Author Archives: Jamon Bull

About Jamon Bull

Aussie teacher who loves tech, music, film, history and being a dad. I host a Michael Jackson podcast called The MJCast.

Episode 033 – Vindication Day Special with Scott Ross

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Eleven years ago today, on June 13th 2005, the King of Pop Michael Jackson was acquitted of molestation allegations in a trial that took an insurmountable toll on his life. Although this day is not one we celebrate, it is one we remember each year for the fact that Michael was finally vindicated for the heinous allegations brought against him. On this special episode, The MJCast’s Legal Correspondent Charles Thomson along with regular hosts Jamon Bull and Q interview Scott Ross, a somewhat overlooked figure of the trial, but one whose work lead attorney Tom Mesereau says was crucial to the defence team’s success.

Scott+Ross+Michael+Jackson+Pre+trial+Hearing+HikD4nt5YlelScott Ross has been Tom Mesereau’s go-to private investigator ever since they met in 2002 on the Robert Blake murder case. Mesereau describes him as the best investigator he has ever worked with. Scott has worked on notorious cases including the McMarten Pre-school molestation trial and the Scott Peterson murder case, as well as collaborating with former Michael Jackson attorney Mark Geragos on cases such Chris Brown’s assault on Rihanna and the Winona Ryder shoplifting trial. In 2011 he worked for the defence in Conrad Murray’s trial, where Murray was convicted of Michael Jackson’s homicide. Topics of discussion include Ross’s early career, the Michael Jackson trial itself and his contributions to the defence, his thoughts around the Conrad Murray trial and Scott’s valued reflections on Michael Jackson the man.

Note: The MJCast would like to apologise for the background noise in the first eight minutes of this episode.

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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.com. Michael on!

Episode 032 – Dammn Baby, Dammn Indeed

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Welcome to Episode 032 of The MJCast. On this episode, Jamon and Q talk all about LaVelle Smith Jr. and Bryan Loren‘s upcoming Michael Jackson seminars, Apollo Theatre‘s education program on Michael’s solo career, Kingvention 2016 and a new book by the prolific Michael Jackson author Chris Cadman called Off The Wall For the Record. Following this, the boys delve into 3T‘s upcoming September gig in Amsterdam, Tito Jackson‘s new single Get It Baby (feat. Big Daddy Kane), Janet Jackson‘s new music video for Dammn Baby before covering some heavier news topics such as Pulse Evolution‘s new virtual Michael Jackson model, an update from Charles Thomson on the Cascio Case and the Michael Jackson Estate’s 4th annual birthday bash in Las Vegas. The major discussion topic for this episode is the Chinese release of the official Michael Jackson book Dancing the Dream.

News

  • LaVelle Smith Jr. shows new footage from the 1995 MTV rehearsals and unveils his upcoming Michael Jackson seminars.
  • Songwriter and record producer Bryan Loren will be hosting a seminar September 26th. View the official trailer here.
  • Apollo Theatre‘s education program on Michael Jackson’s epic years.
  • Kingvention 2016‘s official website and their ticket page.
  • Chris Cadman has released Off the Wall For the Record. Check it out at Amazon and Book Depository.
  • 3T are set to perform a one time only concert in The Netherlands.
  • Tito Jackson has release his new single Get It Baby (feat. Big Daddy Kane) on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and Amazon.
  • Janet Jackson has dropped a video for the next Unbreakable single Dammn Baby. Check it this behind the scenes video courtesy of Rolling Stone.
  • Pulse Evolution Corporation reveals that they are working on a new virtual Michael Jackson digital model. MJVibe continues to update us on developments.
  • New footage has been released of Michael Jackson in Japan during 2007.
  • Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris reveals a new Dangerous tattoo on her Instagram page.
  • The 4th annual official Michael Jackson ‘birthday bash’ has been announced.

Main Discussion Topic 

  • Michael Jackson’s Dancing the Dream has been released in Chinese for the first time.

Finds of the Week

  • Jamon – Penn State staff gets the proposal of her life!
  • Q –  Make-A-Wish Foundation’s How Meeting Michael Jackson Changed Her Life video

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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.com. Keep Michaeling!

