Source: MSNBC/Doughouse Radio Yahoo Group
Stacy Brown, a Jackson family friend who is acting as a consultant
on the case for MSNBC TV, conducted this interview with Jermaine
Jackson. Jermaine Jackson has found that keeping busy in a recording studio and behind a typewriter has allowed him to ignore constant media reports concerning the legal woes of his younger brother, Michael Jackson. The elder Jackson, who found success as a solo artist in the 1970's and 1980's with hits such as "Daddy's
Home," "Let's Get Serious," and "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy," has been busy recording new material he hopes to release in the near future.
Jermaine Jackson has also been busy writing a television drama he
hopes will catch the attention of networks such as HBO, Showtime,
FX, NBC and others. But despite his unwillingness to listen to the
constant media reports about Michael Jackson, who is due back in
court April 2 for a hearing on the 7 counts of child molestation his
faces in Santa Barbara, Calif., Jermaine Jackson couldn't ignore
statements recently attributed to his younger brother's ex-wife,
Lisa Marie Presley, and former CBS Records executive Walter
Yetnikoff.
In an exclusive conversation with MSNBC, Jermaine Jackson said many
people appear to be trying to cash in on Michael's misfortunes.
MSNBC: First, let's talk about your projects, they seem very
interesting.
JERMAINE JACKSON: I'm recording a lot of new music, I'm in the
studio all the time, non-stop. It's a lot of hard work, but it's fun.
MSNBC: Does it help you take your mind off things?
JACKSON: It does and I'm getting a lot accomplished. You've got to
keep moving. Keep busy.
MSNBC: Are you happy with what you've done in the studio so far?
JACKSON: Yes. I think everyone will love it. I'm excited.
MSNBC: Is it just you or are you recording with your brothers too?
JACKSON: I'm doing things and we as a family are trying to do
things. It would be great to do new material with my brothers. We
have a lot of music still in us and I know the fans would love it.
MSNBC: Would you like to tell people about the drama you're writing?
JACKSON: It's called "Chicago Times" and it's about a very wealthy
black family who runs a number of high-profile businesses in
Chicago. My vision is for it to be like (The 1980's hit) `Dallas'
where you have a character that everybody loves to hate and where
you have so many sub-plots. The story is coming along really well
too. There are several actors I've already spoken with about it and
they love it. They all say that a network like HBO, where "Sex and
the City" is over now or Showtime, where they've canceled `Soul
Food,' should like it because it has everything that makes a show
great. It has drama, lots of intrigue, a great plot, loads of juicy
sub-plots and it's original. It's a can't miss. Viewers will be
tuning in with great interest all the time.
MSNBC: What else is in store?
JACKSON: Lots of stuff. I'm doing so much. You'll see.
MSNBC: I know that you don't want to talk much about your brother
and his current problems, but I must get your thoughts on a couple
of things.
JACKSON: Go ahead. Just a couple of things.
MSNBC: During a recent interview with an Australian television
reporter, Lisa Marie Presley, intimated that she knew things, which,
of course, was easily interpreted as perhaps she saw inappropriate
behavior between Michael and young children. Today, she released a
statement that read, in part, "Unfortunately due to the recent media
frenzy surrounding Michael Jackson, my comments on a recent
Australian television interview regarding him were completely taken
out of context and erroneously read into. In saying "I saw things" I
was specifically referring to things in that relationship with us,
that went on between us, at the time as husband and wife and that
dynamic." Jermaine, what do you make of her comments?
JACKSON: Why would she say any of that stuff in the first place? I
don't understand why would she do that. I think everybody wants
attention and they are using my brother where they can to get the
attention.
MSNBC: And Lisa Marie Presley's comments come on the heels of former
CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff's new book "Howling At The
Moon," where he calls Michael "weird" and says your brother "was a
strange guy, a little baby."
JACKSON: I don't know why these types of books continue to get
published. All this negativity. Why can't they publish a book that's
positive? That's what I'd like to do, a positive story. Yetnikoff is
obviously just trying to sell his book with those comments. What is
sad is that everybody is trying to kick Michael while he's down. I
will say that once this (molestation case) is over, he's now got to
know without a doubt who his real friends and enemies are.