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30/04/01 Macaulay Culkin Describes Friendship With Michael Jackson!

The New York magazine's upcoming May 7th issue features an interview with actor Macaulay Culkin in which he describes Michael Jackson as among his very best friends in the world. Culkin said about his friendship with Jackson, "We had very similar experiences in childhood. We're both going to be 8 years old forever in some place because we never had a chance to be 8 when we actually were." Culkin and Jackson first became friends when he was 9 and he and his family were invited to Jackson's Neverland home. Said Culkin, "It was a child's dream, with every kind of soda in the world there, every kind of candy. A two-floor arcade, a carnival and a movie theater" The 20 year old actor is currently featuring in the acclaimed play "Madame Melville" showing at the "Promenade Theatre" in New York City. "Neverland is still the only place on earth where I feel absolutely, 100 percent comfortable", said Culkin.

Source: MJIFC

25/04/01 Jackson Heads For Wales?

It's been rumoured that Michael Jackson will play Cardiff's Millennium Stadium if he comes to the UK during his much mooted world tour later this year. The 'South Wales Echo' has reported that the King Of Pop is the most highly desired act for the stadium's officials in 2001. It would be only the third time he has visited Wales in 13 years. The date for the release of Jackson's next album is still undetermined but October and December have both been slated. According to MJNI the newspaper stated that although the stadium is keeping tight-lipped about the possible show, a mystery promoter has paid a visit to the complex for inspection. It also reports that the venue's retractable roof would not stop a winter date for Jackson and predicts that it would be the ideal location for the already hotly tipped Jacksons reunion tour. As yet none of the Welsh newspapers predictions have been officially confirmed.

Source: Dotmusic

25/04/01 Jackson Fulfills Destiny!

Michael Jackson is planning to record with both Fred Durst and Destiny's Child for his long-awaited new album, it has emerged. Jackson, working on his first new album for six years, is said to have recorded with both Destiny's Child, the current Number One holders in the UK, and Bizkit's Fred Durst. However, The Sun reports that Jackson's determination to ensure the project is recorded to his satisfaction may delay the album yet again. Originally scheduled for June, it is unclear when the album will be released. However, a source in the US claims: "Michael is a big fan of both Fred Durst and Destiny's Child and they both jumped at the chance to work with him. "He loves their music and instead of competing with them he decided the best thing was to work with him." Jackson has already been linked with a massive list of other contributors on the album, including Prince, Santana, Mariah Carey and Will Smith.

Source: Dotmusic

21/04/01 Michael Jackson Concerned About Child Slavery - UPDATE!

On Thursday, Rabbi Boteach had issued a statement which said that Jackson is planning a trip to Africa to study child slavery there. Michael Jackson's spokesperson Cheir Fein stated on Friday that there was a miscommunication and that although Jackson is deeply disturbed about reports of child slavery in Africa he does not plan to visit Africa for this purpose. Fein said that Jackson is currently engaged in finishing his upcoming album and in gearing up for the Madison Square Garden concert in September.

Source: MJIFC

20/04/01 Michael Jackson And The Firm Separate!

Michael Jackson and management company "The Firm" have parted ways recently, according to Reuters. Cheri Fein, Jackson's spokesperson, commented, "All I can say is that it didn't work out." Specific reasons for the separation were not made public by either party. Jackson had selected "The Firm" in early 2000 as his management company. This incident will not affect Jackson's upcoming album release and concert schedules.

Source: MJIFC

20/04/01 Michael Jackson Concerned About Child Slavery!

Michael Jackson issued a statement Thursday displaying his extreme concern for children sold into slavery. According to Rabbi Boteach, Jackson plans to travel to Africa in order to study issues related to child slavery. Jackson said, "The existence of child slavery shakes me to my very core. Children need a childhood. They can't be forced to work." Rabbi Boteach, who is expected to join Jackson on his African trip, said, "The other night, Michael called me crying like a baby when he heard about the child slave ship lost off the coast of Africa." Boteach said, Jackson is willing to take time off from his album release schedule, if necessary, in order to pursue this mission. The schedule for Jackson's African trip has not been announced.

Source: MJIFC

20/04/01 Michael Jackson Sculpture At Auction!

At 7 pm on May 15, auction house Sotheby's of New York will auction a porcelain ceramic blend sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles. The sculpture created in 1988 and titled "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" is the third one of three identical casts created by the American born contemporary artist Jeff Koons. The sculpture's dimensions are 42w x 70 1/2h x 32 1/2d inches and it belongs to the artists' "Banality" series. Koons is best known in art circles as an artist who recontextualizes and recreates common every day objects and visuals that reflect various aspects of public consumerism. For "Michael Jackson and Bubbles", Italian ceramicists were directed by Koons to create an oversized figurine from a publicity photograph of Jackson with his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles. The first two casts of this sculpture are in the following two collections: The Dakis Joannou Collection Foundation in Athens and San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art in the U.S.A. The sculpture has been exhibited in Paris, New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, and Athens. The sculpture is expected to fetch between US $3 million and $4 million during the auction.

Source: MJIFC

20/04/01 Jackson To Fight Child Slavery!

