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Home / Michael Jackson 1958-2009
Model builders at the Legoland in Carlsbad, CA (USA) announced today that they will immortalize the late Michael Jackson the theme park. The exhibit will feature a four-inch-tall model of Jackson, complete with white glove and red leather jacket, exiting a limousine in front of the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The limousine will be surrounded by paparazzi and fans, and the marquee at the theater will read "Thriller." The permanent exhibit can be seen at Legoland starting Thursday. According to Legoland, Grauman's Chinese Theatre was selected for the "Miniland" Jackson tribute because the singer's star on the Walk of Fame is in front of the Hollywood landmark. "Legoland California thought it would be fitting to include Michael Jackson in Miniland not as just a tribute, but for his historical contributions to the world of music," a park statement reads. Source: CBS 8 / Billie Jean Michael Jackson's Will: Mother or Diana Ross Should Care for His Children. 01-07-'09 Michael Jackson said in a 2002 will filed Wednesday that he wanted his mother, Katherine, to care for his three children in the event of his death — and that he wanted Diana Ross to raise them if his mother could not.
The will excludes Deborah Rowe, who bore Jackson's two older children. Her attorney, Marta Almli, said Rowe had no comment. Source: TVGuide / Billie Jean Tribute Comic Book. 01-07-'09 Press Release: ‘TRIBUTE: MICHAEL JACKSON, KING OF POP COMIC BOOK OFFERS LASTING REMEMBRANCE FOR FANS FROM BLUEWATER To millions he was the King of Pop; one of the world’s most cherished entertainers and a celebrated international icon. With his untimely passing, Michael Jackson left an extraordinary and tragic legacy. Bluewater Productions is paying tribute in October to his memory and legacy with a special collectors edition biography comic. The newest addition to the publisher's critically acclaimed biography library will trace Jackson's rise as a musical prodigy with the “Jackson 5” through last Thursdays sad end. The book will feature highlights from his storied career and cover his enigmatic private life.
“TRIBUTE: Michael Jackson, King of Pop,” features a wraparound cover and foreword by "The Michael Jackson Fan Club’s" artist Giuseppe Mazzola. The issue is being written by Wey-Yuih Loh, (Political Power: Colin Powell” and “Political Power: Joe Biden) and illustrated by Giovanni Timpano (Vincent Price Presents). Noted cover artist Vinnie Tartamella will also provide an alternate wraparound cover. “This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans,” Davis said. “Although the book won’t shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar and as a complex person.” Davis noted that he initially waffled at producing a tribute comic, but after receiving dozens of emails and phone calls he knew it was the proper way to show respect and give fans a lasting remembrance. In recent months, Bluewater has become one of the leading producers of biography comics. Launched earlier this year, Bluewater’s “Female Force” has featured influential women such as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Princess Diana, Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey. A follow-up series, "Political Power" launching in July is set to turn the spotlight on politicians like Colin Powell, Barack Obama, and Al Gore. Bluewater’s biography titles have drawn considerable media attention, including features on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” It has also been featured in such periodicals as People Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today and thousands of blogs and other media outlets. To find a comic book store near you, go to the comic shop locator, www.comicshoplocator.com. “Female Force” books are also available on Amazon.com, where they have been ranked among the site’s top 300 books. High-resolution images and interview opportunities are available upon request. About Bluewater Productions Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “Female Force”, “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis.” Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and the recently launched partnership with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry’s top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com Source: MJFC / Bluewater / Billie Jean Dangerous Drug Found in Jackson Home. 01-07-'09 Sources tell TMZ an extremely dangerous and potent drug used for surgical anesthesia was found at Michael Jackson's house after he died ... and this may well be the drug that killed him. We're told the drug Propofol was discovered at the residence. The drug is used to put people under anesthesia before surgery. It is an extremely powerful drug that is only available to medical personnel. As one source said, "There is no conceivable way this drug can be properly prescribed for home use." The drug can only be administered with an IV. Interestingly, Propofol burns and the drug Lidocaine is used to reduce the pain associated with the Propofol injection. As we first reported, Lidocaine was found near Jackson's body. One of the major side-effects of Propofol is cardiac arrest if it's taken in combination with narcotic painkillers, however, Propofol is so powerful it can stop someone's heart on its own. A registered nurse has come out and said Jackson begged her for the drug Diprivan -- the brand name for Propofol. She says he needed it for insomnia but she declined to supply it. Sources say the drug is so inappropriate and reckless for home use, if a doctor facilitated it for Jackson and it caused his death, he or she could be prosecuted for manslaughter. Source: TMZ / Billie Jean Sun Newspaper Interviews Dieter Weisner. 01-07-'09 MICHAEL Jackson got so spaced out on drugs that he could not lift a fork to his mouth at dinner, his former manager has revealed. Dieter Wiesner, who managed the late Thriller star from 1996-2003, claims his drug use spun out of control as child sex abuse allegations piled up. And he plunged deeper into addiction in the wake of Martin Bashir's 2003 TV documentary, when he was quizzed about sleeping with kids. Wiesner claims he saw Jackson "die" on the night the Bashir show was aired. He said: "It broke him. It killed him. He took a long time to die, but it started that night.
"Previously the drugs were a crutch, but after that they became a necessity. They got him through his days and insomnia-riddled nights. And the people who gave them knew what they were doing. They should never have been around him." Wiesner added: "Those drugs and the 'Jesus Juice' - Michael's name for wine - began to claim him. I'll never forget the day at Neverland when he walked into the kitchen to eat. "He was off his face, he couldn't even bring the fork up to his mouth. "It was like watching a clumsy robot. There he was, one of the most talented guys on the planet, unable to even eat because he was so doped up." Wiesner joined jackson on his History tour from 1996-97. He said: "There were drugs then. He said they were for stress. "I noticed those man-child qualities - the boy who wants to be loved on one side, the business and musical genius on the other. And the drugs moved in to destroy both." Wiesner - seen in the background as jackson dangled son Prince Michael II from a Bower hotel window in 2002 - also told of the singer's loneliness. He said: "One day he sat down and just started to cry. He had $500million in the bank and sold the biggest album of all time - I told him he had everything to live for. There was an inner melancholy to him. "Once I asked about the pills. He said, 'I get the best ideas when I'm in this situation'. He really thought the drugs made him creative when all they were doing was killing him. "When paranoid on drugs, he was scared social services would take his children away." Wiesner claimed jackson was NOT on drugs during the baby-dangling incident, saying: "He was just really excited and wanted to show off his son." He last spoke to the star weeks ago - and says he was fearful of his O2 gigs, adding: "He knew he'd never be as good as in his heyday." Source: TheSun / Billie Jean
Michael Jackson's father, who had an uneasy relationship with the superstar, has angered fans by making a commercial plug at his first appearance since his son's death. Joe Jackson, the 79-year-old patriarch of the musical clan, made a surprise showing on the red carpet at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards, which had transformed into a remembrance for the pioneering King of Pop. During a live interview on CNN television, Jackson introduced an unidentified man who appeared to be a business partner, saying he wanted to make "a real good statement". "Marshall and I have -- we own a record company. Talking about Blu-ray technology. That's the next step," Jackson said. The blogosphere was instantly buzzing with outrage. Warren Ballentine, an African-American motivational speaker and radio show host, said that he was flooded with angry messages over Jackson's comments. "Joe Jackson and his lack of sensitivity and respect disgusts me," said one posting on Jezebel, a blog geared toward women. Another person wrote on Jezebel that Joe Jackson's behaviour was "almost too ghastly to consider: a man seems pursued pretty much to the grave by the demons his father planted in him, and even in death the (expletive) ghoul is still hustling his son's corpse." Source: AFK / Billie Jean Mark Lester: MJ Wanted To Perform For His Children. 