A Candle for Michael Newsletter May 2019 Sharing MJ news and comment from the World Wide Web • “Thriller Live” extends its run in London’s West End The celebrated Michael Jackson tribute show “Thriller Live” has extended its run at London’s Lyric Theatre for another 12 months. Producer Paul Walden said: “In our 11th year Thriller Live continues to do remarkably strong business and the fact we are today announcing another long extension into 2020 should tell you all you need to know about the state of the show’s box office.” One of the longest-running shows in the West End, “Thriller Live” is now booking until 5 April 2020. It has been seen by more than 5 million people in 33 countries since it began. Source: London Evening Standard • Michael celebrated at festival in Nantes, France At it’s annual Carnival parade, the city of Nantes in France has this year paid tribute to Michael Jackson, in particular to Thriller and Smooth Criminal. See photos of the float and some of the costumed performers on MJ Vibe’s blog, click here. • Brad Sundberg interviewed by Hector Barjot Well known MJ collector and YouTube video creator Hector Barjot interviewed Brad Sundberg recently. Brad of course worked for Michael from 1984 to 2000 and shares his many stories of Michael behind the scenes in the recording studio and at Neverland in his “In the Studio with MJ” seminars. (See our calendar for forthcoming events.) Watch Hector’s video interview with Brad here. • Liam McEwan’s documentary and TV Interview A documentary made by New Zealand-born filmmaker Liam McEwan gives the other side of the Leaving Neverland story. Titled "Neverland Firsthand” the mini-doco includes interviews with Taj and Brandi Jackson. Following its online release, Liam was interviewed on Channel 7 Australia’s Morning Show. • MJ T-Shirt range released in China Editorial With other retail outlets like Cotton On and H&M removing their range of Michael Jackson t-shirts from sale, and Louis Vuitton Welcome to another issue of our Newsletter – we’re still here, and withdrawing all MJ items that were premiered at Paris Fashion Michael is still loved and being watched and listened to despite Week, it’s refreshing to read that one of the biggest retailers in the attempts of his detractors to silence him. In this past month China, SEMIR, has bucked the trend by releasing a range of we have seen considerable gains made in exposing the lies of the MJ tees. See examples on MJ Vibe’s blog. Leaving Neverland allegations. This is largely on the strength of the facts publicised by MJ fans in many countries, by the • Over 13,000 visitors to On the Wall in three weeks – Bonn testimonies of members of Michael’s family (especially Taj and In its first three weeks in Germany, the Michael Jackson On the Brandi Jackson) and by his Estate. Wall exhibition at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn had attracked more than 13,000 visitors. "Our art exhibition should just not The truth is that Michael’s music is being streamed on various deal with Jackson's biography, but it should reflect how artists online music platforms more than ever. Many of us have from around the world react to the person Michael Jackson," temporarily put aside our CDs, vinyl records and DVDs to said exhibition director Angelica Francke. Source: WDR contribute to Michael’s streaming statistics. It’s one way to let the public, media and music industry know how much he is still loved. • Michael’s star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Fans were distressed to discover last month that Michael’s Keep on Michaeling and #streamingMJ every day! much-visited star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame had suffered Kerry Hennigan damage. Many fans completed online requests to have the star repaired as soon as possible, and by the last weekend in Kerry Hennigan April the repairs had been made, as reported by MJ Vibe. Global MJ Pilgrim (“I’m with the doll”) Editor 'A Candle for Michael Newsletter' Admin: Michael Jackson's short film 'Ghosts' fan group • Siedah interviewed for “Mirroring Michael Jackson” film Blog: https://kerryhennigan.wordpress.com Siedah Garrett has filmed an interview for inclusion in the forthcoming documentary “Mirroring Michael Jackson”. Siedah says she was focusing on Michael’s music, philanthropy and Calendar of MJ Events his impact on her career. Directed by Christopher Broughton, the film features many members of Michael’s creative team, Until 14 July - Michael Jackson On the Wall – Bonn, Germany including Vincent Paterson, Travis Payne, Alex Al and Jennifer Batten. Well-known MJ impersonators Carlo Riley and Sergio 14 May – In the Studio with MJ 2019 (2 night event) - Milan Cortez are also included in the cast list. 18 May – In the Studio with MJ 2019 – Zurich • Podcast and video interview with Tom Mesereau 23 May – scheduling conference for MJ Estate v. HBO case Last month political commentator John Zeigler recorded the first extensive interview with Tom Mesereau since "Leaving 25 May – Major Love Prayer Day www.majorloveprayer.org Neverland" aired. Watch a video of part of the interview here, th and listen to the entire podcast here. 16 – 20 Jun – MJ 10 Anniversary Week, Los Angeles 22 Jun – MJKOP 10/10 anniversary event at The Graff Lab, Los • Lucy Lester talks about Michael Jackson Angeles For details visit the event page on Facebook. Lucy Lester, daughter of former child actor Mark Lester of “Oliver” fame, has gone public about the Michael Jackson she 25 Jun – MJ innocent Peaceful Protest Rally/Fan photo near knew as a child in an exclusive interview. “Having to hear M. Tussaud’s & MJ’s star, Hollywood Blvd. Bring signs & posters. people say things about him when they don’t know him is th probably the most difficult thing of all. I can speak from 29 Jun – Michael Jackson 10 Anniversary Celebration, the personal experience and all I can say is that I never thought Backlot Studios, Melbourne there was anything untoward. Michael was a lovely family man. 21 Aug – Michael Jackson On the Wall, Espoo, Finland I don’t get into arguments about it. There’s no point. But there https://emmamuseum.fi/en/exhibitions/michael-jackson-on-the- is nothing that has made me feel like it [the allegations] could wall/ possibly be true." Read the full article as blogged by MJ Vibe. Mark Lester’s other daughter, Harriett, previously defended 21 Sep – Advance Notice – KINGVENTION – Central London Michael and shared her memories of him from her childhood. You can read her story (a series of tweets posted by her father on her behalf) here. News of Note • Gardner School MJ Auditorium Vote Estate Co-Executor and Lawyers speak at Harvard • Gardner Elementary School held a vote late last month to allow An event held April 16 at Harvard’s Institute of Politics in parents to determine whether or not to keep Michael’s name on Cambridge, Massachusetts titled "Trial by Media: Guilty Until the Michael Jackson Auditorium. And the decision of the Proven Innocent" featured Michael Jackson Estate co- majority of the parents was in favour of retaining Michael’s executor John Branca and estate legal team Howard name. Read the story in the LA Times. Weitzman and Bryan Freedman. John Branca spoke publicly for the first time about Leaving Neverland and indicated that • Beyoncé vs MJ? Nigerian fans aren’t having it additional litigation -- this time against the documentary's According to an article in Africa News, Nigerians are flatly director Dan Reed -- may be forthcoming. The attorneys had refusing to entertain any comparison between Michael Jackson harsh words for the documentary and Reed, telling an and Beyoncé after a recent flurry of posts on Twitter. Nigerian audience of approximately 20 they were determined to defend fans quite rightly pointed out the number of albums Michael has and rebuild Jackson's reputation in the wake of Leaving sold, his global recognition “in every corner in every forgotten Neverland. "I knew the man, I had my feelings about the man, village of the world”, and the fact that Beyoncé loves and and I don't like what has happened where you can't hear the acknowledges Michael as her inspiration. other side of the story," Branca said during the panel presentation. "There are real world implications and • Forthcoming film from dancer Lavelle Smith Jr repercussions when somebody says something like was said A forthcoming documentary titled The Man Behind the Dance, [in Leaving Neverland]." featuring dancer, choreographer and Michael Jackson After the panel discussion, Branca told Billboard, "Those collaborator Lavelle Smith Jr will be a 2-part production with the people made up a goddamn story because they wanted first part dealing with the death of MJ, the allegations, the last money and we will not allow that to go unchecked. It’s that performance, the last conversation, the creative process, the simple.” Branca also said he believes the law surrounding tours and Michael as a person, from Lavelle’s perspective. MJ defamation of deceased persons should be reevaluated. Vibe reports that the doco is due for digital release at the end "Because the laws of defamation are what they are, there is of May from Think Video Belgium. Watch a trailer for it here. nothing we can do or say," Branca said. "The man can be damaged, his kids can be hurt and theoretically nothing can • Reminder – One Rose for MJJ Campaign 2019 be done. I'm going to suggest the law should be changed to Don’t forget to purchase your long stem roses to carpet the protect the deceased at least for a period of time.