Recognition In Death

Michael Jackson has become the most honoured artist in history at the American Music Awards, by winning four posthumous prizes.

Much like other artists (eg Mozart and Van Gogh), talent only seems to be truly recognised and rewarded in death.

Jackson Sued Again - Thriller

The wheel of life turns full circle, and Michael Jackson finds himself being sued again. This time by John Landis, the director of the Grammy award winning Thriller video, for failing to hand over his share of the profits.

The suit alleges:

"After a spectacular theatrical premiere the Thriller video became a worldwide megahit and an iconic pop culture phenomenon that has continued to generate profits for defendants Optimum Prods and Michael Jackson, who have wrongfully refused to pay or account for such profits to the plaintiff."

The suit alleges that Jackson failed to pay Landis 50% of the proceeds, which possibly amount to $1M.

Worst Hotel Guest Ever

Michael Jackson has achieved the dubious honour of appearing on concierge.com's roll call of honour of "Worst Hotels Guests Ever".

Jackson appears in the list primarily because he dangled his baby out of a hotel window in 2002, and for forcing the World Music Awards to book nearly the whole of London's Hempel Hotel before his performance in 2006.

He also asked staff to erect an 18ft wall on the first floor to protect his privacy.

Others on the list include Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Nicole Kidman and Amy Winehouse.

Something to be proud of, not!

The Jackson Five Reunited

NME report that a Jackson Five reunion may be in the cards at the BMI eighth annual Urban Awards, which will be held at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills on September 4.

All well and good, except that they then go on to say that Michael is the only brother not to confirm his attendance; thus making it a reunion of the Jackson 4.

Appeal Rejected

Superior Court Judge Soussan G. Bruguera has rejected an appeal lodged by XtraJet Incorporated and its owner Jeffrey Borer against the damages awarded against it for $20.25M.

XtraJet Incorporated was ordered to pay damages to Michael Jackson's lawyer, Mark Geragos, and his associate, Pat Harris, for invading their privacy. Xtrajet taped Jackson and his lawyers as they flew to Jackson's surrender on molestation charges in 2003.

Grammy's No Show

Those of you who have a remote interest as to why Michael Jackson did not attend the Grammy's the other week, despite all the hype from both the Jackson and the Grammy's camp about his possible attendance, may be interested to know why.

Seemingly, if reports are to believed, Jackson made a few too many demands:

-He wanted a special honouree to introduce him on stage.

-He demanded a special award, something that no one had or would ever receive again.

-He wanted the entire event dedicated to his career, with no less than 30 mentions referring to him as the "King of Pop".

Unsurprisingly, the organisers of the Grammy's said no.

However, both Jackson and the Grammy's did receive a very large amount of free publicity in the run up to the awards, as the media speculated as to whether he would attend or not.

Both Jackson and the Grammy's did very well out of it.

The Grammys

It seems that the latest media gossip suggests that Michael Jackson will appear at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.

However, he won't be singing at the ceremony.

A leaked memo from Jackson's record label, SonyBMG, last week had hinted that Jackson would perform live at the ceremony, which takes place on the eve of the release of the 25th anniversary edition of "Thriller".

I wonder who leaked that?

Needless to say, the "will he, won't he?" speculation in the media provides excellent free publicity for both the Grammys and Jackson.

Thriller Remake

The Daily Mirror reports that Michael Jackson intends to remake Thriller.

Jackson appeared by video at the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes, where he was awarded some form of medal, and said:

"I'm coming back. And I've got a very special treat for all of my fans.

I have been recording Thriller: 25th Anniversary, with a lot of surprise guests."

The Jackson camp claim that he will hold a European comeback at the O2 Arena in London in summer.

Time will tell.

Jackson Ordered To Pay Legal Fees

Michael Jackson has been ordered by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant to pay $175K in overdue lawyers' fees to Ayscough & Marar, a law firm that sued Jackson in February 2006.

Jackson now owes more than $430K to Ayscough & Marar for work that they performed on his behalf not paid for. The work included obtaining court orders to delay discovery in civil cases, and keeping information from being publicly released while Jackson was being tried for child molestation.

In July Chalfant awarded Ayscough & Marar's $256K in unpaid fees. The additional $175K represents the costs incurred by Ayscough & Marar in hiring a lawyer to sue Jackson.

Ayscough & Marar have stated that, as yet, Jackson hasn't paid any of the money that he owes them. There is a 10% per annum interest charge on the overdues, therefore the longer Jackson leaves the bill unpaid the worse it will get.

Jackson attempted to countersue Ayscough & Marar in August 2006, alleging that one of the firm's lawyers threatened to expose confidential information about him to the media. The case was dismissed as it lacked merit.

Quite how long Jackson can continue to "function" without honouring his debts and commitments is difficult to predict. However, it is clear that these problems will not go away and that there will be a reckoning.

Jackson's Properties Liened

F. Marc Schaffel, Michael Jackson's former business partner, has succeeded in placing a lien on Jackson's two properties at Neverland and his parents' home in Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino.

The liens will remain in place until Jackson pays the $559K awarded by a judge in favour of Schaffel a fortnight ago.

In the event that Jackson is thinking of earning some money, by producing a record or appearing on stage, now might be a good time to start.

Auction Outcome

The two day auction of Michael Jackson memorabilia, held by Guernsey's Auction House in the Hard Rock Casino and hotel in Las Vegas, seems to have gone well.

A black silk jacket that Jackson wore on stage in the 1980s fetched $17K, whilst the biggest sale was another glittery jacket that went for $19K.

Jackson's MTV music award for the song "We Are the World" made $16K, and gold discs for his album "Off the Wall" and the Jackson 5 single "I Want You Back" each raised $11K.

