Book: Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days / Review @pg8

[Amaya]

About the homeless people issue - that isn't the first time he acted surprised or shocked by it. On the set of Bad, he whispered his surprise about it and also in the back alley of Westwood studio, where he came across one and made quite a fuss over it.

I'm not really sure why he acted naive about it to various people through the years... but he did. Each time acting like it was something new to him.

I could just be talking out of my ass here, but maybe it just didn't occur to him that the people he saw were homeless? Like, maybe he thought they were just hanging out on the streets for the sake of hanging out. And when he learned they were homeless he was surprised to see so many of them there, like he didn't think there would be that many homeless people in that spot, or just in general.

 

[Ashtanga]

Wait..... *thinking* >>>

:thinking: :scratch:




Sorry guys :fear: .... BUT this thread is insane and crazy. :crazy: :fear: Seriously people are still discussing and trying to draw a timeline of Michael's sex life? :bugeyed :doh: Ok, the book is there, I believe has beautiful stories... BUT is dispensable reading about Michael and reads who is very curious to know more.... -_-

BUT why people do not focus on discussing about the beautiful memories that these bodyguards have about Michael? :blink:

Why people are not able to just focus on it (beautiful memories/good times with Michael... which is the only good/positive thing in the book and that makes us smile)? :blink:

Why Michael's private/sex life is always a priority for discussion? :blink:

Why be obsessed with: Michael had sex or has not had sex or how many women he took throughout his life?:blink:

What priority to know thoughts/opinion of Michael about sex? :blink:

Why are people soooooooooooooo obsessed with knowing more and bla bla bla? :blink:

Fans only discuss about it and it seems that the book speaks only that! :wtf: :doh: Seriously, I can only laugh! :hysterical: :smilerolleyes: :fear:

If Michael were alive, I wonder what his reaction would be reading the comments of the fans here. :busted: :fear: Poor Michael... even dead is not left alone. :sigh: I can only lament. *big sigh*

 

[sfosteredi]

Purchased my Kindle copy today and so far I'm loving it. The way they speak about Michael... it's beautiful; very respectful. I've even shed some tears in a few spots, especially reading about Michael attending James Brown's funeral, knowing how much he meant to Michael

Can't wait to read more

Got my Kindle copy this morning also. I cannot put it down.

 

[AliCat]

Wait..... *thinking* >>>

:thinking: :scratch:




Sorry guys :fear: .... BUT this thread is insane and crazy. :crazy: :fear: Seriously people are still discussing and trying to draw a timeline of Michael's sex life? :bugeyed :doh: Ok, the book is there, I believe has beautiful stories... BUT is dispensable reading about Michael and reads who is very curious to know more.... -_-

BUT why people do not focus on discussing about the beautiful memories that these bodyguards have about Michael? :blink:

Why people are not able to just focus on it (beautiful memories/good times with Michael... which is the only good/positive thing in the book and that makes us smile)? :blink:

Why Michael's private/sex life is always a priority for discussion? :blink:

Why be obsessed with: Michael had sex or has not had sex or how many women he took throughout his life?:blink:

What priority to know thoughts/opinion of Michael about sex? :blink:

Why are people soooooooooooooo obsessed with knowing more and bla bla bla? :blink:

Fans only discuss about it and it seems that the book speaks only that! :wtf: :doh: Seriously, I can only laugh! :hysterical: :smilerolleyes: :fear:

If Michael were alive, I wonder what his reaction would be reading the comments of the fans here. :busted: :fear: Poor Michael... even dead is not left alone. :sigh: I can only lament. *big sigh*

Exactly, Ashtanga, what is the O B S E S S I O N with Michael's sex life.

Sex, Sex, Sex, enough to give me a headache over and over and over again.

 

[Ashtanga]

Exactly, Ashtanga, what is the O B S E S S I O N with Michael's sex life.

Sex, Sex, Sex, enough to give me a headache over and over and over again.

Here in Brazil most fans (girls) are desperate to buy the book. :doh: And the interest is always the same: find out more on women (WHO could be....), and the private life/sex of Michael and bla bla bla. Endless discussions on these issues in social networks. Sick.

 

[AliCat]

Here in Brazil most fans (girls) are desperate to buy the book. :doh: And the interest is always the same: find out more on women (WHO could be....), and the private life/sex of Michael and bla bla bla. Endless discussions on these issues in social networks. Sick.

 

[GreenEyes]

I could just be talking out of my ass here, but maybe it just didn't occur to him that the people he saw were homeless? Like, maybe he thought they were just hanging out on the streets for the sake of hanging out. And when he learned they were homeless he was surprised to see so many of them there, like he didn't think there would be that many homeless people in that spot, or just in general.

