Randy Philips
Chernoff
in 2007, wascontacted by Peter Lopez about MJ potentially going back on stage.
It would have been a monumental achievment for AEG, MJ was the greatest star
RP says the last time MJ was on stage was in the late 90s
The meeting with Lopez was in Las Vegas, Raymone Bain, a lawyer named Cross, Raymone Bain's assistnant, and another gentleman, the meeting lasted an hour and a half, the location was chosen by Lopez
had other contacts with Lopez and Bain in 2007, not with MJ.
At that moment, MJ was not ready to go back on stage, so RP didn't pursue it
Then , Tom Barracks from colony capital contacted AEG in late august 08. Colony capal is a private equity fund, Tom Barrack is a partner; TB contacted Phil Anschultz, then Phil anschultz contacted RP, about MJ re starting his career
RP set up a meeting in Century City in LA with Tom Barrack and his partner. Richard Nannula.. Colony capital had purchased the note on Nevreland from a company called Fortress. They talked about the concerts.
Then RP met Dr Tohme, presented to RP as MJs manager, at the Bel Air hotel, same week as Colony capital. MJ wanted to re start his career, first live shows, then he would put out new music. Thome said he was MJs manager;
Then there were other meetings, negotiations, phone calls, with Thome and Peter Lopez and Dennis Hawk
RP met MJ at the Bel Air hotel, in september. It was MJ, Thome, RP, and bodyguards, Bodyguards were not in the meeting.
As of september 2008, the plan was to do a residency show at the O2. It takes a very special artist to do that. Then there could have been a tour. This plan was discussed with MJ, MJ was very receptive to this idea. From this discussion, MJ seemed was motivated.
Other meetings were held at the Bel Air hotel, to narrow down the paramaters. He din't talk about money with MJ, only creative things.
October 2008 meeting : MJ, Tohme, nanny, kids dressed in costumes, in mjs suite. MJ wanted to re start his carreer, settle down and get a good home, was tired od being a vagabaond. It got emotional when he described how he had lived, MJ cried, RP cried too. Meeting lasted 1 hour to 90mn
AEG contract provided 31 shows, MJ wanted to o 10 more shows than Prince, MJ came up with the number
contract was signed on 26 january 2009 (assuming i was 26) , at MJs house.
Many many many questions about the contract result in «*Objeection, Sustained*» , among others one that asked who paid for carolwood
Initially AEG advertised 10 shows, you wuldn't put all shows on sale at the same time
Press conference was on march 5th
between january 28th to march 5th there were creative discussions, production discussions, no rehearsal
Press Conference was set up by RP's staff in London , with the help of a PR
Judge pastor deosn't allow further questions about the press conference
After the announcement, sales started over the top. Did a pre registration, to set a data base for MJ, through a website «*MichaelJacksonLive.com*». RP had never seen that kind of demand. Paul Gongaware said to ask MJ if he would do more shows,there was an unprecedented demand.
Spoke to Tohme, and right after to MJ. MJ said 50 hows maximum, and set 2 condition : an estate , 16 + acres, horses , outside of London, for his kids, 2nd condition was that 50th show wanted the guiness, book people to be at the 50th show, because he knew no other performer could do that.
In march MJ, Paul had a couple of meetings about the shows, to help do the budgets; MJ said he wanted KO to be the director.
Ko was part of the team in april, KO hired personnel, auditionned for dancers in april.
Rehearsals started in may, RP is not 100% sure.
MJ talked about a personnal doctor in May, RP was not involved in initial discussion. Talks about a conversation at the forum, with Frank Dileo, PG, Tim Whooley (accountant) , they said they couldn't talk MJ out of hiring his own personal doctor, it would be expensive, they wanted a doctor based in London , but MJ was firm :* «*I want my own physician, 24/7, I have a physician». PG negociated with CM, not RP.
Didnt know CM, but met him at MJs house, during the 1st week of june, it was a week day. Not 100% sure.
The meeting was in late afternoon, 4 or 5 pm. PG and Frank called the meeting, to discuss what CM would do for Michael, Frank worried about MJ not eating enough. Doesn't think KO was there;
In may ther was no conversation about Mjs condition.
CM was going to make sure MJ ate properly, CM was going to give him supplemental protein drinks , RP asked CM how wasMJs healt, CM said it was good,
It was obvious to RP that MJ trusted CM, and that they had a close relationship.
At that time, the rehearsals were going on. Mj was not expected to be at all rehearsals.
There was concern in the second week of june , concerned expressed by KO. MJ was not as engaged as he needed to be, acording to KO
The rehaersals were supposed to move to london around june 25th;
The pressure rises as you get closer to the shows.
The main concern was MJs focus, and attending rehearsals.
RP called MAW, MJ was resting, he may have spoken to CM
meeting on 20th june. About Kenny Ortega's email : «*tough love*», «*pulling the plug*» : wasn't sure what KO meant with this. There was no concern that the show would be cancelled, they would have been postponed. No one was contemplating pulling the plug;
After KO's email, Frank Dileo called , to ask RP to put up a meeting, so RP emailed or called CM. Frank never mentionned drug use by MJ. RP had one conversation with CM, tol CM that dr Klein was also treating Mj. Told CM about Klein, because at one production meeting , MJ was not focused as he usually was , he was usually* «*laser focused*»
asked MAW if MJ was Ok, MAW said he's coming back from Dr Klein's
RP was not aware of any other doctor.
June 20th meeting was an emergency in KO's mind, and Frank Dileo , Frank was out of town , so he asked RP to hold a meeting;
were present at the meeting : MJ CM RP KO . It was in early afternoon, may have forwarded Ko's e mail to CM, doesn't know if he called or e mailed CM
KO started , said MJ needed to focus, show more engagement, MJ said he was ready, MJ told KO «*you build the house, I put the door and paint*»; KO's main worry was MJs engegment, not his health, KO Thought health ws maybe the issue.
RP Went to reaharsal after that meeting, on 23rd and 24th
25th june : received a phone call, from Frank believes it was 10 30 or 11 am, RP doesn't know who called Frank. It took him 15 mn to go to Carolwood, arrived when the ambulance left, followed the ambulance, stayed at he hospital until the evening;
Frank joined hm at the hospital, they stayed together , sitting on a gurney.
Saw CM at the hospital, in the ER, and in the confernece room, the one with lawyers, AEG people
Talked cm in the lobby, CM was in severe distress; doesn't remember what CM said.