by Robin Leach

Michael Jackson’s long-awaited return to ‘King of Pop’ status has begun and it’s being masterminded by the mysterious, secretive British entertainment tycoon who is behind the phenomenal success of Simon Cowell’s ratings juggernaut ‘American Idol’ and David Beckham’s $250-mega-million deal that is bringing the soccer king to the United States.

I can exclusively reveal that megastar producer-manager, Simon Fuller, has held top-secret strategy planning meetings in Vegas with Michael and Emmy award-winning director-choreographer, Kenny Ortega, who has created two of Michael’s previous smash, sell-out world tours. By the way, Kenny won his first Director’s Guild of America award on Sunday for outstanding achievement with his ‘High School Musical’ production for Disney.

They invited me to join their dinner in a private room behind the watchful eyes of 2 security guards at Steve Wynn’s Wing Lei Chinese restaurant at the mogul’s Wynn resort hotel and casino. It’s Michael’s fourth visit to the Epicurean Award-winning restaurant since moving to Vegas ending his 18-month self-imposed exile from the US living in Dubai and at Michael Flatley’s castle in Ireland.

Ironically, Michael who normally shuns cameras, was undetected just 100 feet away from the 200-strong media mob reporting on Paula Abdul’s ‘Woman of the Year’ award and star-studded attendees. A bit later when I told Simon Cowell, who was also in Vegas for Paula’s award, that his partner was just around the corner, he laughed and said, “Doing another one of his world-shaking mega-deals, I suppose.”

As manager to international soccer-star David Beckham, Fuller, the extraordinary deal-maker, won him a five year $250-million contract — the largest sports pay-package in history – to move with his ‘Posh Spice’ wife, Victoria Beckham, to Beverly Hills and play for the L.A. Galaxy Major League Soccer team. Incidentally that was Beckham, with Martha Stewart and LL Cool J, in one of the high-priced $2.5 million Superbowl ads on Sunday — another coup for Simon Fuller launching Beckham’s bid for American stardom.

Michael, who was looking well, relaxed and very happy told me, “I’m doing fine and am well and really enjoying myself in Vegas. It’s a great place to call home.” His hand shake and voice were strong and firm. On Michael’s pending Vegas show and return to pop royalty, Kenny added, “We’re talking business and looking at lots of different possibilities. This is a blue-sky time with a lot of different scenarios up in the air. We’re working through all of them to find the best – the one that makes the most sense that’s good for everybody.”

I was reliably told that if anybody could transform Michael into a box-office megastar all over again, it would be entertainment mogul Simon Fuller, “This is the perfect match: the world’s biggest pop-star being looked after by the most successful mogul-manager in the world.”

Fuller is often confused with Simon Cowell — particularly as they are close friends and so intertwined with ‘American Idol’s’ non-stop soaring success including #1 ratings in 21 different countries. Fuller though, is the brains behind its $1-billion haul from advertising, merchandise and music. He is said to have earned $60-million personally in 2003 alone and that’s a figure that grows annually. In addition, he promotes and manages such ‘American Idol’ stars as Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken in addition to being the longtime manager of Annie Lennox and the now solo careers of Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton and Mrs. Beckham.

There’s an incredibly unique tie-in with another Vegas connection for Michael. Fuller (seen here with Kenny and Michael) divides his time between London, Los Angeles, and the French Riviera, and is also said to have numerous growing investments in Lake Las Vegas real-estate ventures with Cowell. But it’s the mega-deal he struck with American billionaire, Robert F X Sillerman, that’s worth noting in all of this. Fuller’s 19 Entertainment was purchased a year ago by Sillerman for a whopping $190-million and Fuller wound-up a director of Sillerman’s CKx and still running the 19 group. CKx is partnered with Cirque du Soleil in an upcoming Elvis Presley-themed show, planned for MGM’s City Center. Sillerman who owns licensing and merchandising rights to numerous celebrities and their estates exploits the Presley estate with authority by both Priscilla Presley and Lisa-Marie Presley who were in Vegas this weekend celebrating the King of Rock’s daughter’s 39th birthday! Gossip historians know that at one time, Michael and Lisa- Marie were a tabloid headline romance item during their marriage!

