Beiträge von Phoenix

CSU Offers Course on Michael Jackson

Clark-Atlanta University takes a modern approach to education and taps into the legacy of the Michael Jackson as both a successful businessman and pop icon. Prominent entertainment attorney, James Walker, will teach the class, “Micheal Jackson: The Business of Music,” concentrating on a curriculum that focuses on Jackson’s approach to business, from how he worked with record companies, tours, and legally marketing himself in terms of copyrights and trademarks. According to Walker, “The goal is to help students who have an interest or future desire to work in the entertainment industry whether as an artist, attorney, business manager, accountant or other…[and] to really provide my students with a comprehensive understanding of the music industry and the business mechanics involved.” Clark-Atlanta University will become the first to offer a class on the legendary pop singer.

James Walker, along with being well versed in the industry, runs a successful law practice, and authored the bestselling book, “The Business of Urban Music.” His offices are located in Monroe, Connecticut, and Atlanta, Georgia.

vibe.com

Michael Jackson “Bad” Tracks: Mysteries Explained

Sony Music really liked our story about the new Michael Jackson tracks, the unreleased material from “Bad.” But I’m told the Jackson estate is nervous I’ve implied the tracks were less than genuine. Never! They are 100% pure Michael, and just great.

Here’s an explanation for my earlier questions, just so every is, as we say, on the same page. A source close to the estate emailed me:

“There are no mysteries about the tracks. They were all done in Michael’s studio at Hayvenhurst. Bruce Swedien never worked at Hayvenhurst with Michael and would only have heard the tracks that Michael brought to Quincy [Jones] to include on the album. As a result, there are many songs that would be unfamiliar to Bruce. And, as far as Bill [Bottrell] is concerned, he doesn’t even know the names of all of the tracks he did work on. Is it really surprising that, with the amount of tracks worked on during the BAD sessions, that there are some Bill doesn’t remember having done some engineering on? And, by the way, Bill wasn’t the only engineer working with Michael at Hayvenhurst. Matt Forger was there then as well.”

Fans will love all the versions of “Bad25,” believe me. And I do hope Sony tries to get a couple of hits out of the demos. “I’m so Blue” is so catchy it’s embarrassing!

showbiz411.com

Michael Jackson: Exclusive Liner Notes from “Bad25″

Exclusive: Here’s some more info from the boxed set of Michael Jackson’s “Bad 25″ anniversary project coming on September 18th. Jackson fans should be ears up on this since we get some explanations for how the estate put the project together after Frank DiLeo unexpectedly and tragically passed away. Here’ an excerpt, plus a description of some of the unreleased songs I wrote about this morning. I’m telling you, “I’m So Blue” is one I cannot get out of my head. Very annoying, in a good way.

Excerpt: “A lot of time was spent listening to all of the recordings in the archives from the BAD era… Some tracks we found were very early recordings. They had no lyrics except possibly the chorus but more complete music tracks. Some were actually so complete that any other artist but Michael Jackson – who worked tirelessly to make sure his songs reflected his vision – might consider them finished tracks… As such, we have given a little information for each recording. As Michael wrote in a note at the time, he was determined to get exactly what he wanted on the recordings of his songs… In addition to the demo recordings, also on the “bonus” disc are the three recordings that were included in the 2001 re-release of the BAD album – “Fly Away,” “Streetwalker” and the Spanish version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” In addition, a French version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” is included along with the earlier mentioned remixes.”

DON’T BE MESSIN’ ROUND

It is well-known that Michael might start a song for one album, and then choose not to use it. The song would later be pulled from his vaults for possible use on a subsequent album project. “Don’t Be Messin’ Round” is an example of one such song, and how it took shape at the time of BAD. Indeed, Bruce Swedien has called it one of his favorites.

I’M SO BLUE

For Michael, creating a demo is how he let someone (in this case Quincy and Bruce) know what he wanted to hear in the finished recording. It also was a vehicle for writing both the lyrics and the music (since he didn’t actually write leadsheets). And because he was such a perfectionist, this really meant giving them a demo that, to most people, would be considered a finished “record” and not a demo at all as Bruce Swedien, among others, have noted. This is an example of one of those “demos.”

SONG GROOVE (A/K/A ABORTION PAPERS)

As noted earlier, this is a song that Michael knew could be controversial and, as a result, he spent a lot of time thinking about the story for the song and the voice through which the song should be told. The song is

about a girl whose father is a priest; she was raised in the Church and on the Bible. She gets married in the Church but decides, against the Bible, to have an abortion and she wants “Abortion Papers.” As Michael indicated in his notes, “I have to do it in a way so I don’t offend girls who have gotten abortions or bring back guilt trips so it has to be done carefully… I have to really think about it.“ This is an early example of a song with a controversial subject.

FREE

Generally, Michael’s process for creating a song would start with the chorus and harmonies first and it would build from there to include melodies and the lyrics for the verses. This piece shows a song that is clearly still a “work in progress” but with a full, finished chorus and harmonies.

PRICE OF FAME

Sometimes a song is written with a story in mind. In Michael’s work notes we found the story for this song – blind obsession. He described the story as “the girls who are over-obsessed with me, who follow me, who almost make me kill myself in my car, who just give their lives to do anything with me, to see me – they’ll do anything and it’s breaking my heart. It’s running me crazy. It’s breaking up my relationship with my girl, with my family. That’s the ‘Price of Fame’.”

