to record,' Quincy admitted, 'it's total instinct.' When the album was released on CD, a bonus 11th track, Leave Me Alone was included. It was later released as a single. Michael was credited for writing nine out of eleven of the songs (including the CD-only bonus track) made the final selection on the album – easily the largest contribution he had made to any of his solo albums. Other writing credits included Terry Britten and Graham Lyle for Just Good Friends and Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard for Man in the Mirror.
1994 - Michael presents the award for Best Choreographer to Debbie Allen at the 26th NAACP Image Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, Ca.
He was greeted by deafening cheers and a standing ovation. Dressed in a black military style jacket with red accents and a silver sequined armband, and no glasses, he seemed very upbeat, confident and comfortable. He presented the award for Outstanding Choreography but first took the opportunity to say a few words on his own behalf, prior to presenting dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen with the award, pausing now and then to tell the cheering fans, "I love you too" and "I love you more!". He delivers a speech underlining the meaning behind the NAACP organization supporting equality of treatment for all races and human dignity, and exhibiting his sympathy to the NAACP members:He then announced the winner, Debbie Allen. Allen immediately invited her fellow nominees to the stage which included Michael Peters, nominated for his work on What's Love Got To Do With It. Peters ascended the stairs to the stage and immediately went to his friend Michael and hugged him warmly. Allen began her acceptance speech saying, "God bless you Michael, we're all on your side.""For decades, the NAACP has stood at the forefront of the struggle for equal justice under the law for all people in our land. They have fought in the lunch rooms of the South, in the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court and the board rooms of America, for justice, equality and the very dignity of all mankind. Members of the NAACP have been jailed and even killed in noble pursuit of those ideals, upon which our country was founded". Michael Jackson also re-declares his innocence regarding prior allegations of improper conduct towards a minor. He says, "Not only am I presumed to be innocent, I AM innocent, and I know that the truth will be my salvation. I have been strengthened to prove my innocence by my faith in God and the knowledge that I am not fighting this battle alone."
1995 - Bravo magazine [Germany] featured Michael on the cover.
2003 - Michael visits Maurice Gibbs (one of the Bee Gees) at a Miami hospital.
2007 - Michael has dinner with Kenny Ortega at the Wynn Restaurant in Las Vegas.
1995 - Michael leaves a videotaped Christmas message for the British music TV program “Top of the Pops” viewers, presenters and fans from his Neverland Ranch: “Hello, Top Of The Pops. Hello, and thank you for all your love, your support and your loyalty. I love you all so much, it has been a source of strength and inspiration. I wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. I look forward to seeing you soon, and I love you all dearly. Thank you very much.”
1988 - Michael perform 8th of 9 dates at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo during the Japanese leg of Bad tour.
2003 - From the Beverly Hills Hotel, Michael gives an interview to Ed Bradley (shown on CBS’s 60 minutes 3 days later) in the presence of Mark Geragos, Leonard Muhammad & Grace.
Impassioned Michael vehemently denies the charges against him, "Before I would hurt a child, I would slit my wrists"Source: Transcript of the Interview With Ed Bradley On '60 Minutes'
"I've helped many, many, many children, thousands of children, cancer kids, leukemia kids. This is one of many." Michael says his relationship with this boy he first met a year ago was positive. He says he was determined to help him with his battle against cancer."When I first saw him, he was total bald—headed, white as snow from the chemotherapy, very bony, looked anorexic, no eyebrows, no eyelashes. And he was so weak, I would have to carry him from the house to the game room, or push him in a wheelchair, to try to give him a childhood, a life. Cause I felt bad. Because I never had that chance, too, as a child... Not being sick, but not having had a childhood. So, my heart go out to those children I feel their pain."
Jackson says he tried to help in the healing process by taking the boy around the grounds of Neverland to Jackson’s favorite places. "He had never really climbed a tree. So, I had this tree that I have at Neverland. I call it, "My Giving Tree." Cause I like to write songs up there. I've written many songs up there. So, I said, "You have to climb a tree. That's part of boyhood. You just gotta do it."
