When Zaldy Goco answered the phone last April and learned that Michael Jackson’s creative team wanted him to develop some costume ideas for the King of Pop’s long-awaited comeback concert series in London, he could scarcely believe his luck. A long time fan of the sometimes-maligned, but always-loved music legend, Zaldy set about developing an approach for creating costumes that at once hearkened back to iconic images from Jackson’s past, while also making him relevant for contemporary fashion of the day.

The results were amazing and once the decision was made to make Zaldy the chief costume designer for the upcoming concerts, the process to get there involved five up close-and-personal fittings between Zaldy and Michael Jackson over a period of a several weeks, including the last fitting, just days before the singer’s sudden death.

Zaldy kindly spoke to Business of Fashion about the experience of designing for Michael Jackson and shared some photos of Jackson from the fittings, published here for the very first time.”

BoF: And now for the topic that I am sure everyone is most interested to hear about: your collaboration with Michael Jackson for the This Is It tour. How did that come about?

It was such a surprise that began with a really casual phone call from someone who was representing Michael’s choeographer, Travis Payne. It was already the end of April and the tour was starting in July, and he asked me if I was interested in making some outfits. Of course I said yes! But, I really didn’t take it all that seriously as I knew that Michael had only ever really worked with one designer in the past named Michael Bush. He had developed all of Michael’s iconic looks for Thriller and Bad. So, by no means was it definite. I thought maybe I’d get to make a couple of outfits — maybe.

It turns out that Michael had been advised to take more of a fashion look with his presentation, and he had asked to see designs from some really big names, including, I believe, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. My impression is that he got all these packages from these different designers and then he chose who he wanted to work with.

When he got my package, they called me right away and said he that Michael was jumping up and down screaming, saying “I’ve always wanted to do this! I’ve always wanted to do this!”

They asked me to come to L.A. the next day to meet Michael and told me they wanted me to do the entire show. In the end, because Michael is so faithful, he did ask Michael Bush to work on a few of the outfits as well, which I thought was really nice especially because it was supposed to be Michael’s last tour.”

BoF: Wow, that’s pretty amazing. How would you describe what you designed for him?

This is the thing. When they first asked me to do this, they said “we need you to re-invent Michael.” And my first thought was that Michael does not need to be re-invented, especially not now. He is one of the only artists who created iconic looks and iconic images to go along with iconic songs. It’s not necessary for those looks to be reinvented — they just needed to be made more relevant for today. Nobody wants to see a Thriller jacket that it isn’t red and black. People were going to want to see those iconic images, made more relevant to the times.

So, that’s what my approach was — referencing what we knew, but bringing more technology and new techniques that Michael had never used before.”

BoF: What are your favourite looks that you designed for Michael Jackson?

They all kind have their own specialness for me. But, if you ask anyone who works with me, they will always say the We Are The World outfit, embroidered with all kinds of techniques from around the world — from African to American Indian to Japanese to Chinese. It was quite a mix, and very beautiful.

But for me, I loved the Black or White leather jacket, with three different custom plated coloured studs, which was kind of a Sumurai-referenced jacket. The finale jacket is also a favourite, especially because Michael was so excited about it. I had made what Michael called ’secret treasures’ in the shape of little teardrops that enclosed around crusts of crystal chunks.

And then of course there was the light-up outfit for Billie Jean, which was a collaboration with Philips Technology, which really, really made him the happiest. The last time I saw him was about six days before we were leaving for London, and I tried these pants on him and he was silent; completely stunned. After about thirty seconds, he said “It’s everything I’ve always wanted.

So, that was pretty special for me.”

BoF: And then, of course there was his sudden death, which must have turned things upside down for you.

I experience anti-climax after every project, but I was in disbelief. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had been living and breathing Michael Jackson for weeks on end. When I design for a musician, I immerse myself completely in their music. It just has to play in my head the whole time.

I decided I needed to lock myself away in a hotel to get away, but even that didn’t work. Everywhere I went, people were listening to Michael Jackson. There was no escape.”

BoF: Did you have any sense that he might be unwell?

Not at all. And that is the thing that I think the movie really shows. He was quite lively, energetic and strong. And, he was super in tune to all the details. Every time I met with him, he was always catching little details. When I’d do fittings with him, he was very solid and very strong.”

BoF: Last year was quite a year for you. Doing Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson in one year is pretty big. What lies ahead for you 2010?

