The MJCast - A Michael Jackson Podcast

Veteran concert pyrotechnician “Pyro John” Watkins joins hosts Shawn Shackelford and Elise Capron for a special conversation about his work behind the scenes on The Jacksons’ 1984 Victory Tour. John spent decades creating pyrotechnic effects for some of music’s biggest acts, including KISS, Rick James, Journey, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Dio, and many more. He recounts his experiences with these artists and numerous others in his (extremely irreverent, no-holds-barred) memoir, Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am? In this discussion, John explains how he entered the world of pyrotechnics, recalls the artists he worked with before The Jacksons, and reveals how he was selected for the Victory Tour. He also shares the story of missing his first flight to rehearsal and arriving at Zoetrope Studios to discover that Michael Jackson had stayed behind to meet him. John recounts that unforgettable first meeting with Michael, shortly after the Pepsi commercial accident. He discusses Michael’s concerns about his…

Starr Hayes, founder of the legendary Jackson Dolls Fan Club, joins host Shawn Shackelford for a fascinating conversation about her decades-long relationship with the Jackson family. Beginning with her reaction to the “Michael” biopic, Starr reflects on the film’s portrayal of Michael, Katherine, Joseph, and the family dynamic, while sharing what it was like to witness the Jackson phenomenon firsthand. The discussion explores the origins of the Jackson Dolls, Starr’s experiences as a young Black fan during the Jackson 5 era, her personal encounters with Michael and his family, visits to Hayvenhurst and Neverland, and memories from the height of Michaelmania. Starr also offers unique insights into Michael, his brothers and sisters, Katherine and Joseph Jackson, and the enduring bond between the family and their fans. The episode concludes with reflections on the losses of Michael, Joseph, and Tito, as well as the Jackson family’s lasting legacy and continued connection with supporters around the world. This…

Vincent Paterson returns to The MJCast, joining Elise Capron and Q for a listener Q&A. Paterson, who first appeared on the show in 2017 (on #TheMJCast064), is an iconic director and choreographer whose career has spanned across film, theater, pop music tours, TV, commercials, and much more. Within the MJ fan community he is, of course, best known for his work with the King of Pop. With Michael Jackson, he played a central role in creating some of the most memorable moments in pop culture history, from the short films for “Beat It” and “Thriller”, where he was a lead dancer and also assistant choreographer, to working on the short films for “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Speed Demon”, “Dirty Diana” and “Smooth Criminal”, (for which he developed Michael’s unforgettable “lean” move), and, later, the “Black Or White” and “Blood on the Dance Floor” films. He also worked on the live performance side, directing the Bad World Tour, the 1988 Grammys performance, the MTV 10th Anniversary performance, the Super Bowl, and…

J. Randy Taraborrelli, the man who was sat right behind Michael Jackson in court as the verdicts came in, joins host Charles Thomson for the MJCast’s annual Vindication Day Special, recognizing the 21st anniversary of Jackson’s resounding 2005 acquittal. Randy is the author of more than 20 books, most of which have become New York Times bestsellers, including his landmark Michael Jackson biography, The Magic and the Madness. After years of silence, he has granted The MJCast what he says will be his first and last Michael Jackson podcast interview. He first met Michael in Philadelphia in 1970 (thanks to an invitation from Diana Ross) and last spoke to him in the years after the trial. In this discussion, Randy tells Charles about getting to know Michael, writing his book, navigating the allegations in his dual role as a friend and a reporter, and almost coming to blows with Evan Chandler. He recounts covering the trial, explains how the Cascio family drove him out of the Michael Jackson business, and tells us…

Scorpeze, Matthew Allen, Nicole Starling, and Rochelle Jones join host Shawn Shackelford for a roundtable discussion of the ‘Michael’ biopic as viewed through the Black cultural perspective, sparked by the film’s major success and the return of global Michaelmania. The panel explores Michael Jackson’s legacy through race, media, celebrity, and cultural memory, tracing his journey from the Jackson 5 and the Chitlin’ Circuit to Off the Wall, Thriller, and worldwide superstardom. They also examine shifting media narratives, from tabloid culture and public scrutiny to modern reassessments, while reflecting on James Baldwin’s enduring observations about Michael, America, and Black cultural identity. Together, the conversation blends personal insight and cultural analysis to reconsider Michael Jackson’s lasting impact and evolving legacy. This episode was edited by Simon Wilkie. Participants • Shawn Shackelford • Scorpeze • Nicole Starling • Matthew Allen • Rochelle Jones Additional Links • Here Be Dragons: James…

Filmmakers Adam Green, Marcos Cabota, Jin Chohan, and Paul Black join host Charlie Thomson for a continuation of The MJCast’s “Michael” biopic deep-dive discussion series, this time focused on the perspective from those in the film industry. They hone in on details around editing and scene selection, and considerations (from a top-down view) about audience, approach, and production, as well as discussing whether the film truly humanizes Michael Jackson, and what a sequel – if it happens – might look like. Ultimately, the team casts new light on how to think about the film, combined with their personal insights as long-time mega fans of the King of Pop. This episode was edited by Paul Black. Participants • Charlie Thomson • Adam Green • Jin Chohan • Marcos Cabota • Paul Black Additional Links • Adam Green’s podcast, The Movie Crypt. • Marcos Cabota’s documentary (not yet widely available), Sonic Fantasy. • Jin Chohan’s in-progress documentary, Trial By Media: The Michael Jackson Story Like this episode? • If…

