All it took was a couple of words to change the mood on the fansites. 2011 had not been the best of years for us, it was depressing to say the least the realisation that we would be unable to influence the course of Justice in regards to Murray and then there was all the 'infighting'. It seems that as time went on many of us were beginning to show our true colours and people we thought of as true and trusted friends, turned out to be far from.
What were those words, uttered by Lady Gaga at the VMA's on Sunday evening, - "MTV are honouring Britney with the MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD!!!" Finally all the hard work of the 'We want MTV to Reinstate the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award' Group on Facebook had paid off. The dogged determination of the Leader Mel Freeman not to give up and persistently pushing everyone to participate in some way either by signing a petition or becoming part of a series of Youtube videos had paid off. Without any notice whatsoever, MTV recognised and bowed down to our demands. It was a major victory timed as it was to perfection on the evening before Michael's birthday and in the run up the the start of The Conrad Murray Trial. It goes without saying that there will be many an MJ Party tonight that will be going with an extra swing and there will equally as many sore heads come Tuesday morning. However we deserve it! It has been tough, very tough for many who have either got caught up in the midst of the fighting or have been the subject of unprovoked attacks, or 'dirty tricks' campaigns.
So lets take a step back and just remind ourselves exactly why we are on here. Why we came on here in the first place. Take a good look and see who the individuals are on here who work so tirelessly on charitable initiatives, running Justice groups communicating every small snippet of info that comes out from the Courthouse and the papers in regards to Murray, and schemes such as the MJ Video Vanguard Award. These are the people we should want to be around, to be associating ourselves with. We should be spending any time we have (after work & family) promoting and putting out energy into these initiatives. Our time and energy should not be spent, creating fake profiles in order to spy on others or seeking out ways to attack those whose ideals do not fit in with yours. I simply cannot comprehend those people who seem to glean a great deal of enjoyment through the hurt of others. Their time and energy should be spent on pursuing positive goals. Just look what we can achieve when we put our minds to it!
So lets all rest our forked tongues and put away our poisonous pens and lets all try to regain that sense of unity we had a year or so ago. With the Trial not long away, it is going to be tough...we will need a 'brother' or 'sister's' shoulder to cry on, to help get us all through. Please, please...I know we cant all be friends but would it really hurt us to try?
It is interesting to see what is being played out on the FMTC page....
On the one hand you have Catagory 1 'Pro Concert Michael Jackson Fans':-
You listen to Michael, have grown up with Michael and maybe have read a few 'headlines' or 'articles' about him through his life and death. You are the ones who are maybe lucky enough to be busy with your life through work or friends. However, that doesnt denigrate the fact that yes you are a Fan.
Then you have us Catagory 2 'Anti- Concert Michael Jackson Fans':-
For one reason or another (in my instance, through personal reasons, I am at home for long periods of time) we have had the time (over 2 years now) to spend reading & researching, we have built up friendships and connections with others enabling us to share information. To us getting information, attempting to get near the truth that was Michael's final days, weeks, hours, along with making sense of his life, has become an obsession. Thanks to this obsession we now have some amazing individuals amongst us who have worked tirelessly to get to the facts and publish and share their research with us in amazing blogs. Many of those 'blogs' are now coming under the radar of the media.
This page has bought us all together, however, uniting us unfortunately it doesnt. The problem being that although yes you guys in 'Catagory 1' are still fans and understandably want, like we all do, this Tribute, through no fault of your own, you have little or no idea of all of the politics that has gone on behind this Concert. I would love to think that maybe some of the links and things discussed on here will have helped many more to understand or start to research, like we have done, all that is so wrong in regards to the manipulation of Michael's name, family and legacy since he has passed.
Now all we have to work on is to get everyone united. We need to remember that underneath all of us is the common love, respect and admiration for Michael. As such we need listen to each other and respect our differing view points and not just dismiss them.
To those 'Pro Concert' fans....I get and understand that you are more than desperate for a tribute (we all are) but please LISTEN and digest what we are saying. Put your need to see The Jacksons and the J3 to one side and look at the bigger picture. We are not trying to spoil anything just want to keep Michael's legacy alive and well and we are most certainly not 'haters'!
