Michael Jackson, Inc.
Page 30
31. Estate of Michael Jackson, record of disbursements (November 2010 through Decmber 2011).
32. Karen Langford, telephone conversation with author, July 2013.
33. Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, interview with author, August 2012.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: IMMORTAL
1. Author’s observation, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2013.
2. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
3. Karen Langford, telephone conversation with author, July 2013.
4. Greg Phillinganes, telephone conversation with author, December 2011. Note: Portions of this interview and associated topics appear in my story “Why Michael Jackson Is the Top Touring Act in America, Again,” Forbes.com, December 11, 2011, http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/12/12/why-michael-jackson-is-the-top-touring-act-in-america-again/.
5. Uptin Saiidi, “Michael Jackson Lives On in ‘Immortal’ Tour,” MTV, April 3, 2012, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682347/michael-jackson-immortal-cirque.jhtml.
6. Andy Webster, “Singing Pageant of Pop, with a Circus Atmosphere,” New York Times, April 2, 2012, http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/theater/reviews/michael-jackson-the-immortal-world-tour-cirque-du-soleil.html?_r=0.
7. Randall Roberts, “Theater Review: Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Immortal,’ ” Los Angeles Times, December 5, 2011.
8. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
9. Jamie King, electronic message to author, October 2013.
10. Author’s observation, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2013.
11. Jamie King, electronic message to author, October 2013. Author’s note: A small portion of this interview also appeared in my Forbes.com piece “Michael Jackson One: The Latest Piece of a Postmortem Empire,” October 23, 2013, http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/10/23/michael-jackson-one-the-latest-piece-of-a-postmortem-empire/.
12. Karen Langford, electronic message to author, October 2013.
13. Donald David, interview with author, October 2010. Author’s note: A small portion of this interview also appeared in my Forbes.com piece “The Rich Afterlife of Michael Jackson,” May 25, 2010, http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/21/michael-jackson-sony-business-entertainment-dead-celebs-10-jackson.html?boxes=businesschannellighttop.
14. Meryl Natow, “Paul McCartney to Regain Rights to Beatles Songs,” The Fader.com, August 11, 2009, http://www.thefader.com/2009/08/11/paul-mccartney-to-regain-rights-to-beatles-songs/.
15. Shirley Halperin, “Sony ATV’s Martin Bandier on Acquiring EMI Publishing,” The Hollywood Reporter, November 11, 2012, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-atvs-martin-bandier-acquiring-389209.
16. Robin Leach, “ ‘Michael Jackson One’ is Cirque du Soleil’s Best,” Las Vegas Sun, May 24, 2013, http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2013/may/24/michael-jackson-one-cirque-du-soleil-best-and-incl/.
17. Author’s observation, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2013.
18. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
19. Author’s observation, Gary, Indiana, July 2012.
20. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, interview by author, Gary, Indiana, July 2012.
21. Greg Campbell, interview by author, Gary, Indiana, July 2012.
INDEX
A
“ABC,” 30