Shawn Shackelford leads the entire MJCast crew, including Elise Capron, Charlie Thomson, Charlie Carter, and newest member, Simon Wilkie, in a deep-dive discussion about the long-awaited “Michael” biopic, which hit theaters this past week. “Michael” marks a major moment for MJ fans after years of anticipation—and comes with a surge of excitement which has built in the months and weeks leading up to its release. In the first 48 hours of officially hitting theaters, it blew up even the most optimistic projections, taking in around $100 million globally in a single day. By the end of opening weekend, it made well over $200 million globally (opening in 80 countries worldwide), and could officially claim the title of the biggest opening ever for any musical biopic. Even though the film has faced a wave of negative reviews and press coverage from mainstream sources, audiences are showing up in large numbers, and with great enthusiasm. Critics haven’t exactly embraced the film, but one thing that keeps coming up is…

Charles Thomson, Shawn Shackelford, and Charlie Carter join forces for the first regular episode of Season 12, catching up on all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. They discuss the very sad passings of Toyia Jackson, Bryan Loren and Rev. Jesse Jackson, as well as updates on Heal LA events this summer, developments regarding the Cascio vs. MJ Estate Case, a new Channel 4 Trial series, a TMZ MJ documentary, more MJ-related books, and a correction of a previously-released MJ short film restoration. Plus, Damien Shields joins in for a chat regarding the recent, major leak of Michael Jackson music. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • Bryan Loren has died. • Dr. Toyia Jackson has died, after a battle with cancer. • Rev. Jesse Jackson has died. • “King of Popcorn” events return to Hayvenhurst this summer. • Sexyy Red’s X-Rated “Beat It” Flip Goes Viral, and Estate is not pleased. • Judge Signals Arbitration in Cascio vs. MJ Estate Case. • Channel 4…

Bobby Huntley, Hannah Savage, and first-time guest Stepfan Holley join host Shawn Shackelford to kick off Season 12 of The MJCast, following the release of the full trailer for the highly anticipated Michael biopic, set to hit theaters worldwide on April 24, 2026. In this in-depth roundtable discussion, the team unpacks one of the most talked-about moments in the Michael Jackson community in years. The trailer—like the teaser released in November—quickly shattered viewership records, making it a record-breaking launch for a music biopic and the largest trailer debut in Lionsgate studio history, igniting passionate reactions across the internet. In this episode, the panel slows the conversation down, moving beyond knee-jerk reactions to thoughtfully examine what the trailer shows, what it withholds, and the expectations it sets for how Michael Jackson’s story may be told on the big screen. Topics include initial emotional responses, visual effects and digital polish, pacing and imagery, the portrayal of key…

Taj Jackson joins Shawn Shackelford, Charles Thomson, and Charlie Carter to celebrate the holidays and reflect on this past year… Welcome to The MJCast’s 11th annual Christmas special! The gang discusses the year that was on Season 11 of The MJCast, as well as all the recent news in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family, including Jermaine Jackson’s announcement of a “Jackson Museum”, the passing of guitarist and composer Phil Upchurch, MJ-related legal twists and turns for artist Brett-Livingstone Strong, Michael Jackson inspiration appearing in major films and TV shows, reactions to the one-and-only Jamon Bull stepping down from The MJCast, an exciting vinyl release from the Michael Jackson Estate, and much more. Plus, the team looks ahead to Season 12, and has fun with the annual bloopers reel. Special thanks to Taj Jackson for being a part of our annual Christmas Special for many years. Here’s to many more! And, huge thanks to all of our listeners and MJFam around the world. We could not do…

Destiny, released in 1978, marked a seismic shift for The Jacksons — a bold declaration of creative independence, a spiritual and sonic rebirth, and a pivotal step in the journey that would launch Michael Jackson into superstardom. Having broken away from the constraints of Motown in 1975, the group spent years redefining their sound under Philadelphia International’s Gamble and Huff before finally taking complete control of their music with Destiny, their first self-written and self-produced album. But was Destiny just a comeback album, or something far more profound? In this roundtable episode, host Shawn Shackelford is joined by panelists Scorpeze, Samar Habib, and Jay Leggett to explore every corner of this often-overlooked masterpiece. From its gospel-fueled grooves and bold horn arrangements to its raw, personal lyricism and prophetic themes, the panel traces how Destiny not only signaled The Jacksons’ artistic autonomy but served as a critical bridge between the group’s legacy and Michael’s solo…

In this episode, Jamon Bull, co-founder and co-host of The MJCast for eleven seasons, discusses his decision to step back from the show. Innumerable memories have been made, friendships formed, and a record of the King of Pop’s iconic legacy has been captured through Jamon’s tireless work. The show will continue on, in a slightly new form, even in light of this bittersweet news. Jamon: We love you and will miss you. In his last regular episode, Jamon joins Elise Capron, Charles Thomson, Q, Charlie Carter, and Shawn Shackelford for a massive catch-up on all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. They discuss Mariah Carey’s recent reveal about an unreleased duet with the King of Pop, a possible upcoming album in tribute to Michael Jackson’s Ireland sessions, legal updates around the Cascio Family and Jackson Estate, Paris Jackson’s continuing public alarm-ringing over Estate legal fees, major fan events around the US, Finds of the Week, and more. This episode was edited by…

