Intervista con l'autore
nterview with Author Lynton Guest.
THE TRIALS OF MICHAEL JACKSON
Conducted Oct 27th
Q: Can you tell us about the title of your new book The Trials of Michael Jackson?
I feel for most of his adult life MJ has been subject to any number of trials & tribulations. The formal court proceedings, of last year, were merely the culmination of a series of what you might call attacks on everything from his artist integrity to his life style. There hasn't been just one trial. There have been many.
Q: Why did you decide to write this book?
I was given, during the course of a casual converstaion, some informatuion which completely contradicted the case that the prosecution were putting forward in court. I was intrigued and just had to carry on.
Q: Why did you decide to structure the telling of the book in the way that you do? Do you feel that this book represents a departure from your previous works? If so how?
I wanted to reach a wider audience than those who already know MJ's story. This is why I include material from many other showbiz anechdotes. I also wanted to show I was not merely a reporter who had done some research but have an initimate knowledge of the way the musioc business works from my own experience. This gives, I believe, credability to those parts of the book where I indulge in interpretation and speculation. It is, of course, a huge departure from most of my other books which have been about sport. While I have written many newspaper and magazine articles which touch on showbiz and muisc this is the foirats time I have written in the sublect in an extended form
Q: What kind of research, if any, went into the writing of the book?
It is difficult to know where to start in answering this question. I interviewed many people on three continents, read all available sources, trawled through years of newspaper coverage and, in the case of SONY, went into their corporate history ion great depth.
Q: What was it like for you to researching the book in Japan? Did you actually speak to anyone at Sony Japan who could provide any information on Sony? Or did all your Sony info come from UK and US?
My info on SONY came from all over the world. If you read the book you will see documented most of the sources I used. I love Japan.
Q: To what extent are you trying to inform people about the actual trials of Michael Jackson?
This is the whole point of the book. I want to open a debate particularly with those people who are always ready with their negative opinions but whose views are generally based on a mixture of ignorance and tabloid sensationalism.
Q: What response do you expect from Sony or the music industry at large? Do you expect much demonization or lashing out from the industry especially from record companies?
It would not surprise me but I cannot really speak on their behalf. Put it this way. If they lash out it would show they are frightened of the book's content. I hope SONY, at the very least, will have something to say but I am not holding my breath.
Q: Do you think that your book may lead to prosecution? Or would your book/information could be used by the Michael Jackson camp to bring a case against Sony for their conspiracy to destroy his career and finances?
It is doubtful whether SONY, Bashir nor Sneddon will ever be brought to account for their actions. Shame though that is their behaviour would be difficult to frame within legal proceedings. This is one of the reasons why this book is important.
Q: Have you had any contact with Michael Jackson or anyone of his advisors? Did you offer them a chance to comment on your book, confirming or denying what you’ve put in your book?
Yes & No!
Q: You touch briefly on the refinancing deal that Mr. Jackson did in April this year, other than the news articles that came out around that time do you have any concrete information about the refinancing?
Are you suggesting the news reports are not concrete? What I will say is sources within the hedge fund industry were very helpful.
Q: Since the refinancing was done after you had finished writing your book (April 2006). Have you seen any of the actual refinancing details yourself?
Not since the book was completed.
Q: Since this book is written from Sony’s point of view, will you write a second book as a follow up to this one to tie up the loose ends and make the story complete or at least present the tale from Michael Jackson’ point of view as well?
I totally refute the suggestion the book is written from SONY's point of view. It is written from a neutral and impartial point of view but, whereas much of MJ's life is public, SONY have spent many years lurking in the shadows. I would love to write a second book but I have to see what reaction and sales this book achieves first
Q: Would you be willing to offer any evidence of the claims you make? Did you actually see any contracts or official documents in the case of Sony and Michael Jackson’s business dealings and contracts? Contracts that are current and still binding?
I saw volumes of documents and contracts. However, the book should stand or fall on it's own intrinsic merit. Remember we are dealing here with some murky goings on. It is not a case, I believe, of what is or is not included in any given document but by how far you feel it expresses truth.
Q: In your book you dedicate a chapter to Martin Bashir, have you talked to him or heard from ABC (his current employers) about your book and what you say about Bashir? You suggest that BBC and Granada knew of Bashir’s falsifying of documents but did nothing about it. Would you be willing to support this suggestion should BBC deny the accusation?
Bashir is extremely important for obvious reasons in the trial of 2005. As for the falsification of documents charge i made against him it would be difficult for the BBC to deny what took place and which I describe in detail because they conducted an internal investigation into the matter. In regard to some of Bashir's earlier investigations as I report in the book I have some personal knowledge of his dubious methods. As for ABC since Bashir did not begin working for them until after his so called documetary on MJ they are only relavent to this book in so far as ABC's lawyers turned up in court to object to every question T-Mes asked.
Q: Since researching and looking into many things Michael Jackson while writing this book, how do you feel about him, his career and his businesses now?
No one can deny, least of all me, MJ is one of the three great stars of popular music. The other being The Beatles and Elvis Presley. I often listen to and love MJ's music. There is no doubt his career has had a momentary stutter but I have been told he will be performing at this year's World Music Awards which are being held in Earl's Court, London. I would hope his finances will recover from the reverses he has suffered in recent years.
Q: With your contacts in the entertainment industry, what is the consensus now about Michael Jackson’s future as an artist/businessman?
There seems to be a divide between those who believe he will recover career and those who believe to the contrary. I would suggest this divide runs in equal measure but I do not have any statistical information on which to base my opinion.
Q: What’s next for you?
In the immediate future I will be talking to the world media about The Trials Of Michael Jackson. Thereafter I will be focussing on my new album "Once & Future" by Science Of Sound which brings bang up to date classic songs from the sixties and seventies with the help of the acclaimed producer, and discoverer of Cat Stevens, Mike Hurst.
Please stay tuned for Part II!
Buy Now at Aureus Publishing’s secure e-shop.
Publishers – Aureus Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1-899750-40-1
Price: £16.99
www.aureus.co.uk
Source: MJJF
Praticamente dice che ha fatto molte ricerche, e sono venuti un po' di nodi al pettine... il libro tratta anche di altri aneddoti accaduti nel mondo nella musica. Sony, Sneddon e Bashir sono presi di mira Lynton Guest, che dice che ha scritto un libro del tutto sora le parti, ecc...
Certo che MJ non sarà sveglissimo, però certo che ne ha di gente a cui sta sul cuXo.
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