As the numerous celebrity tributes and historical documents have proven, a lot of people loved Michael Jackson. And even though plenty of people in the media attacked him, Jackson never really had any formal rivals or nemeses, mostly because Jackson was on a much higher plane than most any other contemporary star. But Jackson did have one notable rival in the 1980s: Prince.
It made sense that the two would be put head-to-head, as there were a number of similarities between the two. Both men split the difference between funk, R&B and disco in their music. Both dominated the album charts for months at time (Jackson with Thriller, Prince with Purple Rain). Later, both would become known for reclusiveness and retreat to private compounds (Neverland for Jackson, Paisley Park for Prince), both would raise a lot of questions about their personal lives (Jackson’s legal trouble, Prince’s religious fervor) and both had issues with their record labels (Jackson accused Sony chief Tommy Mottola of being a racist, while Prince spent years trying to protract himself from his Warner Bros. contract).
But did Jackson and Prince really dislike each other? The evidence suggests that the rivalry was for real, if not a bit one-sided. On his 2004 album Musicology, Prince had a lyric that went, “My voice is getting higher/And Eye ain’t never had my nose done/That’s the other guy.” He also ducked out of the Jackson-helmed “We Are The World” sessions (though he did end up donating a song to the benefit album). However, recent interviews with former Prince band members reveal a more genial side. “They’d shoot hoops at Paisley Park,” longtime Prince drummer Bobby Z told the Star-Tribune. Prince had a deep-seeded competitive nature, so it’s easy to see where he would measure himself against Jackson’s success. Engineer David Z told a story about Prince’s attempt to play ping-pong with Jackson. “Michael drops his paddle and holds his hands up in front of his face so the ball won’t hit him. Michael walks out with his bodyguard, and Prince starts strutting around like a rooster. ‘Did you see that? He played like Helen Keller.’”
Jackson didn’t seem to go on record about Prince — in fact, he rarely had a negative word for anybody. Today it’s almost logical for two huge stars to go head-to-head (Jay-Z and Nas, 50 Cent and Kanye West), but it’s doubtful we’ll ever see two huge rivals like Jackson and Prince again.
VH1 Classic spent the weekend paying tribute to Michael Jackson with a series of music videos, performances and documentaries on the fallen King of Pop, and MTV will continue to salute Jackson’s long history of the network. But there are plenty of other high-profile television specials devoted to Jackson starting tonight. Fox will be re-airing the Michael Jackson-themed episode of “American Idol,” which aired back in March and featured Adam Lambert running through “Black or White,” Danny Gokey singing “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and winner Kris Allen’s take on “Remember the Time.” The two-hour show also features performances from other “Idol” cast-offs like Lil Rounds (”The Way You Make Me Feel”), Allison Iraheta (”Give in to Me”) and Anoop Desai (”Beat It”).
NBC is also airing Jackson-themed programming tonight, as they will run a special one-hour version of the 2003 documentary “Living with Michael Jackson,” which made a star out of host Martin Bashir (now a “Dateline” correspondent) and gave the public a look into Jackson’s life. The original documentary, shot for British television, featured a visit to Neverland and a number of images from Jackson’s life that became iconic, including him climbing a tree in his yard and spending millions of dollars during a 15 minute shopping spree in Las Vegas.
And as something to look forward to in the future, Nigel Lithgoe said via his Twitter that he was attempting to clear the rights to Jackson’s music for an upcoming all-MJ episode of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Paula Abdul and Jackson protégé Wade Robson will also be involved in the project, provided that Lithgoe can work out the logistics.
June is nearly over, which means that the Fourth of July is right around the corner. The holiday brings another long holiday weekend, where millions of people will hit the road on beach trips, family reunions and anniversary getaways. Anybody who has ever gotten stuck in traffic during a holiday weekend can thank the Federal Highway Act, which was signed on this day in 1956. The new law established the interstate highway system in this country, which allowed for more efficient travel and interstate commerce.
Of course, the establishment of a national highway system also helped to make the life of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke supremely uncomfortable. The dangers associated with automobiles permeate the lyrics and visuals of Radiohead’s work, from the song “Killer Cars” to the video for “Karma Police,” from 1997’s landmark OK Computer.
Show included floating orbs, aerial dancers. By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson at rehearsals for his “This Is It” tour
Photo: John Shearer/AEG/Concerts West via WireImages
Following Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday, 750,000 people who bought tickets to see him perform at the O2 in London will never get the chance to experience the stunning visual and musical spectacle the singer had in store for them. But, according to reports, AEG Live, the promoter of the “This Is It” 50-date residency, recorded enough of Jackson’s rehearsal material to release at least one live CD/DVD.
Entertainment industry Web site The Wrap reports that Jackson’s final rehearsal at the Staples Center on Wednesday was recorded in multi-camera, high-definition video and multi-track audio. The recording could be released as the singer’s final album, according to unnamed sources close to the now scuttled tour, which was reportedly due to go around the globe following the O2 residency.
The recordings were made as part of a deal cut by AEG Live with Jackson, which included plans to produce a live album and DVD of the singer performing his greatest hits. If the reports are true, the recording could help AEG Live recoup some of the estimated tens of millions of dollars it is expected to lose as a result of Jackson’s untimely death. A spokesperson for AEG Live could not be reached for comment at press time.