Q, Charles Thomson, Paul Black, Shawn Shackelford, and Charlie Carter join host Elise Capron to discuss the recently released teaser trailer for the ‘Michael’ biopic, which will hit theaters around the world on April 24, 2026. The just-over-one-minute-long trailer dropped unexpectedly on November 6, 2025, and immediately broke records, racking up 116.2 million views globally within its first 24 hours, making it “the largest 24-hour trailer launch ever in Lionsgate‘s history and the most-viewed trailer for any music biopic or concert movie in motion picture history”, according to Deadline. In this chat, the team shares their hot takes and comments on everything from the most thrilling moments of the teaser to complaints about factual inaccuracies, and dissect the editing quality, Jaafar Jackson’s look as the King of Pop, make guesses about what we might see in the final film based on this short, but punchy, presentation, and much more. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Participants • Elise Capron •…

Damien Shields, Dan Villalobos, James Alay, and Jamon Bull join Charles Thomson for a deep dive into the history behind, and making of, the ‘Faking Michael‘ investigative podcast series. ‘Faking Michael’ took the Michael Jackson fan community (and beyond) by storm one year ago, as a bombshell true crime series which tells the full story of the fraudulent tracks–dubbed the ‘Cascio Tracks’–on the posthumous ‘Michael’ album released in 2010. Damien Shields and his team, including The MJCast, have been investigating this case since that time. The podcast series takes the listener through every dramatic detail of the scandal, including Vera Serova’s 2014 lawsuit against Cascio, Porte, their production company, Sony Music and Jackson’s estate, which resulted in the removal of the tracks in 2022. In this discussion, the guys tell the story behind the story, including how they worked together as a team, behind-the-scenes moments, the experience of researching the story and making the podcast, how the project has…

Akasha Richmond joins Charles Thomson for a journey into the culinary and travel side of Michael Jackson’s life, as she relays stories from her years working for The King of Pop as his personal and concert tour chef. Akasha met Michael Jackson in the early 1980s, when she and Mani Niall worked at the Golden Temple, a vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles. Mani became Jackson’s first personal chef, while Akasha was hired for special dinner parties, including events at Hayvenhurst with guests such as Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, and more. Eventually, Akasha also started stepping in as Jackson’s chef when he traveled, when Mani was not available. Akasha began traveling the world regularly with Jackson, cooking for him all across Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. She worked on both the BAD and the HIStory tours, and her mandate was to always keep The King of Pop healthy, with his favorite Mexican dishes and comfort food – always spicy! Not only did Akasha develop a deep friendship with Michael…

Jamon Bull, Charles Thomson, and Charlie Carter join forces for a big catch-up on all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. They discuss the major bombshell around Frank Cascio being revealed as the individual allegedly attempting to extort the Jackson Estate, Paris Jackson publicly questioning the Estate’s financial decisions, updates on MJ: The Musical in Australia, 3T’s European tour, Brad Sundberg’s fantastic HIStory 30 roundtable discussion, and Charlie’s exciting adventures in California. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter and Jamon Bull. Discussion Topics • Michael Madsen has died. • Frank Cascio revealed as individual allegedly attempting to extort Estate. • Paris Jackson has questioned the appropriateness of payouts made by the Estate. • “MJ: The Musical” is heading to Melbourne in September. • Brad Sundberg has released a collaborator roundtable for HIStory 30. • Lil Baby claims there will be a new Michael Jackson feature on his upcoming album. • 3T have…

Charles Thomson welcomes first-time guest Josephine Zohny to the show for this year’s Vindication Day Special. Josie is a long-time Michael Jackson fan who became an important witness. In the early 2000s, she found herself in the same university music program as Michael Jackson’s first accuser, Jordan Chandler. What she witnessed him saying left her in shock – and when Michael found himself under arrest and facing trial months later, she ended up on the defense witness list. Josie was never called to the stand and remained silent for over a decade – until she was tracked down by journalist Danny Wu, who made her experiences of Jordan Chandler the narrative spine of his hit 2019 documentary, “Square One”. Her own quote defines the film: “Every allegation is built on the ’93 allegations”. In the most in-depth interview she has ever given, Josie tells Charles about her fan story, her experiences with Chandler and her life since the Square One premiere. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Additional Links…

Elise Capron and Charles Thomson team up to chat about all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. They discuss developments with the Robson/Safechuck Defense team, the many delays on the Michael Jackson biopic, another possible MJ documentary brewing, a 3T tour, the recent re-release of The Wiz, Kingvention’s return to London, and much more. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • Jeff Margolis has passed away. • Jennifer Keller has stepped down from the defense team in Robson/Safechuck case. • The Michael Jackson biopic release date most likely been postponed until 2026. • The Michael Jackson Estate has announced the annual MJ birthday event in Las Vegas, minus any actual details. • Rabbi Shmuley is featured in a new Michael Jackson documentary. • BET has released a HD clip of Michael Jackson’s 2003 BET Awards appearance with James Brown. • 3T are set to tour Europe in July. • The Wiz is being released in 4K. • George Wendt has passed away. • Brad…

Jeff Margolis joins Jamon Bull for a powerful, deep-dive interview about Margolis’ incredible career in television, and his work with The King of Pop. Margolis is one of the most successful live TV event directors of all time, having worked on the Oscars, the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the American Music Awards. He has created TV specials with the likes of Cher, Julie Andrews, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, Kenny Rogers and Richard Pryor; made movies with Ringo Starr and Quincy Jones; directed a music video for Whitney Houston. The roster of talent across his many TV projects has also included Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, Burt Bacharach, Gene Kelly, Smokey Robinson, Elton John, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Prince, and many, many more. Margolis’ career led him to cross paths with Michael Jackson numerous times. In 1989, he directed Sammy Davis Jr’s “60th Anniversary Special”, where Michael performed a specially written tribute song called “You Were There”. In 1993, Jeff…

