27. Michael Jackson, “Scream,” HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, Epic, 1995.
28. Michael Jackson, “D.S.,” HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, Epic, 1995.
29. Michael Jackson, “They Don’t Care About Us,” HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, Epic, 1995.
30. Jon Pareles, “Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand?” New York Times, June 18, 1995, http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/18/arts/pop-view-michael-jackson-is-angry-understand.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.
31. Abraham Foxman, “ADL Welcomes Michael Jackson’s Decision to Remove Anti-Semitic Lyrics From Song,” Anti-Defamation League release, June 22, 1995, http://archive.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/2471_12.asp.
32. Sandy Gallin, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
33. Jon Pareles, “Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand?” New York Times, June 18, 1995, http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/18/arts/pop-view-michael-jackson-is-angry-understand.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.
34. Karen Langford, telephone conversation with author, July 2013.
35. Author’s note: For all the circus planners out there, that’s ninety female Asian elephants.
36. Popular Mechanics staff, “Extreme Machines Antonov An-225 Is the World’s Biggest Plane,” Popular Mechanics, January 1, 2003, http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/news/1280771.
37. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013; telephone conversation with author, October 2013.
38. Author’s note: Wiesner claims to have worked for candy maker Haribo and airline Lufthansa, but only the latter was able to confirm that he’d actually been an employee.
39. Dieter Wiesner, telephone conversation with author, September 2013.
40. Katherine Jackson et al. vs. AEG Live, July 29, 2013.
41. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, February 2013.
42. Frank Cascio, My Friend Michael, 87–88.
43. Joel Schumacher, telephone conversation with author, October 2012.
44. Karen Langford, electronic message to author, October 2013.
45. John Jeremiah Sullivan, Pulphead Essays (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011), 109–110.
46. Joseph Vogel, Man in the Music, 208.
47. Matt Forger, telephone conversation with author, November 2012; electronic message to author, September 2013.
48. Dale Kawashima, telephone conversation with author, December 2012.
49. Chuck Philips, “Back in the Club,” Los Angeles Times, March 26, 1998, http://articles.latimes.com/1998/mar/26/business/fi-32786.
50. John Branca, telephone conversation with author, October 2013.
51. Billboard staff, “Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs,” Fred Bronson, August 2, 2013, http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/2155531/the-hot-100-all-time-top-songs?list_page=5.
52. Michael Jackson, telephone message, date unknown, 1999.
53. Jermaine Jackson, You Are Not Alone, 357–358.
54. Ibid.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: INVINCIBLE?
1. Justin Bieber, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, April 2012.
2. Rodney Jerkins, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, April 2012.
3. Matt Forger, electronic message to author, September 2013; telephone conversation with author, November 2012.
4. Tommy Mottola, telephone conversation with author, December 2012.
5. Bruce Swedien, telephone conversation with author, September 2013.
6. Rodney Jerkins, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, April 2012.
7. Frank Cascio, My Friend Michael, 215–216.
8. Jermaine Jackson, You Are Not Alone, 353–354.
9. Joe D’Angelo, “Michael Jackson Proves Invincible on Billboard Albums Chart,” November 7, 2001, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1450569/michael-jackson-debut-at-1.jhtml.
10. Jon Pareles, “To Regain Glory, the New Michael Imitates the Old,” New York Times, October 28, 2001, http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/28/arts/music-to-regain-glory-the-new-michael-imitates-the-old.html.
11. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, April 8, 2005.
12. Ron Burkle, interview by author, New York, New York, October 2013.
13. Ryan Nakashima and Alex Veiga, “Jackson Lived Like King but Died Awash in Debt,” Associated Press, June 26, 2009.
14. Michael Jackson, speech in New York, 2002, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBv3GzD97FY.
15. Tommy Mottola, telephone conversation with author, December 2012.
16. Jennifer Vineyard, “Michael Jackson Shocks Al Sharpton by Calling Tommy Mottola a Racist,” MTV.com, July 8, 2002, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1455976/michael-jackson-calls-tommy-mottola-racist.jhtml.
17. Berry Gordy, interview by author, New York, New York, February 2013.
18. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 13, 2005.
19. Michael Jackson, letter to John Branca, February 2003, http://www.scribd.com/doc/43788480/You-Re-Fired.
20. Interfor staff, report on “MJ Business Associates,” 2003, http://www.scribd.com/doc/102043792/Interfor-Report-John-Branca.
21. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 3, 2005.
22. Maureen Orth, “Losing His Grip,” Vanity Fair, April 2003, http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2003/04/orth200304.
23. Billboard Staff, “German Police Review Jackson’s Baby Dangling,” Billboard, November 20, 2002, http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/73382/german-police-review-jacksons-baby-dangling.