You could be right. It's hard to say. But you'd think he would be very street smart, considering he travelled all over the world and saw many cities, etc.

But then again, he was very protected and isolated... so your theory could be possible. It seems he didn't watch TV or the news. And newspapers were limited to business news.

It's easy to lose sight of the fact that his world view was totally different than our world view and knowledge.

 

[GreenEyes]

@tannercolby what do your presales figures look like? Over or under expectations?

Tanner Colby @tannercolby · 3 h.
pre-sales were strong. now we just need a big first week coming out of the gate! thx for spreading the word...

I just now realized that Tanner Colby is a regular writer for Slate. I've read many of his articles before and just now put two and two together. He is a good writer.

 

[Petrarose]

I could just be talking out of my ass here, but maybe it just didn't occur to him that the people he saw were homeless? Like, maybe he thought they were just hanging out on the streets for the sake of hanging out. And when he learned they were homeless he was surprised to see so many of them there, like he didn't think there would be that many homeless people in that spot, or just in general.

Good point. I was thinking that it was just the way he expressed himself. Like when you see something in the store that is expensive and you say "why is that expensive" even though you know that it is always expensive. Or when you see someone doing something foolish or dangerous and you say, "look, look what is he doing?!!!" You know exactly what the person is doing because you are seeing it with your own eyes, but it is just that those are the words you use to communicate disbelief. Also like saying, "What is going on here?!!" You already know what is going on because you see it with your own eyes.

About the homeless comment, I do think he knew they were homeless, since he lived in LA for several years and saw homeless people before. It is just that when you suddenly come across them, that it hits you more strongly that these are people who lack homes. You become almost shocked that this is still going on and you say something like, "what are these people doing there?" It is the same thing with the hooker story. I think they said before that Michael asked what the girl was doing outside or something like that. He knew very well what the girl's profession was.

The gentleman comments made me laugh. I think Michael wanted to wait until marriage for sex, but it seems that plan went awry. He was tempted, could not resist, and allowed himself to be carried away in the sexiness of the moment and most likely enjoyed it.

Michael knew he was sexy on stage and knew the girls liked it. I think what he meant in the tapes is that he does not believe in using it to attract sales. I think he also means that he does not go on the stage thinking about sex or what the girls are thinking. He goes in focused to do a good show, and let his sexiness come out naturally as he moves, singes, dances, gestures. I think he makes a distinction between actually going out there to sell sex vs allowing sexiness to ooze out naturally as he gets into the emotions of the performance. Also, we have to remember that he was talking to the "goody" Rabbi and he tried to convey what the Rabbi would be comfortable with.

 

[michaeljackson&lisamarie]

petrarose you said their comments made you laugh. what exactly did they say? I'm dieing to know. our michael was a red blooded man.lol.

 

[Ashtanga]

But then again, he was very protected and isolated...

It seems he didn't watch TV or the news. And newspapers were limited to business news.

I am not able to imagine that Michael could be a sort of caveman completely off about what happened out there in the world. He was a traveled man. Met many countries. He observed things around him. Obviously he was very informed, read a lot, used the internet, knew what happened and how things worked around the world. This MJ isolate that did not read newspapers much less watching tv and bla bla bla for me never existed. :fear:

 

[GreenEyes]

I am not able to imagine that Michael could be a sort of caveman completely off about what happened out there in the world. He was a traveled man. Met many countries. He observed things around him. Obviously he was very informed, read a lot, used the internet, knew what happened and how things worked around the world. This MJ isolate that did not read newspapers much less watching tv and bla bla bla for me never existed. :fear:

Beats me. I'm just trying to have an open mind as to another reason he would act so naïve. He's done it around quite a few people, it seems. More than likely he was just playing with people to see their reactions.

 

[Petrarose]

petrarose you said their comments made you laugh. what exactly did they say? I'm dieing to know. our michael was a red blooded man.lol.

Oh that whole exchange this morning about Michael as though he would not have sex with the women because he was a gentleman, the Bible reference, the Jehovah reference, the Rabbi reference......

Ash I agree with you. I don't know who started this idea that michael did not know what was going on in the world. As you said he traveled extensively. He drove in a car, so you mean to tell me he did not look out the window and see what was happening? He used the internet regardless of who says otherwise. Most likely he did not go to certain sites, in the same way I don't. I use the internet, but I keep away from certain things/areas/topics. Also, as you said, he read books about everything, so how come he did not know what was happening in the world? He probably would not know about the latest gossip/tabloid drama, but he would know about a national disaster. How did he know there was a disaster if he did not know about the world. This is all foolishness.

