At a hearing in a New Jersey court, Universal Express received a court order to have all of its unsold property in the Jackson Memorabilia collection returned to them from Nevada attorneys, and a New York warehouse.

“It’s unfortunate that this auctioneer required a court order and much effort to have our property returned to us. Our next step will be the return of monies collected, damages and an investigation into our auctioneer’s business practices during and after the auction,” said Richard Altomare, Chairman and CEO of Universal Express, Inc.

“As we re-group our collection, and plan future musical endeavours with that collection, the first unexpected obstacle appears to be behind us. During the past few months the behaviour of our auctioneer has created multiple issues and it will be dealt with appropriately,” concluded Mr. Altomare.

Source: Marketwire

By Roger Friedman

Michael Jackson made an appearance in Washington, D.C., last week. The Washington Post couldn’t figure out what was going on, but I can tell you all about it.

Jackson was in the law offices of Venable LLP to give a deposition in the $30 million lawsuit brought by his former manager, Dieter Wiesner. He was accompanied by two burly bodyguards and an attorney, William Mundell, of California. Wiesner and his partner Ronald Konitzer, you may recall, were referred to as “the Germans” in Jackson’s child molestation case by Janet Arvizo.

Anyway, Michael had missed two opportunities for this deposition in Los Angeles. Because he is now stationed in Northern Virginia, home of his manager-publicist, Raymone Bain, and has no other place to live at the moment, Jackson agreed to — shall we say — this “capital punishment.” He had to pay for everyone to come in from Los Angeles, first class, and stay in D.C.

Of course, Jackson’s done this before. He had to fly lawyers to London twice when he refused to be deposed in the Marc Schaffel lawsuit in Los Angeles. Shaffel and Wiesner each have the same attorney: Howard King.

In D.C., Michael appeared bright and confident, dispelling the recent stories we have published of him being drugged or isolated.

“He was in very good shape,” an observer said. “He seemed very lucid.”

In fact, he was so chirpy that sources say he was an excellent witness for Wiesner.

“He said he didn’t know why they weren’t still in business together,” a source said. “He said he liked all of Dieter’s ideas.”

After the deposition was over, Jackson and Wiesner spent a few minutes together in a private conversation. No one knows exactly what was said, but Jackson apparently blamed his falling out with “the Germans” on Leonard Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam and son-in-law of Louis Farrakhan.

“He just kept saying over and over again he didn’t know what happened,” a source said.

Of course, Jackson replaced Wiesner and Konitzer with the Nation of Islam in December 2003, a month after his arrest. Jackson never spoke to “the Germans” again and let the Nation force out the rest of his advisers.

As for why the depositions had to take place in Washington, Mundell wrote in an early motion to the court: “Mr. Jackson is not just relaxing in the Washington, DC area. He is busy working on several important projects.”

Source: FOX News

The video of hundreds of Filipino prisoners dancing to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ (see related news item July 24, 2007) is a hot hit on YouTube and has had nearly three million views so far. The clip from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Centre in the Phillipines had been viewed 2,788,974 times at the start of July 30, with figures constantly on the rise.

Dancing at the prison is compulsory for all 1,600 inmates except the elderly and infirm. Routines were initially developed last year when Byron Garcia, a security consultant for the Cebu provincial government, made inmates march to Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick In The Wall’ in a bid to increase exercise.

Mr. Garcia said it had helped “drastically” improve inmate behaviour and two former inmates have since become dancers:

“Using music, you can involve the body and the mind. The inmates have to count, memorise steps and follow the music.

Inmates say to me: ‘You have put my mind off revenge, foolishness, or thinking how to escape from jail, or joining a gang’.”

Prisoners have also performed to songs by local artists, Queen, and from the film ‘Sister Act’.

Source: BBC News

Michael Jackson sings like a bird, according to rapper-and-producer Will.I.Am.

The Black Eyed Peas star is working with Jackson on the ‘Thriller’ singer’s new album and says he is amazed with his unique voice.

Will.I.Am said: “Man, he still sings like a bird. He could go anywhere. We have a real opportunity to do something here. It’s either going to be really big or nobody’s going to care. Ain’t no middle ground on this one.”

The music star, who is producing Jackson’s first studio album for six years, recently revealed he was completely shocked to be asked to work with the former ‘King of Pop’.

He said: “Michael called up and I thought someone was joking. I hear, ‘Hello, its Michael,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah right, stop playing!’

“Then he said, ‘I want to congratulate you on all your success. Do you mind if I call you in a couple of days at 4pm?’ Then he started ringing me every day at 4pm. So I started working on music for him on the tour bus.”

Source: Life Style Extra

Michael Jackson is being advised on how to save his career by former chart rival Prince.