01-07-'09 Michael Jackson's friend Mark Lester has said that one of the reasons the icon had planned to perform `This Is It' concerts was that he wanted his children to see him live on stage. "He wanted his children to see daddy do what daddy does best, " The Scotsman quoted him as saying. He added: "The kids had never seen Michael performing live. This was their opportunity to see him. "They had watched him on DVD's and on television, but they had never watched him doing his stuff live. "He wanted that very much for his children to see, and of course for all the fans and everybody else, but the main motivation behind it was for them to see their daddy." Mark also said that the three children - Michael Joseph Jackson Junior, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II- meant "everything" to the singer. Lester also dismissed gossips that the icon was under too much strain to do the shows and would not have been able to finish them. He said: "Michael wouldn't have taken it on if he had any doubt that he couldn't have done it. "He was a perfectionist and if he couldn't have done it to how he wanted to do it, he wouldn't have taken it on." The former Oliver! child actor also said that he had met Jackson for the last time in March. "We saw him in March and spent the weekend together - he was fit and healthy, we had fish and chips, his favourite meal whenever he comes to London," he said. Source: TopNews / Billie Jean
Jackson's final rehearsal, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Billboard’s latest sales charts show the king of pop as the first artist ever to sell more than a million downloads in a single week, among other firsts. Fans flocked to the late popstar’s greatest hits, purchasing a record-breaking 2.6 million Jackson solo recordings and Jackson Five songs, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ending June 28. Jackson also dominated Billboard’s “Comprehensive Album Chart,” which tracks both new albums and older catalog albums — the first time a catalog album has ever scanned more sales than any new album. The “massively talented boy-man,” as his former collaborator Paul McCartney described the eccentric star, posthumously claimed the top three spots with two greatest hits collections and the legendary Thriller album: 1. Michael Jackson - Number Ones (108K album sales scanned) 2. Michael Jackson - The Essential Michael Jackson (102K) 3. Michael Jackson - Thriller (101K) 4. The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D. (88K) Jackson may once more rule the charts, but times have changed for the record industry since the ’80s heyday of cassette and vinyl retail sales. Last week, Billboard estimated that retailers sold 415,000 solo Michael Jackson albums (an increase of 4,150 percent from his total the previous week). In the months following its release, Thriller alone regularly sold twice that in a week. Jackson rehearses for the last time for his now-canceled comeback tour. It seemed like everyone tuned in to watch the 13-minute Thriller video when it debuted in 1983, even though that meant staying up past bedtime for some, and wrangling with new-fangled VHS or Betamax recorders for others. ABC estimates that 55 percent of US television sets were tuned to Jackson’s 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey (over 62 million viewers total), while this year’s American Idol finale — arguably the biggest thing in music — drew only 32.5 million viewers, despite viewer ship having grown since ‘93. Google thought it was under attack in the hours after Jackson passed away, causing some to speculate that he “almost [took] the internet with him.” The idea of one music superstar capturing the world’s attention could also perish with Jackson. Thriller is the top-selling studio album in US history, with 28 million RIAA-tracked sales and well over 100 million copies sold worldwide. Given consumers’ growing preference for singles and the trajectory of the recorded music industry in general, those records are likely to stand for quite some time. Source: Billie Jean
