Celebrating Halloween, NineMSN is featuring a Tollywood (India’s Southern ‘Bollywood’) remake of Michael Jackson’s classic video ‘Thriller’. The video is not new but came out shortly after Michael’s version.

To watch the video click here.

Source: ninemsn Music

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of legendary movie ‘The Wiz’, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is planning to release a special DVD edition on February 5, 2008.

The original recording will be digitally remastered and will be presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, along with an Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Bonus material will be a ‘Wiz On Down The Road’ featurette, the theatrical trailer, and an 8-track bonus CD featuring songs by Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

You can already pre-order this item at Amazon USA.

‘The Wiz’, originally released in 1978, is an African-American adaptation of the famous Broadway musical ‘Wizard Of Oz’ and features Michael Jackson as the scarecrow. It was nominated for 4 Oscars in 1979.

Source: DVDActive.com, Amazon, MJFC-USA

In an interview with the British newspaper ‘The Sun’, US R&B singer and songwriter John Legend stated that he hopes to work with Michael Jackson on his highly anticipated new album:

“I wrote one idea for Michael Jackson but I don’t know if he’ll use it.

The song was with Will I Am for him which I thought he might like. Let’s see…”

Source: The Sun

Since the 1980s, Kentucky University students annually perform a Thriller Parade. It is based on the music video to Michael Jackson’s legendary song ‘Thriller’ from the 1982 ‘Thriller’ album.

This year the parade took place on October 28 and was a huge success with thousands of spectators. For the first time in its history there were actually three people playing Michael Jackson. Every actor had to go through an audition and three of them ended up doing so well that the jury could not decide who to choose, so all three received the part and danced the whole routine side by side.

The impersonators did a great job dancing Michael Jackson’s every move. They were accompanied by 100 zombies, which supported the gloomy performance by emerging from trash cans and bushes. It was a great experience for everyone!

Source: The Kentucky Kernel, MJFC-USA

Reality TV star David Gest has credited superstar Michael Jackson for introducing him to his hobby of collecting music and movie memorabilia.

The 54-year-old, who extended his Memphis, Tennessee mansion with a third storey to accommodate his growing collection, explains childhood friend Jackson gifted him with his first showbiz souvenirs.

He says, “When I was a kid, I was dating LaToya Jackson. I went to her house one day but she was ill and couldn’t go out, and Mrs Jackson said, ‘Could you drive Michael to the memorabilia show?’ Michael said, ‘David, you gotta get into memorabilia, you gonna love it.’ He said, ‘You see all these posters I got up here?’ and he’s got this poster of Jimi Hendrix, signed, and a poster of James Brown at the Apollo, signed, and I thought, ‘This is pretty cool.’ “So we went to the show, and he got mobbed, but he was buying things and saying, ‘I’m gonna buy this for you,’ and I began to start loving all this and I thought, ‘What a great idea for stuff to collect.’”

Source: Contact Music

Rolling Stone Japan is featuring Michael Jackson in the upcoming December Issue by including an extra 44 pages book 100% dedicated to the King if Pop. The extra book cover design is almost finished: it features a drawing. Probably the cover of the Rolling Stone will also feature Michael Jackson! They’re actually still editing it so, at this time, we’re not authorized in publishing it.

Extra Book Specifications:

Size: 166 x 209 mm, 44 pages, not sold as a separate piece.

Extra Book Contents:

5 interviews that have been previously published by Rolling Stone US edition:

#81 (1971), #389 (1983), #417 (1984), #509 (1987), #621 (1992), a complete gallery of US edition’s covers dedicated to Michael Jackson, discography of Rolling Stone Japan’s (6 albums recommended by Rolling Stone Japan) and the latest news about MJ’s new album.

Release date is November 10th, 2007.

Source: CTE MJ Italian Fanclub/Jacksonland.it

By Roger Friedman

At last, there’s some real news concerning Michael Jackson and his plans for recording and releasing material.

So far, Jackson has no plans for a new album, but his die-hard fans will be happy to hear what else is happening.

Jackson is involved in putting together a 25th anniversary edition of his best-selling album, “Thriller.” Those with long memories will recall that “Thriller” is considered the biggest-selling pop album of all time, succeeding Carole King’s “Tapestry” and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” and breaking every record it came near.

Jackson’s new music attorney, Peter Lopez, told me on Tuesday that about four of the original “Thriller” tracks are being remixed as “extras” for the CD package. Kanye West, Akon and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas are supposed to be doing that work. The songs are “Billie Jean,” “The Girl Is Mine,” “Wanna Be Starting Something” and “Pretty Young Thing.”

In addition, Lopez says that four tracks left off “Thriller” in 1983 will be included. Jackson’s long-time producer Bruce Swedien, who no longer works with the pop star, told me that one track he knows of is a killer. It’s called “Don’t Be Messin’ Around.” Swedien doesn’t know any of the other tracks left off the album but said there may be some out there.

Jackson has no immediate solution to make money. Many older pop stars have found gold in live performances. Elton John, Celine Dion, Gladys Knight and Bette Midler, for example, have made Las Vegas their headquarters. But Lopez, the new attorney, tells me the beleaguered pop star has no interest in touring or performing. “He feels he’s done that,” Lopez said.

“Thriller 25″ will be issued by Sony because it’s part of that catalog.

Source: FOX News

After 20 years as a judge in Santa Maria, the Honourable Rodney Melville-known for presiding over the Michael Jackson trial-is stepping down.

Judge Melville moved to Santa Maria in 1971. He was appointed to the bench in 1987 by then-Governor George Deukmejian. He presides over civil cases, although his experience goes far beyond that.

From law student to deputy district attorney to judge in Santa Maria-time on the bench is nearing the end for the Honourable Rodney Melville.

“I feel very fulfilled. It’s been a wonderful career,” Hon. Melville said.

He spoke candidly to Action News about what he’s most famous for: presiding over Michael Jackson’s trial in 2005, where the King of Pop as eventually cleared of molestation charges.

Despite international spotlight, he believes the way it was handled was a success.

“I tried to treat that case the same way I treated every case that came in front of me,” Hon. Melville said. “It was different only from the standpoint that I had a large media–people from all over the world came to report it.”

But there’s more to this father of two-grandfather of three.

As a young man, he battled alcoholism, an experience that changed his perspective forever.

“I think I was better able to help people. I don’t forgive people for committing crimes just because they’re an alcoholic or an addict. I forgive them for being an alcoholic or an addict, and that way I can help get them into treatment, which I did,” Hon. Melville said.

Now, he looks forward to spending time with his horses, travelling with his wife, and of course, he’s “trying to learn how to play golf.”

“I’m going to have some fun,” the judge laughed.

Judge Melville will spend time as a fill-in judge in Riverside County and also in Santa Maria. Then, you can find him probably traveling the world.

Judge Melville says it will probably take a few months before Governor Schwarzenegger appoints his new replacement.

Source: MSNBC

Pop Star Janet Jackson has hinted on a Jackson Family Reunion.

During an exclusive interview to MSNBC in her hotel suite (Four Seasons), she candidly responded to questions about her career, her dreams, walls, drama, love, marriage, divorce and the status of the Jackson Family Reunion tour.

That may or may not be coming to an arena near you.

“I don’t know, there’s been talk and I honestly don’t know and I’m one of them! I really would love to see it happen,” she said wistfully. “I’m such a fan of my brothers and to see them all on stage together, I would die for that, die for that.”

Source: MSNBC

Michael Jackson has expressed his thanks in acknowledgement of the various Birthday cards and gifts he received from his fans earlier this Autumn.

Click here to Download or View the letter written by Michael to the fans.

Source: Raymone K Bain