I have not read the book so I don't know if the bodyguards are giving that impression, but if they do, it is because he did not let them enter fully into his inner self. He obviously kept a certain part of him away from them, so because of that they just looked at the surface Michael and surface dialog and think that is what it really is. Maybe this was a protective mechanism Michael had because many people do the same thing. That is why different people will have different ideas about the same person.

 

[AliCat]

Oh! look it's that other bodyguard, Michael Amir Williams and he's out with Michael Jackson at a Sharper Image store!

ELECTRONICS
Audio (64)
Charging Devices (25)
iPad / iPhone Accessories (106)
Media Converters (7)
BOSE (15)
Digital Photo (14)
Phones & Communications (15)
Clocks & Radios (49)
TV & Video (46)
Electronic Games & Toys (74)

http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/category/Electronics/200002?mainCatId=

Is this when Michael got his new iphone? Oh wait...that was the bodyguard who just wrote a book about isolated Michael Jackson. Doh!

 

[AliCat]

Oh that whole exchange this morning about Michael as though he would not have sex with the women because he was a gentleman, the Bible reference, the Jehovah reference, the Rabbi reference......

What a sweetie! Always thinking of me.

 

[Petrarose]

What a sweetie! Always thinking of me.

Thanks for the flowers.

 

[AliCat]

Thanks for the flowers.

They're forget me knots, because you remembered me in your comment about sex, Michael Jackson, sex and more sex. Get your mind out of the gutter lady!

 

[Petrarose]

^^What exactly are you talking about now? All the post said was thanks for the flowers. I don't see where that gutter comment came in. For you to understand that comment as coming from a gutter mind, it means that FIRST YOUR thoughts had to be in the gutter.
To avoid this gutter situation, don't send people you don't know flowers.

I wonder if this book is going to be a bestseller. It seems many fans are embracing it.

 

[AliCat]

A colloquialism is what I'm talking about. What are you talking about!

 

[Tygger]

No one here is so well versed with Michael’s personal life that they can discuss with authority if Michael was celibate or not, who he may have had an intimate relationship with, how he saw such intimacy outside of marriage, etc. Posters are only projecting their own mores on Michael and using that to complete these authors’ tales. These tales have no beginning or end, only middles. No worries, some will take that promise of knowing a supposed intimate detail – fact or fiction be damned - than have nothing at all.

There is no difference between discussing financials and discussing one’s personal relationships. I agree with Ashtanga that one tale seems to overshadow any and all more intrusive tales such as the personal interactions between an employer and his children. It is all part of a private life that Michael is still not allowed to have yet these authors and their readers enjoy their privacy. Very few will allow this man to rest; somehow it is believed he still owes them something.

Is this when Michael got his new iphone? Oh wait...that was the bodyguard who just wrote a book about isolated Michael Jackson. Doh!

AliCat, according to these authors, no Michael could not afford an Iphone for himself or his mother so the phones were place in one of the authors’ name. Not surprising, the bills were not paid (Michael was most likely more interested in purchasing some life-sized cartoon figurine or other unnecessary purchase with monies he was not aware he did not have or had depending on the tale being told) and the accounts were eventually cancelled. As with all of these tales, there is no discussion of happenings before or after; just the middle tale. Also, no discussion on the financials for this particular author whose credit history most likely was ruined by his former employer.

Michael Jackson's Credit Was So Bad That His iPhone Had To Be Set Up Under Another Name
by admin June 2, 2014

When the first iPhone came out in 2007, everyone wanted to try Apple’s next big gadget — including the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

But the singer may not have had access to the hottest piece of tech if it weren’t for his security guard.

In a new book out today, “Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days,“ two of Jackson’s security guards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard, reveal what it was like working with the artist during the final years of his life.

The book details how poorly Jackson’s financial situation was handled — at one point, Whitfield says he overheard Jackson say he had no idea where his money was or how much he had — and how both guards weren’t paid for months on end.

Nevertheless, the star still managed to drop thousands of dollars on FAO Schwarz toy trips and miscellaneous purchases ranging from a nearly seven-foot-tall Tinkerbell replica to $1,000 on a theater display for “The Simpsons Movie.”

About halfway through the book, Whitfield recalls how Jackson wanted the iPhone when it first came out.

Whitfield said after Beard stood for two and a half hours in line to make the purchase, he was asked by Jackson to set up the phone.

What should have been a simple task ended up turning into a nightmare.

As Whitfield recalls:

“I had all his personal information, so I said sure. I first tried to set it up in his name, but after running Michael Jackson’s Social Security number, AT&T wanted a $1,500 deposit. Just to turn on a cell phone. That’s how bad his credit was. I went ahead and set up the account in my name. Then he wanted an iPhone for his mom, so he could send her pictures of the kids. I set up his mother’s cell phone in my name too.”

