Anyone who thought the blowing sands and billowing hijabs of Bahrain could hold the "childlike" attention span of Michael Jackson for more than a year has been drinking Jesus Juice.
Jackson's longtime spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said in a statement yesterday that Jackson is planning to move to Europe for business reasons, and planning a return to performing. He has been visiting Ireland and France and holding meetings "charting out his musical future and career." Bain said Jackson is "reviewing numerous offers to tour musically, which he plans to embark upon within the next several months. Mr Jackson has previously announced plans to record an album, which he predicts will be released in 2007."
Michael Jackson in Japan in May, scanning the horizon for signs of his career.
Bain also announced that MJ has dumped his long put-upon team of accountants at Bernstein, Fox, Whitman, Goldman and Sloan; abandoned his Bahraini lawyers; and created a new business called The Michael Jackson Company with internationally known sock puppet Raymone K. Bain as general manager.
"He is very serious about his music," she said. "When you are a creative person and the creative juices are flowing again and you're about to embark on new projects, you want to make sure your organization is running smoothly."
These and other changes, including hiring New York-based entertainment lawyer L. Londell McMillan to handle his business affairs, are the first of a "sweeping restructuring of his personal and business affairs," said Bain.
McMillan's firm, which handled Prince's extraction from his Warner Brothers contract in the '90s, is "known for business restructurings and turnarounds," Bain noted.
Jackson will maintain a house in Bahrain, Bain told AP, and has no plans to sell his Neverland ranch in Southern California, which was closed down in March.
"He still owns Neverland and he's still providing the funding for its upkeep," she said. "I'm sure at some point in time he will move back to Neverland, that's not out of the question. It's not in the immediate future but it's not far-fetched."
In April, (now former) Jackson adviser Grahame Nelson announced that the singer had "restructured his finances with the assistance of Sony." Jackson had been due to pay back $200m in loans in December, which had been secured against his half of the Beatles music publishing catalog, jointly owned with Sony. Reports said the deal would ultimately see Jackson sell half of his 50% share in the billion-dollar catalog to Sony, leaving his share at 25%. As well as 200 Beatles songs, the Sony/ATV catalog includes songs by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Babyface, Beck, Neil Diamond, Stevie Nicks and hundreds of others, though the Beatles portion is thought to account for up to two-thirds of its value.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
I wonder how Jackson will be treated in Europe after everything that's gone on over the last few years.
2 - Nancy
Jackson must have discovered that little boys in Bahrain aren't quite as freely available as he'd hoped they'd be. All those billowing jellabas create SUCH a wrong impression.
3 - Lesline
Nancy, you are ignore as Hell....
4 - Don
Once a Pediphile always a Pediphile its only a matter of time before it happens again....mabey this time he will be found guilty if he is caught ....
5 - Eric Olsen
that, and I think he was startled to find that he could not summon the industry to him - he would have to go to it in order to make anything happen. And being a big fish is a very remote pond is only interesting for a limited time
6 - pat
mike has ancestors in ireland. in nortern ireland i believe. jackson in quite a common name in ireland. ie Andrew Jacksons parents hailed from ireland so it makes sense that he find his white roots.
they will accept him nicely as irish people like myself are very friendly and generous. in addition he was proven innocent in a court of law. let him be for now. if he is actually guilty in a future case then try him and convict if necessary.
i say, enjoy ireland, mike. i lived there for 12 years. you will have a good life there.
cheers
Pat in palm beach
7 - Abi
My affection for Michael Jackson is unlike any other love and support that I've shown for a celebrity in my lifetime. I truly hope that things improve for him in Ireland. He is really an amazing person and a person I admire. I will continue to pray for him and his children.I am thankful that this article was able to provide me with all the necessary info about Michael in Ireland.
8 - Hillary
Michael jackson is an extraordinary person. To this day, I continue to listen to his magnificent thriller album. I love him more than ever because he his strong, intelligent, perservering, and kind. I am certain that his upcoming album will be a success. Like me, he has a lot of fans who miss him terribly and anticipate for his new album.I hope his move to Ireland will open doors for him. I love him, I love him, I love him.
9 - Elizabeth
Michael, no matter how many derogatory comments you have to put up with, you are still standing tall, and bold. I hope your move to Ireland will be permanent. Along with those who condemn you, there are several of those who continue to praise you, and support you unfailingly.I'm obsessed with you, to be honest.
10 - Steve
Abi, (alias Hillary & Elizabeth),
It's good that you are at least self aware! Unfortunately obession has a downside, blinding oneself to the truth! If Michael does the same, he will never escape the sad state that he's ended up in. Those who speak the truth might not always be kind... but kindness hasn't help Jackson to make very good choices has it?
11 - RODNEY
Michael you are my every day insipration and i love you.i truely cant wait for the new album and i will always keep supporting you..there is no one that i have seen have a more positive and astonishing effect on his fan..And AS i said before,I LOVE YOU MAN
12 - yonas
i love you michael
13 - Valeri
Good I only mean that I like much Michael Jackson, and that never I am going to forget it because I like much susu songs and as she dances… Good I hope that to you also they like like a me. Good and without nothing else that to say an admirer takes leave of Michael Jackson
Bye...
14 - John O'Hara
Did anybody here that Michael Jackson has bought a castle in the quaint village of Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath. Its just 10 mins away from Mullingar where he was reportedly looking at property there in Irishtown. He also has stopped of in this castle numerous times secretly while taking a break from recording with Will-I-Am from the Black Eyed Peas in Grouse Lodge Studios, Moate. He has been bowling with his kids in Jumping Jacks in Tullamore and only last week was at the cinema in Mullingar to see The Santa Claus 3. Apparently he paid €4.3 million for it and plans to convert it to use as his Irish home...
15 - rajj
Michael Jackson c notre roi de gay et de l'homosexulité.. Michael Jackson tous les gay et les homo.. sont fier de toi ... je suis arab mais je suis gay gay je peur pas de ca je suis libre .... coool
16 - sami
micheal j, is actually a good singer and he has been a real idol.For all you on here that have said bad things about him must be really sad with themselves.If you don't know him how can you on here judge him.You don't even know if he really did anything to any of them boys.We have no real prof.
17 - chyara
Are you become muslim? I very happy if you like that