In 2019, a bomb exploded in the Michael Jackson world, when British TV director Dan Reed premiered a four-hour TV series about Wade Robson and James Safechuck – two men demanding millions of dollars from Michael Jackson’s posthumous estate as compensation for alleged childhood sexual abuse. A co-production between Britain’s Channel 4 and America’s HBO, the show generated months of scandalous, sensational and extraordinarily biased media coverage, much of it demanding the all-out cancellation of Michael Jackson. For a while, that looked like a possibility – but ultimately, Jackson weathered the storm. His music streams went up instead of down. A Michael Jackson musical debuted on Broadway, won a string of awards and has become one of the highest grossing shows in New York theatre history. Its London transfer has just been nominated for three prestigious Olivier awards. New versions have now opened in Germany and Sydney. Meanwhile, Lionsgate has invested $150m in the most expensive Hollywood biopic of all…

Brad Sundberg joins Elise Capron and Paul Black for an episode packed with listener-submitted questions, as well as a discussion around Brad’s exciting upcoming seminar events, including his tour through Australia and New Zealand. Brad worked with Michael Jackson as one of his engineers and his Technical Director for nearly 18 years, starting with Captain EO in 1985. He worked on the BAD, Dangerous, HIStory, and Blood On The Dance Floor albums, and was also responsible for nearly all the music and video systems installed in every corner of the Neverland Valley Ranch property. For more than a decade, Brad has been running In the Studio with MJ, immersive seminars which take place around the world, and which give fan insights into working with The King of Pop in the studio. For this conversation, The MJCast gave listeners a chance to submit questions to this key MJ collaborator. Brad addresses topics across the board, from details about MJ’s creative process and time in the studio, to Brad’s thoughts around…

Jamon Bull, Charles Thomson, and Paul Black join forces to launch Season 11 of The MJCast. The fellas discuss Kingvention 2025, Brad Sundberg’s upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour, newly upscaled Michael Jackson short films, the recent troubles facing the biopic, and the impending sequel to 2019’s Leaving Neverland, “Surviving Michael Jackson”. Welcome to Season 11! This episode was edited by Jamon Bull. Discussion Topics • Kingvention has been announced for May 24th in London. • Brad Sundberg is coming to Australia. • Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall era short films, including Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, and She’s Out of My Life, have been upscaled and re-released on YouTube. • Following the Financial Times story on the latest extortion attempt against Michael Jackson, the biopic is experiencing production issues. • The sequel to Leaving Neverland, “Surviving Michael Jackson”, is due in March. Additional Links • Judy Garland’s “Get Happy” video. Like this episode? • If you have the…

Taj Jackson joins Elise Capron, Jamon Bull, Charles Thomson, and Charlie Carter to celebrate the holidays and reflect on this past year… Welcome to The MJCast’s tenth annual Christmas special! The gang discusses the year that was, from the very sad news of Tito Jackson’s passing in September, as well as the loss of such legends as Quincy Jones and Colin Chilvers, to Paris Jackson’s recent engagement. They also dig into the intriguing story around the uncovered tapes of unheard MJ tracks, and chat about newly released prints and artwork available from Michael Jackson collaborators, fantastic documentary footage of the Jackson 5, and updates on MJ: The Musical, Michael Jackson ONE, and the MJ biopic. Plus, Charles explains important legal updates around the Robson and Safechuck trial timeline, a verdict in the Jordan Neely case, and the report on the Estate taking five people to court over what was suggested as an extortion plot, with thread of abuse allegations. Lastly, Taj provides further updates on his…

Gregg Wright joins Jamon Bull and Shawn Shackelford for a fascinating interview about Gregg’s time working with the King of Pop, as guitarist on the Victory Tour. Gregg has been called “one of the most innovative guitarists of our time”. He began his professional career on the U.S. Southern circuit in the mid-1970s, and honed his craft with years of playing one-nighters across the Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, often opening shows for the big national touring acts of the day. An ’80s move from Louisiana to Los Angeles saw Wright become a session man and “hired gun” touring guitarist. His reputation grew over the next decade doing albums and tours with Mick Fleetwood, Michael Jackson, and the Gap Band. In this interview, the guys chat with Gregg about his incredible career, how he came to be hired for the iconic Victory tour, and what it was like being a live music collaborator with Michael Jackson. This episode was edited by Jamon Bull. Additional Links • Gregg Wright’s Instagram…

Mick Garris, renowned producer, director, screenwriter and novelist joins Paul Black for an in-depth interview about his amazing career, including his work with Michael Jackson. Garris began his journey with Michael Jackson when both he and his wife appeared as zombies in the “Thriller” short film. Years later, because of his work with Stephen King, Garris was pulled in to work on what became the “Ghosts” short film. He co-wrote the story with Jackson and King, and was the original director on the project, then under the title “Is This Scary”. He worked closely on set with Jackson for two weeks, though, later, Stan Winston would take over as director when the project was shelved due to the 1993 allegations levelled against Michael Jackson. Garris has long been an icon in the film industry, and particularly in the world of horror, having worked with Steven Spielberg on multiple projects, and achieving major success via his many collaborations with Stephen King, including directing the hugely popular series,…

