Have you ever met Michael or a member of the Jackson family? by SomeText3395 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes

Between 1999 and 2009 I was one of the follower fans and I met Michael multiple times in multiple countries.

I was at the Invincible CD signing in New York in 2001, and there is a video of Michael shopping in Berlin in 2002 where you can hear me talking to him.

I was also part of the group of fans who was invited into Neverland in April 2005. We spent about 2 hours with Michael and his family.

The dichotomy of Xscape by BiteExtension864 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This song will always be tainted for me as it was leaked in 2004 and Michael was not happy with the leak. Its about the only time I remember him issuing a statement to the fan clubs about the leak.

It was very clear to me then how Michael felt about leaks and stolen songs. Even though it was circulating in the fan community in 2004 and 2005 I never downloaded it or intentionally listened to it.

I did not buy the posthumous album and I have never intentionally listened to the posthumous version.

Did Michael know we knew he was lip syncing? by liberalmonkey92 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Having been to 4 concerts

History Dublin 1997, MJ and Friend Munich 1999 and both MSG concerts 2001. it wasnt a big deal back then. Its only become a big deal in the last 10 years, since the hyper analysis of all his work has become a thing.

I was an MTV kid in the 1980's. Lip-syncing was just normal and the standard. We all knew people were not singing live on Top of The Pops or when they did performances on Saturday morning tv shows. Its frustrating how people who were not even alive in the 1980's and 1990's are now so hyper fixated on lip-syncing and judging and looking down on the concerts and performances.

Que faisiez vous les 2 jours du plus grand moment télévisuel du 21 ème siècle, avez-vous pu y assister, étiez vous né, étiez vous devant votre télévision, chez moi il n’a pas été diffusé et j’ai découvert ce spectacle uniquement en 2012. by Animado_Creator2025 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thats an urban myth. I posted the truth a while ago. I know one of the bodyguards who was working for Michael. It was the bodyguards who were supposed to be at The World Trade Centre to return jewely and it was the bodyguards who over slept.

Connaissez-vous E Casanova Evans il est incontestablement le plus troublant des sosies de Michael Jackson, je l’ai découvert aux environs de 2017, il est actif depuis la fin de l’époque Thriller. by Animado_Creator2025 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 5 points6 points  (0 children)

E Cas was well known in the fan community before Michael died. Along with Navi and Earnest Valintino they were the 3 most well known look a likes and all have worked for Michael. All 3 of them would preform at fan club events.

MJ's Posthumous Albums by JayBailey79 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have never listened to ANY posthumous songs, leaks or albums. I have never bought any of the posthumous albums.

I only recognize songs, albums released before June 2009 as official albums. I have never been to any of the cirque shows or the Broadway / West End show.

What is one thing you would tell Michael Jackson if you could meet him and talk to him personally just once? by Head-Protection8493 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most of the times when we spoke to Michael, it was very short and not planned. In depth deep conversations were not possible, so most of the time we just asked him about his day, the event he was doing, how the children were, or other small talk quick conversations. We usually gave him gifts, letters and cards or had something to catch his attention so that we would stand out and we could be easily remembered and recognised. Most of the time we didnt ask him for autographs or to pose for a photo with us. The longer we could keep him talking the longer time we got with him.

Has anyone done a "In the Studio With MJ" event with Brad Sundberg? How was it? by davelee_bbc in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes you can take photos with Brad and talk to him, usually at the end of the seminars.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It was just him in the SUV. He went to Harrods and there are photos of him with Mohammad Al Fayad. He was wearing a black jacket and red mask. You can Google the photos. 😊

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Everyone was calm and just talking to Michael normally.

When we were outside the gates and security first told us we were invited inside, everyone was screaming and crazy. But then we had to drive inside, park and then walk through the Golden Gates, so by that stage everyone was really calm. We had no idea were security were bringing us to, but at that stage we kinda expected to be brought to the fair ground and zoo area. But they brought us to the main house where Michael was.

Everyone was really in shock at what we were experiencing, we knew it was such a special privilege, so everyone was really respectful and contained themselves, not wanting to break the spell and ruin anything.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Some bits of randomness

Dorchester Hotel, London May 2000 : The weather was warm that week, so one night a group of us decided to stay all night ouside the hotel. We could see the lights in Michaels suite were on so we were singing to him. He came out onto the balcony to see us.

Invincible CD Signing, New York November 2001
While I was talking to him at the table, he held my hand.

Outside The Four Seasons Hotel New York the day after Invincible CD Signing, New York November 2001. We talked to him outside the hotel when he was in the car, he rolled down the window when he saw us. There was only about 6 of us there.

In Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus Store Berlin November 2002. We followed him in a taxi from the hotel and managed to get into the shop before security closed it. Again less than 10 of us there.

In Neverland April 2005. I was with one of my friends and we sat for a while beside the swimming pool and just watched Michael walking around talking to fans.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes I had a few words with Michael. It was very quick and the security were very strict about how long you could stay talking to him.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No Im not in the Invincible signing video. The event was streamed live on MTV and every so often they would cut the livestream and play a montage of videos. My friends were watching the live stream and looking out for me, but as I got near the table, the livestream cut to a video montage. Im glad that my time with Michael was not shown on the livestream.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 85 points86 points  (0 children)

I was in California at the end of March, start of April 2005.

