Michael Forever Tribute Concert - The Plot thickens

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:-

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669141/michael-jackson-tribute-concert-legal-action.jhtml

Also joined by one of the main Michael Jackson Fan sites - The MJJC:-

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/michael-jackson-news/mjjcommunity-official-statement-about-michael-forever-tribute

An 'open letter' from the fans to GLE then followed

http://mjandjustice4some.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-letter-on-behalf-of-michael.html

Hardened bloggers immediately took to their laptops and the following links are the best:-

http://mjanwatch.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/fans-call-for-boycott-of-tribute-concert-for-michael-jackson-by-global-live-events/

http://muzikfactorytwo.blogspot.com/2011/08/michael-jackson-fans-michael-forever-is.html


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!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/jackson-concert-promoters_n_928496.html

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!

ALTERNATIVE 2010

THIS IS WHAT 2010 SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE!

So lets take a look back at 2010 an amazing year to be a Michael Jackson fan. The year started off well with  his fans eagerly anticipating an all star Tribute Concert for Michael. Organised by his brothers (symbolising just how close they all were), they put aside their grief and pain to put together this tribute concert to their brother. With a line up including Chris Tucker, Diana Ross, Aakon, Wil-i-am, Beyonce & not forgetting Stevie Wonder amongst others. It  proved to be a concert unlike any other and a fitting way to for his fans and friends to remember the King of Pop on the anniversary of his death. Held at the O2 Arena in London, it was beamed by satellite around the world and once again, as in life, Michael Jackson broke viewing figures and crashed internet sites as fans around the world watched this spectacle. The concert raised an amazing $4million for Michael's charities

The year also started off with fans starting a movement to put pressure on the Medical Board in California to revoke Murray's license, along with the board of Garner Street School to remove the hoarding covering up Michael's name on their annexe (Michael briefly attended the school in his youth). Many were the detractors who scoffed at these fans attempts and felt that certainly when it came to Murray they didnt stand a chance. However, the fans displayed a united front when a delegation stood before the Californian Medical Board stating their concerns in regards to Murray holding onto his license and still being allowed to practice. It took just 24hrs for the board to come to the decision to revoke Murray's license. This news was greeted with much rejoicing within the fan community. Conrad Murray's life has just got a whole lot worse, since he has been stripped of his license in other States and now awaits trial in regards to non-payment of child maintenance.This will have a major impact on his forthcoming murder trial. The fans also managed another victory  in the form of the school agreeing to remove the boards covering up Michael's name.

Murray's various trips to the Los Angeles Courthouse have at all times been accompanied by a delegation of Michael's fans all very much united in their determination to see Murray be charged for 2nd Degree Murder instead of the Involuntary Manslaughter that he has been charged with. Again, the likelhood of this happening seemed extremely unlikely in the first half of the year, whilst Steve Cooley was Attorney General. However,the mid-term elections soon put paid to that when Steve Cooley had to reluctantly concede his post to Kamala Harris. For MJ fans Harris has been like a breath of fresh air, and word is out that she is, as we speak reviewing the charges on Murray!

Another battle fans were fighting was to have more access to Michael's tomb in Holly Terrace. For months a delegation of fans have bought up gifts and flowers, only to be allowed to leave them initially at the door to the Mausoleum (FL staff would then take them in and distribute them around Michael's tomb). Many are unhappy at Michael being kept so far away from them, recently there has been outrage as it appears that now only flowers purchased at the FL shop will get put in with Michael whilst the remainder gets put on a patio adjacent to Holly Terrace. However, word it appears, has finally got through to Katherine and after a meeting of fans and Forest Lawn officials, it was agreed that fans can have access (by applying for a permit,which is awarded on a lottery basis)on certain days, along with ensuring their gifts and tributes get left by Michael's tomb.

Monuments were also erected to the King of Pop in various capital cities around the world, giving fans somewhere to congregate and share their feelings. The most prominent one being in London outside the O2 concert Arena. In fact people could be forgiven for thinking that in 2010, the world had gone 'MJ' crazy!! Since we also has 'The Game', 'The DVD's' and 'The Album', with both the single 'Hold my Hand' and his Album going to the No1 spot around the world!

