Archive for Michael Jackson news
Michael Jackson’s son Blanket grins as he practises karate moves with his siblings
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Dressed in their martial arts gear, it is clear that Michael Jackson’s children are thoroughly enjoying their classes.
Prince Michael II, nicknamed Blanket, left his lesson yesterday with his brother and sister but was so pumped up that he continued to practise his moves on the way to the car.
The seven-year-old was grinning widely as he left the karate centre in Encino, California and laughed with ’secret son’ Omer Bhatti.
Karate kid: Blanket Jackson practises his moves as he leaves his martial arts lesson in California yesterday
Jackson’s rumoured love child has been a constant companion to Prince, 12, Paris, 11 and Blanket since their father died.
Yesterday Blanket grabbed the tie around the 25-year-old’s neck and danced out of the karate centre with Omer following him and smiling.
Paris and Prince were also at their class. Even though the centre caters exclusively for children and teens under 16, it seems Omer is allowed to join in.
Wannabe startin’ somethin? Blanket grabs his rumoured brother Omer Bhatti around the neck and leads him out of the karate centre
Constant companion: Omer has been a support to the Jackson children and accompanied them on many outings
The karate kids centre aims to ‘inspire self esteem in every child’ through martial arts and to teach the youngsters learning leadership skills and martial arts technique.
The children have been living with Jackson’s mother Katherine at the family compound in Encino, California since their father’s death in June.
Their aunt, La Toya Jackson, recently spoke of how the children are, finding it tough to cope with the loss of their father.
The 53-year-old said Prince Michael Jackson, the oldest of the children, is having the hardest time accepting the loss.
Prince (left) and Paris leave their class in Encino, California
‘Prince just doesn’t want to speak about it,’ she said. ‘I do worry about him very much.”
She claims that he, too, suffers from vitiligo, the skin disease which Jackson had.
Blanket, seven, is also suffering from the separation.
‘He is just a very sad, shy little boy,’ she said. ‘He cries – he really does cry. It’s so painful for him. No one can bring his Daddy back and it hurts too much.’
But Paris is coping a little better and has posters of her father covering her walls.
‘She’s doing very well,’ La Toya said. ‘She thinks and talks about her father all the time.
Quiet: Eldest sibling Prince is said to avoid talking about his late father but his aunt La Toya claims he suffers from vitiligo too
Kenny Ortega’s Interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show
Posted by: | CommentsKenny Ortega, Michael Jackson’s creative partner, director of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” concerts and one of the producers of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” movie, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show today, October 16th.
Kenny Ortega is a world-class choreographer, and was the mastermind behind the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Madonna’s “Material Girl” music video, Patrick Swayze sexy moves in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing and was the director of High School Muscial.
Oprah on “This Is It” – Kenny Ortega’s Interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show
Oprah Winfrey, who got a sneak preview of 12 minutes of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” film, said that the movie was “magical.” The 12 minutes of “This Is It” was delivered by armed security guards, who stood by as Oprah Winfrey viewed the footage, and then left with “This Is It” in hand.
Oprah Winfrey mentioned that Michael Jackson appeared skinny, but was impressed with his obvious energy and excitement about the performance. Oprah Winfrey also said that while viewing she thought, “Wow! What a loss!”
“This Is It” Film Production – Kenny Ortega’s Interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show
When Oprah Winfrey asked Kenny Ortega how he handled the death of Michael Jackson, Kenny Ortega said, “I had the hardest time. I had just seen him 14 hours earlier.” Kenny Ortega added that he would tell Michael Jackson that he loved him and that Michael Jackson would respond “I love you more.”
Kenny Ortega said that cutting the film, making the film, and having the entire group together helped to create a supportive situation. Kenny Ortega felt lucky to have the opportunity to be there with the material, which gave a greater value to the history that he shared with the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
Oprah Winfrey asked Kenny Ortega if he had been able to process the fact that Michael Jackson is gone. Kenny Ortega responded, “Little bits, he’s so much alive for me still, thank God.”
Kenny Ortega added that Michael Jackson is so present in the film that viewers will almost forget that he’s no longer with us.