AL CAPONE

When you listen to some early demos of songs, you can tell instantly what song it is. This is NOT one of those songs. It is an example of how different a song can be during its early stages of development from its later, finished polished version. If it were not a well known fact that “Smooth Criminal” was developed out of “Al Capone,” it would be hard to know that it had its roots in the material based on listening to this early recording.

showbiz411.com

Christina Applegate Blasts Paparazzi: “Taking Pics of Kids Is Sick!”

Christina Applegate had some harsh words for the paparazzi — and the celebrities who encourage them — on Twitter early Friday morning.

The “Up All Night” star revealed an outing with her year-and-a-half-old daughter Sadie turned downright scary after they found themselves surrounded by photographers.

Applegate began, “I want my daughter to live a normal life. I want her to feel free to be who she wants, so paparazzi stop taking pics of her! Enough.”

She went on to sympathize with the family of the late Michael Jackson, whose kids have been endlessly hounded by the tabloid media.

“It’s times like these where I understand why Michael Jackson had his kids covered they were able to be anonymous until they decided to be public,” Applegate wrote, adding, “We need a law against this! Taking pics of kids is sick!”

The actress continued, “When I chose to be an actor we didn’t have paparazzi. We excelled on the merit of our work, not by what gown we were wearing.”

An admittedly “p*ssed” Applegate then called out “those who use paparazzi to further their careers,” saying such stars “are going to have a rude awakening when their talent doesn’t get them anywhere.”

“When I chose to be an actor we didn’t have celebrities. We had actors,” she explained. “Not people who wanted fame. I blame those people who need fame.”

Applegate then reiterated her main point: “Just imagine for one second you having fun with ur kid in the park and a bunch of a holes start surrounding you and freaking ur kid out.”

In 2010, then-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill cracking down on paparazzi who are reckless in their pursuit of celebrities.

Obviously, there is still a long way to go.

gossipcop.com

Executor is cool under Jackson family pressure

While family members squabble in public over Michael Jackson's money, the man who holds the purse strings of the estate is a calm center of the storm.

As co-executor of Jackson's will, John Branca chooses to ignore the erupting dramas and personal attacks and keeps his eye on the future, which he says belongs to Jackson's mother and children and to the pop star's musical legacy.

He and co-executor John McClain have been successfully pursuing projects to pay off a mountain of debt left by the superstar, to assure the financial future of his three children and to guarantee that Jackson's music will live forever.

"When Michael Jackson died, he was near bankruptcy," said Branca, suggesting the future for his three young children was uncertain. "Now we know the kids will be OK."

Branca sat down recently with The Associated Press to discuss the current state of the Jackson estate and projects to preserve Jackson's image as the King of Pop. But he resolutely refused to address the elephant in the room — recent attacks on him and McClain by some Jackson siblings who were left out of their brother's will.

They sent a lengthy letter that became public accusing the executors of deceit and manipulation of their mother and claiming that Jackson's will was a fraud. They have not taken any court action and legal experts say the time to challenge the will, which disinherited them, is long past.

Branca and McClain issued a statement calling the accusations "false and defamatory," adding "we are especially disheartened that they come at a time when remarkable progress is being made to secure the financial future of his children ..."

Secure in his knowledge that all four of Jackson's wills named him as executor, Branca continues to make deals for the Jackson estate that are generating millions in revenue. This week, they announced an agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing to administer Jackson's Mijac Music catalog, which includes such hits as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean." The deal is expected to generate enough revenues to pay off a remaining $5 million loan by year's end.

Since Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, Branca said the singer's personal debt of $200 million has been paid off and another $300 million tied to his ownership of the Sony and ATV catalogs has been renegotiated.

"Michael had a will and a trust and that's what we follow," he said.

The estate pays Mrs. Jackson $70,000 a month for the children's support, pays the rent on their mansion in Calabasas, and is picking up bills for other expenses including renovation of their Encino home.

Branca's AP interview was his indirect response to accusations by Janet, Jermaine, Randy and Rebbie Jackson that the estate was being mishandled. Jermaine later disavowed the incendiary letter and called for peace in the family. But Janet, Randy and Rebbie fired back with a letter of their own reiterating their complaints.

Brimming with excitement, Branca spoke of upcoming ventures he thinks would have delighted Jackson, especially a permanent Jackson-themed extravaganza on the Las Vegas Strip. It comes on the heels of the Cirque du Soleil Jackson tribute show, "Immortal: The World Tour."

"The Lion King" theater at the Mandalay Bay Hotel is being rebuilt to house the still untitled show, also a Cirque du Soleil production, which is set to open May 23, 2013.

"It will be highly theatrical and completely different from the arena show, which was more of a concert," Branca said. "We will have the opportunity to create something special and ground-breaking."

Declining to reveal all of the technical wizardry planned, he said, "We've got all kinds of tricks up our sleeves."

Every seat will have its own speakers, while the walls and ceiling will be used to create "a totally immersive experience for the audience," he said.

Unlike the touring show, there will be no live band and all music will come from remixes of Jackson's recordings.

Branca and co-executor McClain, a reclusive recording executive, say they understand Jackson's desires to take care of his mother and children — Prince, Paris and Blanket — financially and keep his music alive.

"We feel Michael entrusted us with his legacy and with the future of his mother and children," Branca said. "We're honored and proud and passionate about celebrating Michael. It's a labor of love for us. We love Michael."