As an added Vegas twist, Sillerman bought a 20% stake in the Broadway version of Mel Brook’s ‘The Producers’ which is opening a Vegas version of the musical with David Hasselhoff. It’s easy to see that all of Michael’s current financial asset entanglements could be unraveled and made whole by the Sillerman-Fuller brain-trust as super Svengalis – and then relaunch his career bigger and better than ever before.

First stop though for Michael, who will celebrate his 49th birthday on August 29 this year — the same birth date as mine coincidentally — is Japan. He’ll fly from Vegas next month for two fan-appreciation events on March 8 and 9.

Says Michael, “Japan is one of my favorite places in the world and I am very grateful to my fans there who have always been my strongest supporters and have helped me achieve several historic milestones in my life.” Some 300 VIPs, paying over $3300 each, will hold a meet and greet handshake photo-session with Michael on day one with general fans massing for a get-together on day two.

Michael, who last performed a concert in Madison Square Garden back in 2001, is not expected to perform while in Japan, although he has created charity fund-raising records and TV specials with large groups of other pop stars in the interim. Although he’s had more than 12 #1 chart hits, the last was in 1995 and he hasn’t toured since the mid- 1990s.

He remembered that the last time he and I had met was over breakfast as guests of Donald Trump at his Atlantic City Trump Plaza hotel. But this visit together was not the time or the place to discuss his self-imposed 18-month exile after the Santa Barbara acquittal of child molestation charges in 2005. Michael lived for a while in the oil-rich nation of Bahrain before moving onto Ireland as a longtime guest in the sprawling castle of ‘Lord of the Dance’ creator Michael Flatley.

Michael returned to the States six weeks ago on Christmas Eve, as Luxe Life reported here back on December 24. He moved into a home on the west side of Vegas near Sahara and within easy reach of the Strip. In addition to a long dinner with Steve Wynn, which resulted in speculation about a possible Jackson show there, Michael’s also met several times with Vegas deal-maker Jack Wishna who said:, “Michael is poised to return to the top of the entertainment world soon. He is one of the greatest all-time entertainers in the world.” Wishna is the businessman who engineered Trump’s Vegas debut with the $2.8 billion Trump International Hotel Tower, which is nearing completion on the Strip near the New Frontier hotel across from Steve Wynn’s resort hotel casino.

MAGIC MAN

Michael was happy to discuss how he’s been spending some of first month in Vegas. He told me he enjoyed taking his children to see Lance Burton’s magic show at the Monte Carlo. “I really love magic,” he said. “I really liked his show. It’s amazing and very enjoyable. I love getting caught up in the magic.”

Protected by his own security and Monte Carlo security, Michael went in through a back security entrance rather than cause a scene with fans and sat in the lower mezzanine un-noticed in front of the sound booth – and just as the show was ending, he took off so the audience wouldn’t be distracted from Lance’s curtain calls.

Michael has only given one quick telephone interview since returning to Vegas although he did speak at the Atlanta funeral of the late soul singer James Brown. He confirmed officially to me a funny interview story about the Associated Press reporter covering the ‘King of Pop’s’ return to the United States to live. The rules were that the reporter could not disclose his Vegas residency and was allowed only one question. When the AP reporter asked how Michael was and he answered that he was fine, that was considered the one question!!

So for me, it was an honor to be invited into the inner sanctum. I found Michael relaxed and confident — happy that the troubled past was getting put all behind him and happy that he’s begun rebuilding his career again. “It’s a whole new Michael here in Vegas,” I was told. ” He feels comfortable here. He loves being able to go out and basically not get hassled. He likes the restaurants here for the food but his favorites are the shows. I think he’ll get to see everyone of them over the next few months. It’s the first time in a long time Michael is feeling less pressured and much at ease. He is ready to go to work again and is in a great space and a wonderful sense of mind.”

To celebrate, this weekend Michael was out and about again- enjoying The Beatles LOVE musical at the Mirage. After the late-show, he visited the LOVE boutique to pick out some Beatles show souvenirs – and surprisingly even happily posed with fans for photos with his ever-watchful security agreeing to relax the normal rules for his safety. Then he went backstage to meet the cast and crew of the show congratulating them on their performances and thanking them for the spectacular show.

“They were in awe of him and he the same about all of them. He was very respectful and told them it was an incredible experience that he’d remember forever. I think he’s going to bring his children into see it next,” one of the company staffers told me.