Episode 031 – Making Michael Special with Mike Smallcombe

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On this special episode of The MJCast, Q and guest host Jason Garcia interview author Mike Smallcombe on his new book Making Michael. Topics include Mike’s own history, the writing and publication process, his experiences in talking with over sixty Michael Jackson collaborators and also his thoughts and opinions around many aspects of Michael’s career.

0bda52_e691823156184024973f2740ce25b857As explained on Mike’s website, “Making Michael delves deep inside the career of one of the most successful, enigmatic and controversial entertainers of all time: Michael Jackson. Side-stepping sensationalism, journalist Mike Smallcombe enters uncharted territory as he takes you behind the scenes to reveal the real Jackson, a man few people ever got to know. Interviewing over sixty of Jackson’s associates including managers, lawyers, music executives, producers, musicians and engineers – many of whom are speaking about their experiences publicly for the first time – he provides exclusive access to one of the biggest-selling recording artists in history. Featuring a foreword by Matt Forger, one of Jackson’s longest serving and most loyal collaborators, Making Michael takes readers into the studio with the King of Pop, charting the creation of record-breaking albums including Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory and the twists and turns that occurred along the way. Untold stories, revelations and secrets finally see the light of day as Jackson’s career outside the studio is also examined. Smallcombe remains objective and doesn’t shy away from exploring the fall outs, Jackson’s relentless pursuit of perfectionism and a cutthroat shrewdness and competitiveness few knew existed.”

Overall, this is a fantastic book on the breadth of Michael’s artistic career, and a brilliant achievement by Smallcombe. If you’re interested in learning more about the art that Michael gave to the world, and back story behind the art’s conception and creation, pick up a copy of Making Michael today.

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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.com. Michael on!

Episode 030 – Rob Hoffman Special

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Michael Jackson collaborator and studio engineer Rob Hoffman joins us for a conversation on this special episode of The MJCast. Rob is a producer, songwriter, musician and recording engineer who has collaborated with some of the most iconic individuals in popular music. From ground-breaking artists such as Michael and Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and P Diddy, Rob has worked with the best. And not just the best artists and musicians either, Rob has had the honour of collaborating with fellow engineers and producers such as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Quincy Jones and Bruce Swedien.

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But it was through his work at New York City’s The Hit Factory studios where he first met recording legend Bruce Swedien, who would go on to become Rob’s long-time mentor. This relationship made possible a four-year period as one of Michael Jackson’s core team members; working on the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I and Blood on the Dancefloor: HIStory in the Mix studio albums, the HIStory World Tour, the ill fated HBO special Michael Jackson: One Night Only and Michael’s seminal film, Ghosts.

Rob had an incredibly important relationship with Michael, allowing him to express himself artistically and creatively with a level of freedom that resulted in some of Michael’s most innovative, creative and complex music.

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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.com. Keep Michaeling!

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Episode 029 – Just the Q of Us

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In this impromptu episode of The MJCast, Q answers listener contributed questions. Completely unscripted, unprepared and off the cuff, Q responds to submissions such as “what is [your] favourite posthumous project?”, to “what is the meaning of life?”. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the internet’s premiere podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family!

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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.com. Michael on!

Episode 028 – Just the Two of Us

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On Episode 028 of The MJCast, Jamon and Q discuss the latest news around Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. The guys kick things off by detailing Tito Jackson‘s new single Get It Baby (coming on May 17th), Mike Smallcombe‘s new book Making Michael and Lady Gaga‘s 30th birthday party, which featured a special MJ gift. Following this, a discussion around a pair of new OG Cano parody videos on what Michael Jackson trap music might sound like and an interesting Dangerous World Tour London leak thanks to MJ Beats. This episode’s main discussion topic focuses on Janet Jackson‘s explosive announcement! Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the internet’s premiere podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family!