Branca met Jackson in 1980 when both were just starting out. They would go on to legendary success together but there were also some rocky times. During more than two decades together, they had two three-year periods of estrangement over business disagreements.

Branca was rehired by Jackson a month before he died, with instructions to draft an agenda for future business deals. Branca presented the plan a week before Jackson died and it has been the roadmap for the estate's posthumous enterprises.

In addition to the upcoming Las Vegas show, a new album and a concert DVD will be released soon celebrating the 25th anniversary of Jackson's "BAD" album. Then a two-hour documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee on the making of "BAD" will show at the Toronto and Venice film festivals next month.

The anniversary promotions include a deal with Pepsi to put silhouettes of Jackson on a billion cans of soda in 20 countries.

And this week, the Cirque du Soleil traveling show begins an international tour to Mexico, Europe and perhaps Asia.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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wegotthiscovered.com

Spike Lee's documentary on Michael Jackson screens at Toronto film fest

LOS ANGELES—Music is highlighting the Toronto International Film Festival with a Michael Jackson documentary from Spike Lee and a closing-night film featuring Vanessa Redgrave as a terminally ill choir singer.

Organizers announced Tuesday that Redgrave's "Song for Marion" will close next month's Toronto festival, which runs Sept. 6 to 16 and is one of the key cinema gatherings that kick off Hollywood's fall movie lineup and Academy Awards season. The film directed by Paul Andrew Williams co-stars Terence Stamp and Gemma Arterton.

Lee's documentary "Bad 25" also is playing the festival, marking the 25th anniversary of Jackson's 1987 album "Bad." The film features footage shot by Jackson himself along with interviews with such stars and music producers as Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow and L.A. Reid.

Toronto planners announced dozens of other films to round out its 11-day run, among them Peter Webber's "Emperor," starring Tommy Lee Jones as Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the aftermath of Japan's defeat in World War II; Dante Ariola's "Arthur Newman," a romance with Colin Firth and Emily Blunt centered on a former golf hot shot who became a notorious choker on the pro circuit; and Brian De Palma's "Passion," an erotic thriller featuring Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace.

Other Toronto highlights include Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy," a murder tale set in 1960s Florida that stars Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack and Zac Efron; Harmony Korine's "Spring Breakers," with James Franco, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens in a tale of college girls on a wild vacation; Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the story of a World War II Navy veteran drawn into a cult by a charismatic leader; and Scott McGehee and David Siegel's "What Maisie Knew," with Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan in an adaptation of a Henry James tale about a girl caught in a custody battle.

Among previously announced films at Toronto are the opening-night premiere "Looper," a sci-fi thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Blunt; Keira Knightley's Leo Tolstoy adaptation "Anna Karenina," featuring Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson; Ben Affleck's Iran hostage rescue saga "Argo," co-starring Bryan Cranston and John Goodman; and Robert Redford's fugitive manhunt tale "The Company You Keep," co-starring Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon and Terrence Howard.

Along with the Venice and Telluride festivals that precede it, Toronto typically is a prime launch spot for many Oscar contenders. Among past Oscar winners that played the Toronto festival were "The King's Speech," "The Hurt Locker," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Crash."

ydr.com

Court denies request by Michael Jackson’s doctor to test drug vial

An appellate court denied a request Monday that it order forensic testing on a piece of evidence that Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyers claimed might cast doubt on his guilt in Michael Jackson's death.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal issued the decision without comment. Attorneys for Murray, who is serving a two-year manslaughter sentence, had asked for lab testing on residue from a propofol vial found in the pop star's room.

The doctor's fingerprint was on the vial, and prosecutors theorized that it held the dose of the surgical anesthetic propofol that killed Jackson on June 25, 2009. Murray's defense, which maintained that Jackson administered the fatal dose himself, asked late in the trial for testing, but was rebuffed by the trial judge who said the request was not timely.

An attorney for Murray, Valerie Wass, said she planned to petition the state Supreme Court to order testing on the drug bottle.

latimes.com

Zitat von Lucky

Marlon sieht immer aus, als wäre er aus dem GayClub entlaufen

was für ein überflüssiger, vorurteilbehafteter kommentar

Michael Jackson show continues to conquer the box office

‘The Immortal’ returns to Southern California, still dominating the touring world.

When Cirque du Soleil titled its new Michael Jackson show "The Immortal World Tour," the name wasn't just symbolic. Its second appearance in Southern California this year, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Staples Center, is only the beginning of a large, seemingly endless life for this glitzy tribute to the King of Pop.

The Quebec-based company has graduated from humble beginnings as an itinerant New Age-y tent circus into a worldwide live-entertainment juggernaut that can craft multi-media events of unparalleled size and sophistication.

Cirque pays special attention to Las Vegas and Southern California, two parts of the world that have been especially good for its bottom line over the last quarter-century.

Its valentine to Hollywood, the permanently running "Iris," revitalized an under-utilized and troubled Los Angeles albatross (the former Kodak Theatre, now the Dolby Theatre) thanks to an investment of more than $110 million and an aggressive marketing campaign.

Cirque's MJ show, which debuted in Montreal last October and opened at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in early December, will have a permanent home there. After the departure of "The Lion King" from the Mandalay Bay at the end of 2011, construction crews began a one-year makeover for a completely different version of "The Immortal" with a larger and more elaborate set. It is slated to open in May 2013.

Meanwhile, the incarnation of "The Immortal World Tour" that began in Vegas is living up to the screeching pre-opening hype. Cirque's investment in the show and its ambitious multi-year plans for it have proven good bets so far.