Jamon Bull welcomes renowned singer-songwriter Darryl Phinnessee to The MJCast for a discussion about his amazing career, including his many years working with The King of Pop. Darryl is a Grammy-winning singer, and one of the industry’s most in-demand session and touring vocalists. He has worked in the studio with Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston, and toured with Don Henley, Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, and more. He also spent seven seasons on one of America’s most popular TV shows – Dancing With The Stars. And, he wrote the iconic theme song for one of the most successful sitcoms of all time: Frasier, which saw him nominated for an Emmy. In this interview, Jamon and Darryl dive deep into Darryl’s work with Michael Jackson, which spanned many years. He accompanied Michael on all three of his solo tours – Bad, Dangerous and HIStory – providing backing vocals but also joining Michael on center stage, with featured spots during “I’ll Be There” and “Black or White”. Being a fixture in Michael’s…

Charles Thomson and Gratian Dimech team up for a discussion on major updates in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. This episode serves as a follow-up to #TheMJCast169. They talk about the heartbreaking news of Tito Jackson’s sudden passing, a revelation around the Estate’s legal action regarding the possible threat of new allegations, and the long-awaited release of “Faking Michael” by Damien Shields, an investigative true crime podcast which uncovers the full story of the fraudulent songs released after the death of Michael Jackson. Charles and Gratian then finish out the episode by talking about Janet Jackson’s problematic Guardian interview, and Charles’ experience seeing Janet live in Paris last week with Jamon. This episode was edited by Jamon Bull. Discussion Topics • Tito Jackson has passed away at age 70. Our deepest condolences go out to Taj, Taryll and TJ, as well as the entire Jackson family. • The Michael Jackson Estate engages law enforcement and files an arbitration claim in…

Jamon Bull welcomes back MJCast co-founder Q, along with frequent show guest Shawn Shackelford, MJ Radio’s Jason Garcia, and YouTuber Hannah Savage for a big fan chat around news and updates in the world of Michael Jackson. They discuss the announcement of a new docuseries and album for The Jacksons, MJ birthday celebrations in Vegas, recent “wins” by the Estate, including acquiring Steve Porcaro’s music rights, defeating Katherine Jackson in court, and a California judge ruling against Robson and Safechuck in allowing access to past court files, updates on Taj Jackson’s journey to defend his uncle’s legacy, recent and upcoming fan events, and much more. Lots of major news items happened in the days immediately following the recording of this episode. The MJCast will be releasing a follow-up episode soon to address new developments. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • Linda Deutsch has passed away at age 80. • A new Jacksons docu-series and album are in the works. • Don’t stop till…

Charles Thomson welcomes first-time guest Gratian Dimech to the show for this year’s Vindication Day Special. Gratian first saw Michael Jackson live on the Bad Tour and first met him on the Dangerous Tour. Attending 35 Dangerous concerts, he got to know many of Michael’s inner circle. Michael and Brett Barnes even nicknamed Gratian and his friend Justin as the “Waldos”, because wherever they went, they could pick them out of the crowd. Gratian became an advocate and an activist, challenging negative media coverage of Michael. His creative protest against a particular British tabloid photographer was immortalised in Adrian Grant’s book Michael Jackson: A Visual Documentary and he has been interviewed about it for filmmaker Jin Chohan’s upcoming documentary series “Trial By Media”. Gratian had a front-row view for everything from the “Give In To Me” music video shoot, to Jarvis Cocker’s stage invasion during Michael’s 1996 Brit Awards performance, and even the infamous, history-altering bridge collapse during…

Jamon Bull welcomes iconic guitarist, Jennifer Batten, to The MJCast for a long-awaited, deep-dive interview about her amazing career in music, and her years performing with The King of Pop. Batten, known for her original approach to the electric guitar (and her nearly-as-legendary hair!), rose in the music industry when she was selected to play in Michael Jackson’s BAD tour. She would go on to play lead and rhythm guitar on the Dangerous and HIStory world tours, as well, and joined Jackson for the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show. She also appeared in the “Come Together” segment on “Moonwalker”. For any fan of MJ, both her performances and her striking presence are an unforgettable part of ‘80s and ‘90s-era Michael Jackson. In addition to her work on stage with Jackson, Batten has had her own vibrant career. She has released three solo albums, worked closely with Jeff Beck for several years, has authored two music books and released instructional DVDs, and did a guitar residency for the Cirque Du Soleil show…

Jamon Bull, Charles Thomson, and Charlie Carter welcome first-time guest Danny Oliver to the show, and welcome back Anika Kotecha, co-founder of MJ Innocent, for a big fan chat around updates in the world of Michael Jackson. They discuss the leak of the Invincible-era track, “Can’t Get Your Weight Off of Me”, updates on Katherine Jackson’s case against the Estate’s MIJAC sale, a major development with Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s cases, and recent experiences at the London version of MJ: The Musical. Plus, Danny, who is well-known in the fan community for his Michael Jackson tribute performances, shares his fan story, which includes performing for the King of Pop himself, as well as performing alongside Jennifer Batten. This episode was edited by Jamon Bull and Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • The unreleased Invincible era track “Can’t Get Your Weight Off of Me” has leaked. • Katherine Jackson’s case against the Estate’s MIJAC sale continues. • Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s cases have been…