Kenny Ortega told Oprah Winfrey how Michael Jackson would call him at 3 a.m. to dicuss the upcoming concert, saying, “We need fireflies!” Kenny Ortega compared Michael Jackson to a firefly because he shines from the inside out.
The Oprah Winfrey show included exclusive clips from Michael Jackson’s rehearsals, including for the song “The Way You Make Me Feel.”
Kenny Ortega told Oprah Winfrey that they started rehearsing in late April, and started physical rehearsals at The Forum and The Staples Center in Los Angeles in May and June. Michael Jackson was about 8 days from London, where they would conduct the final rehearsals before the tour.
Kenny Ortega on Michael Jackson’s Weight – Kenny Ortega’s Interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show
After watching some more footage from “This Is It,” Oprah Winfrey asked Kenny Ortega if he was concerned about Michael Jackson’s weight.
Kenny Ortega said that they looked after him, stressing that the entire crew was a family with a refrigerator full of drinks and healthy food.
Kenny Ortega added that he saw no hint of drug use, and that he saw fatigue at time, due to his sleepless nights, but that Michael Jackson always insisted that he felt good, working on the record, being a father, brainstorming about the performance.
This Is It Choreography – Kenny Ortega’s Interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show
Although Travis Pane and Michael Jackson were the primary choreographers, Kenny Ortega played a large role, calling them “The Three Muskateers” or “The Three Stooges.” Kenny Ortega added that Michael Jackson was an improvisational genius.
All the dancers were inspired by Michael Jackson, and were participating in what they had always dreamed of. Kenny Ortega said that the dancers always felt special when Michael Jackson looked their way.
Michael Jackson was constantly adding to the performance, and with the budget already surpassing $24 million, Randy Phillips said, “I was ready to jump off the balcony of my office. We went and met with Michael, and [director] Kenny [Ortega] said, ‘Michael, you’ve got to stop. We’ve got an incredible show, we don’t need any more vignettes.’ Michael said, ‘But Kenny, God channels this through me at night. I can’t sleep because I’m so supercharged.’ Kenny said, ‘But Michael, we have to finish. Can’t God take a vacation?’ Without missing a beat, Michael said, ‘You don’t understand — if I’m not there to receive these ideas, God might give them to Prince.’ ”
Kenny Ortega also mentioned that Michael Jackson greatly admired Prince, who recently spoke about Michael Jackson after a concert at the Gran Palais.
Star-filled mausoleum awaits Michael Jackson
Posted by: | CommentsGLENDALE, Calif. – One month after a lavish public memorial for Michael Jackson, the pop singer’s family prepared to inter him privately Thursday in a mausoleum filled with legendary entertainers.
On Wednesday, a judge said Jackson’s estate will bear the funeral costs, which were characterized by an attorney as “extraordinary.” It was disclosed in court that 12 burial spaces were being purchased at Forest Lawn Glendale, about eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles, but no details were offered on how they would be used.
Jackson will rest in the cemetery’s Great Mausoleum with Hollywood stars including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and W.C. Fields.
Jackson’s funeral won’t end the legal drama over his drug-induced death at age 50, which authorities have labeled a homicide. No criminal charges have been filed over his June 25 death, which came on the cusp of London concerts meant to restore Jackson to his once-incandescent stardom.
Last week, coroner’s officials said they believed Jackson’s death was homicide, and his death certificate has been amended to reflect that. It cites “injection by another” as the fatal injury.
Investigators have said a mix of the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative killed the pop singer. The new record lists “acute propofol intoxication” as the main cause of death and “benzodiazepine effect” as another significant contributor.
The certificate does not mention Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Jackson’s personal physician. He told detectives that he gave the singer a series of sedatives and propofol to try to help him sleep.
The coroner’s determination of homicide makes it easier for prosecutors to seek criminal charges, but does not necessarily mean a crime was committed.
Katherine Jackson Granted Permanent Custody Of Kids
Posted by: | CommentsMichael Jackson’s mother has officially been granted permanent custody of the pop superstar’s three children after a Los Angeles judge approved the motion in court on Monday.
