Mike Smallcombe's Blog, page 4

Mike Smallcombe talks to BBC Radio about Making Michael

Today Making Michael author Mike Smallcombe spoke to BBC Radio Cornwall host David White. You can listen to the interview in full here: Recently, Mike also spoke to former Michael Jackson attorney, Jackson family friend and radio show host Brian Oxman, as well as The MJ Cast.  You can find out more about Making Michael here.  Return to the blog page for extracts from the book.  

One Night Only...The 1995 HBO special

In December 1995, Michael was set to perform at a historic Broadway theater for a highly anticipated cable concert special. But only two days before the first performance, he collapsed on stage while rehearsing. Michael was rushed to hospital, and his doctor said he was 'near death'. But some say Michael staged the collapse. Find the answers with Michael's manager, Sandy Gallin, and show producer Jeff Margolis. In early December 1995, Michael flew to New York to begin rehearsing for a highly

EXTRACT: One Night Only...The 1995 HBO special

In December 1995, Michael was set to perform at a historic Broadway theater for a highly anticipated cable concert special. But only two days before the first performance, he collapsed on stage while rehearsing. Michael was rushed to hospital, and his doctor said he was 'near death'. But some say Michael staged the collapse. Find the answers with Michael's manager, Sandy Gallin, and show producer Jeff Margolis. In early December 1995, Michael flew to New York to begin rehearsing for a highly

Inside the Bad sessions and the split with Quincy Jones

 In the summer of 1985, Michael began working on demos and ideas in earnest for his next album, which became Bad. He was joined at his Hayvenhurst home studio by the four-man crew of Matt Forger, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Christopher Currell, who became known as the ‘B-Team’. Together they worked without the influence of the ‘A-Team’, people such as producer Quincy Jones, engineer Bruce Swedien and songwriter Rod Temperton. Over the course of the second half of 1985 and most of 1986,

EXTRACT: Inside the Bad sessions and the split with Quincy Jones

 In the summer of 1985, Michael began working on demos and ideas in earnest for his next album, which became Bad. He was joined at his Hayvenhurst home studio by the four-man crew of Matt Forger, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Christopher Currell, who became known as the ‘B-Team’. Together they worked without the influence of the ‘A-Team’, people such as producer Quincy Jones, engineer Bruce Swedien and songwriter Rod Temperton. Over the course of the second half of 1985 and most of 1986,

The making of 'Billie Jean'

'Billie Jean' is one of the most famous songs of all time. Tonight's extract goes behind the scenes by describing how Michael wrote the song, and how his Rolls Royce nearly caught fire as he composed material for 'Billie Jean' in his head on the way home from the studio one day. WRITING 'BILLIE JEAN' Michael knew he wanted to write a song with a great bass hook. “I just let it go,” he said, not wishing to force the issue. After a distinctive bassline came to him one day, he went into the

EXTRACT: The making of 'Billie Jean'

'Billie Jean' is one of the most famous songs of all time. Tonight's extract goes behind the scenes by describing how Michael wrote the song, and how his Rolls Royce nearly caught fire as he composed material for 'Billie Jean' in his head on the way home from the studio one day. WRITING 'BILLIE JEAN' Michael knew he wanted to write a song with a great bass hook. “I just let it go,” he said, not wishing to force the issue. After a distinctive bassline came to him one day, he went into the

The story behind Michael Jackson's Ghosts

 Michael loved songs with a spooky theme, including his most famous one of all, ‘Thriller'. But in 1996 he also created another scary music video, the lesser known Ghosts, featuring the hits ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Is It Scary’. Here is the story behind the project.   It was early 1996. Although the campaign to promote the HIStory album was in full swing, Michael was still thinking about the scary themed short-film he began shooting in mid-1993 to promote the Addams Family Values movie. He had invested a

EXTRACT: The story behind Michael Jackson's Ghosts

 Michael loved songs with a spooky theme, including his most famous one of all, ‘Thriller'. But in 1996 he also created another scary music video, the lesser known Ghosts, featuring the hits ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Is It Scary’. Here is the story behind the project.   It was early 1996. Although the campaign to promote the HIStory album was in full swing, Michael was still thinking about the scary themed short-film he began shooting in mid-1993 to promote the Addams Family Values movie. He had invested a

The making of 'Human Nature'

In tonight's extract from Making Michael, Toto band member Steve Porcaro tells us how 'Human Nature', from the Thriller album, came to be.  By the fall of 1982, it was certain that Michael’s three songs, ‘The Girl Is Mine’, ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’’ and ‘Billie Jean’, were going to make the final cut, as well as Rod Temperton’s ‘Thriller’. At this stage these songs were considered to be the cornerstones of the album. Songs such as ‘Carousel’, ‘Got the Hots’ (written by Michael and Quincy),