Elise Capron and Jamon Bull are joined by Andy Healy, Casey Rain and first-time guest Bobby Huntley for a round-up of news in the world of Michael Jackson, and a discussion around an intriguing upcoming film project based on the lives of MJ and Prince. The team chats about recently leaked footage from the 30th Anniversary rehearsals, the results of the Heal LA auction for a walk-on role in the MJ biopic, casting updates for that film, and the star-studded premiere of MJ: The Musical in London. Their main discussion topic is around a live-action film-in-development, called Royalty At the Park, which is created by Bobby, co-written by Andy, and with Casey as a Producer. Based on true events, it is set in the spring of 1988, and images the meeting of icons Michael Jackson and Prince at the Paisley Park compound. With so much myth built up around these two artists, particularly in terms with their interactions with and feelings for each other, the film is fodder for lots of interesting, deep-dive discussion.…

Jamon Bull and Charles Thomson kick off Season 10 of The MJCast with a big round-up of news in the world of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. They discuss loads of updates around the MJ biopic, the “Estate vs Katherine Jackson” case, the Robson and Safechuck trials, Sony’s acquisition of a stake in Michael Jackson’s music catalogue, new recordings of interviews with the King of Pop, unreleased music being auctioned off, and more. Plus, the guys discuss their thoughts on two new documentaries: “The Greatest Night in Pop”, about the recording of “We Are the World”, and “The Three Michaels”, which follows a group of young MJ impersonators chasing their dreams. Welcome to Season 10 of The MJCast! This episode was edited by Jamon Bull and Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • New pics of Michael on the “Remember the Time” set have been released. • New recordings of Michael being interviewed for his autobiography have been released. • Unreleased Michael Jackson song “Seven Digits” is being auctioned after a…

Taj Jackson joins Jamon Bull, Elise Capron, Charlie Carter, and Charles Thomson to celebrate the holidays and reflect on this past year… Welcome to The MJCast’s ninth annual Christmas special! The crew discusses the year that was, including the final version of the Thriller40 documentary; Marcos Cabota’s problems with finding a distributor for his own Thriller documentary, Sonic Fantasy; a major auction of Dick Zimmerman’s Thriller album cover test Polaroids and camera; and drama around a digital release of The Jackson 5’s first-ever recording. Plus, the team covers updates on MJ: The Musical, the Robson and Safechuck court cases, the MJ biopic, and Taj shares the latest developments on his docuseries project, as well as insights into the happenings within both the Jackson family and fan community circles. Special thanks to Taj Jackson for being a part of our annual Christmas Special for many years. It’s an honor to have this tradition with you. And, huge thanks to all of our listeners and MJFam around the…

Bob Jenkis, award-winning filmmaker and editor, joins Jamon Bull and Paul Black for an in-depth interview about his career and his work with Michael Jackson. Jenkis is an icon in the world of music videos, film and advertising, and is known for shaping the look of modern film editing. Working in the industry since before the dawn of MTV, he has edited clips and cut music videos for an incredibly wide range of music legends, including Janet Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, James Brown, and many, many more. He has also been deeply involved in the production of large-scale network television specials and concerts. His long-running relationship with Michael Jackson began in the early 1990s, when he made spots for the “Dangerous” album—work which was used later as the opening to Jackson’s European Tour, his “Live In Bucharest” concert film, and was included in two compilations of music videos under the title “Brace Yourself.” Jenkis also edited “Live from Bucharest”, an epic…

Adam Green, Paul Black, and Hannah Savage join host Jamon Bull for a deep-dive discussion around Michael Jackson’s masterpiece, Ghosts. They chat about all aspects of the incredible short film (which is so often neglected by a mainstream audience), including the story, music, choreography, cinematography and editing. Plus, they explore whether Ghosts has aged well, in comparison to another iconic Jackson short film, Thriller. Finally, they dig into an assortment of other topics around this project, including the ’93 version, the making of, the boxset, and assess why Ghosts didn’t achieve the widespread acclaim of some of Jackson’s other major works. This roundtable group brings incredible insights into the history and context of the Ghosts short film through their unique perspectives as film makers and editors, and they have great stories to share, such as Paul Black’s experience of sitting just a few seating away from Jackson himself, at the 1997 Australia premiere of the film. Happy Thriller Night! This…

Taj Jackson joins Charles Thomson for a deep-dive discussion around updates in his life and work. The guys talk about developments with Taj’s docuseries on Michael Jackson, “Re-Righting History”, as well as the upcoming MJ biopic, the recent Robson/Safechuck ruling, Leaving Neverland 2, Taj’s insights regarding his interactions with fans, the exciting recent expansion of his family with the birth of his third daughter, and much more. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Additional Links • You can donate to Taj’s docuseries, and get updates, here. • Taj’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. • If you have the means, consider donating through PayPal to help cover our costs. All proceeds go towards online running costs, upgrading equipment, and charity donations. Learn all about the various ways you can support The MJCast through visiting our website. • We also have an official merchandise shop. Support The MJCast and Michael Jackson all at the same time by buying some of our fun merch. Connect with Us •…

It’s been a minute since we did a Q&A, MJFam! Elise Capron is usually the one asking the questions, but in this episode, she takes a turn in the hot seat, and answers a wide range of questions submitted by listeners, covering everything from her fan history and personal MJ picks, to thoughts on the biopic, Estate projects, her podcast guest wish-list, behind-the-scenes of The MJCast, and much more. Huge thanks to all of you who sent in submissions! It is a reminder of what a great fan community we have. Questions Simonpaulwilkie (Instagram) 1) Brave! 🔥 As a long time lover of the show, I’d love to know what it was like going from listener to presenter. Any surprises in how the show is put together and what it takes to make an episode. I couldn’t think of any way to say thank you better than contributing my own time to something I adore so much. Keep it up! ❤️ Xollophoto (Instagram) 2) What are all the Michael Jackson-related places you’ve visited (i.e. Thriller house) and what’s your favorite? Charlie Carter…

