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Brad Sundberg joins Elise Capron and Paul Black for an episode packed with listener-submitted questions, as well as a discussion around Brad’s exciting upcoming seminar events, including his tour through Australia and New Zealand.
Brad worked with Michael Jackson as one of his engineers and his Technical Director for nearly 18 years, starting with Captain EO in 1985. He worked on the BAD, Dangerous, HIStory, and Blood On The Dance Floor albums, and was also responsible for nearly all the music and video systems installed in every corner of the Neverland Valley Ranch property. For more than a decade, Brad has been running In the Studio with MJ, immersive seminars which take place around the world, and which give fan insights into working with The King of Pop in the studio.
For this conversation, The MJCast gave listeners a chance to submit questions to this key MJ collaborator. Brad addresses topics across the board, from details about MJ’s creative process and time in the studio, to Brad’s thoughts around Michael’s legacy, to how the seminars have evolved over the years, and what he has planned in the future.
The MJCast wants to thank everyone who contributed questions — we wish we could have included each and every submission all in our chat!
Questions
1) Paul Black (Email) – It’s been 8 years since you were last in Australia with your seminars, can you tell us how the sessions have evolved, and what differences people can expect this time around?
2) Samuel French (Twitter) – what keeps you motivated to keep going with the Seminars – they are a huge investment of your time for little financial return? … and will we ever see you and Brad Buxer in London? I will be there like a shot! Blessings to you
3) Julia de Vreede (Facebook) – Can’t wait for this episode! 💕 Brad travels all around the world for “in the studio with MJ”. I’m curious what his experiences are meeting fans from different cultures across the globe. In what way does he experience Michaels positive and humble spirit traveling around the world? 😊.
4) Alexandre (Twitter) – Hi Brad, thank you for your seminars, I love them. From the moment you worked with Bruce, and continued for many years, how did your responsibilities evolve, once you were no longer on coffee duty? Did Bruce like to have control or did you have the opportunity to take on more?
5) Alexandre (Twitter) – Sounds like one of Bruce’s greatest asset was his ears. If when playing back a track, Michael said “hurt me”, would you all be running for cover to protect your ears?
6) Gratian Dimech (Facebook) – Hi Brad, I think Michael’s vocals at the end of Earth Song are the greatest a singer has ever recorded. Were you present for that moment? What in your opinion was the greatest vocal you ever witnessed/ worked on by him? Thanks!
7) Jamon Bull (Bluesky) – How involved was Teddy Riley in the Dangerous sessions? Did you witness Michael and Teddy working in the studio together and crafting tracks?
8) Jamon Bull (Bluesky) – Was there ever a released Michael song during your time, where you got the sense he wasn’t fully happy with the finished product? Famously, Michael is on the record feeling that way about WBSS.
9) Andrew Greene (Facebook) – Brad, Michael was known for pushing boundaries with his work. Can you share a behind-the-scenes story where a last-minute technical challenge forced you to innovate on the fly—and how that unexpected fix ultimately elevated the project you were working on?
10) Louis La Roche (Email) – Hey Brad, having been in the room whilst working on the History album, can you tell us if there’s any stories you have of Jam & Lewis at that time? They seem to be absent from a lot of conversations about the album, despite the fact they worked on the 4 songs ‘Scream’, ‘Tabloid Junkie’, ‘2 Bad’ and ‘History’ (5 if you count ‘Is It Scary’). Love what you do, and thanks for doing a seminar in London back in 2018, it was a delight.
11) ConnorJakeElder (Instagram) – Hi Brad, did you ever get to discuss “TDCAU” with Michael, did he ever discuss his thoughts or opinions when recording the track? P.S I’m hoping he let you know the ad libs near the end of the song. It’s a long debated lyric in the fan community. “don’t you sit back and watch the beating” is the widely accepted phrase he uses.
12) JayKay (Twitter) – Michael is a well known jokester, were there any moments where he played any pranks on you, or did something that made you crack up along with him? Or similarly did you do something to make him laugh uncontrollably? Thank you Brad for keeping his legacy alive.
13) ljp4681 (Instagram) – Michael was known for his mischief making-did he ever play a memorable prank on you and what was it?
14) etebeye (Instagram) – In one of your videos, Michael was drinking tea from a mug with the spoon still in it. Was there a time he spilled liquid on the board or broke studio equipment? What format did Michael prefer to listen to music on and did he have a soft spot for vinyl records?