The auction got off to a shaky start, with several items selling for just a few hundred dollars. A platinum record for "Billie Jean" sold for just $100, and a copy of the contract for Jackson's purchase in 1987 of Neverland sold for just $100.

The Jackson Auction

Guernsey's will be auctioning off thousands of items from Michael, Janet, La Toya, Jermaine and the rest of the Jackson Family at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel on the 30th and 31st of May 2007.

Items include:

-"I WANT YOU BACK," ORIGINAL TEST PRESSING, 1969
-HANDWRITTEN "ABC" LYRICS BY TITO JACKSON
-MICHAEL JACKSON "THRILLER" GOLD AWARD, 1982
-MARLON BRANDO TELEGRAM TO MICHAEL, 1984

The $4500 Christmas Party

It has now been confirmed that Michael Jackson will come to a Christmas party being staged in Tokyo on December 19th.

However, unlike the World Music Awards debacle in London, he will not be performing.

Those fans who have the desire, and cash, to attend this event will have to fork out a mind numbing $4500 per plate.

This will entitle them participate in a "meet and greet" event. However, those who pay a "mere" $2500 per plate will only get some food and a signed photo.

Value for money?

Jackson Plans Another Comeback

It seems that, despite the drubbing that Michael Jackson received for the World Music Awards debacle last week, he is game to have another go at relaunching himself.

Jackson is planning a comeback in the New Year with the help of David Blaine, the magician.

A Jackson "source" is quoted as saying:

"There is nothing more sacred to Michael than his electricity on stage, press reports claimed he will never sing again like he used to, they are in for a shock.

The attacks have personally hurt him, he has always prided himself on his abilities as a live performer. His response will be dramatic and the answer is going to be onstage, it is something nobody else could create."

Seemingly Jackson spoke to Blaine shortly after the World Music Awards debacle.

Cynics might take this latest "comeback" story with a large pinch of salt. After all, the world is still waiting for the charity release aimed at helping the victims of last year's hurricane Katrina.

Lindsay Lohan, who hosted the World Music Awards last week in London where Michael Jackson effectively ended his singing career, came to Jackson's defence.

She said:

"I don't care. He's Michael Jackson for Christ's sake!"

It is unclear as to whether that is of any real help, or indeed significance.

Jackson To Launch Film Career

Michael Jackson has reportedly decided to give up singing, and instead focus on film making.

Following on from the debacle of his performance of "We Are The World" at the World Music Awards last week, his "sources" are telling the media that he now wants to produce pictures.

Last week's shambles has provoked some public mud slinging. On the one hand Jackson's team are blaming the organisers for the shambles, and allege the Jackson's mike was deliberately cut off after four lines of his song.

Whilst those who actually worked on the event, are laying the blame fairly and squarely on Jackson and his entourage. A backstage hand is quoted as saying:

"You should also know that Michael himself asked for the track to be shortened by four minutes and then he walked on stage late - basically when he felt like it. He is not really an entertainer anymore - and his 'people' are a joke.

A huge team came with him and not one of them had a clue. Celebrities are notorious for being tricky backstage, but in all my 15 years in the biz - this was the worst I have ever seen. Neither the venue or the crew were to blame for anything. MJ gets what he deserves".

Career Ended

Following on from the debacle of Wednesday night's appalling performance by Michael Jackson at the World Music awards, some fans are demanding their money back from the producers.

Max Clifford, pr guru, has reportedly said that this marks the end of Jackson's career.

Jackson Booed Off Stage

As widely predicted, Michael Jackson's appearance at the World Music Awards in London last night was an embarrassing failure.

He started off badly by not greeting the fans, who had been expecting him to sing "Thriller".

Needless to say Jackson did not sing Thriller. Instead, in what clearly was a pr blunder of the highest magnitude, he was placed on stage with a choir of children.

I wonder what the pr people behind this stunt were thinking?

Jackson, having told the crowd how much he loved them (an overused showbusiness term lacking any sincerity whatsoever), then launched into a rendition of "We Are The World".

His voice then cracked four lines into the song.

At this stage the crowd began to boo, and started stamping their feet before Jackson left the stage.

One onlooker was quoted in a tabloid as saying:

"When he stopped singing no one could understand why. But when he started rambling a lot of people lost their patience.

That's when the booing started and got louder and louder until he left the stage."

Jackson claims that the story that he would perform "Thriller" was a "misunderstanding". That being the case, why did his pr machine not correct that misunderstanding before the event?

The auguries, warning that this event would be a flop were there for all to see.

Jackson had been making backstage demands totalling £250,000. Within these demands he included personal hair and make-up artists, a private jet and 20 first-class plane tickets for his entourage.

Not content with pissing off the awards organisers, he decided to also annoy the Hempel Hotel, in London's Bayswater area, where he was staying at £6,300 per night.

The hotel had to erect an 18ft wall on its first floor to provide more privacy for him and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris, and Prince Michael II.

Seemingly many other hotels had already turned down his request for accommodation.

It seems that he is now trying to live off past glories, the question is when will the money and patience of the fans run out?

The Countdown Begins

The countdown has now begun for Michael Jackson's performance at the World Music Awards in Earls Court London tonight.

Cynics have said that he will pull out at the last minute, citing an ailment such as back pain or dehydration.

We shall see.

The Freak Show

Speculation is mounting that the appearance of Michael Jackson at the World Music Awards in London on 15 November, will in fact never happen.

Jackson has said that he wants to do a live recreation of the graveyard scene from "Thriller" to finish the show. Some are now unkindly referring to the awards as "The Freak Show".

One tabloid has said of Jackson:

"He looks dreadful and hasn't performed for years, I fear it's going to be a humiliating freak show which he will regret."

The smart money is on Jackson pulling out before the show, citing "dehydration".