The eccentric star has reportedly turned to Prince, who he battled for pop supremacy in the 80s, for help with his comeback.

The ‘Purple Rain’ singer is said to have told Michael to play a series of acoustic shows in Las Vegas to prove to the world he is still an amazing talent.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: “Prince has been suggesting that Michael play a sequence of unplugged concerts in Las Vegas - just Michael and the microphone. No gimmicks, no costume changes, no smoke or mirrors, just his voice.”

Source: New York Post

Local news stations aired more info about the visit of Michael and his children to museums in Washington D.C., USA. The segments also included interviews with the Smithsonian museum`s deputy director Don Lopez and tour guide Sharyl Pahee:

News Report 1:

Reporter: Michael Jackson and his children first toured the Air and Space Museum, before the doors opened to the public.

Don Lopez: We couldn’t have him here, with the public here, he’d get wiped out.

Reporter: The museum’s deputy directory Don Lopez led Jackson and his family on the private tour - something he did when Jackson first visited Air and Space 24 years ago.

Don Lopez: He was quite shy the first time I met him… This time he was very outgoing, and spoke to everybody.

Reporter: Next, the Jackson clan moved over to the National Museum of the American Indian. Where tour guide Sharyl Pahee actually danced with Jackson!

Sharyl Pahee: No, no pressure at all.

Reporter: Pahee was explaining story-telling through dance.

Sharyl Pahee: When I started doing it, and I asked his kids to join in, they joined in and started dancing. And then, he just got right in…

Reporter: Both impromptu celebrity tour guides described Jackson’s children as polite and cute.

Sharyl Pahee: They’re just wonderful. They were sweet…

News Report 2:

Reporter: Don Lopez, a 35 year veteran of the museum, was Jackson’s personal tour guide yesterday. The same tour guide when Jackson was here 25 years ago.

Don Lopez: Back then he was just like a shy kid, he didn’t say much. He hid in the corner almost. But this time he was fine, he was very upbeat.

To watch the news reports you can visit YouTube: Report 1 | Report 2

Source: YouTube, MJFC-USA

Michael Jackson toured the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space and American Indian museums, arriving with his children before the buildings opened to the public.

“He wanted to show them the sights,” Raymone Bain, a publicist for the 48-year-old pop star, told The Washington Post.

At the air and space museum, Jackson lingered over the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft to make a sustained flight with a pilot aboard, during his visit Wednesday. His children enjoyed robots R2-D2 and C-3PO from the “Star Wars” movies.

Jackson will be in the Washington region for a few days. Bain said the singer has been looking for a vacation home.

Source: Associated Press

To All the Fans Around the World…

‘MJJMAGAZINE – The Michael Jackson Magazine’ website will officially launch on 31st July 2007. Fans can now subscribe for free to MJJ Mailshots at www.mjjmagazine.com to receive alerts and updates.

Source: MJJMAGAZINE.COM

Michael Jackson has been told to pay more than $256,000 in legal fees to a firm that handled some side issues during his 2005 child molestation trial.

A Superior Court judge signed a judgement Friday that awarded $216,837 along with $39,177 in interest to the Torrance firm of Ayscough & Marar, according to court records.

Jackson’s attorney, Marshall Brubacher, agreed in principle to the judgement June 26 when he told the judge that going to trial would be costlier and “we want to stop the haemorrhaging.”

The law firm sued the 48-year-old pop star for failing to pay legal fees for preventing the release of some information to the public and to lawyers in civil cases during his 2005 criminal trial in Santa Barbara County. Jackson was eventually acquitted of child molestation charges.

Jackson counter-sued the law firm but that case was dismissed.

Ayscough & Marar also helped defend Jackson against a lawsuit that claimed the singer owed $1.4 million to former business associate Marc Schaffel.

Last year, a jury awarded Schaffel $900,000 and awarded Jackson $200,000 in a countersuit against Schaffel.

Source: Associated Press

Columbia Records will release the “Michael Jackson Cool Down Experience” by the Sunset Lounge Orchestra. The CD will be released on August 22nd, 2007 as part of the Cool Down Experience series. This release offers late-night, laid back versions of Michael Jackson’s classic hits.

Track listing:

1. You Are Not Alone
2. Earth Song
3. Stranger In Moscow
4. Heal The World
5. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
6. Liberian Girl
7. This Girl Is Mine
8. We Are The World
9. I’ll Be There
10. Don’t Stop (Til You Get Enough)
11. Rock With You
12. Neverland’s Fable
13. Brothers Of The South
14. Last Chance
15. The Mystery Of Dreams
16. The MegaMix

You can listen to clips here.

Source: Musicload