By Christopher Bollen

Earlier this year, more than 300 Michael Jackson enthusiasts paid approximately $3,400 each to meet him for approximately 30 seconds in Tokyo. Among the impersonators, fan-club presidents, and sobbing Japanese obsessives who shelled out was New York video artist Meredith Danluck. She had come to “Fan Appreciation Day” on business.

When Danluck heard about the event from a friend with Japanese contacts—“It really hadn’t been publicized that much in the U.S.”—she was intrigued by the persistence of the seemingly discredited star’s brand equity. First she tried to go as a journalist, but no press was allowed. Then she tried the honest approach, but no artists were welcome, either. So she decided to just go as a fan. No video cameras were allowed, but she’d recently used a digital camera that shot at 24 frames per second, the same speed as film. She could covertly get a usable video of the event while pretending to be taking still photos. West Soho gallerist Leslie Fritz agreed to pay for Danluck’s plane fare and entrance fee. Four hundred thousand yen later, Danluck possessed ticket No. 294.

Outside the Tokyo concert hall, a group of disabled children and orphans were carried through the throng by security to meet with Jackson first (they didn’t have to pay). After hours of waiting, the ticketholders were taken in one at a time. “I didn’t want to get a picture of me with Michael. I just wanted to film him alone for my 30 seconds,” Danluck says. But a handler seized her camera and pushed her toward Jackson for a shot of them together—presumably what everybody had paid all that money for. She tripped and fell into him. “I like your necklace,” he said. “Thank you,” she replied, touching the vampire-teeth pendant around her neck. “Can I have it?” he asked, smiling (his skin, she said, strained as if he was “wearing a dry mud mask”). “No, my boyfriend gave it to me right before we broke up.” He giggled, “That’s so funny.” A stiff velvet arm went around her shoulder for the picture. He smelled of “ladies’ powder.”

“I wish I had actually engaged him as a human being. He seemed genuinely sweet,” Danluck says. “But I was thinking, Shit, shit, shit, I came all this way and now I’m blowing it.” Without a good-bye, Danluck was led out of the room. Out on the street, she was surrounded by paparazzi, who screamed, “Did you touch Michael?” They chased her until she jumped into a cab. Danluck’s weird, loving twelve-minute video, “Michael Jackson, Jesus Christ … Coca-Cola,” is part of the opening show at Fritz’s Renwick Gallery on May 18. “It’s more about what’s around him,” Danluck says. “He is the third of that pop-culture holy trinity. What I filmed was a place of worship.”

Source: New York Magazine

There may be a hold up in the planned Jackson Family Memorabilia Auction scheduled for the end of May in Las Vegas. But the sellers have proved to be a wily bunch.

The sellers say that the planned rescue of millions of dollars worth of their family’s possessions will stop tpart of the proceeds from going to children’s charities.

A spokesperson for the auction said “Universal Express and the auction house Guernsey’s have in the past few days received a hearing notice for early next week from Michael Jackson’s attorneys contesting ownership of some of the legally purchased collection. Universal Express and its attorney’s will respond to the frivolous accusations of Mr. Jackson’s attorneys.”

The Ceo, Richard Altomare added “When the legal facts of this issue are presented we anticipate that the auction will continue as planned. We own the property definitively, and this unwarranted interference may result in substantial damages. Any damage, delay, lost momentum or anticipated lost revenues will result in several legal actions for this auction’s full potential.

“Five charities will participate in the results of the auction. I sincerely hope that these children counting on the auction will not be disappointed.”

Source: ShowbizSpy, MJFC-USA

RnB singer Amerie is tipping exiled pop superstar Michael Jackson to make a spectacular comeback.

Jackson hasn’t released any new music since his trial two years ago - but Amerie is convinced the 48-year-old has much still to offer. She says,

“I totally think Michael Jackson can make it again if he has the right record - it’s all down to a hit track and it doesn’t matter how long they have been away.”

Source: Contact Music

Setting up a room backstage for performing artistes can sometimes be a nightmare. Stars have been rumoured to demand everything, from a room decorated totally in white to a backstage that must be free of brown M&Ms.

For R&B singer-actor Omarion (23), formerly frontman of hip-hop/R&B group B2K, a poster of Michael Jackson is all he asks for. During a recent phone interview he said:

“Before every performance I have to look into his eyes before going onstage. He’s my inspiration.”

To read the entire interview, click here.

Source: The Electric New Paper, MJFC-UK

Number Ones falls 12 places to #69 in the UK album chart.

Source: BBC Radio 1, MJ.INF

by Joal Ryan

The self-proclaimed mother of Michael Jackson’s children is down, but not entirely out.

A Los Angeles judge Wednesday rejected Nona Paris Lola Jackson’s latest bid to insert herself into the custody arrangement between Jackson and ex-wife Debbie Rowe.

But the judge did not dismiss the woman, giving her until Aug. 1 to get her legal act together, and letting her try again, per a local wire report.

Attorneys for Michael Jackson and Rowe did not return calls for comment. Michael Jackson’s rep previously branded Nona Jackson’s case “ludicrous.”

The Jackson known as Nona is seeking…Well, she’s seeking quite a bit, including Neverland Ranch, child support and shared custody of Michael Jackson’s three children, Prince, 10, Paris, 9, and Prince II, better known as the balcony-dangled Blanket, 5.

Rowe, who was married to Michael Jackson from 1996 to 1999, is regarded by the world, save Nona Jackson’s corner of it, to be the birth mother of the two oldest children; the parentage of Blanket has never been precisely determined, or at least announced.

Nona Jackson, a “black Jew born in Britain,” per her own court papers, launched her challenge last October. She claimed that she and Michael Jackson were a “sexually active couple,” and that as a result of all that activity she had given birth to the singer’s brood.

The woman’s first bid to alter the Michael Jackson-Rowe custody deal was rejected last November, and for the same reason it was rejected Wednesday: because she didn’t follow the rules. Per the judge, Nona Jackson hasn’t shown the court that she’s properly notified Michael Jackson and Rowe of her filing. Also, there’s the matter of her motherhood claim: She hasn’t proved that, either.

Then as now, the London-based Nona Jackson attended the court hearing via speakerphone.

In court documents last month, Nona Jackson explained why she’s had such trouble proceeding with her case.

Said the woman, in profound understatement: “I am not a qualified lawyer.”

Source: E! Online

Michael Jackson’s brother Tito has pulled out of the UK tour of Thriller Live.

He will be replaced by Jeffrey Daniels from pop group Shalamar, who will now take on the role of MC in the show. Daniels claims to have originated the Moonwalk dance and taught the routine to Michael Jackson.

Tito Jackson commented: “It pains me to let down the fans who I love dearly, but due to unforeseen family circumstances, I am unable to come to the UK at this time. I wish the cast, crew and everyone involved with Thriller Live the best of luck with the tour.”

Source: The Stage