TonyR
The Legend Continues
Posts: 8,393
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Post by TonyR on Apr 19, 2021 19:33:26 GMT
Don't know who he is, but presumed he's wealthy enough to shell out tonnes of cash on the official website!
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on May 2, 2021 12:48:35 GMT
"[Slash, Teddy and I] were on tour with GUNS in Europe, and Michael was in Europe, and he said, 'We're gonna do the video for [the song].' So he called Slash, and he goes, 'Put a band together.' And there was a moment when we actually were gonna do a mini-concert when we did that, so it was in front of a live audience. He asked myself and Teddy; Teddy had been playing keys in GN'R and stuff. Michael sent a private jet, and we went to Germany and we did it."
"What I remember is we're standing onstage, It was Muzz from LIVING COLOUR, and Tony Thompson on drums. And we actually had our amps plugged up, and we were jamming a little bit and stuff. We actually weren't even playing that song; we were just jamming a little bit. And there was an audience — a real live audience. And Michael walks on stage, and the place just went — you hear that BEATLES scream, that [shriek] that's just so deafening. And Michael came up to me, and he goes, 'What are they screaming at?' in this almost childish voice. And I was looking at him like this: 'Eh, 'cause you're Michael Jackson.' I couldn't believe he didn't get it. But he looked like he didn't know why these people were screaming at him. But it was a really fun experience. I'm so happy that Slash asked us to be a part of it." -Gilby Clarke
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on May 2, 2021 13:05:12 GMT
"Michael was my childhood. The first time I saw him I was about 3 years old and at that moment I thought he was unique. I've kept that love and that dream of meeting him since I was a little girl. The truth is, there was a great deal of chemistry between me and Michael, but we weren't given the opportunity to let anything happen between us. Chemistry is not something you can predict or try to make happen. It's God's work.
I had the opportunity to work with him was the happiest time of my life. I've never known happiness since.
He was the greatest artist that ever existed. And he was a boy.
When we approached, we were just two people: it wasn't for their state, it wasn't for the image it represented in life. After breaking the ice and meeting each other, Michael was a boy to me.
June 25, 2009 was the worst day of my life. I've never felt so much pain before. Since that day, my life has changed. Because that day the little girl in me died with him.
And I always wonder, "Why... Why him? Why am I still here? What is my purpose?" And I really think he's in a better place now. You know, if I ever had the chance to talk to him again... I'd say I'll love him forever.''
—Tatiana Thumbtzen, co-star of the short film The Way You Make Me Feel.
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Post by respect77 on May 6, 2021 11:15:38 GMT
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on May 7, 2021 14:48:36 GMT
i didn't know that. that's cool.
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on May 14, 2021 14:05:58 GMT
"Michael was a lovely guy inside the studio —he was very playful. I remember there was a 24-hour store down the street and, for fun, he would put on disguises and go there, trying not to be recognized. It was your day's prize!
He was very talented and knew exactly what he was doing during the sessions. We never had very close interactions, but sometimes Quincy Jones would leave the control room and hum a phrase—which Michael humbly repeated to him—moments I will always be grateful to witness.
You knew you'd be seeing the best talent gathered, and you had that feeling that you were making history—I remember thinking, while recording I Just Can't Stop Loving You, about what it would be like on all radio, all over the world.
Michael was one of the greatest artists of all time. He was an amazing singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, he was complete. There will never be anyone like him again.''
Nathan East Consecrated American bassist with over 2,000 recordings on his resume.
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on May 22, 2021 2:34:24 GMT
''Michael and I have been friends for at least 20 years. We were very discreet about our friendship and our love for each other... It was a true friendship''
— Whitney Houston, 2009
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Jun 22, 2021 13:51:09 GMT
''It took just under two and a half hours to get from my house to the ranch, depending on traffic conditions. I drove so many times i knew every hole in the road and every turn that went from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Michael was very pleased with every music system we developed for the amusement park, trains, but this project... It brought unexpected problems... Snakes! To be clear, I've never been afraid of snakes. When I was very young, I learned that "red and yellow means danger, red and black means no poison", soobviously I was well trained to deal with them. The gigantic horse shed was transformed into a multipurpose facility where guests could see and learn about reptiles and of course the snakes were the stars! You would find terrários full of lizards, frogs, spiders, etc. A voice (recorded by me) greeted the visitors. A corridor ran through the entire barn and was about 2.5 meters wide. On both sides of the corridor was surrounded by compartments for snakes and various reptiles. The extremely clean place looked like a zoo. There were snakes, pythons, and boa constrictors, each in their natural habitat, with plants, rocks—so the landscape reflected the region of the planet from which they came. It was all very well designed and built. The curator was a great guy named Mark (pictured with a giant python), and he brought snakes for guests to watch and (if they're safe) to touch and hold. Of course, food was a good time to visit, if you liked that sort of thing. In addition, a soft song played with sounds of frogs and water (also part of our project), and then I had another idea that Michael liked very much. The corridor was very dark and all the snake enclosures had soft lighting so guests could focus on what was in front of them. I designed and