I helped him up. And once he went up — up the tree, we looked down on the branches. And it was so beautiful. It was magical. And he loved it. To give him a chance to have a life... Because he was told he was going to die. They told him. They told his parents prepare for his funeral, that's how bad it was. And I put him on a program. I've helped many children doing this. I put him on a mental program."
When Bradley asks him why a child would accuse him if it weren't true, he replies: "Because parents have power over children. They feel they have to do what their parents say. But the love of money is the root of all evil. And this is a sweet child. And to see him turn like this, this isn't him. This is not him."
Michael adds: "Just because it's in print doesn't mean it's the gospel. People write negatives things, cause they feel that's what sells." He also says that the police search of Neverland Ranch was overdone and so violated his privacy that his home will never be the same. He tells Bradley, "I won’t live there ever again. It’s a house now. It’s not a home anymore. I’ll only visit."
1996 - Michael perform HIStory concert at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo dattending 45,000 fans.
2002 - Gold magazine publishes an interview of Michael.
Michael goes to Miami to visit houses and work with Barry Gibb on a charity song.Michael Jackson is the king of pop, the man who made the biggest selling album in history, a man whose dance routines and tunes have entranced people in every corner of the globe, from Johannesburg to Jakarta, from London to L.A.
But he is also an enigma. A child star with his siblings in the Jackson Five, he comes from an immensely talented family and, as youngest son, carved for himself the most successful solo career of all of them. He is one of the few world-famous children who have gone on to become world-famous adults; and now he is reinventing himself again, as a film star.
Despite his fame, despite the fact that he has been performing, creating and improvising almost since he was old enough to walk, Jackson is shy of publicity. He may have hordes of fans and photographers surrounding him whenever he steps out in public, but he is an intensely private man who lives with his family on his fairy-tale Neverland ranch in California. In this rare interview, he talks candidly to Magdalena, the Gold Girl, about fame, the burden of his childhood stardom, his view on the media, and his future in film.
magdalena "gold girl" "Do you most see yourself as a musician, an entertainer or an entrepreneur?"
michael jackson:Probably all of the above, because I love entertaining and I always will love entertaining. I love becoming a slave to rhythm. Because dancing is about interpreting the sounds and accompaniments of the orchestra. You know, you become the sound, you become the bass, you become whatever you hear, and you do it bodily. But I try not to get so caught up in it all that you don't think about your future. So many great entertainers have just been taken in the past, and they ended up lonely, sad and broken. I've always said to myself, I never want to be that way and I'm going to try my hardest to learn about the business side, support myself, invest my money, save. Who knows what tomorrow brings? You want to be protected financially so you can support yourself.magdalena "gold girl" "Would you like to be remembered as a great entertainer?"
michael jackson: I love movies and I love art - and an architect is an entertainer, the guy who builds a rollercoaster is an entertainer. He knows where to build the slopes, and the big anticipation when you go up... He makes you go,'Oh my God!' when you get to the top before you come down. It's just the same as structuring a show or a dance.
magdalena "gold girl" "Does it ever become a burden to be one of the most recognized stars in the world?"
michael jackson: There's nowhere in the world I can actually go and have privacy. The thing that hurts the most is the fact that your privacy is taken away from you. To use the silly expression, you live in a fishbowl, but it's true. I do disguises... People know them all, it's very hard, very hard.
magdalena "gold girl" "What kind of disguises?"
michael jackson: Bat suits, buck teeth, glasses, afros, prosthetics, make-up jobs, everything. Just to sit in the audience and experience it the way an audience would experience a show; I want to feel how they feel.
magdalena "gold girl" "Do they find you out?"
michael jackson: Sometimes, yes. In the beginning, no. Then they start looking me in the eyes. I put these things on and then they start looking behind the glasses... Girls are very smart, you know. You can trick a guy quicker than you can trick a girl. Women can just pick it up. They know the way you move your body, the way you walk, the way you gesture. I hear them go,'Look at the way he moves his hand', or ' Look at the way he was walking', and I think,' Oh no.
magdalena "gold girl" "If You were invisible for a day in London, what would you do?"