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 145
Abdullah, Sheikh, 199, 203, 208
Abrams, Mathis, 162–63
Adidas, 145
Aerosmith, 69, 181
Africa, 34 –35, 71, 182
Alexenburg, Ron, 40, 43
Altman, Josh, 143
Alwaleed Bin Talal, Prince, 178, 185
Jackson’s partnership with, 172–73
Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), 214 –15
This Is It and, 217–21
wrongful death suit against, 230–31
Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 176–77
Apollo Theater, 9, 22–23, 25, 223
Apple, 108–9
Areheart, Shaye, 139–40
Arvizo, Gavin, 192–93, 195–97
Associated Press, 123
Astaire, Fred, 28, 71
ATV:
administration of, 108, 131, 157, 181
Beatles’ catalogue and, 1, 100–102, 104 –6, 108, 131
Branca and, 166–67
income and profitability of, 107–8, 121
Jackson’s acquisition of, 1–2, 5, 100–109, 125, 174, 252
selling price of, 2, 104 –5
Sony’s attempted acquisition of, 166
Sony’s merger with, 3, 6–7, 173–75
sound effects library of, 101, 107
see also Sony/ATV
Australia, 1–2, 34, 132, 139
Holmes à Court and, 2, 100, 105, 107
Azoff, Irving, 103–4
B
baby-dangling incident, 190
Bad, 48, 94, 117, 121, 126–31, 139, 153, 190, 231
Dangerous and, 155, 158
sales of, 126, 128, 148, 155
Bad Tour, 114, 129–34, 136, 139
Jackson’s perfectionism and, 133–34
Jackson’s preparations for, 132–33
production of, 130–32
ticket sales of, 2–3, 146
BAD 25, 231–32
Bahrain, 199–200, 202–3, 207–8
Bain, Raymone, 195, 199–200
Baldwin, James, 134
Bandier, Marty, 125
ATV acquisition and, 100–106, 109
Sony/ATV and, 52, 96–97, 107–8, 174
Bank of America, 188, 200, 202, 205
Barnes, John, 127
Barnum, P. T., 5–6, 121–22, 124, 157, 190–92, 232
Barrack, Tom, 102, 212–15, 224
Jackson’s relationship with, 210, 212, 214
and Jackson’s search for new home, 221–22
Neverland foreclosure and, 211–13
on Sony/ATV, 212–13
This Is It and, 218
Barron, Steve, 66
Bashir, Martin, 192–93
Batman Forever, 179
Beach Boys, 1, 53
Beastie Boys, 125
“Beat It,” 59–60, 78, 88, 116, 127
music video to, 5, 7, 68–69, 71, 74, 86
Beatles, 41, 59
licensing recordings of, 124 –26, 141–42
Love! and, 235, 238, 241
music publishing catalogue of, 1, 96–98, 100–102, 104 –6, 108, 124 –26, 131, 141, 191, 204, 214, 240
Bel Air, Calif., 221
Ben Ammar, Tarak, 178
Benson, Harry, 190
Bider, Les, 99, 138–39, 141
Bieber, Justin, 183, 233
“Big Boy,” 20
Billboard, 29, 89, 136, 142, 175, 181, 187
Immortal and, 237
Thriller and, 64 –65, 67
“Billie Jean,” 59–60, 127, 134, 159, 164, 176, 224, 238
Motown 25 and, 70–71
music video to, 5, 66–68, 71, 74, 92, 116, 145
“Black or White,” 153, 156, 158–59
blacks, 1, 19, 50, 193, 206
and backlash over Jackson’s success, 134
“Billie Jean” video and, 5, 66–67
exploitation of, 57–58, 72, 188
Jackson’s legacy and, 134
racism and, 5, 66–67, 137, 188–89, 195
Blackstreet, 155, 176
Blond, Susan, 46, 87
Blood on the Dance Floor, 180–81
BMI, 54, 204
Bon Jovi, Jon, 131–33
Bonner, Erle, 225
Branca, John, 1–2, 52–56, 61–65, 112, 131, 136–42, 146–50, 169
E.T. project and, 63–64, 79
fired by Jackson, 149–50, 157, 189
Humbug and, 121, 124
Immortal and, 235, 241–42
investment suggestions of, 97–98
Jackson’
s business acumen and, 77, 83, 102
Jackson’s death and, 224 –27
Jackson’s debts and, 226, 228
on Jackson’s expenditures, 178
Jackson’s motivational speech for, 72–73
Jackson’s relationship with, 4, 52–53, 55–56, 62, 64 –65, 72–73, 147
Jackson’s royal nickname and, 137–38
Jackson’s song acquisitions and, 2, 5, 52–53, 98–104, 106–8, 138–39, 166, 173–74, 252
Jackson’s will and, 225–26, 228–30