What of the fans themselves?  Well from an outsiders perspective, and judging by those I have met,  you certainly wont find a more devoted and united  group of people, for them 2010 has been a very good year!

This is what it should have been like, but wasnt...we should be asking ourselves why?  We need answers....To me it is obvious that there are people out there who want Michael to crash and burn! This has become more and more apparent as the year has progressed. Now with the Game, the Dvd's and the Album out, and precious little in the way of advertising (certainly in the UK), one can only come to one conclusion. People do not want Michael in the top slot any more!  We are here to ensure that isn't the case and to continually be the thorn in these people's sides. 

How different it could have been

HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS BULLSHIT ARE WE GOING TO TAKE!!

So all our fears and suspicions about how Michael had been mis-treated and manipulated were finally confirmed in Katherine's Lawsuit against AEG, Randy Phillips, Kenny Oertega & others.  However, awful as all this is what really, really makes me see red is that they are doing exactly the same to us!! They fed us TII with Michael barely cold in the Mausoleum, spouting garbage about how he was "On form" and "In good shape!!". The rest of the world lapped it up, however, thankfully there were those of us amongst us who were more cynical and could see what they couldnt (the layers of clothes, the dramatic weight loss, also the changes in the show schedule). For over a year they have been talking and spreading all the information which made the rest of us take a second look. However proof ...we had none only our eyes and ears!! Now Katherine has obviously got the missing pieces of the Jigsaw and I hope will wipe the floor with AEG!!

In the meantime we are supposed to be waiting with bated breath for the launch in November of a new Album of previously unreleased songs!! After all of this!! Do they seriously think we are that stupid!! I know this is Sony and not AEG but there are links. As I think I have blogged before these guys are laughing at us all the way to the bank!! How many more unscrupulous deals have they done to make this album - only a few weeks ago, people within the Industry were writing that there appeared to have been precious little movement on work on the album!! One has to ask why?  You would have thought that people would be clamouring to work on it and provide a fitting epitaphe to our King. Also wouldnt Sony be desperate to get it out to get their blood stained hands on our money again? Maybe they had got wind of Katherine's intentions? They, by association could also be dragged into this Lawsuit. Well, Hello!!! Hopefully this might just change the minds of those precious few who still insist on buying anything Michael related from Sony - whatever.

If I have ever wanted anything (apart from having Michael back, obviously) it is that Katherine's Lawsuit will show for once and for all, all the shitty, lying, manipulative and down right illegal practices that go down with these guys!! This Lawsuit could potentially prove to be a turning point for the music industry, if it does manage to identify all the crap within it. Should any good  come out of thisy, hopefull it will be that Record Companies are much more closely regulated in regards to the way they handle their Clients and that a 'Duty of Care' should mean a 'Duty of Care'!

In the meantime. I for one have binned TII...I found it hard enough to watch before, but now!!! The bin is the best place for it and suggest others do the same!! I also suggest for those still sceptical about Sony's involvement to go towww.mj-777.com.  We already have the best of Michael in our collections, there is so much doubt out there that Michael would have approved of a company - let alone Sony- releasing his Songs without him being involved in the final cut! Lets just wait a couple of years then hopefully they will become the property of his children. If they wish to release them then so be it! However I personally am not going to let some Corporate giant, that Michael dispised and who only 9 or so years ago decide he was 'washed up' and as such did little to promote the brilliant 'Invincible' album, put out an album that I feel he would not want released, especially since it will, I am sure, become more apparent in the Trial that will hopefully follow the Lawsuit, Sony's involvement in Michael's demise.

SO LETS SHOW SONY & AEG THAT WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!

2010 - What a Year!!

So here we are - the clocks have gone back, the days are now shorter, again. Although lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the country, and blessed with the excuse to go out and wander those fields and lanes with my faithful hound Archie, I ache to have someone to be able to share the beauty that is the countryside that surrounds me. The Autumnal elegance of those golden and russet leaves and the mists settling in the valley that contains my village, are continually tinged with the sadness that I view them alone. Sometimes I think I can feel Michael's spirit in the wind that whips the leaves into a mad whirling dance or the beauty of the heavy frost that softens the stark outlines of the leafless trees and bushes, but more often than not it is just me and my dog!