24. Neil Harris, Humbug: The Art of P.T. Barnum, 27.
25. Dieter Wiesner, telephone conversation with author, September 2013.
26. Christine Chase, electronic message to author, September 2013.
27. Jenn Michaels, electronic message to author, September 2013.
28. Living with Michael Jackson, Martin Bashir, 2003.
29. Hamid Moslehi vs. MJJ Productions et al., Central District of California, Western Division, No. 0410234, http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/hero-videographer-sues-jackson.
30. Living with Michael Jackson, Martin Bashir, 2003.
31. Frank Cascio, My Friend Michael, 278–279.
32. Tom Mesereau, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, August 2012.
33. Jeff Leeds, “Advice from a Team in Turmoil,” Los Angeles Times, January 13, 2004, http://articles.latimes.com/2004/jan/13/entertainment/et-leeds13.
34. Tom Mesereau, telephone conversation with author, September 2013.
35. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 3, 2005.
36. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, April 8, 2005.
37. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 11, 2005.
38. Tom Mesereau, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, August 2012.
39. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 24, 2005.
40. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, April 18, 2005.
41. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, April 15, 2005.
42. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 19, 2005.
43. Tom Mesereau, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, August 2012.
44. Nancy Dillon, “Michael Jackson Nearly Overdosed,” New York Daily News, August 10, 2013, http://www.nydailynews.c
om/entertainment/gossip/michael-jackson-overdosed-family-staged-10-drug-interventions-brother-article-1.1423100.
45. CourtTV, Michael Jackson trial coverage, 2005, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtIEgIqRz0g&list=FLA7-TRMHUbDN1CaMKgAWclQ&index=30.
46. Tom Mesereau, interview by author, Los Angeles, California, August 2012.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE PRODIGAL KING
1. Prescient Acquisition Group et al. vs. Michael J. Jackson et al., No. 05 CV.6298, June 12–13, 2006.
2. BBC Staff, “Michael Jackson Surfaces in Dubai,” BBC.com, August 30, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4196746.stm.
3. Habib Toumi, “Jackson Settles Down to His New Life in the Gulf,” GulfNews.com, January 23, 2006, http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/jackson-settles-down-to-his-new-life-in-the-gulf-1.222403.
4. Teresa Wiltz, “Keeper of the Famed,” Washington Post, October 8, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/07/AR2006100700991.html.
5. Author’s note: Bain did not respond to interview requests for this book.
6. Tom Mesereau, telephone conversation with author, September 2013.
7. Kim Masters, “Michael Jackson’s Strange Final Days Revealed in Dueling Lawsuits,” The Hollywood Reporter, July 19, 2012, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-jackson-manager-tohme-lawsuit-351241?page=2.
8. Prescient Acquisition Group et al. vs. Michael J. Jackson et al., No. 05 CV.6298, June 12–13, 2006.
9. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
10. Ibid.
11. Author’s note: Don Stabler did not reply to interview requests for this book.
12. Donald David, interview with author, New York, New York, August 2013.
13. Ibid.
14. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
15. Donald David, interview with author, New York, New York, August 2013.
16. The People of the State of California vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Supreme Court of the State of California, No. 1133603, May 3, 2005.
17. Prescient Acquisition Group et al. vs. Michael J. Jackson et al., No. 05 CV.6298, June 12–13, 2006.
18. Donald David, interview with author, New York, New York, August 2013.
19. Prescient Acquisition Group et al. vs. Michael J. Jackson et al., No. 05 CV.6298, June 12–13, 2006.
20. Author’s note: Burkle is not Jewish, so it’s not exactly clear who’s being referred to here.
21. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
22. Donald David, interview with author, New York, New York, August 2013.
23. Frank James, “Michael Jackson’s 2007 Net Worth: $236 Million,” NPR.com, June 30, 2009, http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/06/michael_jackson_2007_net_worth.html.
24. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
25. Lisa Marie Presley, interview with Oprah Winfrey, 2005, http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Last-Time-Lisa-Marie-Presley-Spoke-to-Michael-Jackson-Video.
26. Nasir “Nas” Jones, telephone conversation with author, April 2013.
27. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
28. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
29. Tom Martin, interview by author, Rosemount, Ireland, May 2013.
30. Jackie Martin, interview by author, Rosemount, Ireland, May 2013.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THIS IS IT
1. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
2. Ibid.
3. Author’s observation, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 2013.
4. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
5. Ibid.
6. Karen Langford, electronic message to the author, October 2013.
7. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
8. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
9. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, interview by author, New York, New York, March 2013.
10. New York Times staff, “Jay Z Cashes In with Rocawear Deal,” New York Times, March 6, 2007, http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/jay-z-cashes-in-with-200-million-rocawear-deal/.
11. Lea Goldman, “Capitalist Rap,” Forbes, July 3, 2006.
12. Author’s note: This writer included.
13. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, interview by author, New York, New York, March 2013.
14. Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith, interview by author, New York, New York, August 2012.
15. Pharrell Williams, telephone conversation with author, November 2012.
16. Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, interview by author, New York, New York, August 2012.
17. Michael Jackson, notes to self, published by New York Post in September 2013, http://pagesix.com/2013/09/12/michael-jackson-planned-to-immortalize-himself-in-films/.
