124: Travis Payne Special

Travis Payne, one of Michael Jackson’s most significant, long-time collaborators, joins host Jamon Bull for a very special interview. A world-renowned choreographer, director, and producer, Payne worked closely with Jackson beginning in the “Dangerous” era, all the way until Jackson’s tragic passing in 2009. Over the course of his career, Payne has been honored with the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography four times, and is the recipient of a wide range of other nominations and awards, many of them related to his work on seminal Jackson projects, such as “Dangerous”, “Scream”, and “Ghosts”. Payne toured with Jackson on the “Dangerous” and “HIStory” World Tours, and was involved in many special performances as well, including the phenomenal 1995 MTV Music Video Awards and the ill-fated HBO Special, “One Night Only”. In 2009, Payne was brought on board as Choreographer for “This Is It”, working directly alongside Jackson and Kenny Ortega to conceive of the much-anticipated comeback concerts. After Jackson’s passing, Payne was extensively and intimately involved in the making of the “This Is It” film, serving as its Associate Producer.

In this in-depth discussion, the guys chat about Payne’s experience working with the King of Pop, choreographing some of music history’s most iconic videos, and getting to know MJ well over the course of many years. Plus, Payne gives frank insights into the “This Is It” era—a time which still remains shrouded in mystery and controversy for many fans.

Additional Links
• Travis Payne’s TwitterInstagram and website.

Sponsors
• Crack Corn – Delicious premium puff corn.
• The MJCast’s official shop. Support The MJCast and Michael Jackson all at the same time by buying some of our merchandise.

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If you have feedback on this Michael Jackson podcast episode, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

055: You’re Muted for Two Weeks

Having grown sick of having to keep interviewing Michael Jackson’s friends and collaborators, Jamon and Q appear on their own this week with a good, old-fashioned news round-up.

The show kicks off with the news that Janet Jackson might be touring again soon, followed by the depressing news that Michael’s former manager Sandy Gallin recently passed away, then the even more depressing news that somebody has decided to perform a cover version Man In The Mirror.

The despair continues with the announcements that convicted killer Conrad Murray has recorded an interview with celebrity quack Dr Oz, Taryll Jackson is to undergo televised counselling on a dubious reality TV show and Britain’s Channel 5 – which previously brought us such marvels as ‘Michael Jackson’s Face’ and ‘When Pilots Eject’ – has produced a new Michael Jackson ‘biopic’. Oh, and a Michael Jackson impersonator has started charging fans to go on holiday with him.

But there are some glimmers of hope. World-renowned biographer J Randy Taraborrelli has broken his vow of silence on Michael Jackson and agreed to update his biography for 2019. Jackie Jackson has given an in-depth interview to the UK’s Times newspaper ahead of the Jacksons’ impending 50th anniversary tour. And Brad Sundberg has announced he will host one of his amazing In The Studio With MJ seminars in Los Angeles in June.

After the news, Jamon and Q argue the pros (tracks 1-5) and the cons (the rest) of the Blood on the Dance Floor album, which, frighteningly, turns 20 this year.

News
• 
Reports suggest Janet Jackson may reschedule her postponed Unbreakable World  Tour
• Sandy Gallin, Michael Jackson’s manager during the Dangerous era, has passed away
• Camila Cabello has covered Man in the Mirror
• Universal Orlando’s new thrill ride Race Through New York has a hidden Michael Jackson Easter Egg
• Taryll Jackson and his wife Breana Cabral are to feature in reality TV show Iyanla: Fix My Life
• Conrad Murray is to appear in a May episode of the Dr Oz show
• A bootleg recording of Michael Jackson’s Ghost of Another Lover has leaked
• Brett Ratner has spoken about his appearance in Michael Jackson’s Private Home Movie TV show
• Biographer J Randy Taraborrelli is ending his vow of silence on Michael Jackson and will update his book for 2019, he has announced on Facebook
• A new documentary, titled Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror, has aired
• Jackie Jackson has given an in-depth interview to UK newspaper The Times
• LaVelle Smith Jr has released a video of dancers rehearsing new routines for Michael Jackson’s aborted HBO One Night Only concert
• A Michael Jackson impersonator is charging fans to go on holiday with him
• Brad Sundberg has announced 3 Days of MJ from June 26th – June 28th in Los Angeles