The Wrap reported that Jackson had failed to appear at “many” of the scheduled rehearsals over the past two months, but he did appear at the full run-through on Wednesday in anticipation of the July 13 kick-off of the London shows. The final rehearsal reportedly included dancers, musicians and aerial performers, as well as Jackson suspended from a crane at one point and a 3-D view of a “Thriller”-inspired haunted mansion.
On Monday (June 29), USA Today pulled back the curtain on the closely guarded rehearsals, describing an over-the-top Jackson extravaganza that was to feature floating orbs, a flaming bed, lots of pyrotechnics, 20-foot-tall puppets, giant spiders and Jackson breaking out all his signature dance moves.
“He was trying, and succeeding, in structuring the biggest, most spectacular live production ever seen,” said Johnny Caswell, co-owner of CenterStaging in Burbank, California, where Jackson worked on the show from late March to early June before shifting rehearsals to larger venues, according to the paper.
“By the time he left my facility, he had graduated through several studios and was on a soundstage taking up 10ꯠ square feet,” Caswell said. “They moved to The Forum, outgrew that and needed the height at Staples. The show was getting so damn big, they couldn’t finish it in time. That’s why they had to delay.” Caswell said reports that Jackson had delayed the start of the engagement due to health problems were “nonsense,” explaining that the ballooning size of the production caused the push back.
Despite some suggestions that the frail singer with a history of medical problems might not have been strong enough to complete his first full-fledged tour in 12 years, according to USA Today, he was very engaged during Wednesday’s final rehearsal at the Staples Center, where he worked with a crew of more than 80 dancers, choreographers, band members and crew to polish the show.
Jackson began what would be his final rehearsal by putting on a headset and walking to an elevated platform to sing the song “Dangerous,” at first a cappella, then joined by his band.
“Misfits of Magic” founder Ed Alonzo, who worked on illusions for Britney Spears’ Circus tour, joined the Jackson show six weeks ago. He said he designed a number of stunning effects for the King of Pop, including a glowing glass sphere that would float around Jackson and then into the crowd during the opening song, 1982’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” A version of “Dirty Diana” was to feature a flaming bed with a pole-dancing aerialist “playing the part of the fire,” Alonzo said. After the fire woman pursued Jackson around the bed, she would tie him to the bed posts with gold rope, and a sheet of red fabric would spring up in front of him as he struggled in silhouette. When the sheet fell, it would be revealed that it was the woman struggling, not Jackson, and he would then materialize on a stage in the middle of the arena.
“It was an amazing show,” Alonzo said. “The thing was just days away from being perfected. It was incredible. Even though it was just a walk-through with the dancers, his moves were dead-on — the same Michael Jackson we (saw) through the years in music videos.” Alonzo said that while Jackson seemed underweight, he appeared to be in good health and was energetic during the rehearsal.
Jackson’s manager, Frank DiLeo, told the Hollywood Reporter that after finishing the final run-through around midnight on Wednesday, Jackson was feeling good about the show. “He found me and said, ‘Frank, I am so happy. … This is really our time.’ He put his arm around me,” DiLeo said.
For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit “Michael Jackson Remembered.”
Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.
Katherine Jackson appointed legal guardian of Prince, Paris and Prince Michael II. By Gil Kaufman
Katherine Jackson and son Michael Jackson in 2005
Photo: Matthew Simmons/ WireImage
Among the many unresolved issues that have emerged since Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday is what will become of his three children, Prince, 12; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The children were under the full custody of their father, and since his death, they have been staying with their grandparents, Katherine and Joseph Jackson, at the couple’s Encino, California, estate.
A short time later, The Associated Press reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff approved her request for temporary guardianship of the children but did not grant her authority to serve as guardian of the children’s estate.
In making the case for guardianship, the petition filed on Monday reportedly states that the children have “no relationship with their biological mother” and that they are currently in the care of Katherine, with whom they have a “long-established relationship.” Debbie Rowe, the mother of the two elder children, was briefly married to Jackson but gave up her custody rights after she and Jackson divorced in 1999, and the petition lists her whereabouts as “unknown.” The identity of the mother of Jackson’s youngest child, commonly referred to as “Blanket,” has never been publicly revealed, and on the petition, the box next to mother is checked as “none.”
The petition says that the value of Jackson’s assets is not known yet and does not mention if he left a will, but it states that Katherine would be the best guardian for the children because they are “currently residing with paternal grandmother. They have a long-established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.” According to the petition, it is “not known at this time” if Rowe agrees with the action. A hearing to determine whether Katherine will be the children’s permanent guardian is set for August 3.
UsMagazine.com reported that Katherine Jackson was spotted at a Los Angeles Target store over the weekend, stocking up on toys, sleeping bags and other supplies, and an attorney for the family said they had not yet heard from Rowe in the wake of Jackson’s death. Her former attorney told the magazine last week that she was “inconsolable” about the death of her ex-husband.
For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit “Michael Jackson Remembered.”
Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.
[This story was originally published at 1:08 p.m. ET on 6.29.2009]