To those 'Anti Concert'. A little bit more respect for the opinions of our fellow fans and acceptance of those who remain 'blinkered' for their own reasons might not go amiss.
This time next month the Trial will start and we can only hope and pray that the outcome will be the right one! Many of us will have made new friends and connections through this page (so not been all bad). So let us all reach out to our fellow fans ('pro' or 'anti') and lets show a united, cohesive force ready for what the following couple of months are going to throw at us.
Since my last posting much has happened. Firstly the registration opened, allowing fans to 'Register' for the ticket of their choice. The prices though are astronomic, certainly if you want to stand a chance of seeing or hearing the performers (see seating layout & the respective costs below)
Secondly they started announcing the 'lineup' of Artists they had signed so far:-
Christina Aguilera
Leona Lewis
JLS
Diversity
Alexandra Burke
Alien Ant Farm
Ce Lo Green
Craig David
Pixie Lott
Smokey Robinson
3T
The Jackson Brothers
????? Not the high powered, first rate performers we were being let to expect from this Tribute. And although I respect a lot of these guys, what exactly are their connections with Michael? This was more like a selection of winning acts from the 'X' Factor rather than a tribute to Michael! Many on the Fb site were voicing their dissapointment at such and eclectic and strange selection. Many felt this was purely due to the fact that these were the only artists available at such short notice, in spite of the organisers statement that The Tribute had been in planning for quite a while. Apparently more will be announced as and when! Although interestingly enough in the T&C's they have stated that if 50% of the performers do not attend then no refund will be given. This combined with the cost of the tickets has convinced most fans that this is none other than a 'money spinning excercise' and that we are being ripped off.
Then on Monday morning PCT time, CNN broadcast an interview with Chris Hunt CEO of Global Live Events, along with his right hand man, Paul Ring (more about him later) and Mrs Katherine Jackson. In it they announced the next 'big signing'.....the heavy rock band KISS!!!! The horror and outrage this caused on the fansites and the Michael Forever Facebook site had to be seen to be believed!! They could not have chosen a worse and more unfitting group to play in a tribute to Michael. Firstly, again there is absolutely no links with them to Michael and secondly and more importantly, last year Gene Simmons in an interview stated that he had knowledge that Michael was a paedophile!!! See below.
We simply could not fathom out what in hells name was going on behind the scenes to make the Promoter book such an act. It again led us to the fact that Global Live Events obviously had not done their homework on Michael, either that or someone was having a laugh at our expense!
Now as I said many of us armed with the knowledge that this was the first Live Gig that GLE had been involved in could maybe half understand why the made that mistake. However, that all changed when one fan discovered that the good Paul Ring (remember Chris Hunt's right hand man in GLE, & BTW the grinning 'nutty professor' next to Katherine Jackson in that CNN interview). Is in fact the President of a Company, run by no other that LaToya Jackson & Jeffre Phillips(her manager). Called Ja-Tail (an Acronymn for Just Another Timely Adventure in Life) it encompasses Music, Films,Television, Studio, Concerts, Events,Publishing,Management,Branding and (weirdly enough) Beverages. Also involved Teddy Riley & Leonard Rowe. So now we know why the 'Nutty Professor' has been bought on board, he has all the knowledge - or should have. However, when it came to signing Kiss clearly not! It is a wonder that the howls of outrage and indignation could not be heard in Timbuktoo! The Estate, having clearly stated it position at the outset - that it wasnt supporting this Tribute. Then decided that enough was enough and issued a letter demanding answers from GLE. Details of the letter are contained within the following article:-
It went without saying that the 'Michael Forever Tribute Concert' Facebook site nearly went into meltdown over this. Thankfully yesterday it appeared that Global Live were actually listening to what we and The Estate were saying. Although at present they have yet to answer any of the questions posed to them by either us or The Estate. However, news reached us that Kiss had been dropped! They should never have been signed in the first place!