It’s funny because I kept seeing the two of them side-by-side in stories or hearing their names mentioned in the same story. And then, all of a sudden I was working with both of them. But right now, I’m pretty excited to get back into the Scissor Sisters, who are launching their third album. But also, last year was a big music year, and I’m thinking of leaning back towards fashion again.”

BoF: So there could be a Zaldy label again?

There could be. Right now I am working on a gown for the Met Ball. So, let’s see. I’m working on a couple of things.”

Want to See Even More Photos of the costumes Zaldy designed for Michael Jackson?

Concert suits for Michael Jackson

Concert Jacket for Michael Jackson

Shoes For Michael Jackson

Additional Concert Jackets for Michael Jackson

Source: mjfanclub.net

Peter Andre has recorded a version of Michael Jackson’s ‘She’s Out Of My Life’ for his new album.

The song – a top three hit for Jackson in 1980 – is one of five classic ballads Andre has covered for Unconditional Love Songs, due for release on Rhino on February 1.

The remainder of the 16-track compilation comprises the singer’s favorite romantic tracks from his previous LPs, including the hit singles ‘Lonely’ and ‘The Right Way’.

“I have always wanted to cover an MJ song and this particular song is so simply done and says so much about the artist,”

Andre said in a press release.

“It’s lyrically beautiful and is so thought-provoking.”

Andre’s last studio album Revelation debuted and peaked at number three on the UK albums chart in September. It has since been certified platinum.

Source: mjfanclub.net

The Michael Jackson exhibition at the O2 is being extended because of huge public demand.

Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition showcases some of the most personal and iconic memorabilia from the late King of Pop’s extraordinary life.

The run at the O2 Bubble venue in London has now been extended to February 28.

Source: mjfanclub.net

GRAMMY winners Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, and Usher will join together, along with the voice of Michael Jackson, in a moving tribute to Jackson at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 31. This very special GRAMMY Moment will feature the never-before-seen 3-D mini-movie for “Earth Song” that was created by Jackson as the centerpiece of his much-anticipated This Is It tour, but was never seen by the public prior to this GRAMMY performance.

The 3-D film was created to support the performance of “Earth Song,” an original composition and a No. 1 hit for Jackson. The song has a strong theme about the future of the planet, and Jackson saw it as a unique opportunity to deliver a message to millions of people who would have seen him on tour.

“It was one of the most important portions of the concert tour to Michael and when Michael saw the film for the first time at his last rehearsal, there were tears in his eyes,”

according to Ken Ehrlich, GRAMMY co-Executive Producer and longtime Jackson associate, who was also at the rehearsal that night.

“This very special GRAMMY Moment will feature some of our most respected GRAMMY recipients, all of whom have a great love for Michael,”

added Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy.

“This segment promises to be an emotional highlight of this year’s show, and is sure to join the unique list of amazing performances for which the GRAMMY Awards have become renowned.”

This special segment also represents another GRAMMY technical breakthrough in that it will be the first time a major awards show broadcasts in 3-D. The GRAMMY Awards also were the first awards show to broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound (2003).

So that viewers can enjoy this unique 3-D TV experience at home, CBS and Target have partnered to provide millions of free 3-D GRAMMY Glasses. From Sunday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 31, Target stores nationwide will exclusively offer these 3-D GRAMMY Glasses so that fans have the opportunity to see the film that was very personal to Jackson. Additionally, the audience at Staples Center will share the 3-D experience, wearing the same glasses as those being worn by viewers at home.

This GRAMMY tribute to Michael Jackson joins previously announced performances by nominees Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Maxwell, Pink, Taylor Swift, and the Zac Brown Band.

The 52nd GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Jan. 31 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube.

The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Louis J. Horvitz is director.

Source: mjfanclub.net

Kenny Ortega went through hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage putting together Michael Jackson’s This Is It, a tribute to Jackson for his fans, but he says it was a labor of love. It was also a way of helping with the healing process after the death of his close friend. The film, which will be released on DVD on January 26th, exceeded expectations at the box office and earned a nomination in the Best Documentary category at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. On the red carpet before the show, Ortega shared his memories of working with Michael Jackson and what set him apart as an entertainer in a video interview.

Source: mjfanclub.net

American Cinema Editors, the industry’s leading organization of motion picture editors, has nominated Brandon Key, of Tustin, CA, for a 60th annual ACE Eddie Award. The announcement was made Jan. 12.

Key’s “Best Edited Documentary” nomination, for his work on the critically acclaimed Michael Jackson film “This Is It,” is shared by co-editors Tim Patterson, Don Brochu and Kevin Stitt.