Nielsen SoundScan's sales numbers won't be released until Wednesday (July 1) morning, but industry prognosticators indicate that three of Jackson's albums -- "Number Ones," "The Essential Michael Jackson" and "Thriller" -- each sold around 100,000 copies last week. The sales tracking week ended at the close of business on Sunday (June 28) night. To compare, Jackson's entire catalog of solo albums sold 10,000 in the week that ended June 2. The aforementioned titles will also be the top three albums on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog chart, and Jackson may lock up anywhere between six to nine slots in tally's the top 10. Other Jackson albums looking to make a big splash on the chart include "Off the Wall, "Bad," "Dangerous" and his box set "The Ultimate Collection." Additionally, two Jackson 5 compilations -- "The Ultimate Collection" and "20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection" -- are both doing brisk business. Previously, the record for the most concurrent top 10 titles by an act was five. Both AC/DC and the Beatles managed that feat. There is also the chance that the entire top 10 on the Pop Catalog chart may be filled with Jackson-related titles, counting the two Jackson 5 compilations. Last week's No. 1 on the Pop Catalog chart was TobyMac's "Portable Sounds" with 9,000 copies sold. The Pop Catalog chart, established in 1991, houses albums that are at least 18 months old. Catalog albums are ineligible to appear on the Billboard 200 albums chart, though they can chart on the all-encompassing Top Comprehensive Albums list. Last year, Jackson's expanded reissue of "Thriller" pushed the set to a re-entry at No. 1 on the Pop Catalog tally with 166,000 copies sold in its first week. With the Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D." looking to recapture the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 chart with slightly less than 100,000, this week will mark the first time a catalog album has sold more than the No. 1 current release. The bulk of Jackson's album sales came from digital retailers, as many brick and mortar stores quickly ran out of available stock. Sources say his "Essential Michael Jackson," "Number Ones" and "Thriller" each sold more than 30,000 digital albums, with "Essential" moving more than 70,000 downloads alone. The digital impact will also be felt on our Hot Digital Songs chart, where the King of Pop is certain to make a big splash. His digital track sales went from about 40,000 the week ending June 21 to -- label sources say -- around 1.8 million last week. His top sellers will include "Man in the Mirror," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Billie Jean" and "Smooth Criminal." Source: Billboard / Billie Jean
Reportedly, the body of Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Rock And Soul, will be driven to Neverland Valley Ranch late on Thursday morning. Upwards of a thirty car motorcade, including Michael's body, will be traveling from Los Angeles to Neverland at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Law enforcement is currently meeting to discuss security and traffic control. Sources say that plans are in the works for a public viewing on Friday. A private memorial service is scheduled for Sunday. So far there has not been an official announcement by the Jackson family on this matter. Source: CNN / Billie Jean
The photos from Michael Jackson's last show rehearsal at Staples Center in Los Angeles (USA) on June 23, 2009 that were published recently were taken by Kevin Mazur. In a press release, Mazur said: "I am devastated by the sudden loss of the 'KING of POP' who I have photographed numerous times since the Victory Tour in the 80's. When he hit the stage at rehearsal, I was thrilled that the magical Michael Jackson was BACK!!! I felt the same adrenaline rush as when I photographed him the 1st time moonwalking. I was so looking forward to shooting the O2 Arena performances with the amazing production that Kenny Ortega and AEG put together with Michael for his fans." Source: MJFC / Billie Jean David Gest: Michael Jackson 'Talked, Shook a Hand Like a Real Man'. 30-06-'09 David Gest runs to Brit tabloid The Sun with his story of the King of Pop: “There is nobody who knew Michael like I did. He was so gifted, it’s hard for me to picture him gone. There is a whole side to him people never saw. For instance, people always think of him as talking in that high, soft voice, but he didn’t really speak like that — it was a facade. Still to this day I am not sure why he did it. The Michael I knew talked like a real man, acted like a real man and shook a hand like a real man.”
