Category Archives: Specials

Episode 042 – Michael Jackson & Prince Roundtable (Part 2)

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Welcome to part two of our Michael Jackson & Prince roundtable discussion, a new format for The MJCast which a panel of expert participants discuss a particular topic in depth. For this second and concluding episode, returning guest Paul Black continues moderating our discussion around the two legendary entertainers, Prince and Michael Jackson. Participants again include Samar of The Michael Jackson Academia Project, Casey Rain and Kim Camilia of The Violet Reality, Charles Thomson, Jamon Bull of The MJCast and of course, Paul Black. Beginning with an exploration into the participants personal experiences with Michael Jackson and Prince, Paul then leads us in a comparative discussion around the unfortunate deaths of both artists, their commitment to challenging expectations in a corrupt entertainment industry and finally their impacts on culture, style and fashion.

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Topics

  • Our personal experiences with Michael Jackson and Prince
  • The deaths of Prince and Michael Jackson
  • Artistic independence (challenging the industry)
  • Cultural impact
  • Michael and Prince as style/fashion icons

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Episode 041 – Michael Jackson & Prince Roundtable (Part 1)

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Welcome to the first roundtable episode of The MJCast, a format in which a panel of expert participants discuss a particular topic in depth. For this debut roundtable, returning guest Paul Black moderates a discussion around two legendary entertainers, Prince and Michael Jackson. Participants include Samar of The Michael Jackson Academia Project, Casey Rain and Kim Camilia of The Violet Reality, Charles Thomson, Jamon Bull of The MJCast and as mentioned, Paul Black. Beginning with an exploration into the participants own experiences and views on both artists, Paul then takes the conversation in the direction of Prince and Michael’s individual strengths as recording artists and live performers, all while exploring their similarities, differences and awareness of each other.

Participants

Topics

  • Our own views and experiences around Michael Jackson and Prince
  • Sexuality
  • Studio musicianship
  • Live performance

Links

The Violet Reality on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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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!

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Episode 035 – MJ101 Special: The Performances

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On Episode 035 of The MJCast, Jamon and Q are joined by prominent Michael Jackson author Andy Healy. Andy has been writing on Michael for a number of years with his MJ101 series. Starting back with his debut MJ101 book in 2013 called Greatest Songs (which counts down his picks for the 101 best Michael Jackson songs) he then branched off and released other supplementary books in the 101 lineup, including The Short Films, The Remixes, Off The Wall and HIS2ORY.

ipadpro101Andy’s books are not only known for providing great factual detail and deep opinions around Michael’s art, but getting conversations going between fans around what Michael’s best work actually is.

Today, as an exclusive for The MJCast, we are proud to announce the launch of Andy’s brand new entry in the MJ101 series, The Performances. Listen to this latest episode of The MJCast which features a fascinating interview with Andy Healy to learn about his early years as a fan, his writing process, his own thoughts and opinions on Michael’s catalogue and of course lots of great detail around his new book…

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Episode 034 – June 25th Special feat. Kevin Stea

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Seven years ago today on June 25th, 2009 the King of Pop, Michael Jackson tragically and unexpectedly passed away amidst preparations and rehearsals for his final live concert tour, This Is It. For fans around the world, the pain still lingers on… It’s times like today the fan community comes together to remember, honour and reflect on the magical life that was Michael Jackson’s and the love and timeless art he gave to the world.

Joking on the set

World renowned dancer, singer, actor, model, director and choreographer Kevin Stea joins us on this special episode to celebrate Michael’s life and to reflect on his time working with the King of Pop. Kevin collaborated with Michael on the Black or White and Blood on the Dance Floor short films and also the MTV 10th Anniversary Special. Not only has Kevin worked with Michael Jackson but he’s also worked extensively with other industry luminaries such as Prince, Madonna, Rihanna, George Michael, David Bowie, Lady Gaga and many, many more.

Following a conversation with Kevin, Q, Jamon and guest host Paul Black explore Paul’s experiences in Los Angeles prior to Michael’s death in 2009 and during the week leading up his Memorial before handing over to some of our listeners to discuss how Michael should be remembered. Thank-you to all contributors who submitted audio. We are also honoured to have been able to use this episode as a way to debut a beautiful spoken word poem by Angela Kande Forever and the brand new Remixed by Nick* Michael Jackson track Jam (Nick* Redux).