Whitfield said eventually Jackson’s number was changed and the bill for both phone accounts was never paid.

“The charges had run up close to two thousand dollars, and they got disconnected,” said Whitfield.
http://specialreports.com/michael-j...s-iphone-had-to-be-set-up-under-another-name/

 

[Ashtanga]

Beats me. I'm just trying to have an open mind as to another reason he would act so naïve. He's done it around quite a few people, it seems. More than likely he was just playing with people to see their reactions.

Michael showed to be naive and silly for people. :shifty: But he had nothing naive/silly :nono: and he knew very well about things.

 

[AliCat]

Apple gear too expensive for Michael Jackson
Written by Nick Farrell

Needed to do a deal with accountant

In 2007, Apple’s iPhone was so expensive that the popular beat combo star, and friend to children everywhere, Michael Jackson could not afford one. Apparently while Apple fanboys were queuing to spend their last dime on the gear, the so called “king of pop” knew it was completely out of his price range.

In a new book out today, "Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days," two of Jackson's security guards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard, explain how rubbish Jackson’s financial situation was. Jackson had no idea where his money was or how much he had and how both guards weren't paid for months on end.

While he was while he could spend thousands of dollars on toy trips and miscellaneous purchases ranging from a nearly seven-foot-tall Tinkerbell replica to $1,000 on a theatre display for "The Simpsons Movie" an iPhone was out of his league. Whitfield said after Beard stood for two and a half hours in line to make the purchase, he was asked by Jackson to set up the phone. But the problem was not only the expense of the phone. Apple’s partner AT&T wanted to sting Jackson for $1,500 to turn on the mobile. Apparently it was because Jackson’s credit was about as good as a Fudzilla hack.

The security guards set up the phone for him in their name. Whitfield said eventually Jackson's number was changed and the bill for both phone accounts was never paid.

"The charges had run up close to two thousand dollars, and they got disconnected," said Whitfield.
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/34892-apple-gear-too-expensive-for-michael-jackson

 

[Ashtanga]

Apple gear too expensive for Michael Jackson
Written by Nick Farrell

Needed to do a deal with accountant

In 2007, Apple’s iPhone was so expensive that the popular beat combo star, and friend to children everywhere, Michael Jackson could not afford one. Apparently while Apple fanboys were queuing to spend their last dime on the gear, the so called “king of pop” knew it was completely out of his price range.

In a new book out today, "Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days," two of Jackson's security guards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard, explain how rubbish Jackson’s financial situation was. Jackson had no idea where his money was or how much he had and how both guards weren't paid for months on end.

While he was while he could spend thousands of dollars on toy trips and miscellaneous purchases ranging from a nearly seven-foot-tall Tinkerbell replica to $1,000 on a theatre display for "The Simpsons Movie" an iPhone was out of his league. Whitfield said after Beard stood for two and a half hours in line to make the purchase, he was asked by Jackson to set up the phone. But the problem was not only the expense of the phone. Apple’s partner AT&T wanted to sting Jackson for $1,500 to turn on the mobile. Apparently it was because Jackson’s credit was about as good as a Fudzilla hack.

The security guards set up the phone for him in their name. Whitfield said eventually Jackson's number was changed and the bill for both phone accounts was never paid.

"The charges had run up close to two thousand dollars, and they got disconnected," said Whitfield.
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/34892-apple-gear-too-expensive-for-michael-jackson

:smilerolleyes:


Surreal! :busted: :doh:

 

[Tygger]

From another Q/A posted elsewhere this month.

Q: Do you feel by releasing your book that you will have a hard time finding work as far as being a bodyguard for celebrities?

Bill & Javon: That was a concern, of course, but we discussed this book with all of our celebrity clients before starting the project, and they understand that our work with Mr. Jackson and the need to share the truth about it is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime circumstance that has no bearing on our ability to handle their affairs in 100 percent confidentiality.

Hilarious.

 

[krikzil]

Got my Kindle copy this morning also. I cannot put it down.

I couldn't either. Read it straight through and enjoyed it.

 

[Bubs]

Hey guys, sometimes I feel you read too much into what people write about Michael. Just like these bg's says that MJ didn't read papers or rarely was in the internet. They write what they saw when they were with MJ, but they weren't with Michael 24/7 and they stayed in security detail while MJ was in house.
Most likely MJ was reading papers and surfing in the internet in his own time and at home.
-----------------------------------
As for Michael's credit record, it is not secret, it was bad.
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/?fpn=michael jackson s credit score 564

 

[GreenEyes]

I've only made it to Chapter 5. I was really surprised to learn of the weapons, ammunition and security that was required. These guys were armed like they could keep an army out of the house.