Soon after it opened in Vegas, the revenue numbers were eye-popping. Pollstar reported that "Immortal" was the highest-grossing live show in the country, with nearly $2 million in tickets sold for each night of its initial run through Dec. 27. According to Pollstar it was the top-earning touring act during the first six months of 2012, playing 95 times in 46 cities and selling 703,793 tickets for a total take of $78.5 million.

We talked to Travis Payne, one of 12 choreographers who worked on "The Immortal" with its director, Jamie King, about the phenomenon of the show, his long association with the late pop star, and how everything came together. Payne collaborated with Jackson for many years and was the principal choreographer for the singer's "This Is It" international tour, which was cut short by Jackson's 2009 death.

The Orange County Register: We saw "The Immortal" when it opened last December in Las Vegas. Has the show changed since then?

Travis Payne: That's the last time I saw it, too. I've been busy. I will see it again in L.A. With a show the size and scale of "Immortal," something is always being retailored. The biggest deal was in the (original show) we had this gigantic Giving Tree. It was the centerpiece of the show. That presented problems in some venues because of the weight, so we changed it.

The Register: It sounds like your attention is split right now.

Payne: We're gearing up for the second show that will live permanently in Las Vegas starting next year. That's huge. (The touring and Las Vegas productions) will be two totally different shows. Jamie King is directing (the permanent show) and I am choreographing with a team.

The Register: What was your biggest challenge when working on "The Immortal"?

Payne: My principal responsibility was to reproduce Michael's classic choreography with a new generation of performers. We're working with songs that everybody knows: "Thriller," "Dangerous," "Smooth Criminal." We wanted to audience to see those songs more or less as they remembered them. It was about paying homage to all this great work, and not to simply recreate it but re-imagine it while keeping all the signature moves and shapes intact.

The Register: What was it like working with kids who weren't around when these songs were new?

Payne: I tried to communicate as much of the back story behind the movement as possible, and the reasoning for certain things. Of course, there was a team of coaches as well as more than 60 actors and dancers and singers and musicians. It was a huge machine. The schedule had to be very clever for us to be able to have the dancers that we needed when we needed them, in the midst of their make-up sessions and physical fitness classes. It's like putting on a ballet, a musical and a rock concert all at once.

The Register: MJ's talents as a dancer and choreographer are often overlooked. What was the essence of his genius in that area?

Payne: I think he was able to create a movement language that was all his own. He would take his inspiration from different places, whether it was Baryshnikov doing a ballet or urban kids on the street doing hip-hop or even matadors in the bull ring. He admired Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse, Diana Ross. Over the years he remained a student of movement. He had different collaborators along the way. I was fortunate to be one of them starting in 1992. We would bounce moves and shapes back and forth. What I loved about his movement is that there were really no rules. And it was simple enough that his fans could do the moves, but innovative enough to catch your eye.

The Register: What did you learn from working with Michael?

Payne: He was a total perfectionist. Every experience was different, but we were always creating at the highest level. The energy was great. I knew it was a special time. He was great mentor, but he taught by example. I worked hard, but it never felt like work.

ocregister.com

'Thriller Live' Celebrates 1,500th West End Performance

Thriller Live, the spectacular concert show that celebrates the music of the world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael Jackson, this week celebrates its 1,500th West End performance.

More than 880,000 people have seen the production at the Lyric Theatre, where it opened in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours, and where it is the longest-running show since 5 Guys Named Moe almost 20 years ago. It holds the record for the highest weekly gross in the history of the theatre, and is currently booking to March 3, 2013.

More than two million people have seen the show worldwide. Its premiere in Japan in September will mark the 25th country the show has played in over several world tours.

The high calibre of the show’s singers was proved last month with three of the Top 5 finalists in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ITV1 Superstar competition to find Jesus for his arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, coming from Thriller Live. Winner Ben Forster and Roger Wright, who came third, were stars of the original West?End cast. Fifth placed Nathan James has also starred in Thriller Live.

Thriller Live combines high-energy dancing, eye-popping video footage and effects together with dazzling choreography. It is not a rigid book musical with set songs, but is a constantly evolving music concert celebration. Following the tragic death of Michael Jackson, the show has regularly been updated with additional songs, new visuals and choreography.

Several singers share the songs of MJ. New to the West End cast this week is a British pop singer David Jordan, who shot to fame in 2007 while appearing on The Royal Variety Show with his number three chart song Sun Goes Down, produced by the legendaryTrevor Horn.

A year after Michael Jackson’s death, a permanent West End memorial to him was unveiled in the foyer of the Lyric Theatre by the cast and Britain?s top dance group, Diversity.

Thriller Live was originally conceived and created by Executive Director of the show, Adrian Grant, a long time associate of Michael Jackson, and author of Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary.

It is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with Adrian Grant for Key Concerts.

entertainment-focus.com

Katherine Jackson says she was kept from communicating while reported missing

The mother of Michael Jackson said in court papers she was kept from communicating with outsiders while at a resort in Tucson and was unaware she had been reported missing.

Katherine Jackson declared in the documents obtained Thursday that she had no idea she was the subject of a search until she accidentally heard a TV report.

She said she was told her doctor had ordered her to rest and she was flown to Arizona. At a spa, her cell phone was confiscated along with her IPad and she said she was kept in a room with no working phone or TV service.

She said she asked about Michael's children and was told they were fine.