Katherine Jackson reached an agreement with her son’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, over the care of the kids and their younger brother Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, last week (ends31Jul09).
The case went before L.A. Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff on Monday, when consent forms from Prince and Paris were presented before the court stating their desire to remain with their grandmother.
Beckloff signed off on the custody deal, naming the 79 year old the youngsters’ legal guardian, while Rowe was given visitation rights.
Both parties are expected to return to court for a follow-up hearing on 2 October.
During the court session, Katherine Jackson was also granted her request for a monthly allowance from the singer’s estate to help provide for his kids.
The amount of the payments was not specified, but Beckloff ruled Katherine was eligible to claim 83.5 per cent of the money requested dating back to 25 June – when the King of Pop died.
The allowance figures will be reviewed in six months time, while another hearing has been set for 11 January, 2010.
Michael Jackson’s personal chef has spoken out about the day the King of Pop died.
Posted by: | CommentsMichael Jackson’s personal chef has spoken out about the day the King of Pop died.
Celebrity chef Kai Chase, who had been invited to London to cook for Jacko during his series of comeback concerts at the O2 Arena, said she first knew something was wrong when Michael’s doctor, Conrad Murray, failed to pick up Michael’s breakfast of juices and granola as usual.
She said: “I thought maybe Mr Jackson is sleeping late; at about 12:05 or 12:10 Dr Murray runs down the steps and screams, ‘Go get Prince!’”
She continued: “He’s screaming very loud. I run into the den where the kids are playing. Prince (Michael’s oldest son) runs to meet Dr Murray and from that point on you could feel the energy in the house change.
“I walked into the hall and I saw the children there. The daughter was crying. I saw paramedics running up the stairs.”
At that point, Kai, 37, said the children, their nanny, a housekeeper and her all held hands and began to pray.
At about 1:30pm, she said, security guards told her and other staff to leave the mansion because “Mr. Jackson was being taken to the hospital.”
When she came outside ambulances were in the courtyard and a crowd had gathered.
The chef added that Dr Murray sometimes joined them for dinner, that he conferred with her about the 50-year-old pop singer’s food and made sure that he ate.
The only oddity was the oxygen tanks the doctor brought downstairs after staying the night, Kai said. She said she never asked about the purpose of the oxygen and she saw no sign that Michael was on drugs or was in failing health.
Authorities have searched Dr Murray’s Las Vegas home and medical office as part of an investigation that included raids last week of his clinic and storage in Houston.
The request for Kai to accompany Jacko to London was personally made to her by his 12-year-old son, Prince Michael II.
“Prince said, ‘Daddy wants me to tell you he wants you to go to London with us,”‘ she said. “I said, ‘Tell your daddy that I’m pleased and honoured.”
Kai had already filled out paperwork and submitted a copy of her passport to the Jackson staff and expected to leave for London on July 3.
On June 23, she said Jackson told her: “I’m packed and I’m ready to go.” Two days later, he was dead.
On most days, she said, Dr Murray would bring Jackson the special fruit juice drinks she had prepared for him, followed by granola with almond milk. For lunch, Jackson would eat with the children from a menu that included spinach salad and chicken. Dinner would consist of a dish like seared ahi tuna.
“I came to the house and the first people I met were the kids. They started interviewing me,” she said. “They told me: ‘We’re into healthy eating.”
“We developed a really great bond,” she added.
Most days, she said, Jackson made a point of having both lunch and dinner with the children, Prince, 11-year-old Paris; and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket, and each meal was preceded by Paris saying grace.
After weeks of healthy food, she said she wrote Jackson a note with a suggestion: “I said, ‘What about doing comfort-food Saturdays? We could do barbecued chicken and corn on the cob, maybe Mexican food or soul food.”‘
She said he loved the idea, but as the concerts approached, healthy eating returned full time.
“He said, ‘I’m a dancer,’ and he wanted food that would not make him cramp up while he was dancing.”
The chef, who has also worked for Macy Gray, Jamie Foxx and catered a fundraiser for President Barack Obama, now treasures little notes she received from the children and from Jackson and a present he gave her.