built a sound illusion system—and the guests had the feeling that a giant snake had just passed their feet. It was very effective and impressive! Some of the guests shouted, fearing that some python was about to rise on their feet. It was incredibly funny, and Michael loved to observe the guests' reactions. Michael was so excited that he had another idea... Rattlesnakes. In a giant aviary, reminiscent of the cliffs of New Mexico, there were 15 or 20 rattlesnakes. They were behind their thick windows. Michael wanted to hear your rattlesnakes, so he asked what we could do. "Well,"I suggested, "we could put a microphone next to the snakes and a speaker so that guests can hear them clearly." "Yes! excellent!! Please do!!'' It was always fun when Michael expressed his enthusiasm for any of my ideas. Just now I had to do it. The design was quite simple: a decent microphone, preamp/mixer and speaker. The problem was that we had to work with dangerous snakes that would rather we were dead. And the only way to get under that long row of snake fences was a small hole at the opposite end, and we had to crawl backwards for about 10, 12 meters to get where we needed to be. All this time knowing there were dangerous snakes just above your head...! I ordered all the parts and set up a day for the installation. We checked twice to make sure none of the guests visited the reptile barn that day. We crawled under the fences and started pulling wires, making holes and installing speakers. Finally the wiring was done and I had to work with Mark to connect the microphone near the snakes. Then came the time to test! I always tested the systems before Michael heard it, and I was very happy with the result and he was very excited when he heard it. He loved it so much that he embraced me in thanks for the excellent work of putting the microphone among a few dozen rattlesnakes. The job was well done, and when I was leaving he asked if I had ever put speakers in a horse-drawn carriage...!'' — by Brad Sundberg, sound systems professional
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Jul 12, 2021 23:33:44 GMT
"I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson. I grew up with my dad always putting on Michael Jackson's tapes at the time. [He] told us to watch a lot and mirror each other, I don't dance anything, I can't dance at all (laughs). But I'm a big fan of him, like the great artist he was, and I paid tribute." -Felipe Araújo
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Aug 4, 2021 6:02:06 GMT
"We did a show called Budweiser Superfest. Michael and I got very close. When you rehearse all the time together, it's almost instantaneous, it becomes like a family because we work together, eating together, doing everything together, except, of course, sleeping together. So anyway, I met Michael Jackson very well and I remember vividly the first time we did the show at The Rose Bowl.
Michael always stood backstage, like the shy thrush... and then when you open the box ... he jumps on stage like someone threw him out of a cannon.
On stage, he took off his jacket and threw it into the audience.
He says to me, "WATCH THIS!" And me, just watching people trying to get your jacket. It's this scene that I vividly remember, Michael showing the fans' battle for his jacket!
... a wild scene, very rock and rool... hahaha''
— by Patti Austin, American jazz and R&B singer
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Aug 4, 2021 16:00:00 GMT
I toured with him for 16 months on the Dangerous World Tour. Originally, I started rehearsing for the previous bad tour, but because of the success of "I Just Can Don't Stop Loving You", I was persuaded by my label to focus on making a solo album.
Michael was a very detail-oriented perfectionist. He insisted on giving his fans exactly what they heard on the album.
During a show, I decided to surprise him by appearing on stage wearing a blonde wig to sing our duet. Michael was initially surprised, but then had fun and couldn't stop laughing on stage.
MJ taught me everything I know about performance. I believe Michael and I had a special chemistry on stage and this was evident to all his fans.
They still tell me that.
Seeing him every night on stage was absolutely amazing. I still remember the day he said to me: ''Sid, do you know where I feel happiest? It's here, on stage''
— by Siedah Garrett, singer-songwriter remembered for her collaboration with Michael Jackson on the song "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Aug 5, 2021 15:18:28 GMT
"Having met Michael very young (I believe he was about nine years old when I met him in Chicago), I felt connected, although it's been years since I last saw him up close and personal. I remember looking into his innocent eyes and saying to his mother, 'He has such angelic eyes—I can swear I'm looking into an angel's eyes.'
Katherine smiled and Michael lay on his lap saying he was tired. He was Mom's little boy and he grabbed his mother backstage, which was understandable because he was so young.
I would see Michael and his brothers periodically at Motown's Studio A in Hitsville USA in Detroit; and when they were opening the Temptations show; then again in California when they moved in.
I remember Richard Street, my husband at the time, with our son, Ricky (who was perhaps two at the time), flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to see the Jacksons concert at the (then) MGM Grand Hotel. I remember going into the green room (backstage) with Mrs. Katherine Jackson and praising her for her family on their way to the hotel. When we came in, Michael was in a bar drinking a Coke. I approached him and asked if he remembered me. Then I reminded him that I was Richard's wife—Richard of the Temptations." He hugged me and said ,how nice to see you again'.
The Temptations played basketball against the Jackson brothers at their home in Encino, California. So I had a chance to visit Michael and talk to him on a few more occasions when he was a teenager.
When I was near him, I felt like I was in the presence of greatness! It emits a special aura. He bowed (like Asian culture) held my hand and said "hello, it's good to see you"
The world has lost a precious soul, but I can't help but think that our loss was god's gain.
I cried myself to sleep on the first night of his death, and spoke to God through tears saying. . .