The disclosure marked the latest development in a series of events that began when Katherine Jackson was reported missing but later turned up at the spa with family members.

The documents were released after a judge reinstated Katherine Jackson as the guardian of the children in an arrangement that also keeps their cousin as temporary co-guardian.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said during a hearing that an investigator who looked into the children's care found that the late pop star's 82-year-old mother was an excellent guardian and the children love her very much.

"I think the kids are in terrific hands," the judge said. "It appears from the report that Katherine Jackson has done a wonderful job and cares about the children very much."

Beckloff noted that the children, Prince, 15, Paris, 14 and Blanket, 10, also have a close relationship with their 34-year-old cousin TJ Jackson, who was named temporary guardian last week after working closely with Katherine Jackson since Michael Jackson died.

TJ is "incredibly respectful" of the family matriarch and she is respectful of him, the judge said.

Beckloff said he will finalize the arrangement later in the month but for now will issue letters of co-guardianship allowing both Jacksons to make decisions about the children's welfare.

TJ Jackson's new co-guardianship status is temporary, but the judge could make it permanent when he convenes the next court hearing on Aug. 22.

The shared guardianship plan is apparently designed to remove pressure from Katherine Jackson who was previously named in her son's will as the children's sole guardian.

Perry Sanders Jr., her lawyer, has said the arrangement will allow his client to focus on the children's upbringing and not on home or logistics issues.

Beckloff said then that he didn't believe Jackson had done anything wrong but suspended her guardianship duties because she had been out of contact with her grandchildren for 10 days.

The changes in guardianship come on the heels of family dissension over Michael Jackson's will, which left nothing to his siblings when he died three years ago. Several of them signed a letter that was leaked to the media alleging the will was a fake and calling on executors of the estate to resign.

The dispute at one point led to a driveway confrontation involving several family members at the Calabasas mansion where Katherine Jackson and the children have been living.

On Wednesday, Jermaine Jackson issued a plea for peace in the family and withdrew his support of the letter.

"Mistakes have been made and irrational things have been said on both sides in a highly charged emotional environment," Jermaine Jackson wrote. "It is time for us all to draw a line in the sand and move toward peace, co-operation, love and healing."

He wrote that the family is still raw from Michael Jackson's death, and his mother has endured incredible stress and pressures since then.

Another party to the Jackson family drama, singer Diana Ross, who was named by Michael Jackson in his will as a potential guardian of the children if Katherine Jackson was not available, issued a statement saying the recent turmoil is a private matter and shouldn't be playing out publicly.

Ross and Jackson were longtime friends before his death in 2009.

Ross, who lives on the East Coast, came to California to visit with the Jackson family on Wednesday, Katherine Jackson's lawyer said, adding the singer supports the co-guardianship arrangement.

newser.com

paris ist auf dem cover der aktuellen ausgabe von VIEW

http://view.stern.de/de/view/magazine/

The $1bn will behind ***** family war and how the star's fortunes have created rivalry between brothers, sisters, children, mother and lawyers

.....

Summing up the row, a Jackson family member said last night: ‘This week has been a PR disaster for the family. If the world thought we were nuts before, they know it for sure now. And it is all over the oldest thing in the book – money.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new…rs.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

traurig, aber wahr

Debbie Rowe, mother of Michael Jackson's eldest kids concerned about their guardianship

Debbie Rowe has been following developments in the family's public battle over beloved matriarch Katherine Jackson and is hoping to get more information on a proposal to add Michael's nephew TJ Jackson, 34, as a permanent co-guardian ahead of a court hearing next week, a well-placed source told the Daily News Friday.

The biological mother of Michael Jackson's two eldest kids has concerns about a plan to permanently change their guardianship - and she wants assurances from the Gloved One's mom.

Debbie Rowe has been following developments in the family's public battle over beloved matriarch Katherine Jackson and is hoping to get more information on a proposal to add Michael's nephew TJ Jackson, 34, as a permanent co-guardian ahead of a court hearing next week, a well-placed source told the Daily News Friday.

"Debbie would like Katherine to consult her before making any changes to the agreement they worked out together after Michael died," the source said. "This would set up a whole different dynamic. She needs to see more details."

Rowe raced back to southern California from a horse show last weekend when she heard family members reported Katherine missing, the source said.

Though she handed Michael full custody of son Prince Michael, now 15, and daughter Paris, now 14, when they divorced in 1999, and didn't intervene after his death, Rowe has seen the kids on more than one occasion in the last three years, the source said.

The visitation was part of an agreement she struck with Katherine directly - a pact that also called for limited interaction with patriarch Joe Jackson, the source said.

Rowe, 53, was concerned about Joe's influence because Michael had accused his dad of physical abuse, sources previously told The News.

"As long as Katherine is still actively involved (with the kids), there shouldn't be a problem. But they never agreed to let TJ be a decision maker. (Rowe) knows TJ from when he was little. She knows he's close to the kids. But she might ask for more custodial responsibility if he's making decisions she doesn't agree with," the Rowe source said Friday.

TJ has been helping Katherine care for the kids at their Calabasas home and was granted temporary guardianship Wednesday amid a familial fracas pitting Michael's three kids against his siblings Janet, Jermaine, Randy and Rebbie.

Prince and Paris voiced allegations on Twitter that they were blocked from speaking with Katherine during a surprise 9-day trip to an Arizona spa organized by the aunts and uncles.

nydailynews.com

Katherine Jackson to share custody of Michael Jackson's children

Michael Jackson’s mother has agreed to share custody of the late pop star’s three children with the grandson currently serving as their temporary guardian, her lawyer said Friday.