“One day he handed me a little gift bag and said, ‘This is for you from me and the children.’ He had given me an iPod Touch because the children told him I still had a Walkman. It had the 25th anniversary ‘Thriller’ album loaded on it.”
She said she has visited with the children since Jackson’s death and they are doing well. “They have so many cousins to play with.”
As for her future, she said Jackson encouraged her to write a cookbook and she has written one tentatively titled, “Fit for a King.” It includes recipes she cooked for Jackson and the story of the time she worked for him.
“He was an inspiration to me,” she said.
La Toya Jackson seen visiting cemetery
Posted by: | CommentsSeveral carloads of people, Michael Jackson’s sister La Toya among them, came and went from a heavily secured Los Angeles cemetery after sunset Monday, but it was not immediately clear whether they were there for a private viewing.
Shortly before the cars began arriving, a hearse drove up to the Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn cemetery with at least five police cars.
The hearse pulled partly in through the door of the Hall of Liberty — a 1,200-seat auditorium on the grounds — so that any casket unloaded and loaded would not be visible to the media helicopters overhead.
The main Michael Jackson memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday will be a star-studded affair, with singers Mariah Carey, Usher and Stevie Wonder among the participants, according to an announcement released Monday on behalf of the Jackson family.
Also participating in the event will be basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, and singers Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Smokey Robinson, the family said.
The Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III will be among others taking part.
Meanwhile, the Jackson family would not comment on the after-hours gathering that took place Monday evening. Cemetery officials, likewise, have been tight-lipped about plans to bury the singer.
CNN learned that relatives will hold a private gathering at the cemetery at 8 a.m. Tuesday (11 a.m. ET) — two hours before the massive memorial service at the Staples Center.
The California Highway Patrol will escort members of the family from the Encino, California, home of Jackson’s parents to the cemetery.
Afterward, police will escort the family to the Staples Center, sources close to the planning said.
Jackson lawyer Burt Levitch said Monday that the singer’s funeral will be Tuesday, but did not say what time or place.
On Sunday, Los Angeles Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters that Forest Lawn officials were working with the Jackson family on their plans, which were part of “a package” of events Tuesday.
“It’s a package, basically,” McDonnell said. “Forest Lawn has their staff that are also working on their needs relative to the cemetery with them.”
Though there are five Forest Lawn cemeteries in the Los Angeles area, a long line of media trucks and crews have been parked at the gate of the Hollywood Hills facility for several days in anticipation of Jackson’s possible interment there.
Ken Ehrlich, known for producing the Grammy Awards, is producing the public memorial show, his company said. Kenny Ortega, who was to have co-directed Jackson’s series of concerts in London, England, this summer, will direct it.
Mayer posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon saying “I’m going not to ‘perform’ but to contribute.”
“I’m honored to have been asked to play at MJ’s memorial service. I will be representing all of us who can’t be there,” Mayer tweeted. “Going to say goodbye from all us kids.”
One notable who won’t be attending: longtime Jackson friend Elizabeth Taylor, who put out a message on Twitter that she “cannot be part of the public whoopla.”
“I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others,” Taylor tweeted. “How I feel is between us. Not a public event.”
“I love him too much,” she added, “and I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word.”
Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s former wife and the mother of his two oldest children, will not attend the memorial service, her lawyer Marta Almli said Monday.
“Although Debbie had originally planned to attend [Tuesday's] Staples Center memorial service, we have concluded with Debbie that she will not be attending,” a statement from Almli said. “The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael’s legacy. Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael’s memory privately.”
Fans claim tickets
Fans without tickets to the memorial are being asked to stay away from downtown Los Angeles and watch the service on television.
The family decided to provide a free live video feed to networks so it would be televised everywhere.
“Everything about the memorial has to do with accommodating as many fans as possible,” Ken Sunshine, the Jackson family spokesman, said.
On Monday, fans chosen by random lottery for Jackson’s memorial began arriving at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to pick up their tickets. Full story
Los Angeles Police Capt. Bill Murphy said the distribution process was going smoothly.
Each winner gets two tickets, bringing the number awarded in the lottery to 17,500.