Michael Jackson is planning a trip to Africa to crusade against the plight of children sold into slavery, it's been reported. The King of Pop allegedly burst into tears when he heard the recent news reports about a ship that was carrying children sold by their parents for slavery lost of the coast of Africa, earlier this week. The ship was eventually located and it has not been proved that child slaves were aboard. The father of two said in a statement: "The existence of child slavery shakes me to my very core. Children need a childhood. They need to play and run and have fun. Childhood is the greatest gift of life that must be preserved. "I don't think we can turn a blind eye to something like this. They can't be forced to work. I want this slavery to end, now and forever." Rabbi Shmuley Boteach will be joining the singer on his voyage to the developing country Sudan later this year. He is the co-founder of Michael's 'Heal The Kids' charity organisation. The Rabbi said: "The other night Michael called me crying like a baby when he heard about the child slave ship lost off the coast of Africa." The star will take some time out of his busy schedule promoting his forthcoming album to spearhead the African mission.

Source: Dotmusic

19/04/01 Santana Records With Michael Jackson!

According to MTV, popular artist Carlos Santana has recently recorded a track with Michael Jackson. Santana says, "I was very honored that he called on me to work with him, and I love the song. He gave me a call last week, and he was really happy with it." A Jackson spokesperson confirmed to MTV that this collaboration is for Jackson's new album. Planet Jackson reports that Santana's guitar solo was recorded in a San Francisco studio in February. Jackson was not present during the recording session. The official release date for Jackson's new album has not been announced.

Source: MJIFC

19/04/01 Jackson Goes Under The Hammer!

A life-sized sculpture of Michael Jackson on a bed of roses, holding his pet chimp Bubbles is to be auctioned in New York. The sculpture, which was made by controversial artist Jeff Koons in 1988, will command a price of around Ł2 million, when it goes under the hammer at Sotheby's on May 15. Laura Paulson, director and senior vice-president of the contemporary art department at Sotheby's in New York claims that, by using surgery, Michael Jackson has himself become a living sculpture. She states: Michael Jackson and Bubbles is arguably the single artwork which epitomises the eighties.

Source: Dotmusic

19/04/01 Jackson Splits With Management Company!

It's been reported that Michael Jackson has parted company with the entertainment management company The Firm. The company behind the careers of chart-busting American acts such at Limp Bizkit and the Backstreet Boys have alleged decided to drop the King of Pop only months before his next release. The Firm have declined to comment on the report but Jackson's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, has confirmed that the singer no longer uses their services. He said: "It just didn't work out, and Michael Jackson thanked them for all of their hard work on his behalf."
A music industry website has reported that the company were not notified of Jackson's plans to play a 30th anniversary show at Madison Square Garden with his brothers and other guests. The all-star concert set for September was announced earlier this week. Jackson has only been managed by The Firm for the last year and during this he has been working on his next album which will hits shops in the autumn. The forthcoming long-player is thought to be critical to Michael's career as he has not released any material since 1997's remix compilation 'Blood On The Dance Floor'.

Source: Dotmusic

17/04/01 Jackson Goes Pop For Tribute!

Michael Jackson is all set to team up with Britney Spears, *NSync, Whitney Houston and his brothers for a Jackson 5 reunion as part of a tribute concert this autumn.
The huge event, entitled 'The Solo Years 30th Anniversary Celebration', will take place at New York's Madison Square Garden on September 7th and it'll be the first time that the Jackson's have been on stage together since the 1980's. The King of Pop will be performing at least one song with boy wonders *Nsync and will also duet with Spears and Houston, reports an American website. Other artists slated to make an appearance are soul diva Jill Scott, Shaggy, Mya and Marc Anthony.
Jackson has said in a statement: "I am very excited to celebrate my 30th anniversary as a solo artist with such a distinguished array of talent, friends and fans. "I look forward to performing live and reuniting with my brothers on this special night." The forthcoming production will be a lavish affair, according to Jackson's publicists, and will feature a 300-strong gospel choir, a 48-piece orchestra, 40 dancers and 12 backing singers. The tribute show is being recorded for a two-hour television special to be screened in the US.

Source: Dotmusic

16/04/01 Madison Square Garden Concert Honoring Michael Jackson!

Michael Jackson is celebrating his 30th anniversary as a solo artist with a concert to be held at New York City's Madison Square Garden on September 7, 2001. Cheri Fein, Jackson's publicist, announced today that the all-star concert titled "Michael Jackson: The Solo Years - 30th Anniversary Celebration" will honor Michael Jackson with appearances by Whitney Houston, Jill Scott, Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Marc Anthony, and Shaggy. Jackson's brothers are slated to reunite on stage with him during the event which will be recorded for a 2 hour special TV telecast. The event will feature a 200-member chidren's choir, a 48 piece orchestra, over 40 dancers, 12 background singers, and a 300-member gospel choir. Jackson commented: "I am very excited to celebrate my 30th anniversary as a solo artist with such a distinguished array of talent, friends and fans. I look forward to performing live and reuniting with my brothers on this special night." Tickets for the concert are scheduled to go on sale in June.

Source: MJIFC

04/04/01 Will The real Ms Jackson Please Stand Up?

A gambler from Bishop's Stortford has bet that Michael Jackson and LaToya Jackson are the same person. Gambling regular Terry Brooks, 32, believes that LaToya and Michael's skin has remarkably lightened simultaneously over the years, making him think the 45-year-old sister is in fact the same person as the self-styled 'King of Pop'. "Every time he has an operation and gets paler, LaToya also appears to become whiter," claimed Brooks. "As far as I can tell, they have never been seen or photographed together. Their voices also sound remarkably similar." A spokesman for William Hill betting shops said: "This wager is obviously a difficult one to prove, but who knows?" "I've never seen Michael and LaToya together either."

Source: Dotmusic