News

Main Discussion Topic

Finds of the Week

  • Jamon – Janet Jackson’s All Nite Don’t Stop EP
  • Q –  This is a special request for a sick MJ fan. Fellow MJ fan Scott Devlin is about to go through four months of chemotherapy after having been diagnosed with cancer. Although the prognosis is good, let’s band together as a fan community and show him some L.O.V.E. Mail Scott something to show him how much the community is getting behind him and learn about his story here. You can mail Scott at…

Mr Scott Devlin
7 Burnbrae
Waterside
Kirkintilloch
Scotland
G66 3NL
UK

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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.com. Michael on!

Episode 027 – Sony/ATV Purchase Roundtable

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On this episode of The MJCast, Q and Jamon are joined by friend of the show Damien Shields (author of Xscape Origins) for a roundtable discussion on Sony Music’s seven hundred and fifty million dollar acquisition of the Michael Jackson Estate’s 50% share in the Sony/ATV catalogue. The MJCast’s Legal Correspondent Charles Thomson and Web Assistant Jacob Rathjen also phone in to discuss their thoughts around the situation. Included in this segment is a special appearance by none other than Lynton Guest (author of The Trials of Michael Jackson) in which he offers an expert and educational analysis around the catalogue’s significance, Sony’s continual efforts to acquire it and their recent success in doing so.

In addition to this shocking news, the guys talk about the upcoming 2016 Thriller Studio Tour, Brad Sundberg’s MJU multi-day seminar, Janet Jackson‘s cancellation of more Unbreakable World Tour shows and even more MJ leaks! Lastly, Jermaine Jackson‘s record breaking bejewelled bass guitar and La Toya Jackson‘s new duet, Tehran, are also discussed. Thank-you for listening to another episode of the internets premier podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. We hope you enjoy this episode of The MJCast.

Discussion Topic

  • Bloomberg – Sony Music Acquires the Michael Jackson Estate’s Share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing Catalogue for $750 000 000
  • Music Business Worldwide – Sony’s Historic Buyout of Sony/ATV: 5 Things You Need to Know
  • Forbes – Sony to Buy Michael Jackson’s Half of Sony/ATV For $750 Million
  • Wall Street Journal – Sony to Buy Out Michael Jackson Estate for Music Publishing Unit

News

  • The 2016 Thriller Studio Tour has been announced.
  • More details around Brad Sundberg’s MJU multi-day seminar have emerged. Watch a promotional YouTube video for the event here.
  • Janet Jackson cancels more Unbreakable World Tour shows and a new video for the song Dammn Baby has possibly been shot.
  • New Michael Jackson footage leaks! A rough cut of the 2 Bad sequence in Ghosts!
  • Filmmaker Dan Harmon is set to produce a surreal stop-motion movie around Michael Jackson’s pet chimp, Bubbles.
  • Jermaine Jackson sets a new world record for the most jewels on a functioning guitar by playing Let’s Get Serious for three minutes.
  • La Toya Jackson features in a new duet, Tehran, with Iranian singer Andy Madadian.

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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.com. Keep Michaeling!

Episode 026 – Diana Walczak Special

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Welcome to The MJCast’s first special episode for Season Two, a conversation with none other than filmmaker, artist and Michael Jackson collaborator, Diana Walczak. Before working with the King of Pop, Diana first came to the technology and entertainment industry’s attention when pioneering computer generated imagery in the late 1980’s for Marvel Comics. Following this, Diana began innovating through creating some of the first CGI humans in live action films.

It was in 1994 that Diana had the opportunity to work as a sculptor for Michael Jackson himself when Sony commissioned her to create what has now come to be known as the iconic HIStory Statue. This amazing sculpture of Michael features on his seminal 1995 album, HIStory – Past, Present and Future, Book I and depicts him in his opening pose from the Dangerous World Tour. The statue itself has come to represent Michael’s glory as the King of Pop not only in our hearts as fans, but in physical locations around the world where ten metre versions of the statue from the HIStory era still stand today.

