Untouchable
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“Bruce Swedien on Thriller.” GearSlutz, January, 2009.
Glentzer, Molly. “The Steps That Made Michael Jackson Great.” Houston Chronicle, July 1, 2009.
Hillburn, Robert. “CBS Group President Walter Yetnikoff . . .” Billboard, July 21, 1984.
———. “An Interview with Quincy Jones . . .” Billboard, July 21, 1984.
———. “Manager Frank Dileo: Taking Care of Business . . .” Billboard, July 21, 1984.
———. “The Saga of Michael Jackson.” Billboard, July 21, 1984.
“Michael Jackson Dances Alone.” Rolling Stone, February 17, 1983.
“Michael Jackson Wore Mother’s Jacket for Moonwalk Debut.” Contactmusic.com, June 28, 2012.
Noland, Claire. “Frank Dileo Dies at 63; Michael Jackson’s Manager.” Los Angeles Times, August 25, 2011 (hereafter cited as Noland).
Pond, Steve. “Former Motown Stars Return for Birthday Bash.” Rolling Stone, May 26, 1983.
Senior, Mike. “Bruce Swedien: Recording Michael Jackson, Legendary Engineer on Thriller,” Sound on Sound, November 2009.
Sisario, Ben. “Frank Dileo, Michael Jackson’s Manager, Dies at 63.” New York Times, August 24, 2011 (hereafter cited as Sisario 8/24/11).
“Three Minutes to Pen ‘Billie.’” The Sun, July 26, 2009.
Vena, Jocelyn. “Michael Jackson Answers Fan Questions in 1996 Thailand Interview.” mtv.com, July 6, 2009 (I).
Williams, Janette. “Michael Jackson Left Indelible Mark on Pasadena.” Whittier Daily News, June 25, 2009.
———. “Michael Jackson Stopped the Party Cold.” USA Today, April 11, 1984.
“THRILLER” VIDEO/JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Carr, Firpo. “Michael Jackson and Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Los Angeles Sentinel, July 23, 2009.
Lee, Marc. “Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Interview with Director John Landis.” Daily Telegraph, July 8, 2007 (hereafter cited as Lee, “Landis”).
“Michael Jackson Interview.” Awake! May 22, 1984.
VICTORY TOUR/DON KING/MJ’S SEPARATION FROM BROTHERS
Goldberg, Michael, and Christopher Connelly. “Trouble in Paradise.” Rolling Stone, March 15, 1984.
Swertlow, Frank. “How Michael Jackson and Don King Get Along.” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, March 3, 1984.
PEPSI SET ACCIDENT/BURNS
Cackler, Jaime. “Jackson’s Burns Caused by Bad Timing.” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, January 30, 1984.
Seiler, Michael. “Pop Star Michael Jackson Burned.” Los Angeles Times, January 28, 1984.
Townsend, Dorothy. “Singer Michael Jackson Released . . .” Los Angeles Times, January 29, 1984.
Woodyard, Chris. “Michael Jackson Seriously Burned . . .” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, January 28, 1984.
Yorkin, Nicole. “Jackson Released from Burn Center.” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, January 29, 1984.
Zoglin, Richard. “Too Much Risk on the Set?” Time, February 13, 1984.
ECCENTRICITIES/WACKO JACKO
McGrory, Mary. “Reagan Has Moves Michael Might Envy.” Los Angeles Times, May 16, 1984.
“Why Michael Hid Out in a White House Men’s Room, and Other Tales of the Day Power Played Host to Fame.” People, May 28, 1984.
RODNEY ALLEN RIPPY
“Rodney Allen Rippy Talks About His Friend Michael Jackson.” KABC–Los Angeles, June 26, 2009.
EMMANUEL LEWIS
Hall, Jane. “Emmanuel Lewis Got a Boost from Michael Jackson, but as Webster He Stands on His Own.” People, April 9, 1984 (hereafter cited as Hall, “Emmanuel Lewis”).
TATUM O’NEAL
“Michael Denies Sex Change; Says He Is Not Gay and Did Not Swim Nude with Tatum O’Neal.” Jet, September 22, 1977.