Just 11,000 of those are for seats inside the Staples Center. The other 6,500 would be for viewing the memorial telecast at the adjacent Nokia Theater. AEG Live, the promoter of Michael Jackson’s London shows, owns and operates both venues.
Executors control Jackson’s assets
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted control of Jackson’s assets to the executors of his will Monday.
The executors — John Branca, Jackson’s longtime personal attorney, and John McClain, a music industry executive and longtime friend — had sought immediate control of the entertainer’s assets at a hearing before Judge Mitchell Beckloff.
The judge appointed the men as special administrators until another hearing August 3. He said they will be responsible for protecting the state from immediate losses.
The men can enter into new ventures only with court approval, Beckloff said.
Jackson died June 25. Since the next day, his mother, Katherine, has been administering the assets.
(CNN)
Press Conference: Kenny Ortega and Randy Phillips
Posted by: | CommentsKenny Ortega: Good morning from Los Angeles. I’m Kenny Ortega, Michael Jackson’s creative partner and directing and creating the show.
Randy Phillips: And I’m Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG Live.
Press: Great, we have a few questions for you gentlemen this morning. We’ve seen this week great pictures from rehearsals. How are the rehearsals going?
Kenny: Rehearsals are great, in a few hours this place is buzzing. You know, we have our dancers in rehearsal, our band and our singers in rehearsal, we have costume fittings going on. We’re in full swing.
Randy: For those of you, I met before when we announced these dates in the original press conference, I got to tell you personally, just watching the hub-bub in what Kenny and Michael are creating is really exciting watching it come alive.
Press: Great. The 9-minute documentary showed the hundreds of dancers that auditioned how involved was Michael Jackson in their selection?
Kenny: Michael’s involved in every step of this production, and has been from the very beginning. And when it came to the auditions Michael worked with Travis Payne, our choreographer very closely with the development of the choreography for the auditions. And was also with us, you know through the selection process, and was the main person selecting the dancers for the tour.
Press: Thank you, can you give us an idea of what set list Michael has come up with, and will each show have the same set list.
Kenny: You know the fans have been a big part on this online, voting in, but in the mean time the band is learning everything, and with the 750 millions records sold that have been sold, and all of the material that Michael is about, we’re just weighing it out, we’re trying things, we’re putting the show up on it’s feet and that information- the content of the show will come later.
Press: We understand that the date of the opening night has been moved, why did this come about and will fans be able to get refunds?
Randy: Well, first of all on behalf of AEG Live in the O2 Arena, this was a very, very tough decision to make, and I know the press are going to be looking for all kinds of reasons as to why, you know as to opposed to accepting what we say now and that’s their jobs, but the truth is okay, the show was grown in scope and complexity, size; Kenny can answer questions on the production, rigging issues, and stuff like that. But the bottom line is, one, when we went on sale we really didn’t have the show. And which I said at the press conference when we announced it that the show is still in progress, it’s a work in progress, it still is. The one thing we needed, is that we needed more time in the O2, in the arena to work; the arena is incredibly busy, we couldn’t move Madonna, James Taylor, any shows to make room for our pre-production rehearsals, okay so that is the bottom line. The real reason is we needed those 5 days in the O2 to do it. The other thing is, Kenny, who is certainly worth waiting for and Michael really wanted to work with him again because of the success in the past he’s doing “FootLoose”, he’s directing “Footloose” for Paramount and we had to work out his schedule, so we started out a little later than we’d like to. Kenny, you wanna say anything?
Kenny: Ah that’s, that’s really it. We have a massive production that is in the process of being built, and developed and rehersed. The original plan would of put us in the O2 for one night, before we opened to the world. As I became involved and heard what was going on in his mind and heart, and what he wanted this to be, it just wasn’t practical for all kinds of reasons. For safety reasons, and professional reasons, we want to open up with confidence, and securely with integrity, and give the fans the best, right at the top.
Press: Great. What do the date’s changes mean for the fans that have paid for hotels and flights to see Michael Jackson in the opening night?