15) ChacoWorldMusic (Instagram) – MJ seemed to embody music as natural as breathing. He didn’t need to play instruments but there are contradictory testimonials and credits of him doing it. Did Brad ever witness MJ playing an instrument? Was the grand piano at Neverland properly maintained in tune? Did he own other musical instruments?
16) ljp4681 (Instagram) – When you were recording Michael’s lead vocals, were you ever overwhelmed that you made a mistake/forgot to do something while recording? Thanks! xxx
17) Alexandre (Twitter) – The second verse of Smooth Criminal is longer in Moonwalker than on the album or any subsequent mixes for the single. Was it part of the original recording, and maybe cut to fit the song on the vinyl, or was it recorded for the movie?
18) DomoBoy92 (Instagram) – Michael had an almost supernatural ability to layer harmonies and create entire arrangements using just his voice. Can you recall a session where he built a song purely from his vocal ideas before instruments were added?
19) Porter_Wolfff (Instagram) – Graham king (producer of the biopic) interviewed people who knew mj to develop the script. Considering they revamped Neverland for the film, did they contact you for any insights about the music systems, the Neverland collection or any other insights you might have?
20) Gareth Morton (Facebook) – Could you ask Brad to expand on a comment he made recently in a radio interview, where he said that Michael was not aging well and that he didn’t expect Michael to live beyond 50 years of age. I realise the sensitive nature of this question and have no issues with Brads beliefs around this. I was simply intrigued to know more about why he thought this, and does he wonder if he could have done something to intervene in the months before Michael passed.
21) nagyito_alatt_podcast (Instagram) – How is your book coming along and who is your favourite Hungarian podcaster 😛 ? But most importantly, what was it like to work with Engelbert Humperdinck (this is a serious question, seriously).
22) Porter_Wolfff (Instagram) – Can you update us on your book?
23) EnviJordan (Instagram) – Would you ever make a documentary to capture all of the information shared in the “In The Studio” seminars? Using the studio footage and everything else. So fans of future generations can still learn and enjoy?
24) DaneThomson8 (Instagram) – What was it like when an album was finished? What would be the final finishing touch in the studio? Did Michael ever have some kind of celebration at the end or would he retreat and relax?
25) Camila Maele Ruud (Facebook) – Hi Brad. Firstly, thank you for keeping MJs legacy alive, you are incredible. Question, – What do you wish the future generations would learn about Michael, so that they will understand him and what he stood for ? 🙏
26) Paul Dwyer (Facebook) – I’d love to know if Brad was witness to any of MJ’s humanitarian efforts. Did any sick or u deprived families or children visit the studios or did he accompany MJ on any hospital visits or did MJ ever speak to him about this side of his work? 🏽
27) Hanan Loukili (Twitter) – How do you feel about this consistent obsessive attempt by the media to tarnish MJ as a human being and therefore deminish his legacy?
28) Paul Rizzo (Facebook) – Does it hurt or annoy you when you see MJ tribute artist/impersonators performing songs like Chicago 1945 after the theft/leak?
29) ConnorJakeElder (Instagram) – Did Michael ever discuss his thoughts on Walt Disney with you, I know you both shared a love for Disney. Keen to hear if Michael ever spoke in depth about Walt with you, Brad.
30) SimonPaulWilkie (Instagram) – Could you name one thing while working with Michael in a studio environment that made it different compared to other work environments you’ve experienced?
31) sentrone0 (Twitter) – Why wasn’t Someone Put Your Hand Out on the Dangerous album? Personally think it’s one of the best songs from that era.
32) Emmet Gates (Twitter) – With the benefit of hindsight, which songs do you think didn’t fit thematically on Bad/Dangerous/History and should’ve been excluded?
33) Eddie Santos (Twitter) – Favorite song on history?
34) Jamon Bull (Bluesky) – Michael Jackson and Donald Trump were hanging out during the HIStory era. Do you have any insight into just how close the two of them were?
35) Maksim (Twitter) – What is your favorite memory of your time with him? Any specific moment you would like ppl to know.
This episode was edited by Paul Black.
Additional Links
• TheMJCast 063: Q Q&A
• TheMJCast 069: C Q&A
• TheMJCast 074: J Q&A
• TheMJCast 099: Leaving Neverland Q&A
• TheMJCast 130: An Evening With Charlie and Jamon
• TheMJCast 147: The Big British Q&A
• TheMJCast 159: E Q&A
• In the Studio with MJ on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
• Brad’s website and seminar tickets.
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