Katherine Jackson will file papers next week asking a Los Angeles judge to name Tito Joe “T.J.” Jackson, 34, as co-guardian, according to a statement released by attorney Perry R. Sanders Jr.

The 82-year-old matriarch was stripped of guardianship Wednesday amid allegations that some of her children were holding her against her will at an Arizona spa. Katherine Jackson returned to Los Angeles on Thursday and announced her intention to regain guardianship of Prince, 15, Paris, 14 and Blanket, 10.

But after a meeting with her lawyer, the children, and T.J. Jackson, she concluded he should remain in an official role, the statement said. T.J. Jackson, 34, has been closely involved in the children’s upbringing, attending school conferences and dealing with teachers, the statement said.

The joint arrangement “will essentially now legally reflect how Mrs. Jackson and T.J. have often shared responsibilities of raising the children since Michael Jackson’s tragic passing,” Sanders wrote.

T.J. Jackson will oversee the staff and security at the Calabasas home while Katherine Jackson will keep control of the children’s financial allowance from the singer’s estate, according to the statement.

“She is eager to simply enjoy her great relationship with these children, while deeding over some of the stressors that go hand in hand with being a guardian,” Sanders wrote.

The entire statement:

Later this morning, TJ Jackson's attorney, Charles Shultz, will be filing a petition for TJ to be appointed permanent guardian of Michael Jackson's three children. The court ordered that this petition be filed pursuant to the temporary guardianship he granted TJ on Wednesday of this week. However, after a very productive meeting yesterday, first between Mrs. Jackson and me, and then joined by Prince Jackson, TJ Jackson and Mr. Shultz, it was agreed by all that it is in the best interest of Mrs. Jackson and the children to file a modified joint pleading at the beginning of next week. With some changes, that pleading will essentially now legally reflect how Mrs. Jackson and TJ have often shared responsibilities of raising the children since Michael Jackson's tragic passing. Following reaching agreement, Margaret Lodise, the court appointed guardian ad litem for the children, was brought into the meeting by conference call. Ms. Lodise confirmed with Prince that the agreement reflected the wishes of all the children. The joint filing will request that the court reinstate Mrs. Jackson and appoint TJ as a co-guardian of Michael's children. If the court grants this joint request, it will eliminate concerns such as the ones triggered by the events of the last few days. It will also empower TJ to take joint legal responsibility for certain day to day duties such as the management of household personnel, including security. It will also make clear for school personnel and anyone else coming into contact with the children that TJ is authorized to act on their behalf. TJ has frequently attended school conferences and dealt with school related matters and this agreement, if approved by the court, allows for continuity as sanctioned by the court. Mrs. Jackson will then be freed up to focus on the more personal everyday decision making related to the lives and activities of the children. She would also remain in control of the children's family allowance. Mrs. Jackson is extremely pleased with the prospect of enjoying the pleasure of raising Michael's children without the day to day tedium of items such as managing the large staff that goes with such a high profile family and focus her attention on being a grandmother and raising Michael's children. She greatly appreciates the recent love and concern that supporters have shown for her and the kids, and she hopes the court will grant this request for co-guardianship. She is eager to simply enjoy her great relationship with these children, while deeding over some of the stressors that go hand in hand with being a guardian.

Once the joint filing is made next week, it will be served on all interested parties and the specifics of what is being requested will be spelled out in the public record. Until then, no further official comment about guardianship will be made.

latimes.com

Katherine Jackson Meets Face-to-Face with Attorney

Katherine Jackson's attorney said late Thursday that he had met with his client face-to-face for the first time in several days and that she was doing fine despite familial squabbling that forced a judge to temporarily suspend her as guardian of her son Michael's three children.

"I had a long and productive meeting today with Mrs. Jackson," Perry Sanders Jr. wrote in a statement. "I am pleased to report that she is fine and she laughed at the widely publicized report that she had suffered a stroke."

The description of Jackson suffering a stroke was included in a letter signed by five of her children calling on executors of Michael Jackson's estate to step down. The letter was leaked last week and was an early sign of turmoil that was to come for the Jackson clan. Since late Saturday when a relative reported Katherine Jackson missing, speculation has swirled about her whereabouts, her health and why she hadn't called her grandchildren for nearly 10 days. Rival factions in the family released dueling statements on Twitter and family members tussled in the driveway of her home in an incident that remains under investigation.

Sanders said he would be releasing a formal statement Friday morning about his discussions with Katherine Jackson. He has previously said he will move to re-instate her as guardian over Jackson's children, Prince, Paris, and Blanket.

Although Thursday was a mostly quiet day in the ongoing Jackson family turmoil, it was not without drama.

"Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realized how misguided and how badly she was lied to," Prince Jackson wrote in a posting on his Twitter account. "I'm really angry and hurt."

Hours later the post was deleted, but re-emerged by late afternoon, with the eldest son of Michael Jackson wondering if his account had been hacked. The post was the first time Prince Jackson, 15, had publicly commented on his grandmother's absence.

A judge on Wednesday granted Tito Jackson's son TJ temporary guardianship over the children, citing concerns that Katherine Jackson was being prevented from fulfilling her role as guardian. Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said there were no indications the 82-year-old had done anything wrong, and he would likely re-instate her upon her return.