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In this conversation you will hear all about Diana’s life as an artist and filmmaker, her work with Michael Jackson and her current artistic and philanthropic endeavours. This truly is a masterclass in Diana’s artistic endeavours and her own HIStory as a Michael Jackson collaborator. We also discuss her official product line, The Diana Walczak Collection from which 60% of proceeds are being put aside for a permanent Michael Jackson HIStory monument for fans all over the world to visit. Please take a moment to explore Diana’s official product line, there you will find a the HIStory police embroidered patch which is inspired by the patch Michael is wearing on his right arm in the HIStory statue and the stunning heather HIStatue t-shirt! Make sure to get your hands on these limited edition products to support Diana and her vision to further Michael’s legacy through her own art. We hope you enjoy this special episode of the internet’s premiere podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family.

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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.com. Michael on!

Episode 025 – Right Place, Right Time… Black Magic

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On this episode of The MJCast, there’s plenty of news and discussion on Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. Jamon and Q are joined by Paul Black, a long time Michael Jackson fan and Q’s first ever ‘MJ mate’. Paul’s been fortunate to have had some great Michael Jackson experiences, both here in Australia and in Los Angeles, including meeting Michael, doubling for Michael, and singing a Michael Jackson song on stage with none other than the legendary Prince. In this episode, the guys talk about Miguel’s performance of She’s Out of My Life at the Grammy’s, some rough cut Captain EO leaks, more ‘making of’ footage leaks from the set of Black or White and Ghosts, a new snippet of Michael Jackson’s Ghosts (including never before heard ad lib vocals), the passing of Jackson family friend Majestik Magnificent, Donald Trump’s ‘interesting’ thoughts on his friendship with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson’s future performance at the Dubai World Cup, why the Michael Jackson Estate is suing the owner of KingOfPop.com and Quincy Jones‘ lawsuit against the Estate and Sony going to trial in June.

This episode’s main discussion topic is all around friend of the show Paul Black and his experiences with Michael Jackson, seeing Michael live and even meeting him.Thanks so much for listening to the internet’s premiere podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. We hope you enjoy this episode of The MJCast!

News

Discussion Topic

  • Paul Black’s Michael Jackson experiences

Finds of the Week

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Episode 024 – They’ve Got Chalk to Sell

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Episode 024 - They've Got Chalk to Sell YouTube ArtOn this premiere episode of The MJCast’s second season, we kick off 2016 with plenty of news and discussion on Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. Jamon and Q are joined by The MJCast’s regular guest and legal expert Charles Thomson and newcomer to the show Andy Healy, author of the incredible MJ101 series. Andy is a long time MJ fan, having written a number of eBooks on Michael’s audio and visual art. These are must haves for any fan, budding or of vintage…and did we mention that they’re free?! In this episode, Andy tells us about his latest Off The Wall eBook, which then leads us in into a discussion on the latest Michael Jackson release, an Off The Wall reissue which is bundled with the new Spike Lee documentary film, Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off The Wall. In other news, artist Miguel is set to perform on this years Grammy Awards as a tribute to Michael, and to promote the upcoming Off The Wall reissue. In Jacksons news, the brothers wow crowds across Switzerland in the spectacular Art On Ice touring show. The MJCast also delves into the controversy around English actor Joseph Fiennes being cast to play Michael in a fictitious comedy film set around Michael, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando fleeing New York City after the 9/11 tragedy. Next, the boys offer their opinions on the Super Bowl 50 half-time show and Beyonce’s subtle Michael Jackson tribute.

The second half of Episode 024 begins with Charles Thomson giving an expert breakdown on the Serova V Cascio/Porte/Estate/Sony case. Make sure to access this link to read the latest documents in the case exclusively at The MJCast. And will someone call a plumber?! The leaks just won’t stop! The MJCast breaks down the recent Dangerous Tour concert and rehearsal video leaks courtesy of MJ Beats. A new book from the creators of The Dream Lives On podcast and The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, takes a sophisticated, academic approach to understanding Jackson’s art and life, providing insights into his entire body of work from a perspective never before available outside of music/culture journals. Lastly, we delve into our main discussion topic, our thoughts on the new Spike Lee Off the Wall documentary. We look forward to hearing your thoughts also! And in Season Two, our popular Finds of the Week segment returns! Thanks so much for listening to the internet’s premiere podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. We hope you enjoy our first episode of Season Two!

News

Discussion Topic

Finds of the Week

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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.com. Keep Michaeling!