18. Walter Yetnikoff, interview by author, New York, New York, April 2013.
19. Jermaine Jackson, You Are Not Alone, 390.
20. Paul Harris, “The Square Chin. The Deep Voice. But Was It Really Michael Jackson?” Daily Mail, March 13, 2009, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1161879/The-square-chin-The-deep-voice-But-really-Michael-Jackson.html.
21. Katherine Jackson et al. vs. AEG Live, June 5, 2013.
22. Karen Langford, telephone conversation with author, October 2013; electronic message to author, October 2013.
23. Joe Jackson, interview by author, Las Vegas, Nevada, August 2012.
24. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
25. Michael Bush, interview by author, New York, New York, November 2012.
26. Kenneth Ortega, electronic message to AEG executives, June 14, 2009.
27. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
28. Katherine Jackson et al. vs. AEG Live, June 21, 2013, http://www.scribd.com/doc/149594512/Jackson-V-AEGLive-Transcripts-June-21st-Dr-Charles-Czeisler-Sleep-Medicine-Harvard-Medical-School.
29. Kenneth Ortega, electronic message to AEG executives, June 20, 2009.
30. Michael Bush, interview by author, New York, New York, November 2012.
31. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
32. Ron Burkle, interview with author, New York, New York, October 2013.
33. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: POSTMORTEM PAYDAY
1. Linnie Rawlinson and Nick Hunt, “Jackson Dies, Almost Takes Internet with Him,” CNN.com, June 26, 2009, http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/.
2. Author’s observation, New York, New York, June 2009.
3. Jill Serjeant and Eric Walsh, “Michael Jackson Memorial Draws 31.1 Million US TV Viewers,” Reuters, July 9, 2009, http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/07/09/us-jackson-television-sb-idUSTRE56774W20090709.
4. P. J. Huffstutter and Richard Fausset, “Around the World, a Shared Moment of ‘Missing Michael,’ ” Los Angeles Times, July 8, 2009, http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/08/nation/na-jackson-moment8.
5. Tom Barrack, telephone conversation with author, August 2013.
6. Michael Bush, interview by author, New York, New York, November 2012.
7. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
8. Karen Langford, telephone conversation with author, October 2013.
9. Author’s observation of files at Los Angeles Superior Courthouse, Los Angeles, California, September 2013.
10. John Branca, telephone conversation with author, October 2013.
11. Author’s note: Randy Jackson’s attorney did not reply to requests to interview his client for this book.
12. Rachel Noerdlinger, electronic message to author, October 2013.
13. Author’s observation, Los Angeles, California, August 2013.
14. Andrew Katzenstein, telephone
conversation with author, August 2012. Note: Portions of this interview and associated topics appear in my story “The Scandalously Boring Truth About Michael Jackson’s Will,” Forbes.com, August 17, 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/08/17/the-scandalously-boring-truth-about-michael-jacksons-will/.
15. John Branca, interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
16. Chris White, telephone conversation with author, June 2009. Note: Portions of this interview and associated topics appear in my story “Michael Jackson’s Estate Sale,” Forbes.com, June 25, 2009, http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-beatles-business-media-estate.html.
17. John Branca, telephone conversation with author, October 2013; interview by author, Beverly Hills, California, May 2013.
18. Karen Langford, telephone conversation with author, October 2013.
19. John Branca, telephone conversation with author, October 2013.
20. Response to Probate Notes, Superior Court of the State of California, No. BP 117 321, September 8, 2011, http://www.scribd.com/doc/68019500/Report-of-Status-of-Administrations-and-Petition-for-Settlement.
21. Jermaine Jackson, You Are Not Alone, 144.
22. Author’s note: The 10 percent cut encompasses all executor fees and does not apply to Jackson’s Sony/ATV earnings.
23. Ayscough & Marar vs. Michael J. Jackson et al., No. YC052627, July 25, 2006.
24. Los Angeles Times staff, “Katherine Jackson Shocked to Learn Reports of Her Kidnapping,” Los Angeles Times, August 2, 2012, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/katherine-jackson-shocked-to-learn-reports-of-her-kidnapping.html.
25. Ibid.
26. Evelyn Diaz, “Jermaine Jackson Faces Jail Time Over Unpaid Child Support,” BET.com, October 23, 2013, http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=835561.
27. Chuck Leavell, electronic message to author, September 2013.
28. Andrew Katzenstein, telephone conversation with author, September 2013.
29. Ben Sisario, “Jury Clears Promoter in Death of Michael Jackson,” New York Times, October 2, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/business/media/concert-promoter-found-not-liable-in-death-of-michael-jackson.html?hp&_r=1&.
30. Patrick Temple-West, “US Agency Says Michael Jackson Estate Owes $702 Million in Taxes,” Reuters, August 23, 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/23/entertainment-us-usa-tax-jackson-idUSBRE97M0YN20130823.
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