Katherine Jackson had been at a Tucson, Ariz. spa since July 15 with her daughter Rebbie and other relatives and had not spoken to her grandchildren during that time. TJ Jackson and numerous others said that was unusual and when she did call, he said she sounded "strange."

"I've never heard my grandmother talk like that," he said reluctantly. "In every way. The sound in her voice. The pauses."

Sanders, who had flown to Arizona to try to meet with his client on Tuesday, was not allowed to see her at the resort.

He said some of her speech sounded slurred and she used words that made him wonder if she was speaking in code.

Before leaving Arizona to return to her hilltop home in suburban Calabasas, Katherine Jackson told ABC News that the court ruling was "based on a bunch of lies."

If Katherine Jackson does not move for an emergency hearing to reinstate her guardianship position, another hearing in the case will be convened Aug. 22.

Copyright Associated Press

nbcnewyork.com

Conrad Murray invites Katherine Jackson to visit him in jail

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted in Michael Jackson's death, is inviting the late pop star's mother to visit him in jail to "answer any questions she might have."

Murray extended the invitation Tuesday night in a statement released to CNN through his lawyers, Valerie Wass and Michael Flanagan..

"I've been told that she has a desire to speak with me before she departs this life," Murray said. "Seeing that she is up in age and in questionable health, and the fact that she is the mother of a very dear departed friend, it would give me great pleasure to sit with her one on one and answer any questions she might have."

Murray was sentenced to four years in prison last November after a jury convicted him of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 25, 2009, death.

Murray, who is expected to serve at least two years in a Los Angeles County jail, said he would put Katherine Jackson's name on his visitor's list.

"It would put her at peace," he said. "I would do that truly out of concern for her and altruistic love and concern for others. I want to see her. I do not want Mrs. Jackson to suffer. She remains as dear to me as my own mother, unbeknownst to her."

News coverage of the ongoing feud among members of the Jackson family apparently prompted Murray's offer.

"Although I am not permitted to see the news in jail, there are times when intermittent snippets are seen before a channel change occurs," Murray said. "I recently saw Katherine Jackson in one of those snippets. She appeared to be extremely sad. I also heard she is having a difficult time."

A representative for Katherine Jackson said he would present the offer to her, but he doubted she would accept.

Katherine Jackson is dealing with a major division in her family that grew larger when four of her children recently took her to Arizona for 10 days without letting Michael Jackson's three children speak to her.

cnn.com

Katherine Jackson Is "Devastated" She Lost Custody of Michael Jackson's Children

Katherine Jackson's vacation is over.

The 82-year-old Jackson matriarch is speaking out for the first time in a new interview with ABC News Wednesday night.

While Katherine was away in Arizona at the Miraval Resort & Spa, a judge appointed Tito Jackson's 32-year-old son, T.J. Jackson, temporary guardianship of the late Michael Jackson's three children, Prince, 15, Paris, 14, and Blanket, 10, on Wednesday.

Their grandmother tells ABC News, "I am devastated that while I've been away, my grandchildren have been taken away from me, and I'm coming home," she says.

Katherine argues that the Judge Mitchell Beckloff's court ruling Wednesday was "based on a bunch of lies."

As for the rumors that she was kidnapped, Katherine explains, "I am here today to let everybody to know that I am good and fine," and adds, "My children would never do anything to me like that."

Instead she describes her absence as a "short vacation and rest." During her absence, granddaughter Paris tweeted her frustration over not having any contact with Katherine, writing, "Eight days and counting . . . something is really off, this isn't like her at all . . . I wanna talk directly to my grandmother!"

Katherine says the reason she did not call her grandchildren is because "I just gave up my phone and I didn't want to have any phone calls while I was here."

usmagazine.com

keine ahnung, wie serious das ist

Jackson siblings 'banned from family home' after police stop them taking Michael's children to see grandmother as war over $500million fortune continues to rage

The fight between the warring Jackson clan took another bizarre turn on Monday when three of the pop star siblings were barred from their mother's home after trying to take their brother Michael's children to Arizona.

Janet, Jermaine and Randy apparently tried to persuade Prince, Paris and Blanket to go with them to see their grandmother, but the children refused and asked security to remove them from the house where they live in Calabasas, California.

Earlier, Michael's siblings responded to rumours that their mother Katherine was 'missing' by publishing a photograph of her playing cards at her daughter Rebbie's home in Arizona.

The matriarch, 82, can be seen smiling as she sits around a table with Rebbie, great-grandson London and other family members while playing a playing the card game Uno.

However, the revelation of Mrs Jackson's whereabouts does not seem to have resolved the feud between the generations, which seems to have started in a fight over the will of megastar Michael.

Five of his brothers and sisters claim that the will, which leaves all of his $500million fortune to Katherine and the children, was forged by two Hollywood lawyers.

RadarOnline reported that matters came to head on Monday when Randy told the children to leave with them so they could fly them to Arizona to meet Katherine - but the intervention caused 'total chaos'.

Police were then called to the family home following reports of a fight, with allegations of a physical assault levied against an unspecified person.

A source told the website that it was 15-year-old Prince who stood his ground and refused to leave the compound.

The insider said: 'The security detail prevented the three of them from taking the kids out of state. The cops had to be called and Janet kept saying they had a legal right to be at the house when in fact they don't.

'The rental house is in the name of Michael Jackson's estate, so they were told to leave immediately.

The source also claimed that the plan was a 'publicity stunt' to have the grandchildren and Katherine pictured together in order to quell the reports of a feud.