Winners will be announced by ACE on Feb. 14.

Shortly after the world learned of the death of the legendary King of Pop, Key, a long-time Jackson fan, received a frantic call from Patterson, a friend and collaborator of 15 years, to help cobble together what had been raw rehearsal footage of Jackson’s ill-fated international tour into a full-length documentary for an ASAP theatrical release.

Quite unexpectedly, Key and his cohorts found themselves laboring over piles of video footage 12 hours a day, seven days a week last summer in a frantic effort to create a posthumous Jackson film tribute for a fast-approaching October release. “This Is It” opened last fall to huge audiences and critical praise.

“I just never dreamed,”

Key stated,

“that I’d be thrust into helping create what would become one of the biggest movies of the year — and the highest-grossing concert film of all time.”

That accomplished, Key and Patterson have gone on to edit and shoot additional content for the DVD, which is expected to ship this month.

“This Is It” has grossed over $250 million since its debut.

Source: mjfanclub.net

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced the January 26 release of Michael Jackson’s This Is It on Blu-ray with the kind of flourish you’d expect from associates of the King of Pop. Jackson choreographer Travis Payne performed live at the Sony booth at CES with two of the dancers who were set to tour with the late singer. Sony also ran a “Smooth Criminal” vignette from the disc showing Jackson “interact” with Rita Hayworth, Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart in classic black and white footage from Gilda and other old-time movies.

Sony Pictures says the Blu-ray features 90 minutes of new and never seen before footage.

See Photos below from Travis Payne’s performance which were posted on Facebook!

Worldwide release dates are now available for Michael Jackson’s This Is It on DVD and Blu-ray®

U.S. fans can pre-order the DVD and Blu-ray® with movie poster Here.

According to a new interview with Michael Jackson’s choreographer, Travis Payne, the late King of Pop was a big fan of Lady Gaga and had tried to set up a meeting to discuss a possible joint project.

The revelation comes from a video posted on December 30 on YouTube by Amsterdam-based producer/actor Raffles van Exel, who asks Payne which artists Michael Jackson was interested in collaborating with before his death last June.

I gave him a short wish list [of possible collaborators] … and he was like, ‘Sure, they can all come, as long as their schedules permit and it’s not too much of a problem for them,’ ” Payne said of Jackson’s humble response to a suggestion that he reach out to other artists to work with him on his This Is It series of shows in London. “Of course, I suggested Janet, of course Whitney Houston. … Diana Ross and Mariah Carey we talked about. We talked about Missy Elliott. We talked about Usher, of course. We talked about Justin [Timberlake], Celine Dion … Sting, Seal, Bono, Tina Turner. We talked about all these people that I thought were cool but that he liked.”

Then, Payne said he asked Jackson if there was anyone else he wanted to reach out to.

“He goes, ‘Lady Gaga.’ I go, ‘Really?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ He’s the one who really got me to get into her. He literally told me, ‘You gotta get into her. She’s good.’ So, I started listening to her music more and going on YouTube and looking at her performances, and I was like, ‘He’s right.’ “

Payne did not specify in the video when these conversations took place. He said that last November, he got a call from Lady Gaga and told her the story about the conversation with Jackson.

“She got moved by it,”

he recalled.

Source: mjfanclub.net

The plans that began with a Jackson family museum, a center for the performing arts and a 300 room hotel are growing in the Jacksons home town of Gary, Indiana.  Slated to be built on a 100 acre plot of city-owned land that is currently vacant, the project is break ground sometime this year.

New additions to the plans are an amusement park incorporating characteristics of Neverland Ranch and Chicago’s former Riverview amusement park and a golf course.  The amusement park will have roller coasters, trains and other rides familiar those who ever visited the old amusement park or was a guest at Michael’s ranch.

There has been discussion as to whether offer bus tours of the Jackson family home and local places of Jackson history or to build a replica of the house.

“Everything is in the planning stages at this point, but we’re moving on a fast track and we’re looking forward to actually breaking ground sometime in 2010,”

says Odie Anderson, president of the project.

The project could cost $1 billion over a 10-year construction period with private donors paying the bulk of the bill.  Anderson also said that he is looking to Gary for tax incentives.  He did not report how much has actually been raised since October, when Gary mayor, Rudy Clay, announced two new foundations dedicated to raise money for the project.

“We’re trying to extract the best and come up with a combination that made Riverview so attractive for kids of all ages as well as [have] special themes of Neverland that would be reminiscent of the Jacksons,”

Anderson said.

Source: mjfanclub.net