Source: towleroa / Billie Jean
Former The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno said that Michael Jackson"looked fantastic" just last month. The bodybuilding champion was hired to train the King of Pop for his comeback shows in London, often visiting the star at his Los Angeles home in a bid to prepare him for the strenuous schedule of the 50-date residency. Ferrigno has spoken out of his shock and devastation over his beloved friend's death, and explained to TV host Larry King that he had never seen the star look so fit. "I trained him on and off for 15 years. But when I saw him a few months ago, he looked fantastic. The way he moved, I worked with him on different exercises. And I've never seen him look better." The comments come as pictures of a vibrant Michael dancing his way through a rehearsal, taken just before he died, were published. And Ferrigno never heard the star complain of feeling unwell. "Never (complained of heart pains). With him, never. As a matter of fact, sometimes he would be dancing, showing the moves between a set and exercising. And he convinced me. I said this guy is going to pull it off. When I saw him, he was not frail." When quizzed over the Thriller singer's reported dependency on prescription drugs, Ferrigno insists there were no signs the star was heavily medicated. "I don't know anything about his real personal life. But the last month, I don't know what happened. But the time I was with him, he seemed fine, alert, no pain at all. As a matter of fact, he's done a lot of those stretching exercises, because when you have a lot of pain, you can't stretch that much. So he was very eager to do what I told him. He was the same as like 20 years ago." Source: CNN / Billie Jean
Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan voiced the family's concerns over Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael's personal physician, who was in his bedroom when the entertainer fell into cardiac arrest. "It's been well documented that Michael was receiving medical care on the bed as opposed to on the floor," McMillan said. Health care experts recommend CPR be given on the floor or another hard surface. Meanwhile Dr. Murray claims Michael Jackson had a faint pulse, but was not breathing when he discovered him in his bedroom. His attorney Edward Chernoff told "Dateline" on Sunday night that Michael Jackson was given gentle chest compressions on his bed due to his frail condition. "He was a frail man. He didn't like to drink or eat. He wasn't exactly healthy," Chernoff claimed. "He had one hand behind his back and he was compressing with the other hand… He was compressing hard enough that the doctor knew he was pumping blood throughout the system." Dr. Bruce Hensel, a cardiologist and emergency room doctor said that if it's true Michael Jackson had a pulse, he could have been saved. "People who have cardiac arrest, if you get to them soon enough, and their heart rate is such that it will respond to medicines, you can survive." "Dr. Murray certainly wasn't prescribing or administering those drugs to Michael Jackson. Now, if toxicology comes back and shows those drugs in his system, it will be a surprise to us." Source: Access Hollywood / Billie Jean The “Dome Project” - A Last Video?. 30-06-'09 Two weeks ago, Michael Jackson finished what is being called his final video piece. It has been dubbed “Dome Project.” The details are sketchy at best. Two people who have knowledge of the project confirmed it's existence on Monday to the Associated Press on the conditions that they are not to be identified because of confidentiality agreements. By evening, US West Coast time, it is being repeated in MSNBC news. The leaks report that the “Dome Project” lasted five weeks and was filmed at Culver Studios. Those studios were the set for the classic film, “Gone With The Wind” some 70 years ago. Four sets were constructed for the production, including one that recalled the epic 1983 “Thriller” video. The shooting lasted from June 1 – 9, and Michael was on the set for most of that time. The project is now in post – production and is expected to be completed next month. Producer Robb Wagner, the founder of music video company Stimulated Inc, did not return messages seeking comment and Michael Roth, spokesperson for LA based promoter AEG Live said that he had not heard about this production. He added that it could have been part of the company contract with Michael. An unidentified worker with knowledge of the project said that Michael left a memorable impression on the crew. He arrived in a caravan of SUV's, surrounded with security guards. The person said Michael introduced himself to the workers on the set. Michael walked with a spring in his step, but at one point needed assistance when descending steps off a stage. Besides the cemetery set, another was draped in black with a portrait of Michael in his Thriller werewolf costume. Yet another set simulated a lush jungle. A fourth was built to look like a construction site, with a screen behind it to allow the projection of different backgrounds. Taping of the piece happened in marathon sessions that ended early in the morning. It is still unclear what final forms the final video project will take. According to Stimulated's web site, the company had been hired to produce the screen content for Michael's concerts in London. Source: AP / Billie Jean Gone Too Soon - Ryan White's Mother Shares Her Feelings. 30-06-'09 Ryan White and Michael Jackson shared a special bond. Michael met Ryan, who suffered with HIV after receiving contaminated blood during a treatment, back in 1987. Now, Ryan's mother is sharing a telephone recording that he and Michael had: Ryan White: Hey Michael, I have tickets to the Batman premier. Want to come? Michael Jackson: 'Yeah, I would love to Ryan, but I might be recording, have to see.'