You said to him (MJ), 'very well, my son, you did what I put you on earth to do, now it's time for you to rest and come home to live with me. You've worked hard most of your life since you were five years old, and now it's your turn to come home and rest.'
I couldn't believe Michael was dead, although in my mind I was aware that it was a reality, and it really happened. I cried for him, his children, his mother and his whole family.
I had to leave a meeting I attended when I received a text message from my son, Ricky, saying... "Mother, Michael Jackson passed away—yes, he died, Mother. I'm sorry."
Ricky knew how much I loved him and he understood my sadness...
I am very happy to see how much love Michael had for others and the great love that people/fans around the world have for him. All I can say is - long live the King of Pop.
Michael Jackson's music will continue forever, to infinity.'
— Carolyn Gill, lead singer of The Velvelettes
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Aug 7, 2021 1:54:05 GMT
"Michael Jackson was the kindest and most humble person I've ever met in the entertainment industry,"recalls Lattisaw, whose career began in 1979 at age 12 and extended to 1992 with several Top 40 R&B hits.
"And that's one of the most important things I've learned from him,"she says.
''When I was 14, I had the opportunity to open for the Triumph tour of the Jacksons. I remember as if it was yesterday, I was playing games with my friends and my mom came insaying, "Stacy, I just got a call from the Jacksons producer asking you to open the show for them." Not realizing that it was a unique opportunity, I began to think, if I would accept the offer because, i would stay away from home, my family and friends for 13 weeks on a tour of 38 cities.
''My mother calmed my mind and convinced me to participate in this unique experience in life!''
The tour began on July 9 in Memphis and Stacy's brother accompanied her on the road. She remembers being amazed at Michael, then 23, was already a megastar —whose electrifying aura made dozens of young fans faint with excitement at every show.
"He was a perfectionist. He rehearsed for hours and hours. He was very dedicated to what he did, and I remember he was very quiet and reserved. But when I went up on stage, it was like magic. The crowd went crazy.
I saw him give his all in every show, he was exhausted.
"And after each show, my brother Jerry and I would sit down, talk and take pictures with Michael for a few minutes. Just being in his presence was amazing. And while I was near him, I learned the importance of humility. His success never changed him. I learned the importance of donating. Many people don't know this, but Michael has given all his earnings, his money, from the Victory tour to different charities.
When I turned 16, he called me and wished me a happy birthday. He had a soft voice and said: 'Hi, this is Michael'... ... and I said, 'Who?'
And I just dropped the phone and screamed.
It was so kind of him to remember, and I'll never forget that.
Michael Jackson was a real star. Being able to tour with him and talk to him... he was a phenomenal person. Sure, he was one of the greatest artists of all time, but the person, Michael Jackson, was amazing.
Although I have never reached the level of his success, I have had a taste of what he has been through, not having had a childhood and growing up in the harsh light of stardom at a very young age...
Most people only see the glamour and brilliance of fame, but there are so many invisible things i've dealt with and sacrificed... Michael was indeed a superstar and what people should learn is that no one will ever know what it was like to walk in his place, because when you reach that level of stardom, your life becomes an open book.
I think people put so much pressure on him, it was probably too much for him to take. All he wanted was to rest and sleep.
I'm very honored and proud to have met Michael and tourwith the Jacksons and in my opinion, there will never be another Michael Jackson. He was the greatest artist of all time."
— by Stacy Lattisaw, American singer
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Aug 7, 2021 2:50:00 GMT
"It's a roller coaster, because Michael is someone I admire. He's not like a real person, you know? When I started making music, that's all I wanted to aspire to, just like any other musician. So when I started getting that kind of comparison, I hugged her, because who wouldn't like that? But I think the older I got, and the more I started to understand who I was, it was very important for me to realize: how can I get out of this nickname to become someone else? Because I know James Brown was this to Michael. And I'm not trying to say I'm Michael's successor or anything. But I'm excited to be the first The Weeknd." — The Weeknd
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Post by NatureCriminal7896 on Aug 12, 2021 1:13:50 GMT
Jean-Claude Van Damme recalls meeting Michael Jackson It’s 1996 at the World Music Award in Monaco. The world is watching the little Principality as Michael Jackson is there to receive Awards but also to perform, While hundreds of celebrities rushed to the city, Michael Jackson is the one everyone want to see and meet. This is the case for Jean-Claude Van Damme, a Belgium actor and Martial Art expert who gain fame in the 80s-90s with his action movies. While Van Damme was very excited to meet the King of Pop, Michael had other affinity with… his wife. Van Damme recalls: “I met Michael Jackson in Monaco, but he felt in love with my wife. I mean, he saw her and sat with her for over an hour to speak about dogs, children and other stuff… My wife is pure and very maternal, she doesn’t drink, she doesn’t smoke since she was young.” “I was really happy about it. They had a connection. If he did not die, I think we will be taking Tea together once a week. He was a great person.” It is unclear if Michael and Van Damme’s wife Darcy LaPier kept in touch. Van Damme divorced LaPier in 1997. Van Damme always supported Michael Jackson even after “Leaving Neverland” and while the story was short, it is always a great pleasure to hear them.
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