LeGrand’s investigations of, 189–90
master recordings ownership and, 73, 79
Motown 25 and, 70
One and, 234 –35, 238, 241–42
record deal negotiations and, 52, 54 –55, 72, 184
rehired by Jackson, 166–67, 218–19
This Is It and, 8, 227
Thriller album and, 61–62, 126
“Thriller” video and, 74 –76
Victory Tour and, 83–84
Yetnikoff’s apology to, 78–79
Branson, Richard, 100, 104, 106, 111
Braun, Scooter, 183
Brown, James, 17, 23, 172, 188
Bruton Music, 107
Bubbles (chimpanzee), 135, 161, 236
Bad Tour and, 129, 133
Burkle, Ron, 208, 214
Jackson’s debts and, 201–2, 206–7
Jackson’s drug use and, 220
and Jackson’s search for new home, 221
Bush, Michael, 224
Bad Tour and, 130
Captain EO and, 114, 116
This Is It and, 219, 221
Buxer, Brad, 170–71
C
Calder, Clive, 107
Campbell, Greg, 12, 16, 162, 243
Cannes Film Festival, 179
“Can You Feel It,” 57, 65–66
Captain EO, 110–19, 163–64
budget of, 110, 115–17
debut of, 117–18
filming and editing of, 116–18
Jackson’s abandonment of, 117–19
Jackson’s wardrobe in, 114
music and choreography of, 113
reviews of, 118
script and storyline of, 113, 116
technology for, 114
Cascio, Eddie, 161, 166–67
Cascio, Frank:
Jackson’s drug use and, 166, 186–87
Jackson’s emotional deterioration and, 167
Jackson’s marriage and, 172, 179
and Jackson’s relationships with children, 161–62, 166
CBS Records, CBS Songs, 46, 63–70, 82–84, 106–8, 158–59, 173
Bad and, 128
“Billie Jean” video and, 66–67, 74
Jackson 5 and, 37
Jacksons and, 40–41, 43 – 44, 54
Jackson’s E.T. project and, 63–64
Jackson’s record deals with, 47, 52, 54 –55, 72, 184
Sony’s acquisition of, 128–29
Thriller album and, 61, 68, 72, 74, 87
“Thriller” video and, 74 –75
Yetnikoff and, 2, 7, 39–40, 44, 51, 63–65, 67–68, 72, 78, 91, 98, 102, 106, 129, 141
see also Epic Records
Century City, Calif., 98
Chandler, Evan:
and child molestation allegations against Jackson, 162–63, 168, 170, 173, 193
Jackson sued by, 165, 168–69, 173, 193
Chandler, Jordan, 161–63
Jackson’s alleged molestation of, 162–63, 165–66, 168–70, 173, 186, 193
Chicago, Ill., 19–22, 25, 27
Cirque du Soleil, 8, 52
and Immortal, 235–38
and One, 234 –35, 238–39, 241
“Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” 16
Cline, Patsy, 114
Coca-Cola, 144, 249
Cochran, Johnnie, 167–68, 193, 201
Cohl, Michael, 95, 129
Victory Tour and, 90, 92–93
Colony Capital, 210, 214
Combs, Sean “Diddy,” 175, 215
“Come Together,” 1, 100, 141–42
Commodores, 37
Control, 117, 181
Coppola, Francis Ford, 110, 115–17
copyrights:
ATV and, 100–101, 103, 107–8, 174
Jackson’s father and, 56
Jackson’s song acquisitions and, 1, 109, 138–39, 174, 181, 186, 240
losing of, 138
of McCartney, 97, 240
Corporation, 27, 37
Crow, Sheryl, 3, 133–34
Culkin, Macaulay, 196
Czeisler, Charles, 220
D
Dallas, Tex., 90, 92
Dancing Machine, 34
Dangerous, 153–58, 175
cover art of, 156–57
debut of, 156
Jackson’s LA Gear deal and, 147, 150–51
promotion of, 188
reviews of, 156–57
sales of, 155, 157
Dangerous Tour, 158, 163–64, 166–68, 219, 238
David, Donald, 202–6, 240
Davis, Clive, 89
Davis, Sammy, Jr., 47, 188
Days of Thunder, 141 – 42, 148
Dean, Kasseem “Swizz Beatz,” 216, 232
Def Jam Records, 5, 71–72
de Passe, Suzanne, 25, 29, 69
Destiny, 43
Detroit, Mich., 24 –25
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, 29
“Didn’t Mean to Hurt You,” 172
Dileo, Frank, 2
Bad Tour and, 129, 131–32
fired by Jackson, 148–50, 157
Humbug and, 121, 124
Jackson’s image and, 120–24, 136
Jackson’s relationship with, 147– 48