Ms White was in the Chicago airport when she heard the news that Michael had been rushed to the hospital. To her, he was not the King of Pop, but a dear family friend. Michael stood by her and her son during the most difficult moments of their lives. And Michael was there when Ryan passed away. In 1990, Michael wrote the now famous “Gone Too Soon” dedicated to Ryan. And that is how Ryan's mother now feels about Michael...Gone Too Soon. Source: Fox / Billie Jean Michael Jackson's 02 Performance Filmed For Future. 29-06-'09 Michael Jackson’s last rehearsal at the Staples Center on Wednesday, the eve of his death, was recorded in multi-camera, high-definition video and multi-track audio, and could be released as the performer’s last album, according to several people close to the now-defunct concert tour. The recordings were made as part of concert promotion company AEG Live’s deal with Jackson, which included a plan to produce both an album and DVD of what Jackson had billed his “final performance” tour, titled “This Is It.”
The entertainer died of heart failure on Thursday. Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, the nation's second largest concert promoter, emailed that he would not comment for the story. The recordings also could be used to produce both a DVD or Blu-ray disc of the entertainer’s last performance -- the entertainer singing his greatest hits. One AEG official boasted to a colleague this weekend, “We have a live album in the can.” And what an album it would be. Amazon, record stores and retailers like Barnes and Noble sold of all Michael Jackson stock almost immediately -- and in a matter of minutes following the news of Jackson’s death, in the case of Amazon. Press reports have said that AEG Live stands to lose tens of millions of dollars from the unexpected cancellation of Jackson’s 50-date London tour. But any audio and video release of the final concert would undoubtedly sell millions -- if not tens of millions -- of units worldwide and would be the music industry’s equivalent of a license to print money. Jackson had failed to appear at many of the scheduled rehearsals in Los Angeles over the past two months. But he did show up at a full rehearsal at the Staples Center of his scheduled July 13 London concert on the night before his death. The rehearsal, which went on for several hours, included dancers, musicians and aerial performers. Three people close to the production said it had been captured by multiple cameras, and the audio digitally recorded in a manner that could be used to produce a surround-sound DVD and audio products. Source: The Wrap / Billie Jean
On his web site Showbiz411.com Roger Friedman published a short interview with Debbie Rowe: Debbie Rowe, mother of Michael Jackson’s two eldest children, is holed up at her ranch a couple of hours away from Los Angeles. She can’t leave because paparazzi have been staking out her house since Thursday. It doesn’t matter. She is, as I told you on Thursday ”inconsolable.” She told me during a brief conversation today: “I lost my best friend.” Rowe was married to Jackson when she had Prince Michael I and Paris Katherine. But it was always understood that they’d part. Now, she is in tears missing her friend. So far, Rowe has not addressed the issue of the kids or custody despite frantic reports. She wouldn’t do that, she says. “Michael hasn’t even been buried,” she says. Rowe has always had an excellent relationship with Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, and looks forward to talking to her soon, and possibly even seeing the children when the time is right. For right now, though, she’s turned off her phones and Internet, and is trying to observe a period of mourning. How utterly sensible! One thing I didn’t bring up with Rowe, but shouldn’t be forgotten: her friendship with Michael was the thing that saved him at his child molestation trial in 2005. Rowe testified for him in court, clearing up for the jury all misconceptions about the pop icon. Her testimony is generally thought to have been the deciding factor in the jury’s deliberations, and kept Jackson out of jail. Source: Showbiz411.com / Billie Jean |
Updated: 10/30/2010 9:37 AM |
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