For now though, the only public outing has been of his three children, who ave been spotted on was a visit to the Circus Circus hotel attractions here on the Strip. Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II, also known by nickname Blanket, didn’t even bother with disguises when they went on the amusement rides there — naturally under the watchful eye of their nanny and Michael’s team of bodyguards along with the Circus Circus security staffers.

KEEP THE BOOGIE ALRIGHT

Michael’s friendship and professional relationship with director and choreographer Kenny Ortega dates back many years. and once again they are teaming up. “Be it a concert tour or a show staged from Vegas they’ll tackle it together,” said a friend. “They have complete trust in one another so it will be their project going forward.”

The Emmy-winning 30-year career choreographer was responsible for the hit ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ and ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ movies. He also staged over his 20-year tour career world concerts for Michael, Barbra Streisand, Cher, The Pointer Sisters, KISS and Diana Ross. His choreography on Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’ movie also won him awards. Currently Kenny, who created the live Sirens outdoor show spectacle at the Treasure Island, is in the early stages of a secret project being created for Steve Wynn’s resort here and Luxe Life is sworn to secrecy! He will helm the follow-up sequel to ‘High School Musical’ being filmed in Utah this Spring.

MICHAEL’S COMEBACK SPECIAL

With the triple-threat team in place for Michael’s return, he’s already started work on a new album. Some of the tracks have already been recorded at Flatley’s Irish castle with the help of will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Don’t be surprised if Michael and will are spotted when BEP plays the Orleans Arena during NBA All-Star weekend to work out the best way to finish the tracks they’ve selected to go with. Says will, “I’m a real fan of his. You get to work with just a couple of great people during your life who shed light on the Earth and Michael is one of them.”

Michael, Simon and Kenny happily posed for our Luxe Life photos. I told them all that everybody was eagerly awaiting Michael’s return to the limelight and that Vegas was delighted he now called our city his new home. ” Its all going to be good, very good” said Michael, and Kenny added: “We’re going to get it done and when it is you’ll know it’ll be the right way working out for the best for everybody involved.”

Source: Vegas Pop Blog

On the web site of the 49th Annual Grammy Awards you can vote for the greatest Grammy moments. Michael is nominated for his unforgettable ‘Man In The Mirror’ performance.

Please support him by voting here. Thank you!

Source: CBS, MJFC

Producer swears it’s not a case of mistaken identity
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Bridget Bland

Maybe the ever-reclusive Michael Jackson needs to start getting out in public more often, so people can get reacquainted with what his voice sounds like. It seems like whenever he reaches out personally to work with somebody these days, no one thinks it’s actually him. The latest person to get confused was none other than one of the hottest producers in the game right now, Will.I.Am.

“He called me on the phone and asked me to get down with him,” Will said recently. “I didn’t think it was him at first. I thought it was somebody joking around.

“He was like, ‘Nobody ever believes it’s me,’ ” Will continued, giving his best light-voiced MJ impersonation. “I was like, ‘No, seriously, who is this?’ He says, ‘It’s Michael Jackson. This is me.’ I was like, ‘Prove it. Say, “I’m bad!” Let me hear you.’ ”

Whether or not Jackson actually said, “I’m bad,” will have to be left up to our collective imagination. But the two did talk over the phone a couple more times, and Will says he was on a plane to Ireland to record with Jackson a week later.

“It was Mike,” the Black Eyed Peas’ leading man continued. “I’m a fan of the dude. He’s the smartest dude I ever met. I met James Brown, had the opportunity to work wit’ him too. You get a couple of great people to help you live your life. You got your Michael Jacksons, your James Browns, Princes, Nat King Coles, just to shed light on the earth.

“Michael Jackson, he told me what rock and roll meant,” he added. “He said, ‘Rock and roll, you know, that means having sex. That’s what they used to say back in the ’50s: “You ever rock and roll?” ‘ Chillin’ with him, you have a outlook on what Michael Jackson will be like. He still is real proud of being black. A lot of times he’s repressed in the media, so you don’t think that.”

Will says he’s not sure if any of his music will end up on Jackson’s next album, but they’re continuing to talk and try to figure out what they need to do to finish their tracks.