michael jackson: Oh boy. Who would I like to slap? Let me see {laughs}... I think I'd find one of the tabloid paparazzis and kick his ass , moonwalk style. I'd really like to knock them off one of those little scooters they ride around on, I really would, knock the cameras right out of their hands. They're so anoying. I'd go for them first, yeah. They drive you nuts. You can't get away from them. It's terrible.magdalena "gold girl" "Who has inspired you the most professionally, and who do you relate to?"
michael jackson: Probably Walt Disney; because when I was little I grew up in an adult world. I grew up on stage. I grew up in night clubs. When I was seven, eight years old I was in nightclubs. I saw striptease girls take off all their clothes. I saw fights break out. I saw people throw up on each other. I saw adults act like pigs. That's why to this day I hate clubs. I don't like going to clubs - I did that already, I've been there. That's why I compensate now for what I didn't do then. So when you come to my house, you'll see I have rides, I have a movie theatre, I have animals. I love animals - elephants and giraffes and lions and tigers and bears, all kinds of snakes. I get to do all those wonderful things that I didn't get to do when I was little, because we didn't have those things. We didn't have Christmas. We didn't have sleepovers. We didn't have school, we had private school when we were touring. I didn't go to a state school. We tried it for two weeks and it didn't work. It was very difficult. It's hard growing up a celebrity child. Very few make that transition from child star to adult star. It's very difficult. I relate to Shirley Temple. I met her in San Francisco and I sat at her table and I cried so bad. She said,'What's wrong Michael?' I said,'I love you. I need to be around you more.' She goes,'You're one of us, aren't you?' and I said 'Yes, I am.' Somebody else said,'What do you mean?' and she said,'Michael knows what I mean.' And I know exactly what she meant - to have been there as a child star and to have graduated to have succeeded in making that transition to fame as an adult is very difficult. When you're a child star people don't want you to grow up. They want you to stay little for ever. They don't want you to work afterwards. It's very hard.
magdalena "gold girl" "Tell me more about your interests in theme parks - what is it about them that interests you?"
michael jackson: My favourite thing about theme parks - and I have a pretty good outlook on it because I've travelled the world many times over - is I love seeing people simply come together with their families and have fun. It really does bring them closer together. I go for fun, but I also go to study. I go after hours to most parks because I can't go in the regular hours. They're kind of like a ghost town.
magdalena "gold girl" "I hear you have some ideas for a theme park in Las Vegas?"
michael jackson: I've done many projects in Las Vegas, and what I think I've done is I've widend the demographic there. Because when I was a little kid - I was no more than eight years old - my brothers and I would go to Las Vegas, and at that time kids weren't even allowed to walk on a casino floor. So we used to stay up in our rooms, bored, with nothing to do while everyone else gambled. There was only one place for kids in Vegas at the time, called Circus Circus. It was a hotel and the theme they had there was clowns, So there was a trapease man and there were chimps doing the little unicycles. When I got older we played Vegas a lot - we performed there many, many times - and I thought about it and I said,'It's really not fair that there's nothing here for children,' so I started to conceive a couple of ideas for certain hotel owners. And now it's like the family-themed vacation kingdom, it really is.
magdalena "gold girl" "Who are your favourite people?"
michael jackson: I love people who have really contributed to the pleasure and hapiness of the planet and mankind, people with light - from Walt Disney to Ghandi to Edison to Martin Luther King. These are people with light, people who really cared about children, bringing families together, and love. That's what I try to say in my music and in my songs. If you go to one of my concerts, my shows, you will see 200,000 people swaying, holding candles, saying,'We want to heal the world,' and 'We love you.' I've seen it around the world from Russia to Germany to Poland to Africa to America. We're all the same. People cry in the same places in the show. They get angry in the same places in the show, they get the pathos in the same places.
magdalena "gold girl" "Was Fred Astaire your friend?"
michael jackson: Yes. Fred Astaire was my neighbour. I used to see him every day when I was riding my little motorscooter. He always told me, he would always say when I was a little kid,'You're gonna be a big star.' He told me that he thought I was an incredible entertainer and a great mover. And he always used to say,'You're the best,' and I'd say,'No, you're the best.' I remember the first time I did the moonwalk. Fred called me at home. He was screaming on the phone, raving. He said it was the best performance he'd ever seen. I said,'Oh, come on.' He said,'Michael, you put them on their ass.You're a hell of a mover. You're a hell of a dancer.' I said,'Well, coming from you, I don't need any awards.' Because I was nominated for an Emmy for that performance, and I didn't get it, but it didn't matter to me because Fred Astaire said he loved my performance, and that's all the award I needed.