Michael was extremely concerned for his safety and had several episodes that ended up being false alarms but he was really afraid.

 

[SoCav]

Although I have very mixed feelings about these kinds of books, I did end up reading this one - which does make me feel like a bit of a hypocrite.

Overall, the picture the bodyguards paint of MJ in his final years is positive. In the way they describe him, he comes across as the kind and caring Michael that we've always known, albeit more paranoid and heartbroken due to the trial and everything that had happened to him. The latter is sad to read, though not surprising... It's also sad and frustrating to read about the mess that surrounded him during a time where he seemed to just want to be alone with his kids. Of course this is something we knew already, but it was still interesting to read a first-hand account of it.

Although it is impossible to assess the truthfulness of what they write, I did not get the impression that they tried to write a heavily sensationalized book here. I don't think there are a lot of stories in this book that will appeal to the tabloid reading public, and the bodyguards seem pretty honest about the fact that they only knew and dealt with MJ in a certain capacity. It just comes across as these two guys sharing their recollections of their experiences at the time (as much with everyone surrounding MJ as with MJ himself), rather than some saucy tell-all book. But, as I said, I do have very mixed feelings about books like this being released in the first place.

It was also interesting to read how MJ's creativity never stopped, how they'd see him go into the studio at night and sometimes could hear him sing, or work on songs with Brad Buxer. But at the same time, he seemed completely fed up with the music business. I've never really known exactly how to feel about the Sony issue for instance, particularly with regards to MJ's final years, but these quotes did stand out to me:

Bill: The twenty-fifth anniversary of Thriller was coming up. That was another reason he'd come back to the country. There was talk about remixing the songs, reshooting the videos with new special effects. I overheard a lot of those conversations, and I could hear Mr. Jackson saying he was against it. He'd say things like, "There are some things you should never touch." But I believe Sony had more say in that than he did. They were dragging him into it. He was still under a lot of contractual obligations to them.

He hated Sony. That was another big problem. He didn't like a lot of the people he had to do business with. Artists always have problems and issues with their management companies and their record labels, but his hatred of Sony was on a whole other level. He hated Tommy Mottola, the head of the label. Hated him. Called him the devil.

One day, Mr. Jackson told us he wanted some headphones to listen to music while he walked on the treadmill. One of the other security guys went out and got him a pair. I was in the house less than a week later, and I saw that they'd been broken in half. These things weren't dropped. They were broken on purpose. I picked them up and saw they were Sony headphones. I wouldn't have bought him anything that said Sony on it, but whoever purchased them probably wasn't aware of the situation.

Bill: I was getting a lot of questions about the Thriller 25 album. The anniversary of the actual release date had come and gone back at the end of November. All sorts of stuff had been planned, TV specials, appearances. None of it had happened because he wasn't cool with it. As far as he was concerned, that album was perfect. You don't go back and add hip-hop beats to Thriller. It's a classic, and you don't touch it. But they told him he had to.

Javon: Sony had told him to get in the studio with some of these younger artists and do these remixes to make himself new and hip again. But he didn't do it with enthusiasm. You could tell that. That's why it was so down to the last minute with those sessions at the Palms. He kept putting it off and putting it off, and the remixes kept taking longer and longer to finish.

 

[AliCat]

Hey guys, sometimes I feel you read too much into what people write about Michael. Just like these bg's says that MJ didn't read papers or rarely was in the internet. They write what they saw when they were with MJ, but they weren't with Michael 24/7 and they stayed in security detail while MJ was in house.
Most likely MJ was reading papers and surfing in the internet in his own time and at home.
-----------------------------------
As for Michael's credit record, it is not secret, it was bad.
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/?fpn=michael jackson s credit score 564

I don't think so Bubs. Especially with the lecture's I've received, it's the opposite, than I have to defend myself with a rebuttal argument. It just goes round in circles!

 

[Birchey]

Hey guys, sometimes I feel you read too much into what people write about Michael. Just like these bg's says that MJ didn't read papers or rarely was in the internet. They write what they saw when they were with MJ, but they weren't with Michael 24/7 and they stayed in security detail while MJ was in house.
Most likely MJ was reading papers and surfing in the internet in his own time and at home.
-----------------------------------
As for Michael's credit record, it is not secret, it was bad.
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/?fpn=michael jackson s credit score 564

Its kinda established from numerous sources MJ was pretty much computer illiterate, he didn't know or bother learning how to use them for internet etc.