Source: MTV

By Kevin Burchall

Superstar Michael Jackson could be making a surprise visit to Swindon.

The sensational news was revealed by Jackson’s close friend Matt Fiddes, who confirmed to the Adver that he has invited the King of Pop to his home town.

The martial arts guru was the man behind Tito Jackson’s recent visit to Swindon and will be on hand as Jermaine Jackson launches his anti-bullying campaign in the town on Monday.

The 27-year-old former St Joseph’s Catholic College and Greendown student is confident the most famous member of the Jackson Five will follow in his older brothers’ footsteps.

“Michael is not going to give me an answer straight away as he has to check his schedule, but I’m pretty confident we can make it happen,” said Matt.

“I know he wants to come over and support his brother’s anti-bullying campaign. Michael has been to Exeter before to do a charity event with Uri Geller back in 2002.
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“He went down and met some sick kids and went to the football stadium, so if he went there, I can’t see why he wouldn’t come to Swindon.

“He is going to Japan for a fans’ event, so we may not find out for a few weeks what’s happening, but I’m in close contact with Mark Lester, who is with Michael as we speak.

“Mark played Oliver in Oliver Twist and he is my eldest child’s godfather. I met Mark through Michael and we have remained close ever since.”

Matt became friends with the pop star after being introduced to him by psychic spoon bender Uri Geller.

He then became the singer’s unofficial bodyguard whenever he visited Europe.

Matt’s celebrity connections and success are all the more remarkable considering he was bullied at school and told he would never make it in business because of a lack of qualifications.

But after leaving the town at the age of 16 he has set up a network of more than 400 martial arts schools throughout the UK and Europe.

He has just signed a multi-million dollar deal to take his brand of martial arts into Australia and New Zealand and has recently been voted Instructor of the Year by Martial Arts Illustrated magazine. And his strong ties with the Jacksons will be further emphasised when Jermaine pays a visit to his martial arts school in Station Road. The Big Brother runner-up will launch a national anti-bullying campaign with Matt and Pat O’Driscoll, the manager of Centre Fitness in Station Road Industrial Estate, where Matt’s martial arts school is based.

It follows the allegations of racism and bullying on the Channel 4 show.

NOBUL will be rolled out across UK schools and, as well as promoting a anti-bullying message, the campaign will also seek to promote anti-racism, respect for others and help to improve the motivation and education of those failing in school.

Matt said: “Jermaine will be talking to the children about adopting the right values throughout their lives, why bullying is bad and how by being nice to people gets you places.

“I really believe that every child can achieve success if they really want to. I like to think that I am an example of that. We shall also be talking to children about the dangers of drugs and how to say no to peer pressure, and we can teach some basic self defence moves as well.”

Jermaine will visit the Matt Fiddes Martial Arts School at 4.30pm on Monday.

Source: Swindon Advertiser

To Fanclub Admins and Mods: Re Yesterdays Photos on TMZ

I’ve received quite a few inquiries from fans asking if they should post these pictures. I have responded by telling them that they should not, because Mr. Jackson feels that it is a violation of the children’s privacy.

Our attorneys have contacted the photo agency which peddled these photos demanding that they pull them from each and every site that they have illegally sold them to.

I would appreciate it if you would advise the fans of the same, as you have the list of all of the sites and their Presidents.

Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Raymone K. Bain

The popularity of Jermaine Jackson is quite high just now since his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother and fans wishing to meet him can do so this weekend!

While helping Matt Fiddes with his anti-bullying campaign “NOBULL” Michael’s Big Brother will visit over ten locations to raise awareness of the effects of bullying has in schools across the country.

The location fans will be interested in is the Imperial Hotel in Barnstaple. Jermaine will hold a meet and greet with fans wishing to meet him outside the hotel from 8pm-10pm on Sunday 4th February.

The campaign will start on Sunday afternoon in West Sussex before moving onto Barnstaple, Swindon and Uxbridge. Four primary schools will be visited by Matt and Jermaine on Monday 5th February.

To find out more about the NOBULL campaign, click on the link below to visit the website.

NOBULL Website

Source: MJNI

As previously reported, Jermaine Jackson has joined forces with Michael’s long-term friend and bodyguard Matt Fiddes to campaign against bullying.