For fans who are struggling during this time of year, we hope this episode acts as a way for you to connect with other MJ fans around the world. In this episode there are moments of joy and moments of sadness, but through it all, remember that we are all fans of Michael. We will carry on his message of love and positivity as a way of honouring his memory and everything that he gave to the world. Together we will Michael on.

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A 2016 piece by artist and Michael Jackson collaborator Nate Giorgio.

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 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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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 023 – Christmas Extravaganza!

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Merry Christmas, listeners. What a year it’s been for The MJCast! It astounds us to think how much success we’ve had over this past twelve months. We’d never have guessed our little Michael Jackson podcast would have been received so well. Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts. We recently put together this Christmas Extravaganza episode for everyone to enjoy over their holidays. With such a long running time (over five hours), we’d suggest you listen to it in portions rather than in one sitting. Though if you want to binge out on The MJCast, feel free to do that as well! In this episode, Jamon and Q kick things off with a brief discussion around the latest MJ news, including Thriller achieving 30x multi-platinum status, a possible new biopic on Michael Jackson (but this time from the point of view of Bubbles the chimp) and Spike Lee’s new artwork for his upcoming documentary, Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall. Following this, Jamon and Q reflect back on the year that’s been through taking the listener on a journey through some of their favourite clips from each of the previous twenty-two episodes. They follow this up with a chat around their favourite MJ and the Jacksons related products from the year before closing out the show with their hopes and wishes for 2016. Keep your ears open for the post show Season One gag reel after the outro music!

Honestly though…thank-you for making this show what it is. The MJCast wouldn’t have come as far as it has without the support of the listeners and guests. We are committed to honouring and furthering Michael Jackson and his family’s impact and legacy and look forward to an even more amazing second season in 2016 with extensive commentary on all things MJ and interviews with more special guests. Keep an eye on our social networks, as we will still be very active on them keeping our audience informed of any developments in the MJ world. From everyone here at The MJCast…best wishes for your holiday season. Stay safe, look out for each other and spread L.O.V.E. and happiness wherever you can.

News

  • According to the RIAA, Michael Jackson’s Thriller has become the first ever 30x multi-platinum selling album. See ‘announcement’ here.
  • Is there a new biopic on Michael Jackson coming…but narrated by Bubbles?
  • The artwork for Spike Lee’s new MJ documentary Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall is here!

Discussion Topic

  • Jamon and Q take a look back at the last twenty-two episodes of The MJCast…providing commentary on some of their favourite moments before reflecting on their favourite Michael Jackson and Jacksons related products of 2015. We also talk about our future hopes for our podcast.

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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 and merry Christmas!

Episode 020 – Taj Jackson Special

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Welcome to another special episode of the internet’s premiere Michael Jackson podcast, The MJCast. On this milestone 20th episode, Jamon and Q have the absolute honour of speaking with a Jackson family member for the very first time, singer of the hit pop group 3T and star of the new reality show The Jacksons: Next Generation, Taj Jackson.

Tariano Adaryll Jackson II, better known as Taj Jackson, is the eldest son of legendary guitarist of The Jacksons, Tito Jackson and his wife Delores ‘Dee Dee’ Martes. Being born into a musical family of stratospheric fame, Taj along with his brothers Taryll and TJ, began playing instruments from a very young age and showed strong promise as musicians in their own right.

It wasn’t long before the entertainment industry noticed 3T. A record deal was signed and in 1995 their debut album Brotherhood was released…and it took the world by storm. Reaching heights not unlike what their uncle Michael and auntie Janet were accustomed to, Brotherhood sold three million copies worldwide, spawning the hit singles Anything, 24/7, Why?, Tease Me, I Need You and Gotta Be You. It wasn’t long before Taj, Taryll and TJ were household names, with new music by the boys being included on the soundtracks of feature films such as Free Willy and Men in Black.

Roughly ten years after Brotherhood, the world saw the release of 3T’s brilliant sophomore album Identity which features the two singles Sex Appeal and Stuck On You. Following this era, Taj and his brothers continued working on 3T but also engaged in other avenues, with TJ taking on guardianship of his uncle Michael’s three children, Taryll continuing to work with his gift of music production and Taj fighting tirelessly for his family name.

Now, in 2015, after the final episode of 3T’s fantastic new television show The Jacksons: Next Generation, 3T have finally dropped their long awaited third album, Chapter III. Taj has joined us today to speak all about the origins of 3T, their new album Chapter III, their new TV show and of course…thoughts and memories around his uncle, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. We hope you enjoy this special episode of The MJCast!

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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!