TMZ earlier reported that the battery incident is connected to an ongoing investigation police are conducting regarding Katherine over claims she has been 'emotionally and financially mistreated by family members'.

Sources told the website the fight had something to do with these ongoing allegations of financial abuse - which Katherine is said to have initially denied were taking place.

Katherine is guardian to her son Michael's three children, but her grandchildren reported losing contact with her for a week's time prompted a missing person report on Saturday night by her nephew, Trent Jackson.

It is unclear who is taking care of the children in Mrs Jackson's absence or why they have not be able to contact her.

On Monday Paris, 14, sent out a frantic Tweet, writing: '8 days and counting. something is really off, this isn't like her at al'... i wanna talk directly to my grandmother!!'

Investigators from Pima County Sheriff's Department visited Rebbie's home on Sunday to perform a welfare check on Katherine and determined she is 'fine'.

'When I got there, Katherine Jackson and her family were at the dinner table and had just finished a game of Uno,' a Pima County sheriff’s deputy told X17 Online, adding that Jackson was on vacation

'In fact, their dinner plates were still in front of them. She seemed like she was having a good time. She was happy, safe and healthy.'

Meanwhile, TMZ say that Katherine is now 'in a fancy spa' in Tucson where she was taken because they feel 'the house is utter chaos and Katherine is exhausted.'

RadarOnline claims her daughter Janet Jackson was behind the trip, saying the 46-year-old singer was adamant her mother needed bed rest.

The website claims a family member spoke to them, and said: 'Katherine is very well. Janet was behind the whole thing – she felt that Katherine needed medical help and was desperate for her to get some bed rest.

'It was an extreme measure, but Janet felt that by being away from Paris and Prince Michael, Katherine would be able to relax a lot easier. However, it’s important to reiterate that she’s not at a hospital. If she was truly sick she would be in hospital care.'

The bizarre 'disappearance' comes amid tension in the Jackson family over the King of Pop's $500m fortune.

Earlier this month five of Michael's siblings claimed that his will was a fake, that Katherine was being manipulated, and that the executors of the estate John Branca and John McClain should step down.

In an undated letter, signed by Janet, Randy, Tito, Rebbie and Jermaine Jackson, they also said Katherine's health had been affected, and she suffered a mini-stroke.

The estate has denied the accusations, which have swirled since Michael Jackson died from an overdose of a powerful anaesthetic. Katherine had initially obtained permission from a judge to investigate the will's validity, but never pursued the matter in court.

Only Katherine and Michael's three children are named in the will, along with some money assigned to charity, so the siblings are understood to be eager to have it declared invalid to gain access to the $500m fortune.

In another twist, LA police today denied rumours that Katherine's nephew Trent, who reported her missing, and the executors Branca and McClain were being investigated for elder abuse.

Katherine's granddaughter Paris has been vocal during the family drama, sharing her concerns on Twitter.

She wrote on Saturday: ‘Yes, my grandmother is missing. i haven't spoken with her in a week i want her home now,' the 14-year-old tweeted adding a number to call if there was any word.'

Randy Jackson claimed last week that Katherine had suffered a mini-stroke but Paris tweeted that ‘nothing had happened to her.’ The tweet was later deleted.

The mystery of Katherine Jackson's whereabouts was compounded by a visit from her son's former physician, Dr. Allan Metzger, who examined her July 14 after being brought to her Calabasas home by someone close to the family, said her attorney, Sandy Ribera.

However, she was soon found to be safe with her eldest daughter, which was confirmed by son Jermaine, who said in a statement: 'Mother is safe and well in Arizona with her daughter and our sister, Rebbie, resting up on doctor's advice, so it is beyond me how she can be reported "missing.'

He said access to his mother is not being blocked but that her access to phones and computers was removed for her well being.

'Furthermore, it dismays me that such an alarmist "missing person" report has caused unnecessary anxiety among Michael's children who will understandably react to what they misunderstand, hear or are told,' he said.

There also appears to be dissent in the Jackson family over the state of Katherine's health.

She had been scheduled to depart on an RV trip to the Southwest to watch her sons perform. The elder Jackson never made any of the shows and Metzger apparently told her not to take the trip, Ribera said.

Metzger is not Katherine Jackson's primary physician and her regular doctor wasn't aware the his house call until concerns about Katherine Jackson's whereabouts were raised, Ribera said.

A phone message left for Metzger at his Beverly Hills practice was not immediately returned Sunday.

Metzger treated Michael Jackson earlier in his career and met with the singer once in the months before he died. Defense attorneys for the physician convicted of killing the pop superstar called him as a witness to try to show the singer was attempting to obtain a powerful anesthetic for home use.

Despite being a defense witness, Metzger aided prosecutors by telling jurors that he refused Jackson's request and warned him of the risks.

Paris Jackson referenced Metzger's visit in a tweet early Sunday, writing, 'the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother... just saying.'

Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for causing Jackson's death at age 50.

Since Michael's death his net worth has skyrocketed more than the amount when he was alive.

According to Billboard, MJ Inc has made no less than $1 billion a year thanks to his record deal with Sony Music, which is extended until 2017, as well as his concern films.

Michael's family bands The Jacksons and the Jackson 5 have sold approximately 800,000 albums according to Nielsen Soundscan while his independent albums have sold 9 million units in the U.S. alone.

In 2009 he sold 24 million units outside the U.S.

dailymail.co.uk