So here were are a week into the registration period and on the day that they were (orignially) due to close it. However, surprise, surprise it has been extended! We also now have friendlier AdminS. The operative word be 'S'since there appear to be several who have also obviously not only been instructed to divlulge there areas of specialisation but also their names!! The organisers obviously feel that if they give the page a more 'human' feel to it, we all might calm down!!! How little they know!!! Also as I write we are still to be availed as to when we can actually 'txt to win'. I would assume they are hoping we might forget about it, since obviously so few are registering!
So it painfully creaks and groans onwards!! GLE are still remaining tight lipped in regards to issuing any answers to either the questions contained within The Estates letter or any of our questions. We are all beginning to get heartily sick of this whole fiasco and just wish the organisers would see sense and 'call it a day'. For everyone's sake!
I used to be suspicious of The Estate. However, as time has
progressed and I have read and listened, I now understand why Michael put
Branca & McLean in charge. Not only are they extremely astute businessmen
but what they dont know about the music business isnt worth knowing. Including
the dark underbelly, which is the part Joe Jackson inhabits!
Joe's involvement with the Tribute is the main reason why
The Estate wont get involved. McLean & Branca are on their way to shutting
all Joe's seedy Merchandising deals he is doing down. They know that the people
Joe mixes with are the ones who all along are desperate to get their hands on
some of Michael's millions.
Now here I will say I firmly believe that there was no
conspiracy to kill Michael. Murray was just a stupid, greedy, ignorant ***!!!
and it all went pearshaped for him. However I do believe that there was/is a
conspiracy to get to Michael's money. That is why Branca & McLean have to
play tough ball. I take my hat off to them for the way they have managed to
turn Michael's Estate around, since it was unfortunately in such a mess when he
died. Until such time as all debts and lawsuits have been settled they cannot
play fast and loose with Michael's money, nor can the let other people.
There is also a reason why Michael cut his siblings out of
his will, he was sick and tired of them coming to him with a begging bowl. This
was his chance (sadly) of getting them to stand on their own two feet. They are
still not doing that and continually, from what I have heard go to Katherine
for handouts, hence Katherine's requests for her allowance to be increased,
last year. Hence the reason why LaToya & Jermaine has to/have to publish a book. Hence the
reason for the Tribute Concert. The family need money!
Nothing was ever right with this concert from the very
outset. The company promoting it has never, ever done a Live Concert. The weird
ticketing system and lack of artists - or even reports in other media - of
artists lining up to be in this event. Craig (David, who announced recently that he had be invited to participate) has removed
all mention of it now both on here and in his Twitter. Also of course the
timing right at the start of the Trial.
I do fear it will all come to nothing. However if by some miracle it
does get off the ground I will gladly eat my words!
I was overjoyed when I first heard about the Concert since
not only was it at last in the UK but on my 50th birthday as well. So I am the first
to admit I was gutted when it all started going down the pan....
Now to Cirque, it is exactly the sort of Tribute Michael
would have wanted. I cant remember exactly who, think it was Whoopi Goldberg,
who said that during the Memorial Service at the Staples Centre. She looked out
over the crowd and saw all the big stars none of who were anywhere near the
Courthouse or supported Michael in anyway during the 2005 Trial, yet here they
were in their best designer mourning gear! Now these same people are the ones
the Concert promoters are after to give us a Tribute Event!! I dont think
so!!
You have to understand Michael was all about pushing the
boundaries. He believed in giving people value for their money. Real
entertainment. He loved experimenting, trying new things, you only have to see
the concepts behind TII and listen to what everyone from Kenny Oertega to
Travis Payne to the technicians working on TII said about his vision for that
Concert, to see that! He was all about movement and dance AND illusion! All
that is exactly what Cirque is all about pushing the boundaries. The performers
are all at the top of their league. I have seen other Cirque shows and they
have all blown me away completely! So I know this will be absolutely amazing.
No shady characters involved, in fact a lot of the musicians (Michael Beardon,
for one) are on board to perform. That is why it has the backing of The Estate,
they KNOW for a fact that this is one show that Michael would have loved to
have been involved in! I am also more than certain that we will hear that
certain funds will be going to Charity.