Stern, Marlow. “Tatum O’Neal Opens Up.” Daily Beast, June 14, 2011 (I).
“Tatum O’Neal Contradicts Jackson’s Seduction Story.” WCVB-TV, February 10, 2003 (RT).
“Tatum’s Tell-All Teaser Released.” Sydney Morning Herald, October 13, 2004.
BROOKE SHIELDS
“Archive for the ‘1981–1984 Brooke Shields’ Category.” lacienegasmiled.wordpress.com, December 21, 2009 (hereafter cited as lacienegasmiled.wordpress.com Brooke Shields) (I).
BAD/ALBUM, VIDEO, AND TOUR
DeCurtis, Anthony. “Michael Debuts His New Show in Kansas City.” Rolling Stone, April 7, 1988.
Goldberg, Michael, and Christopher Connelly. “Is Michael for Real?” Rolling Stone, September 24, 1987.
Hilburn, Robert. “A Good—and Bad—Night.” Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1988 (hereafter cited as Hilburn, “Good—and Bad—Night”).
McKenna, Krista. “The Moonwalker’s Strange Quest for Perfection.” Los Angeles Times, November 6, 1988 (hereafter cited as McKenna).
Steigerwald, Bill. “Buckle Debacle.” Los Angeles Times, November 8, 1987.
CHAPTER 5
MJ/ Sony Dubai meeting: AS2, who was involved, and AS1; O’Brien, Siklos (see Chapter 1 notes), Duhigg. Wilkinson and Crawford were the first to warn of MJ financial distress. “Psychologically shattered”: Mesereau interview. ATV catalog acquisition: see Chapter 6. Paul McCartney: McCartney interview/Rolling Stone; additional quotes: Jack Doyle/pophistorydig.com, Taraborrelli. McCartney’s role in acquisition of Beatles catalog: MTV McCartney biography, Letterman interview. MJ/Tommy Mottola/determination to hold on to Sony/ATV share: AS1 and AS2; Maureen Orth “Neverland CSI” article tells it similarly. “Jacko Bombshell” impact on MJ: AS1.
Bahrain/Christmas, Dubai, $250,000 from Abdullah, Cascio and Lester visits: AS1, court evidence/testimony before High Court, November 2008; including Grace Rwaramba account, Lester interviews. Frank Cascio/pranking: Boteach; water-balloon fights: VIBE. “Mounting impatience,” 2 Seas Records, Katrina song: High Court trial in London, AS1 and AS2, Tohme. Abdullah quotes: Linda Deutsch/Associated Press interview with MJ/Abdullah. This was MJ’s only interview with a U.S. journalist during his time in Bahrain; Tohme and Mesereau both told me that MJ was rewarding her for treating him fairly during his criminal trial.
Orlando: AS1. David Siegel quotes: “The Timeshare Authority” interview; he didn’t respond to my request for an interview. Jane Carter quote: Bryan Burrough’s “Mad About the Boys,” the comprehensive account of Lou Pearlman’s fall. Orlando was among the few of MJ’s movements not described by the “Michael Jackson Timeline,” an indication to me that MJ was keeping it on the down low. Pearlman said he was “negotiating” a deal with MJ that seemed to involve a good deal more than the Katrina record (Pearlman local Orlando TV interview), but I relied mainly upon AS1 in reporting that MJ left Florida quickly after getting wind of the Pearlman investigation.
Abdullah quotes on MJ’s return to Bahrain: High Court testimony. Legacy of “We Are the World”: AS1, Wiesner. “A black hole for Michael watchers”: Hirshey, “The Sound of One Glove Clapping.” Yetnikoff quote: The Secret Childhood of Michael Jackson (see Chapter 2 notes). Other “We Are the World” sources below; the anecdote about MJ needing a young friend to tell him who Michael Jordan is: Bob Jones, The Man Behind the Mask.
SONY/DUBAI MEETING/REFINANCING OF DEBT
Crawford, Krysten. “Michael Jackson to Lose Beatles Catalog?” Money, May 5, 2005.