magdalena "gold girl" "If you could work with anyone, alive or dead, who would that be?"
michael jackson: If I could work with anybody it would be Charlie Chaplin, who I love so much. Also, Laurence oliver was a genius, really. Those two guys, I think. And also the king, Brando.
magdalena "gold girl" "Last year you put together a short film, You Rock My World, with the assistence of Marlon Brando. What was it like working with the master?"
michael jackson: Brando is a good friend of mine. He's very much like me. He doesn't go many places. He comes to Neverland or he stays in my house in Mulholland Drive, or he goes to Tahiti. His son worked for me for more than 20 years, and his other son was in my class in private school. He's just a giant. You see, Brando's smart, because when he works with me he always says,'I know what buttons to push to get emotion from you.' He knows me so well. He knows how to get me ticked off, so he'll say certain things to get me really geared up. He's a genius. He's a king. He's the last of that generation. He's a brilliant man, a lovely person. I love him and he's my good friend.magdalena "gold girl" "You had a cameo in Men In Black II, was that fun to work on?"
michael jackson: The Men In Black project really was a lot of fun because I introduced myself as the new guy.
magdalena "gold girl" "It was obvious from the video of Thriller that you have a great interest in the visual arts."
michael jackson: Everything I do I like either to direct myself, or work closely with the director - we co-direct and come up with the ideas together. If you look at Ghosts, it says co-written by Michael Jackson and Stephen King. We wrote it on the telephone, Stephen and I - he's a lovely guy, he's amazing. We wrote it on the phone, just talking together.
magdalena "gold girl" "Who are the figures in the movie business you most admire, and why?"
michael jackson: I just love Robert De Niro. I think he's such a multi-faceted actor. He can play anything from a comedian to a preist to a psychopathic killer to an idiot to a charming uncle to just anything. And of course, any of the great dancers.
magdalena "gold girl" "Who would be your ideal leading lady, and why?"
michael jackson: An actress? {laughs} You and I should do a film together. Let's do it, I'd love that...
magdalena "gold girl" "There was talk of you going to the moon to perform an authentic moonwalk here. Is there any truth in this?"
michael jackson: {laughs} There is some truth in it. It's not a rumour. I'll just say that.
magdalena "gold girl" "You outbid Paul McCartney for the Beatles archive. What was so special about it?"
michael jackson: No, I didn't, he didn't bid for it. It was for sale and I liked it and I bought it, like buying a piece of art.
magdalena "gold girl" "Tell me more about your passion for children's charities. Which organizations do you support?"
michael jackson: Well, I have a charity for kids that I created myself, called Heal the World. And whenever I do a concert or anything pertaining to entertainment, I give a certain amount to Heal the World - you know orphanages, hospitals, kids who need a lung or a liver, we'll find it, we'll pay for the surgery. On tour, I do as many hospitals and orphanages as I do concerts. We go to 12-years-olds and we take boxes and boxes and boxes of toys, a bunch of Michael Jackson posters and paraphernalia. They love it.
magdalena "gold girl" "How much more do you feel you want to achieve in your life?"
michael jackson: I'm never satisfied. There are so many different avenues and so many different things that I want to do. I've done a lot, but I don't think it's enough, which is why I don't put up any awards or anything in my house. You won't see any awards in my house, I put them all away in storage. Because if you get caught up in that, you start to feel like,'Oh, man, I did it.' There's so much more, so many more mountains to climb.
magdalena "gold girl" "If one of your children came to you and said,'Dad, I want to be a pop star,' what's the best advise you could give them?"
michael jackson: The best advise that I would give them is it's a lot of hard work, and be propared, because it's not all joy all the time. And that you've got to have rhinoceros skin, because the bigger the star, the bigger the target. The tabloid press are bastards, and you've got to have rhinoceros skin to deal with that kind of ignorance mentality. They do it simply to sell papers, because bad news sell, not good news. They simply make it up. If they don't have anything, they just make it up. I'm nothing like the way the tabloids have painted me out to be, nothing. Nothing like that. They're the ones who are crazy. They're ignorant. I always say to my fans 'Let's have a tabloid burning. Let's make a big mountain out of tabloids and just burn them.' The real fans who love me know that garbage isn't true. They know. They're smart.
