regarding the new pics.

More Michael like this - just looking "normal", no face mask etc etc, will go a long way to changing public perception. And thankfully he looks healthy and happy.

Long time coming.

Swa

dag said:

Yeah who knows, but what makes ya think he maybe fathering a kid soon?


[Edited 3/24/09 22:43pm]

Threat detailed in dispute over Neverland trove
By DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press Writer
Updated: 03/24/2009 04:16:11 PM PDT


NEW YORK—When troubled pop king Michael Jackson is involved, even a yard sale can become an epic struggle.
A Hollywood auction house hired by Jackson to sell off the contents of his shuttered Neverland Ranch said it is pressing ahead with plans to put some 2,000 items on the block in April, despite the pop legend's surprise bid this month to halt the sale.

Some of the glitziest items will be on display to the public at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square this week, including one of Jackson's signature black fedoras, two of his MTV Video Music Awards, costumes he wore on tour in the 1980s and several crystal-encrusted gloves.

Jackson filed a lawsuit in early March, claiming that he had never given permission for the sale of many "priceless and irreplaceable" items.

The auction house, Julien's Auctions, fired back in court papers, saying that Jackson's representatives had been deeply and enthusiastically involved in the sale for many months, until a sudden reversal last month.

The company's president, Darren Julien, said in a sworn statement filed with a Los Angeles court that the singer's representatives even tried to intimidate him into postponing the sale.

During a Feb. 9 meeting at a fast-food restaurant in Los Angeles, he said, one of Jackson's employees warned that the auctioneers would be in danger "from Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam," if they didn't call it off.

"He told us that Dr. Tohme and Michael Jackson wanted to give the message to us 'that our lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed,'" Julien said, referring to Jackson business manager, Tohme Tohme.
Alan Gutman, a lawyer Jackson's company MJJ Productions, said Julien was "desperate to divert attention from his own misconduct" and accused him of making "scurrilous attacks."

"Unfortunately, in the course of this case, Mr. Julien has not felt constrained by the truth while trying to capture the spotlight for the auction or himself with sensationalistic and fictionalized references to supposed threats that never occurred or baseless speculation about potential sales of Neverland," Gutman told The Associated Press."

He said the consignment agreement in which Jackson purportedly gave up his right to take items back before the auction was also illegal and unenforceable under California law.

Tohme did not immediately respond to a phone message.

Julien said he didn't believe the threat, and the two sides have since agreed to let some of Jackson's property continue to travel on a publicity tour in advance of an April 3 court hearing. The auction is scheduled for April 21.

A similar preview of the items in Ireland earlier this month drew thousands of fans, and the auctioneers expect thousands more at a larger exhibition and preview in Los Angeles in a few weeks.

Julien estimated that the sale could bring in $10 million to $20 million—money that Jackson could desperately use. He reportedly has been experiencing financial problems for several years, and has not performed a major concert since 2001—four years before his acquittal on child molestation charges. He recently announced a series of concerts in London that sold out in hours.

Jackson will get any profits from the sale, minus the auction house commissions.

In court filings, Julien's Auctions said it was first contacted by Jackson's representatives about auctioning off Neverland's trove of memorabilia last July.

Darren Julien said he found the 2,500-acre property and its zoo and amusement park rides "in shambles," but jumped at the chance to salvage decades worth of art, clothing and furniture, as well as stage props and several of Jackson's awards.

He said the items were removed over several months under the supervision of Jackson's agents, and that the singer's employees were also involved in drafting press releases, approving auction catalog covers and negotiating a deal to give 5 percent of the proceeds to charity.

"Its upsetting to me," Julien said of the lawsuit.

But he said he was still intent on giving Jackson, his client, a "first-class auction."

"There will never be another artist or celebrity like Michael Jackson," Julien said. "He has the most dedicated fans of anyone we have ever worked with."

http://www.montereyherald...ck_check=1

bboy87 said:

Me, too.


Wishful thinking? No, I think it would be great if he had someone.

I remember reading about him making Stranger in Moscow video and him being happy and I thought, there must a woman in this and soon we found out Debbie was pregnant with Prince, so who knows?

bboy87 said:

In that great quality?