Duhigg, Charles. “Michael Jackson Advisors Try to Stave Off Default.” Los Angeles Times, December 21, 2005.
O’Brien, Timothy. “What Happened to the Fortune Michael Jackson Made?” New York Times, May 14, 2006 (hereafter cited as O’Brien).
Orth, Maureen. “C.S.I. Neverland.” Vanity Fair, July 2005 (hereafter cited as Orth 7/05).
Wilkinson, Peter. “Is the King of Pop Going Broke?” Rolling Stone, April 25, 2002.
ATV CATALOG/PAUL MCCARTNEY
Doyle, Jack. “Michael and McCartney.” Pophistorydig.com, July 7, 2009 (I).
Hilburn, Robert. “The Long and Winding Road.” Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1985 (hereafter cited as Hilburn, “Long and Winding Road”).
McCartney, Paul, inte
rviewed by David Letterman. Late Show with David Letterman. CBS, July 15, 2009 (RT).
“Paul McCartney Biography.” MTV, March 3, 2009 (RT).
White, Timothy. “Paul McCartney: A Backstage Look at His U.S. Tour.” Rolling Stone, January 8, 1990.
BAHRAIN/SHEIKH ABDULLAH/HURRICANE KATRINA
SONG/CHRISTMAS GATHERING
Bain, Raymone. “Michael Jackson Statement on Drug Overdose Rumors.” December 10, 2005 (PR) (hereafter cited as Bain, “Overdose Rumors”).
Basnett, Guy. “I’m the Real Father of Michael Jackson’s Girl, Claims Mark Lester.” News of the World, August 9, 2009.
Butterfield, Alan. “Jacko Bombshell.” National Enquirer, December 9, 2005 (hereafter cited as Butterfield, “Bombshell”).
Deutsch, Linda. “Six Months Later, Jackson’s Katrina Song Ready.” Associated Press, February 17, 2006.
“Jackson’s Katrina Song Said to Be Ready.” Billboard.com, June 23, 2007 (I).
Sanderson.
“Unbreakable: Michael Jackson Interview.” VIBE, March 2002.
Winfrey, “How the Cascios.” (RT)
Winfrey, “Secret Friendship” (RT)
ORLANDO VISIT/LOU PEARLMAN
“Boy Band Founder to Plead Guilty in $300M Suit.” Associated Press, March 4, 2008.
Burrough, Bryan. “Mad About the Boys.” Vanity Fair, November 2007.
“Jackson Considered Moving to Orlando.” Fox News 13, June 27, 2009 (RT).
Tremblay, Jason. “Orlando Timeshare Developer Played Landlord to Michael Jackson.” Timeshare Authority, July 3, 2009.
“WE ARE THE WORLD”
Hillburn, Robert. “Behind the Scene of a Pop Miracle.” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 1985.
Hirshey, Gerri. “The Sound of One Glove Clapping.” Rolling Stone, January 1986.
Loder, Kurt, and Michael Goldberg. “Inside the USA for Africa Sessions.” Rolling Stone, March 28, 1985.
CHAPTER 6
Break from Quincy Jones: confidential sources, Jones–Katie Couric interview; from Dileo: confidential sources, Taraborrelli, Dileo obituaries. Snake anecdote: Dileo interview in Taraborrelli. John Branca: Hilburn/“. . . equally as brilliant (see Chapter 1 notes),” Taraborrelli, for whom Branca was a major source. Acquisition of the Beatles catalog: Hilburn, Knoedelseder/LA Times, Branca California Lawyer profile (from which Branca quotes come), Taraborrelli, other sources as below. Sony/ATV letters in “Documents” (confirm cause and nature of agreement under which MJ and Sony exchanged majority/minority positions in the deal, and Branca as main MJ-Sony liaison until 2003 dismissal): Joe Jackson’s suit against the executors of the Michael Jackson estate. Quotes from Branca (“Part of him may be a ten-year-old . . .”), Dileo (“a cross between ET and Howard Hughes”): 1980s interviews quoted by Taraborrelli from a British newspaper. Neverland Ranch purchase: Taraborrelli. Description of Neverland: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s department video. Dangerous LA Times quote: Chris Willman; Ron Wilcox Sony quote: 1991 Hilburn/Phillips LA Times article.