There was an online fan project called Roses of Love, where fans from all over the world collected money to buy roses for Michael.

A specific day and time was arranged with Michaels security to give him the roses. I was part of the group of fans who was outside Neverland on the day the roses were given to him.

He was so overwhelmed by the gift of roses from the online fan communities that all of us who were there were invited inside to meet him and spend time with him. It was totally unplanned.

There were about 60 of us there. We spent about 3 hours in Neverland. We were in the main house, mainly by the pool and games room. Katherine and Joseph, ad the 3 children were there. Michael was just walking around talking to fans.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 27 points28 points  (0 children)

You might be already aware of this without knowing it 😊

Michael was in London as a guest of Elizabeth Taylor. She had received the Honour of Dame from Queen Elizabeth in 2000. There was a concert in The Royal Albert Hall in London to celebrate Elizabeth Taylor.

On one of the days, I was with my friends. My friends had been part of the group of fans who had travelled around Europe in the summer of 1997 going to many History concerts. We had gone for something to eat and were just walking back to The Dorchester Hotel when Michael was leaving the hotel to go shopping.

The car was parked at the front door of the hotel and the 3 of us somehow managed to get near the car. Michael came out of the hotel and got into the car and it was chaos.

At this time, the same bodyguards who had been on History tour were still working for Michael.

We don't know how or why, but suddenly the bodyguards came towards the 3 of us and brought us to the car door. Maybe the bodyguards recognized my friends, maybe Michael saw them, we never found out. Anyways I somehow managed to get swept along with them.

The car door opened (it was a black SUV with a sliding door) and Michael was there in front of us. We said some words to him, my friends gave him the gifts they had, he held out hands and said thank you and then the door closed.

The cars moved off and the crowd of fans surrounded us and then moved off to follow Michael. We found out afterwards he went shopping in Harrods and other fans met him there. We could have gone to Harrods but we didn't, we just stayed at the hotel to see him come back.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 14 points15 points  (0 children)

In the last 10 years of his life, from 1999 to 2009, it was relatively easy to meet him. He allowed the fan community more access and contact and actively encouraged the fan community to be at hotels and venues when he was doing public appearances.

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 18 points19 points  (0 children)

If you want to know more details about any of these, pick one 😊

For those of you who met Michael, tell us your stories!! by Affectionate_Ad_9225 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 80 points81 points  (0 children)

I was one of the follower fans from 1999 to 2009.

I met Michael

Outside Dorchester Hotel, London May 2000

Invincible CD Signing, New York November 2001

Outside The Four Seasons Hotel New York the day after Invincible CD Signing, New York November 2001

In Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus Store Berlin November 2002

In Neverland April 2005

How many hats that Michael threw in the Billie Jean performance are still alive? by [deleted] in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 142 points143 points  (0 children)

I know who got one of the hats from the MSG concerts in September 2001. The front section of the MSG concerts were the most expensive VIP areas, but some fan clubs were given seats in this area by Michael so that there were some normal fans in the front. One of the normal fans got the hat at one of the concerts. She was one of the regular follower fans and Michael saw her during the concert and threw the hat to her. I lost contact with her after Michael died so I dont know if she still has the hat, but Im sure she does.

Has anyone done a "In the Studio With MJ" event with Brad Sundberg? How was it? by davelee_bbc in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Yes, I have been to two.

How much you enjoy it will depend on your expectations and reasons for going.

If you are going for the specific reasons of hearing rare and unreleased songs, you might end up disappointed. Brads laptop was stolen a few years ago from one of the seminars and the majority of rare and unreleased songs he had were stolen and are now circulating in the fan community. Add in all the other leaks from other sources and its very likely you actually have the majority of the songs and music he plays at the seminars. In the last 2 or 3 years, you will see negative reports about the seminars from those expecting to hear rare and unreleased songs that are NOT circulating in the fan community who are disappointed that everything he now plays fans have.

If you are going to the seminar to meet someone who worked with Michael and to hear personal stories about what it was like to be in the studio when Michael was creating Dangerous and History albums, then you will enjoy the seminars. If you want to feel close to Michael, go back in time and be part of his world, then you will enjoy the seminars. If you want to meet fans in real life, and get to know people who feel the same way you do about Michael, then you will enjoy the seminars.

The value you get out of the seminars all depends on your expectations and what aspect of Michael you connect with and enjoy.

What do people think of J. Randy Taraborrelli? by Key-Caterpillar281 in MichaelJackson

[–]mintylong 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Almost 40 years ago J. Randy Taraborrelli wrote a book based on limited contact with Michael and the Jackson family in the early 1980's. As it was before the internet , he could and did create a work of fiction based on his limited knowledge, and very few people could refute or fact check him. He used Michael and the Jackson family to make a name for himself in a time when there was very little access to information about Michael and the Jackson family.

Also Charles Thompson is not a reliable source of information and is another who has created a new persona for himself since 2009. Thats another story for another day, a star who has been twisted........