Randy: Well, Needless to say we would offer refunds to anyone who cannot make it because of their personal schedule and these changes. What we’re hoping, by announcing now this far in advance from the first show we’re giving everybody enough time to change their hotels, change the travels plans and those lucky enough to have tickets we really would not want to have the to miss this spectacle.
Press: Do you expect the show dates to keep on changing?
Randy: No, no. (Kenny and Randy shake their heads) This is a one time, this is a one time event, but to be honest, I’ve always been honest with the press, you know we’re doing 50 shows over close to 6 months- if Michael were to get ill and we’ve had to move a date or reschedule, that’s possible, but there are no plans, no nefarious, promoter, director plans to change the schedule of the show, other than getting us some more time in the beginning to rehersed so that we give the fans what the show really is and what they deserve.
Press: What is the latest on Michael’s health?
Randy: Ah, uh. (To Kenny) You wanna take that?
Kenny: (Shrugs) Eh. (Laughs)
Randy: (Laughs) I’ll take that! I’ll start okay… and not that I’m a doctor okay, but Michael- like I said, I would trade my body for his tomorrow- he’s in fantastic shape and you know, words are cheap and I refuted all the crazy stories, he’s not sleeping with elephants, he’s not dying of skin cancer- everyday there is another story. I’ve never seen anything like that, he’s a magnet for these weird stories that people make up, okay, but as far as talking really about his health- his director can answer that question better than I do. (Points to Kenny)
Kenny: No, I’ll just say that physically and mentally I mean, we’re having a blast. We really are, we’re having a great time, this is a high time for Michael. He’s enjoying this- he comes to work everyday enthusi- you know, with great enthusiasm and ideas. He’s loving the creative process, the creative jousting that goes on with the creative team and the development of ideas, and we’re having a great time. We have a fantastic group of people we are working with; Michael Curry, who designed the Lion King and KA and some of the ideas for “Le Reve” and “Love” with the Cirque du Soleil. Patrick Woodruff, the Rolling Stone’s lighting designer, and Michael Cotton who did Dangerous and HIStory’s production design for Michael. Michael Beardman who has worked with Janet Jackson, and Madonna’s musical director; fantastic organization of people, there is just a tremendous amount of good energy, and a real commitment and excitement by everyone. We’re having a great time, Michael’s in great shape, and loving it as much if not more than anyone.
Press: So does the date change have anything to do with Michael Jackson or his reported health?
Kenny: (Shakes head) He’s not… he’s fine!
Randy: No… Absolutely, I mean and for those of you I know who I can’t see, look me in the eye- absolutely has nothing to do with his health, health categorically okay. The reason Kenny and I are here doing this today, is because we know this is a major upheaval for a lot of fans who bought tickets, and we take it seriously and wanted to be here to answer these questions.
Kenny: Let, let me say that I came in a little late in the game, that the concerts were booked and we were really trying to work out my arrangement, and then getting involved- I mean we really didn’t know where we would go, and as it is I think that I come to this experience having done, quite a few experiences- from two Olympic Ceremonies, and three Superbowls, and you know some pretty large productions, including being Michael collaborative partner on HIStory and Dangerous and a number of other projects. Once you get in the soup, you start to look at the hardware, you start to look at the stunts, you start to look at what’s required of the vendors of the creative team- and as a director it’s your responsibility. I know the fans are looking forward to seeing, and I want Michael to be delivered to them in great confidence and with the feeling of security, and so these choices were purely based on ther practical needs and responsible needs of putting up a first class production.
Press: Thank you, who will be the supporting act for the shows?
Randy: Well since the shows are a work in progress okay, and the set list and stuff like that, none of those decisions have been made at this time.
Press: Michael is the King of Pop, but will there be a Royal presence on the evening?
Randy: Well Michael for sure, Kenny, AEG is a company- we respect the Royal Family greatly, they will certainly be invited, and maybe you should ask the Queen if she is coming.
Press: (Laughs)
Randy: (Smile) I know the Princes are probably coming.
Press: Will Michael Jackson be moonwalking, and will any jetpacks be used?
Kenny: (Laughs) We have some fun things planned and at this point I’m not going to be talking about the content of the production, but I will say we have a great balance of ideas in motion, and we’re excited about the overall choreography and concept of show that we’re producing.