Michael’s financial transactions, amassing and squandering wealth: Avram lawsuit, press coverage, esp. Siklos (see Chapter 1 notes), O’Brien (see Chapter 5 notes), Orth. Schaffel quote: interview. MJ on Chandler scandal: Boteach. For the Chandler affair generally see Chapter 16 and its source notes. Dan Beck quote: O’Brien/New York Times (see Chapter 5 notes). Sony/ATV renegotiation/expansion: AS2, CS2, Tohme, Hawk, Mann, Sanders; Joe Jackson suit against estate executors; un-bylined Rolling Stone, the New York Times, and Jet articles; TheWrap.com series on MJ/Branca. Film/video projects: AS2, CS2, Schaffel, Wiesner; MJ to Boteach; O’Brien (see Chapter 5 notes), Day. Loan refinancing agreements: Avram case file, with Myung Ho Lee interviews and additional info from Orth “Losing His Grip.” These renegotiated loans also constituted a major point of discussion on talks I had with two attorneys who were considering filing lawsuits against John Branca and the Michael Jackson estate.
Al Malnik quotes: deposition in the Avram lawsuit. Boteach on MJ’s extravagance: The Michael Jackson Tapes (p. 30). Celebrity Costumes bill: evidence in Avram lawsuit. $75,000 perfume: Fragrance Depot Web site (not known whether the purchase definitely occurred or he merely allowed it to be reported). Purchases and nonpayments: Orth, from Avram trial evidence. Description as “bizarre” of projects introduced by MJ’s advisors including Wiesner/Konitzer: Malnik deposition. Wiesner and his former associate Ronald Konitzer obviously do not agree with suggestions that they took advantage of MJ financially. Dieter emphatically denied it to me in an interview, and neither man has ever been charged with any crime in connection to their involvement with MJ. Michael LaPerruque: Gerald Posner, police investigators in Santa Barbara County. Joey Jeszeck and Chris Carter: Posner, based mainly on information from People v. Jackson; Jeszeck’s and Carter’s interviews with investigators are part of the court file. Chris Carter: Las Vegas daily newspapers, via Posner’s “Jackson’s Shady Inner Circle,” People v. Jackson court file, coroner’s and LAPD investigations included in People v. Murray. Backerman quotes: the Sun (of London). Backerman forced out by the Nation of Islam: Schaffel. Avram trial info and forensic accountant’s report: the court file. Schaffel’s quotes: interviews; Dieter Wiesner confirmed the story of money advanced at the casino in Las Vegas.
COURT FILES
Civil
BD 497718 (Santa Barbara County Superior Court) Marcel Avram v. Michael Jackson, June 14, 2000.
DOCUMENTS
“RE: Operating Agreement.” Letter from Michael Jackson to Sony/ATV Publishing LLC. November 7, 1995.
“RE: Representation of Michael Jackson and Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.” Letter from John Branca to Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. August 14, 2002 (hereafter cited as Branca to Sony/ATV, 8/14/02).
Singer to Branca, 9/10/02.
BEATLES CATALOG/SONY-ATV
Brown, Mick. “Michael Jackson, Death by Show Business.” Daily Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
Hillburn. “Long and Winding Road.”
Knoedelseder, William. “Beatles Song Catalogue Acquired.” Los Angeles Times, August 15, 1985.
“Michael Jackson and Sony Enter Joint Publishing Venture Valued at $600 million.” Jet, November 27, 1995.
“Michael Jackson Buys Rights to Eminem Tunes and More.” Rolling Stone, May 31, 2007.
“Michael Jackson Sells Beatles Songs to Sony.” New York Times, November 8, 1995.
Sinberg.
QUINCY JONES, FRANK DILEO, JOHN BRANCA, AND DAVID GEFFEN
Couric, Katie. “Quincy Jones: ‘I Miss My Little Brother.’” CBS News, July 8, 2009 (RT).
Grover, Ronald. “David Geffen Tries Out a New Act.” Business Week, June 29, 1992.
Noland.