rehired by Jackson, 218
This Is It and, 220
Thriller and, 74
Victory Tour and, 82–84
“Dirty Diana,” 128, 239
Disney, 3, 111–15, 118–19, 173
Disney, Walt, 112, 115, 217
Disneyland, 110–11, 117, 166
Dodger Stadium, 92
“Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” 49, 57
“D.S.,” 176
E
Eastman, John, 101
Ebert, Roger, 49
Eisner, Michael, 112, 115, 117
Elephant Man (Joseph Merrick), 124, 128, 134, 160, 190
EMI Records, EMI Music Publishing, 96, 99, 240
CBS deals and, 107
and licensing of “Revolution,” 125
and Sony’s merger with ATV, 174
Empire State of Mind (Greenburg), 8
Encino, Calif., see Hayvenhurst
Epic Records, 61, 69, 74, 82–83
Jackson 5 and, 37
Jacksons and, 40, 43, 46
see also CBS Records, CBS Songs
E.T. companion audiobook, 63–64, 79
F
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Brathwaite), 5, 66, 128
Falcons, 14, 18
Fields, Bert, 167
50 Cent (Curtis Jackson), 3– 4
entrepreneurial ventures of, 3, 144 – 45, 151–52, 215–16, 249
Jackson’s writing with, 215–16
Forbes, 8, 39, 80, 223, 251
Forger, Matt:
Bad and, 126–27
and Blood on the Dance Floor, 181
Captain EO and, 114, 116
and changes in recording industry, 184
Dangerous and, 156
Jackson’s business education and, 72
Jackson’s video game deals and, 171
Thriller and, 59–60, 114, 156
Fortress Investment Group, 200, 202
Barrack and, 213–14
Fox, 158, 192, 227
Foxborough, Mass., 84 –85, 88
Foxman, Abraham, 177
France, 33, 203
Freeman-Wilson, Karen, 14, 242– 43
G
Gallin, Sandy, 3, 158, 161
Jackson’s film career and, 149, 156
Jackson’s relationship with, 149–50, 177
Gamble, Kenny, 42– 43, 98
Game Creek, 95
Gary, Ind., 9, 16–18, 55
finances of, 242–43
Jackson 5 and, 17–18, 20, 25, 29–30
Jackson’s childhood home in, 11–14, 223, 242–43
Jackson’s death and, 11, 223
and Jackson’s move to Los Angeles, 27–28
Gaye, Marvin, 37, 63
Geffen, David, 1–2, 111
ATV acquisition and, 2, 102
and Days of Thunder soundtrack, 141–42, 148
Jackson’s relationship with, 141, 148–49, 177, 190
Yetnikoff’s relationship with, 140–42, 148
Germany, 33, 182, 190–91, 194, 242
Get Rich or Die Tryin’, 144, 152
Giraldi, Bob, 68, 86
“Girl Is Mine, The,” 59–61, 64 –65
G.I.T.: Get It Together, 34
Globe and Mail, 49
Goin’ Places, 42–43
Gongaware, Paul, 219–20
“Good Vibrations,” 126
Gordy, Berry, 108
daughter of, 31, 33–34, 37–38
finances of, 28, 33–34, 69, 74
impressed by Jackson, 10, 26, 38
Jackson 5 and, 4, 20, 24 –30, 35, 37–38, 40–41, 255n
Jackson’s artistic freedom and, 32, 35
Jackson’s business education and, 4, 32, 44, 54, 70, 72
Jackson’s death and, 38
Jackson’s relationship with, 4, 25, 28–29, 31, 37–38, 44, 49, 69–70, 189
Jackson’s song acquisitions and, 99
Motown and, 4, 20, 24 –28, 33, 37, 41, 69, 99, 189, 255n
Motown 25 and, 69–70
rules and sayings of, 4, 32
The Wiz and, 44 –45, 50
Gore, Tipper, 121
Got to Be There, 32
Greenberg, Robert, 146
Grouse Lodge, 208
H
Harlem, N.Y., 22, 44, 153, 188
“Harmonices Musices Odhecaton” (Petrucci), 36
Hayvenhurst, 31, 42, 70, 72–73, 136, 165, 228
Bad and, 127
Victory Tour and, 83
“Heal the World,” 153, 156, 159
“Help Me Make It Through the Night,” 99
hip-hop, 72, 94, 128, 144 –45, 175, 181, 207
Hirsh, Warren, 93–94
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, 6, 175–78, 180, 187–88
HIStory Tour, 177–79, 184, 219
Hoefflin, Steven, 123
Holly, Buddy, 97, 125
Hollywood Palace, The, 29
Holmes, Cecil, 82
Holmes à Court, Penny, 105
Holmes à Court, Robert, 2, 100–105, 107
Houston Chronicle, 125
“How to Rob,” 144
Hudson, Saul “Slash,” 157–58