Jermaine joined Matt’s campaign, called NOBUL, following the final of reality show Celebrity Big Brother, where he finished runner up to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who herself was a subject of bullying and racist comments made by fellow housemates.

“Jermaine has just left the Celebrity Big Brother House, where as we all know, Shilpa Shetty was the subject of a lot of racial discrimination”, said Matt. “Jermaine is such a great guy who is very anti bullying, so it seems fitting that he is going to help me to launch a nationwide campaign”.

The campaign will begin in Barnstaple, and will also visit Taunton, Bridgewater, Weston, Swindon and Uxbridge in London. More locations may follow.

“I really believe that every child can achieve success if they really want to - I like to think that I am an example of that as I was bullied when I was at school,” said Matt. “We shall also be talking to children about the dangers of drugs and how to say no to peer pressure, and we can teach some basic self defence moves as well. We are planning to set up a visit to a primary school in London as the capital’s schools have the worst truancy record in the UK.”

The campaign begins Sunday 4th February and will see Jermaine visit Matt’s Martial Arts school and Devon. Monday 5th February will see the pair visit Ashleigh Primary School before moving onto other locations.

Source: MJNI

Jermaine Jackson said on Monday he wants his brother Michael to convert to Islam; and he believes the reclusive superstar has given it serious thought.

“Michael, I feel, needs to become a Muslim because I think it’s a great protection for him from all the things that he’s been attacked with, which are false,” said the former Jackson Five singer who now lives in Bahrain.

“There’s a strength and protection there,” Jackson told BBC Asian Newtwork after finishing runner-up to Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in the “Celebrity Big Brother” TV reality show that was marred by accusations of racist bullying.

Jackson said he believed his brother had given conversion “serious thought” during long spells in Bahrain.

“I was the reason why he had gone there because I wanted him to get out of America and just go somewhere it’s peaceful and quiet and people pray five times a day which is beautiful.”

Jermaine Jackson said his faith helped keep him sane in the enclosed confines of the British reality TV program where the contestants are kept cooped up under 24-hour surveillance.

“If I didn’t have Allah and my prayer rug, I would not have survived and the reason why is because it kept me focused, it kept me calm,” he said.

Source: Reuters

Hot off his appearance on U.K. reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother, Jermaine Jackson will conduct an anti-bullying campaign around schools.

Along with Matt Fiddes (friend and bodyguard to Michael) the campaign will start in Barnstaple this Sunday at Matt’s martial arts school before moving on to a local hospice.

Then on Monday morning Jermaine will visit a school in Devon before moving down to London to visit more.

During his time in the Celebrity Big Brother house Jermaine was named as the calming influence and saviour on several occasions during rows between Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and reality TV star Jade Goody. Shetty’s treatment was globally discussed as Goody and two other housemates bullied the actress and were even seen to be making racist remarks.

Exclusive MJ will give you more information about the campaign when it is released.

Source: MJNI

A businessman sentenced to home detention for conspiring to videotape Michael Jackson illegally is doing his time at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey.

Jeffrey Borer, sentenced in October for conspiring to sell a videotape of Jackson in 2003 when the pop singer faced child molestation charges, has been paying his debt to society with access to a harbor-side pool and restaurant, two tennis courts and a spa.

Lloyd Kirschbaum, Borer’s attorney in an ongoing civil case, said Borer is detained at the hotel for six months at his own expense because his Marina del Rey house is infested with mold, to which his wife is allergic. “It’s all squared away with the probation department,” Kirschbaum said.

Borer, owner of the Santa Monica charter jet company XtraJet, and Arvell Jett Reeves, owner of a Chino aircraft maintenance firm, installed video cameras in one of Borer’s Gulfstream jets. The cameras were used to videotape Jackson and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, on a flight from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara in the midst of Jackson’s molestation trial.

The videotapes came to light when Fox News reported in 2003 that a private party had offered to sell them to the network. Borer, 62, pleaded guilty in March to the federal charges.

Federal probation officials declined to comment on Borer’s detention. But Daniel N. Shallman, the federal prosecutor in Borer’s case, called the hotel stay “outrageous.”

“When someone is sentenced to electronic monitoring, normally the presumption is he’s not going to be holed up in a four-star hotel,” said Shallman, now a lawyer at O’Melveny & Myers.

Source: Spokesman Review