Press: Will Michael’s wardrobe feature any old favorites? The Diamond glove, the Red leather jacket?
Kenny: (Smiles) You’ll have to come and see.
Press: (Laughs)
Randy: We’re sworn to secrecy and we’re not giving anything away about the show!
Kenny: (Laughs) Lemme just say we’re working with amazing costume designers, let me just say that- with Swarovski and we’re also you know, Michael Bush whose worked with Michael for you know 3 or 4 of his world tours. Erin LaRowe who won the Emmy Award last year in television in the states. Zaldy, a young, brilliant, new fashion designer our of New York, and a number of contributing world fashion designers, that the costume of the show is certainly in the works and being realized.
Press: Thank you. The Bad World Tour is commonly held to be one of the greatest stadium spectacles of all time. 20 years later, what lengths are you going to make sure this won’t be a pale imitation?
Kenny: (Nods) We’re bringing it to the people. We are bringing it to the fans. Michael is ready for this, and really ready to do it right. All I can say is that we’ve put the best of the best in a room together, form our musicians, dancers who traveled form all over the world to audition for this show, there’s singers, every designer that’s a part of this, and we’ve all been inspired to really raise the bar on thinking and the way we do things, and execute things. So, we’re hoping this a coming together of some, you know, big brains and talented people, and this will be a concert of a lifetime.
Randy: And lemme just add that add Michael Jackson, and Kenny Ortega are creative pioneers. It’s in their blood to one up to whatever they’ve been in the past, and this show will be that.
Press: Thank you. Will each show have the same set list?
Kenny: Again, you know the band is learning everything and we are now- in these next couple of weeks are gonna start to put the show up on its feet. The content will be something that we will discover.
Press: What is the latest over insurance for the shows beyond the first 10 dates?
Randy: First of all, we have insurance for the first 23 dates in place. That binder was not a problem, we negotiated it. That’s the reason why we had the gut to go on sale without having insurance, as I’ve said before, AEG is a company that was prepared to insure, self-insure since we believe so greatly in Michael Jackson’s talent and his willingness, and his want to come back and perform for his fans again and get on the stage. We have insurance in place, we’re negotiating for better coverage and greater coverage pass the first 23 shows, but we definately have insurance. He passed his health, and you know his physical with flying colors as I’ve said in the past.
Press: The Prince twins who auditioned unsuccessfully, said they were offered two year contracts. Are there any plans to take the shows beyond London?
Kenny: (Smiles) That’s a trick question.. Wait a minute! (Counts) They’ve unsuccessfully auditioned but they’ve been offered a two-year contract. (Randy laughs) They were great actually, beautiful girls.
Randy: But to answer your question, one I’ve been asked many times- as I’ve said before when we first announced this, we have a plan for Michael that’s in phases okay, but right now, the only thing I- and when I say phases, to take him around the world, to all his fans, ’cause you know we can’t get everyone over on 50 shows in London, although we’re trying. The truth is, and I’ve said this before- the only thing Michael has committed to are these 50 shows in London at the O2 Arena, okay. So, there are no commitments past that, so I cannot say whether there will be other shows, we’re hoping. As a promoter, as a businessman, he’s the biggest star in the world, and obviously the biggest star in the history of live entertainment- so would I want him to continue? Yes. It’s up to him.
Press: Thank you. What kind of spectacle is involved here? I’ve read that in many- excuse me, I’ve read that it may have a $20 million production budget with as many as 22 sets.
Kenny: (Motions) The.. It’s huge. You know… it’s awesome, and big. Now there is tons of choreography- classic, iconic, new, refreshed. There’s amazing lighting systems, production design, special effects, media, costuming, amazing musicians, stunts- its complex and in scale, it’s as big as in anything I had ever done or attempted to do with an arena production.
Press: How long will each show last?
Kenny: Again, the show isn’t up yet, but the fans will be satisfied, we intend them to leave them fulfilled to say the least. Michael always says “I want them to have what they came for, and I want to give them on top of that…” So certainly that is our plan. Minutes? You know, right now I would just say that it’s gonna be a healthy length, and that it’s gonna involve much, if not all of what our fans are looking for.