John Cameron joins Jamon Bull and Charlie Thomson for a discussion on loads of recent news updates in the world of Michael Jackson, including a chat around John’s latest episode of his excellent podcast, #JCsMusicology, “Michael Jackson (1983-1988)”. The guys also talk about a range of fan-led projects, including the upcoming Kingvention, developments on Jin Chohan’s documentary, “Trial By Media” as well as a new YouTube documentary by Hannah Savage, “The Dark Side of Michael Jackson’s This Is It”, and Paul Dwyer’s podcast based on his book, “Humanitarian: The Real Michael Jackson”. Plus, they talk about the confirmation of the #Thriller40 documentary, a statement from Katherine Jackson, and a major update in Wade Robson’s legal case against Michael Jackson. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • Kingvention have announced special guests for their 2023 convention. • Jin Chohan has offered an update on his upcoming documentary, “Trial By Media”. • Hannah Savage has released a teaser…

Geraldine Hughes first came to the world’s attention as an anonymous whistleblower. In 1994, the decorated investigative journalist Mary A Fischer published an article about the child molestation allegations levelled against Michael Jackson by Jordan Chandler and his father Evan. Fischer’s story included information attributed to a source inside the office of attorney Barry Rothman, suggesting that he and his client, Evan Chandler, had cooked up an extortion plot against Michael Jackson. The story was published in more than one major, glossy magazine and was covered by broadcast media – but the whistleblower’s identity was never revealed. In 2003, however, Geraldine decided to out herself. In 1993, as the Michael Jackson scandal unfolded, she had been working as Barry Rothman’s personal legal secretary. She had unrivalled, insider access to the nerve centre of the celebrity scandal of the century, bearing witness to many meetings and discussions which took place just metres from her desk. Geraldine had been…

Sheryl and June Valone join Elise Capron and Charlie Carter for a discussion about the origins and behind-the-scenes stories of their podcast series, “The Case for Innocence“. Growing up as a young Michael Jackson fan, June was passionate about learning everything she could about the King of Pop and his music. But when “Leaving Neverland” was released in early 2019, her mother, Sheryl, was concerned about how to handle this information. Would she have to explain to her daughter that her icon was not the hero she thought he was? Believing in the power of due process, Sheryl chose to do her own research so that she could give her daughter the truth, whatever that might ultimately be. In the course of what became an extensive personal investigation over the course of many months, and which expanded into researching each set of allegations against Michael Jackson, Sheryl realized that the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to Jackson’s innocence. She was also shocked by how many major media outlets and well-known…

Charlie Thomson and Charlie Carter join host Jamon Bull for a round-up of all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson, in this first regular episode of Season Nine. The guys discuss major updates happening with “MJ: The Musical” as well as the MJ biopic, new music from Paris Jackson and Tito Jackson, distressing developments around MJ’s music catalogue, a new Janet Jackson documentary, and more. Plus, they hash out their thoughts around the online abuse Taj Jackson has recently suffered. This episode was edited by Jamon Bull. Discussion Topics • “MJ: The Musical” coming to London, and looking for a new Michael Jackson. • Friend of the Show Harrison Funk has sadly suffered a stroke. • Janet Jackson is working on new documentary called “Family Time”. • Just Blaze has revealed there is an unreleased Michael Jackson and Jay-Z collaboration. • Paris Jackson has released a new song, “Bandaid”, and Tito has released a new song, called “Make Your Mind Up”. • Production for the official biopic, “Michael”, is…

Brad Sundberg, Michael Jackson’s Technical Director, is celebrating ten years as the host of “In the Studio with MJ“, a touring seminar exploring Michael’s music. But in January of this year he fell victim to a crime which sent shockwaves through the fan community, when his personal equipment was stolen by a bootlegger, who raided and released the contents. In his first and only interview about the devastating theft, he speaks to The MJCast co-hosts Elise Capron, Jamon Bull, and guest host Shawn Shackelford. Kicking off Season Nine of The MJCast, Brad explains for the first time how the thief made off with hundreds of unreleased Michael Jackson songs and videos and the impact that has had on Brad’s personal and professional lives. He also shares stories from his time working with the King of Pop, explains what it takes to run a touring seminar on the scale of ITSWMJ, and reveals what’s next for Brad Sundberg. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Participants • Elise Capron • Jamon Bull • Shawn…

Taj Jackson joins Jamon Bull, Elise Capron, Charlie Carter, and Charles Thomson to celebrate the holidays and reflect on this past year… Welcome to The MJCast’s eighth annual Christmas special! The crew discusses loads of news updates and developments in the world of Michael Jackson, including the Thriller Night party at Hayvenhurst, the strange turn John Branca’s social media has taken, the Estate’s hiring of creators such as Lynn Nottage and Nelson George, incredible found footage of Michael Jackson’s Sega game, updates in Taj Jackson’s life and with his docuseries project, and much more. Plus, the team reflects on the year that was at the podcast, and what we have coming up in Season 9. We want to give a special thank-you to all of our listeners; to the wider MJ fan community; to our amazing fellow content creators (who all do this our of love for MJ’s legacy!); to our long-time back-end team (Q, James Alay, Jason Garcia); to frequent guests on the show who have contributed so much (Shawn Shackelford,…