Winter is never a good time, not in the least for those of us residing in the Northern Hemisphere. Last winter was an extremely harsh one, with unparalleled snowfalls. For those of living out in the countryside we found ourselves for the first time cut off from civilisation for four days!!! Suddenly our world got a whole lot smaller. However, at least it instilled a real sense of community, so if there was a silver lining in those snow clouds it was nice to see everyone pulling together!

Throughout all of this I have had, certainly through the last winter, my trusty laptop, providing me with my portal to another world - that of my MJ friends and colleagues in California. Their wonderfully sunny, colourful pictures would be enough to brighten up any winters day. Their friendly banter in their posts, bought a smile to my face on many occassions.  Their world was my escape and I dream & hope that next year it may become my reality!

However, through the period between last winter and this there have been changes. The camaraderie that held us all together started to become unstuck. Holes started appearing in what was I had a thought a tightly knit global community. It appeared that there were those whose intentions (whether under their own volition or others) was to destroy that camaraderie and sow the seeds of doubt and suspicion amongst us. In fact I think I can safely say that the period from Jan/Feb of 2010 to present has been spent in a state of continual upheaval. The main battle ground became Twitter, the battle - for the hearts and minds of Michael's fans.  Through this whole year, I think I can safely say I have witnessed the full gamut of human emotion from deep, deep despair to jealousy and even anger! I have been made aware of the 'dark side' to the two main Social Networking sites (Twitter & Facebook). On Twitter, I have seen 'Tweets' from one 'fan' to another which beggar belief in regards to the depths of the depravity of language used. These you have to remind yourself are from, generally, woman of ages with Michael and are sent to other individuals they scarcely know! In regards to Facebook, fans set up 'fake' Facebook Accounts to either manipulate gullible fans to part with money or to surreptitiously gain access to other's pages to which under their real identities, for one reason or another they had been blocked - again in order to attack. That is the big problem with the Internet and Social Networking sites, you can become anyone. It is so easy to build up an an alter ego - I should know I too have several on FB, all created with no great deal of effort. There is no real policing of any of these sites and should one of your 'fake' accounts for one reason or another get shut down, you simply create another one, and another, and another.....

Unfortunately, it is the need for overnight fame by certain individuals  which  has exacerbated all of this! Although I have never lived there, having watched many a documentary on or around the city, I imagine that there is more of need to grab some part of the limelight in Los Angeles than anywhere else! As many of the genuine fans who reside over there, and whose images appear regularly in the wonderful photo's they are kind enough to share with us 'foreign' fans, have discovered, even they have a certain notoriety  now. That is the beauty of Facebook, Twitter and My Space, in that photo's can be posted and shared by millions in a matter of minutes. As such, in the blink of an eye your face can be known by milllions without you really knowing it!!!!However, thankfully these guys have their feet firmly planted on the ground. Unfortunately  to other such characters who do not have such a stable personality a little bit of fame goes a long, long way and these days you can become famous for being infamous!!! I find it highly amusing since one such 'infamous' fan has probably now had more column inches devoted to her within blogs and Social Networking sites than even Conrad Murray himself!  What I do find totally reprehensible and unforgivable is that these characters also use their guile to pray upon the gullible fans, who can be easily manipulated for their own gain whether morally or financially. They reel them in making these fans believe they are better connected than they actually are by posting 'photoshopped' photographs. These guys are extremely manipulative and must be avoided at all costs!

I must add here it is very difficult not to perceive that these characters may possibly have strings that are being pulled by others with their aim to target those who are fighting so hard to get information and answers in regards to Michaels murder and whom are working tirelessly to keep the fans united  

So in practically the space of a year we went from all (or the majority of us) wanting justice for Michael to suddenly finding the main business at hand being warding off yet another attack on ones integrity or trying to work out from which direction the next attack would come from. Whether planned or not the overall effect of all of this was very demoralising on the majority of us. We were Michael's fans, we collectively came together and bonded in 2009 over our grief at his loss and our strong, strong love and devotion to his music and his beliefs. Most of us were not wired up to be fighters - well not of, so called, other fans - for justice maybe. People you perceived to be friends you suddenly found yourself doubting. If it was tough in LA, a million miles away in the UK it was even tougher. It was very hard not to become totally paranoid and neurotic. I had built up friendships with a lot of the fans over there. As I said in the introductory paragraph, they were my escape, my dream, my portal to all things MJ related. However, after one particularly bleak couple of days,  for the first time since we lost Michael I found myself actually questioning what was I doing? However, as they say " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and I would add as well, also strengthens some friendships.