Main Discussion Topic
• 
Michael Jackson’s Blood on the Dance Floor album

Finds of the Week
• 
Jamon Bull – Moonwalk Talks’ Episode 022: The Catalogue is Mine
• Q – Bruno Mars impersonating Michael Jackson in 2001

Additional Links
• 
Janet Jackson’s website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
• Janet Jackson’s official photo with Baby Eissa
• Mike Smallcombe’s FacebookTwitter and Instagram
• Mike Smallcombe’s book Making Michael: Inside the Career of Michael Jackson
• Super Bowl and Michael Jackson: The Story Behind the First Big Halftime Show by Mike Smallcombe
• Photo/list of Michael Jackson’s last recordings
• 
Brice Najar’s book Let’s Make HIStory: An Insight into the HIStory Album
• Christophe Charlot and Antoine Cardinot’s book Travelling With a King
• Katherine Jackson’s restraining order declaration
• Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dance Floor album
• Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dance Floor short film
• Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dance Floor (Refugee Camp Mix)
• Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dance Floor (8mm Version) short film
• The MJCast – Episode 030: Rob Hoffman Special
• Esonic ad
• Michael Jackson – History (Tony Moran’s History Lesson)

Music Breaks & Ads
• 
Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dance Floor (SWG Extended Mix)
• Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow (Tee’s Light AC Mix)
• Michael Jackson – Is It Scary (New Remix)
• Blood on the Dance Floor UK TV Commercial
• Blood on the Dance Floor German Commercial

Connect with Us
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• Facebook
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• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.comKeep Michaeling!

052: Michael Prince Special

Michael Prince worked with Michael Jackson from the mid 90’s onwards, eventually becoming Jackson’s closest studio engineer, a man whom was trusted to capture the King of Pop’s most personal creative visions. From the HIStory World Tour, to the Invincible album, to the beautiful charity single What More Can I Give and right up until This Is It and the final studio songs Michael Jackson was working on, Michael Prince was involved.

Links
• 
Michael Prince’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• Legs Diamond’s Facebook and iTunes
• Charles Thomson’s Facebook, Twitter and website
• James Alay’s Facebook and Instagram
• Los Lobos – La Bamba
• Damien Shields’ One Night Only article
• Michael Jackson’s HIStory World Tour live in Munich, Germany
• Michael Jackson’s Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album
• Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Celebration concert
• Michael Jackson’s I Am A Loser (Demo) and Damien Shields’ article
• Michael Jackson’s A Place With No Name and Damien Shields’ article
• Michael Jackson – What More Can I Give
• Michael Jackson – One More Chance
• Michael Jackson – Hollywood Tonight
• Michael Jackson – Best of Joy (Acapella)
• Michael Jackson’s Hold My Hand (feat. Akon) and Damien Shields’s article
• Michael Jackson – Xscape
• Can’t Get Your Weight Off Of Me leaked snippet
• Michael Prince and LaVelle Smith Jr. on Piers Morgan Tonight

Music Breaks & Ads
• 
Michael Jackson – Blue Gangsta (Demo)
• Michael Jackson – One More Chance (Night & Day Uptempo R&B Remix)
• Michael Jackson – I Am A Loser (Demo)
• Michael Jackson – Hollywood Tonight (Demo)
• Michael Jackson – Best Of Joy (Acoustic) by Nick* and CMCC

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.comMichael On!

Thanks to listener Cody Covington, we now have a full transcript available for this episode. Our deepest thanks and gratitude, Cody.