Michael Jackson’s album, Thriller, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and important albums in music history. Released 40 years ago, on November 30, 1982, it changed the landscape of pop music, and may have even saved the music industry itself. In this episode, Charlie Carter hosts a deep-dive fan discussion reflecting on all things Thriller 40. Joining him are guests Damien Shields, Shawn Shackelford, and Paul Black. The guys talk about the continuing influence of Thriller, the bonus tracks included on the 40th anniversary edition, the long-awaited release of the 4K versions of the short films “Thriller” and “Beat It”, the upcoming documentary by Nelson George, and they contemplate what they would have liked to see on their own version of the Thriller 40 release. This episode was edited by Jason Garcia and Charlie Carter. Participants • Charlie Carter, Audio Producer of The MJCast • Damien Shields, author of Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault, and creator of the podcast series The Genesis of…

Matt Forger, legendary studio engineer and Michael Jackson collaborator, joins co-hosts Jamon Bull and Charles Thomson for Part 2 of an extensive interview in celebration of Thriller’s 40th anniversary, Blood on the Dance Floor’s 25th anniversary, and marking 150 episodes of The MJCast. Forger is an icon in the music industry. He recorded classic Michael Jackson songs for the albums Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Blood on the Dance Floor, worked on Captain EO, and much more. Not only was Forger a crucial player in shaping many of music history’s most important tracks, but he worked with the King of Pop during his creative and commercial peak. He also worked closely with other well-known Jackson studio collaborators and innovators such as John Barnes and Brad Buxer. Forger, through his technical wizardry, helped Michael Jackson push the boundaries of pop music, creating songs and experiences that will live on for generations to come. These are the stories behind the songs. This episode was edited by…

Matt Forger, legendary studio engineer and Michael Jackson collaborator, joins co-hosts Jamon Bull and Charles Thomson for an extensive interview in celebration of Thriller’s 40th anniversary, Blood on the Dance Floor’s 25th anniversary, and marking 150 episodes of The MJCast. This is the team’s first two-part interview, which will be continued in #TheMJCast151. Forger is an icon in the music industry. He recorded classic Michael Jackson songs for the albums Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Blood on the Dance Floor, worked on Captain EO, and much more. Not only was Forger a crucial player in shaping many of music history’s most important tracks, but he worked with the King of Pop during his creative and commercial peak. He also worked closely with other well-known Jackson studio collaborators and innovators such as John Barnes and Brad Buxer. Forger, through his technical wizardry, helped Michael Jackson push the boundaries of pop music, creating songs and experiences that will live on for generations…

Violet Gaitan Booker joins host Elise Capron, with guest co-host Velo Kristina, for an incredible discussion around her time working for the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Violet (known as Violet Gaitan Silva at the time) was a key staff member at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Valley Ranch from 1991-2005. Violet started at the Ranch as a security officer, eventually becoming Chief of Fire and Security, and finally oversaw Safety and Human Resources for twelve different departments, from Fire/Security, to Grounds-keeping, House-keeping, the Amusement Park, Zoo, and much more. Violet also gave testimony in the 2005 trial, in which Michael Jackson was found not guilty of all abuse allegations, and, after she left Neverland, she went to work as an investigator for Robert Sanger, defense attorney for Michael Jackson alongside Tom Mesereau. In this discussion, the ladies discuss Violet’s amazing stories of working for Jackson for fourteen years, including how she began working at Neverland, what is was like working…

In this regular news episode, Q joins host Jamon Bull for a round-up of all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson. The dynamic duo discuss the Estate’s gradual reveal of bonus tracks on “Thriller 40”, the return of “This Is It” to Netflix, controversial leaked live “HIStory World Tour” vocals, a new podcast series on the Michael Jackson allegations, the new TMZ documentary, “Who Really Killed Michael Jackson”, an MJ connection to the new TV series “The Sandman”, and more. Plus, Friend of the Show Jenny Winings contributes a special report on the MJ birthday events in Las Vegas. This episode was edited by Charlie Carter. Discussion Topics • Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” is returning to Netflix for a limited time during September. • J. Randy Taraborrelli has revealed that CNN is working on a Victory Tour documentary. • Vincent Paterson’s books “Icons and Instincts” has been released in English. • Live “HIStory World Tour” vocals have leaked, and we aren’t sharing them. • Michael Jackson wanted to…

It’s been quite a while since the team’s last Q&A episode, and this round features three of our favorite Brits in the fan community: Charles Thomson, Samar Habib, and Charlie Carter. With nearly 100 questions received, the guys tackle a wide range of topics, from the allegations, to Taj Jackson’s documentary project, to favorite Michael Jackson books, insights on MJ’s lyrics and politics, and much more. A huge thank-you to all those listeners who submitted questions! We wish we could have gotten to them all. Grab yourself some tea and biscuits and enjoy this deep-dive fan chat. Questions Emma (Twitter) – South Wales, UK 1) Aside from the Brett Barnes episode (which I think everyone needs to listen to at least once), what would be your Top 3 episodes that a new listener (but lifelong MJ supporter) should listen when delving into previous MJCast podcasts? Emma. GNTalk (Twitter) 2) Sorry – allegation question. Do the guys think there will ever be a day when one of the accusers, JC in particular, may come public…