The week of 'Oprah's' interview with Kathryn and the J3, along with the airing of Michael's first single since his death, was a tough one for all of us.  Many were dreading the interview for so many reasons, the main one being that Oprah had 'history' with Michael, having aired a Molestation documentary on the last day of Michael's Trial and managing to manipulate conversations with other interviewees to enable her to refer to to the molestation issue again an again. Many also felt that Michael would not have wanted his children to have been put in the spotlight and certainly not with Oprah! To my mind, and through the tears with which I viewed it. I felt that it had been quite well conducted - although would have loved it to go on for longer! Although I did agree with the majority, in regards to the children, it was wonderful to see them growing up relatively 'normally'. However there was a big, big space there, which should have been filled by Michael.  The airing of his single 'Breaking News' along with the release date for the album 'Michael' should also have bought a smile to all our faces,  unfortunately just before the Sony allowed us to preview the single' on MJ.com,  Howard Mann who runs 'The Jackson Secret Vault' website and who is purported to be Kathryn's business advisor, decided to release another track of Michaels, called 'Opus None', citing that Kathryn had given her blessing on it's release!!! Liar, liar... pants on fire!!!!  As soon as it hit the web, there was a mass 'howl' from the fans that there was no way that this was a bonafide 'MJ' track. In the end the 'good' Mr Mann had to 'fess' up that this was in fact a rehash of an older J5 Tack that had been 'tranced' up and that Kathryn had most certainly not given her blessing!! So with that experience firmly in our minds when we all expectantly came to listen to 'Breaking News' on the 8th Nov on MJ.com, it is understandable that a lot of us were sceptical again, as to was this , indeed, Michael. Rumours abounded that only part of the song was MJ and the rest had been 'finished' off by a tribute artist called Jason Malachi. As I said what should have been a exuberant week for us, quickly turned sour with bickering starting yet again and the '$ony $ucks ' campaigners having a field day spreading conspiracy theories all over the MJ sites. Personally I smelt a 'rat'. I feel like the fans are being used, again, by others who have bigger agenda's. I am spitting feathers here because I just have this feeling that there are 'Fat Cats' out there who are more than aware how vulnerable Michael's fans are at this time, with many of us still grieving his loss and the rest of us still trying to piece together the 'what's', 'why's' and 'wherefore's' of his death. They are taking full advantage of this to sow seeds of confusion and doubt amongst us. Now whether it is to try to divide us, again, ( there have been certain elements and fractions in amongst us who tried and are still trying to do this). Or whether, as I mentioned previously, it is to do with a bigger agenda (the ATV/MJAC Catalogue?) only time will tell. Emotions were also fraught when after the elation of the success of Kamalah Harris appearing to secure the Attorny General post in Sol Cal, after a very closely fought battle with Steve Cooley (he had been re-elected 3 years running). It turns out that there were still postal votes to be counted.  At the time of writing Cooley appears to have taken over the lead! Many within the LA MJ community are very aware of Cooleys lack-a-daisyical attitude to securing the right charge on Conrad Murray and have suspicions about his connections with the likes of John Branca and AEG. Many also believe should he get re-elected again, there will be no justice for Michael!

As 2010 slowly draws to an end....I am prone to reflect on all it has served up to me!! It has without a doubt been a momentous year, in that I have made big changes to my life. On top of that I have had wonderful experiences with wonderful people all in the name of Michael. The year still has a couple of months to go and with the release of the album, the  'Michael Jackson Experience' Game, the run up to the Prelim and the result of the Attorney General race, no doubt there will be a few more curveballs on the horizon. However, we expect no less, since one thing we all agree on ...being a Michael Jackson fan was never, ever going to be easy!!!