MICHAEL JACKSON has blasted accusations his representatives threatened an auctioneer with violence in a bid to stop a sale of the pop superstar's personal memorabilia.
Jackson's attorneys are embroiled in a legal battle with Julien's Auction House executives after they announced plans for the sale, which included his concert costumes from the 1980s and the gates to his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
The Thriller hitmaker's legal team filed suit against the auction house earlier this month (Mar09), alleging bosses are not "entitled to retain possession of Michael Jackson's personal property".
Company executives hit back, insisting the singer had given them permission to proceed with the 21 April (09) plans.
Julien's Auction House bosses have since been allowed permission to continue advertising the sale, but only until the case goes before a Los Angeles judge on 3 April (09).
Auction house president Darren Julien claims Jackson's team has gone to extreme lengths to halt the auction - even threatening to take violent action against him.
In a sworn statement, Julien says, "Michael Jackson wanted to give the message to us, that our lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed."
But Jackson's lawyer has dismissed the claims, branding the statement a "scurrilous attack", reports the New York Post.
If allowed to proceed, the auction is estimated to bring in up to $20 million (£13.7 million).

http://www.contactmusic.c...im_1098713



pic from Perez Hilton's website...I'm beginning to wonder if all this threat nonsense is nothing but a calculated publicity move planned by you know who...

NaughtyKitty said:

I don't know, this is very confusing.

Timmy84 said:

I have no idea what this is about...

dag said:

Me either, it's probably NOTHING. Both sides are pulling our leg, lol. This auction would probably go on without a hitch anyways. It'll all be in the wash anyways, lol.

dag said:

I'm tryin to make sense of this nonsense myself.

Plus this IS coming from the NY Post...

Timmy84 said:

Yes but they are going by what was stated in Julien's affidavit--that was his sworn statement... why is there always drama?

NaughtyKitty said:

Because it wouldn't be Michael if it wasn't, lol.

Timmy84 said:

True that! How could I forget, this is Michael Jackson we're talking about here

dag said:

Nah, but it's been in good enough quality


somebody just uploaded a rare footage from Wembley '88 on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Hx5v547Ajk

http://news.prnewswire.co...182&EDATE=


'The Essential Michael Jackson' Rockets to #1!

"The Essential Michael Jackson" Reaches #1 On the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums Chart & Top 10 on iTunes

NEW YORK, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Essential Michael Jackson," a career-spanning collection of must-have Michael Jackson tracks, hit #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Catalog albums chart while rocketing its way into the Top 10 top-selling albums chart at the iTunes Store, America's #1 music store, following an episode of "American Idol" (aired March 10), featuring this year's AI finalists performing their own versions of songs from the classic Michael Jackson catalog.

Response to the Michael Jackson song exposure on "American Idol" proved overwhelmingly positive in the digital realm, where "The Essential Michael Jackson" collection bulleted its way into the Top 10 on the iTunes top-selling albums chart as well as SoundScan's Top 10 Digital albums chart.

Along with the surging renewal of interest in "The Essential Michael Jackson," sales for other Michael Jackson albums available digitally more than tripled the same week.

Individual Michael Jackson digital track sales soared during the same period as well with American Idol crowdpleaser "P.Y.T." leading the pack with "Thriller" and "Billie Jean" (two classics not performed on the AI Michael Jackson show) following closely, proving the ongoing viability of the Michael Jackson catalog.

Earlier this month, Michael Jackson announced that he would perform his first series of full concerts in more than a decade, a residency at London's 02 Arena, the largest indoor concert facility in Europe.


SOURCE Legacy Recordings

bboy87 said:

Now that's a damn fine article to read. American Idol has clearly done some good! - MJ education to a whole new generation (I'm assuming at least some if not most of the increased sales are to new-comers to his music)
[Edited 3/25/09 16:32pm]

NaughtyKitty said:[quote]

dag said:

There will be bloodshed? A mafia here or what? what a ridiculous article...like Mj cannot takes what he wants legally?...bloodshed:lol:

Again....

A pile of grabage.....

seeingvoices12 said:

seeingvoices12 said:

Maybe that's what they meant to say "there will be a pile of garbage on your door step."

Timmy84 said:

i just wanna kno when the hell is "Hello World" coming lol

Timmy84 said:

Who puts this pile of Soulja Boy and T Pain CDs on my doorstep?!

majic said:

Apparently, it's release will be either next month or May

we're still waiting for the tracklisting

bboy87 said:

goddamnit...

That auction nonsense is crazy.Makes no sense at all did Michael approve of it at first,then came to his senses and finally realized that it would be a mistake?? Somebody's lying.But this kinda of nonsense is typical with Michael Everytime he's back in the spotlight with a new project,there are always distractions that get in the way.

SoulAlive said:

Typical of MJ and sadly typical of those around him.

SoulAlive said:

I thought that I've read somewhere on here that he had an itemized list or was working on the things he wanted to auction, but they came to Netherland anyway and sort out what they wanted.

SoulAlive said:

From what I know, he wanted to approve what would be auctioned off, but they went ahead without his approval
[Edited 3/26/09 14:18pm]

great quality footage from the Bad Tour

Human Nature in Tokyo (opening night)


Another Part Of Me in NYC