Randy: And just to elaborate on that, okay, the one thing the fans would come to- lucky enough to come to these shows, they’re definitely going to get their money’s worth, no question about it.
Press: How much is the tour expected to gross?
Randy: Uhm… about the same as the Gross National Product of a small African nation.
Press: (Laughs) Alright…
Randy: (Smiles) Sorry to be so glib.
Kenny: (Smiles)
Press: Will Michael debut any new music at the show?
Kenny: Again, the content of our show, we would want it to remain a secret. I know that Michael has been and continues to work on new material that he’s very excited about- I’ve heard a little of it and it’s awesome, and all of that remains to be heard and seen.
Press: With Kenny’s past work with Michael in mind, how much of the choreography will be based on his old dance repertoire, can we expect to see new moves?
Kenny: There will be a dynamic balance, as I have mentioned earlier, or iconic choreography, a refreshed choreography, re-imagined and newly invented. So this is a show that will carry many dynamics with regard to the choreography production of the show.
Press: Thank you that was the last question from the press that we had received for this morning’s webcast, thank you for your time. Do you have any closing statements that you would like to make?
Kenny: Just thank you for having us in your company this morning, and that personally I wanna thank AEG for, you know, hearing me, and respecting my personal request to push the opening, to enable us the time that I see is necessary to properly open. Also I wanna just, again apologize to any inconvenience that I personally may have cause for any of the fans and ticket holders out there, we’re hope that you are able to change your plans and to work around this. We hope to see you in London, and certainly to give you a show that makes up for this, so thank you.
Randy: And for AEG, there was a question earlier for the production- it’s going to cost us well north of $20 million dollars; I know the press is interested in the actual you know, data, financial data- and It’s incredible, and I’m not just saying that, I didn’t drink any Kool-Aid before I came here okay, this is one hell of a show- okay so it’s going to be worth the wait. And again, we do not take it lightly, I’m telling the press there’s no nefarious reason, nothing to do with his health okay, it sticks strictly a production and rehearsal issue at the venue, and this show is going to be worth waiting for.
Kenny and Randy: Thank you.
Who’s a Michael Jackson fan?
Posted by: | Comments
Well, yes, Britney Spears is. Here she is, wearing a superb Michael Jackson shirt 
New Michael Jackson album for London O2 concerts
Posted by: | Comments‘Digital Spy’ are reporting that Michael will release a new single and album before the scheduled start of his concert at the O2 Arena, London, on July 8th. Concert promoter Randy Phillips confirmed that “there will be a new Michael Jackson single before the first date . Michael has got some new music and he is looking for a new way of disseminating his material to his fans.” he added
Promoters AEG suggested that the star may give away a brand new album to fans at his shows, a measure used by Prince in 2007.
This information has not been officially confirmed.
3D version of ‘Thriller’ and Michael crying in excitement
Posted by: | CommentsCEO of AEG live, Randy Phillips, has been speaking to Sky News about the forthcoming Michael Jackson concerts. He also speaks about Jackson bursting into tears when he heard the concerts have sold out.
Randy Phillips, CEO of AEG was interviewed by Sky News in his hotel suite. During the interview he said that when he saw and heard the response to the announcement of ten concerts, and saw the scramble to snap up the tickets, he rang Michael to tell him that they would have to increase the number of concerts to satisfy the demand. Very quickly the number increased to thirty and when a further twenty were added he again called Michael, who was “blown away”, and cried with emotion at the news of the complete sell out of the tickets.
Mr. Phillips explained that he could spend two years in the U.K. and still not satisfy all the demand. He also promised that Michael would be made extremely comfortable during his stay in England, and his life would be as normal as possible.
He said that he was stunned by the reaction of the fans, which was beyond any of his expectations and that 93% of the ticket buyers live in the UK.
Along with the concerts, he added that Michael is also interested in making a 3D version of ‘Thriller’, which could be shown at Halloween, but could also take up to three years to make.
Source: MJWN / Sky News