Rosenfield, Paul. “David Is Goliath.” Vanity Fair, March, 1991.
Roberts, Johnnie L. “Michael Jackson Nearly Lost His Prized Music Catalog.” The Wrap, December 5, 2010. (I).
Sisario 8/24/11.
CAREER/DECLINE
Christgau, Robert. “Michael Jackson Albums Review.” robertchristgau.com (I).
Goldberg, Michael. “Michael Jackson: The Making of the King of Pop.” Rolling Stone, January 9, 1992.
Hirshey, Gerri. “Michael Jackson.” Rolling Stone, June 11, 1992.
Harrington, Richard. “Jackson’s ‘Dangerous’ Departures; Stylistic Shifts Mar His First Album in 4 Years.” Washington Post, November 24, 1991.
Orth, Maureen. “Losing His Grip.” Vanity Fair, April 2003 (hereafter cited as Orth 4/03).
Pareles, Jon. “Michael Jackson in the Electronic Wilderness.” New York Times, November 24, 1991.
Stevenson, Richard W. “‘Thriller,’ Can Michael Jackson Beat It?” New York Times, November 10, 1991.
Willman, Chris. “Michael Jackson’s ‘Dangerous’: Michael Jackson Serves Up Something for Everyone in His Relatively Tame—and Wildly Unfocused—New Album.” Los Angeles Times, November 24, 1991.
WEALTH/SPENDING/FINANCIAL EXCESS AND DEBT
Day, Elizabeth. “
Off the Wall, but Still Invincible.” Guardian, March 8, 2009 (hereafter cited as Day, “Off the Wall”).
Hillburn, Robert, and Chuck Philips. “Sony Deal Will Give Jackson Big Share of His Own Success.” Los Angeles Times, June 18, 1991.
Leeds, Jeff, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. “Michael Jackson Bailout Said to Be Close.” New York Times, April 13, 2006 (hereafter cited as Leeds and Sorkin).
“$100,000 Michael Jackson the King of Pop Fragrance.” Fragrance Depot, October 8, 1998 (I).
Posner, Gerald. “Jackson’s Shady Inner Circle.” Daily Beast, July 10, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as Posner, “Inner circle”).
———. “Michael’s Missing Millions.” Daily Beast, August 2, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as Posner “Missing Millions”).
OTHER
Boucher, Geoff. “To Michael Jackson on his 45th Birthday.” Los Angeles Times, September 1, 2003.
“Michael Jackson Adviser Says Nation of Islam Took Over His Life.” Sun, July 7, 2009.
CHAPTER 7
Sheikh Abdullah’s displeasure: AS1, Tohme’s account of visit to Bahrain, Sheikh Abdullah and Grace Rwaramba testimony at the High Court trial. Trip to Germany: AS1.
Anton Glanzelius/Sweden material and quotes: Glanzelius Göteborgs-Posten interview. Schleiter stay, Wolfgang Schleiter: AS1, Friedman. MJ/Germany generally: Wiesner, Kloth. Italy and London: AS1. Mesereau’s resignation as MJ’s attorney: interviews, plus press release. MJ’s return to Bahrain: AS1, testimony at the High Court trial, Tohme. Chris Tucker quote: Playboy. Tony Buzan/mind mapping: AS1, Buzan in UK press, payment information from High Court case. Buzan’s quotes: unbylined Sunday Times article “The extraordinary life of Michael Jackson’s children.” Manama airport/OxyContin: AS1, Sunday Times. Abdullah (with Jermaine Jackson’s encouragement) pushing 2 Seas deal signing: AS1, AS2, Tohme; quotes and specific info: press release. MJ-Abdullah strained conversations: AS1, Tohme; Rwaramba to Barak (see Chapter 1 notes); testimony at High Court trial. MJ’s complaints about shuttling from property to property: Rwaramba to Barak. Second deposition in London: Schaffel, King. Departure from Bahrain for Japan: Abdullah and Rwaramba testimony at High Court trial.
BAHRAIN/ABDULLAH
Fleming, Michael. “Playboy Interview: Chris Tucker.” Playboy, August, 2007.