magdalena "gold girl" "Have you always wanted to do film? If your family had not been such successful musicians, would you have turned to it earlier in your life?"
michael jackson: I've always wanted to do film, but the tours got in the way. That's why I want to take several years off just doing film. I'd like to get six great movies behind me, and then I'll do a little bit of touring, then I'll do more filming.
magdalena "gold girl" "What kind of ideas do you have for film?"
michael jackson: I have ideas for film and movement and dance and things that people have never seen. I can't wait to just surprise people. That's why I've been dying to start a film production company, and I'm very excited that that's what we're doing with Neverland Pictures. I get to just have a clean slate and play and create and sculpt.
magdalena "gold girl" "Tell me a little bit about the werewolf idea in your films, and how does it relate to video?"
michael jackson: I haven't read the script yet for Wolfed - it's one of the movies that we're going to be making and I'm really excited about it. I'm so happy to be working with Sammy Lee {the co-writer of Music Box, who recently acquired 'first look' rights to Jackson's films}. We're doing some great projects together in film, and I'm really excited.
magdalena "gold girl" "And Wolfed will be the first film?"
michael jackson: As of now, our schedule says that Wolfed will be the first film. That's going to be fun. I want it to be really scary. Rick Baker wants to do all the visual effects. He has seven Academy awards. Rick is very excited about it too - he did American Werewolf in London. He won an Oscar, and he said,'Michael, that was nothing.' That's nothing compared to what he can do today. And he did Thriller and he said of that,'It's nothing'. He can go way beyond that. He did all the Eddie Murphy films, Clumps and Nutty Professor and all that Men In Black stuff too. He does all that.
magdalena "gold girl" "So tell me how you would like to be remembered?"
michael jackson: How would I like to be remembered? As a person who came and brought light to the world, some escapism. Also as the voice for the voiceless children, because I love them. I'm living for the children. If it weren't for the kids, I would throw in the towel. A baby, a child - now that's amazing. They're little geniuses, you know, little geniuses. They really are.
magdalena "gold girl" "Do you enjoy being a father?"
michael jackson: It's my favourite thing. I love it. I love it. I love it.magdalena "gold girl" "The other day I saw you pick up your daughter when she was sleeping. You just picked her up, and I could see the joy in your face..."
michael jackson: Oh, I love them. The Jacksons have a lot of kids. I have a lot of nephews and nieces. There's a lot of us!
magdalena "gold girl" "What is your relationship with your brothers and sisters?"
michael jackson: I love my brothers and sisters. When I'm with them we laugh. It's like a different version of yourself. We can just laugh and giggle and talk about old times. We're not together as much as we'd like to be. We're all busy. We're all in showbusiness. We're always doing something. If I'm in town, Janet's out of town. If we're both here, my brother's somewhere else. Everybody's running around, you know.
magdalena "gold girl" "Are you a family man? What do you like doing with your family?"
michael jackson: My personal family? My Children? We love just sitting together, talking, shooting the breeze. We sit by the lake. I take the for a walk every day at my house. We sit by the lake and we throw rocks in the water and we just talk.
magdalena "gold girl" "What do you think is the deepest form of love someone can feel? And have you felt it?"
michael jackson: Wow, I think that's really a matter of opinion. Have I felt the deepest form of love? I don't know what would be the deepest... {long pause} and interesting question... {repeats question a few times}. I love my children very, very much, and I always look in their eyes and tell them that - I think that's the most important thing.
2003 - Michael returns to Neverland for the first time since it was searched for a private get together entitled “You Are Not Alone” which about 600 friends & family attend
Michael who does not consider Neverland as his home anymore, moves in a rented mansion in Beverly Hills with Grace & the kids.
2008 - Michael is spotted wearing a Zorro mask while visiting his Dr Arnlold Klein, his dermatomogist's office in Beverly Hills.
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