I was at the book signing in San Francisco yesterday and had a chance to ask Michael Bush a few questions, including about the auction and signatures. Here's the summary:
I asked about the auction - when he donated the costumes to the estate and why he sold some of the iconic pieces. He confirmed that he donated clothes to the estate before the Juliens catalog was put together. He basically gave the estate the first choice to pick whatever they wanted, and they did. Why they didn't take Bad tour clothes or HIStory teaser costume - he doesn't know. He said that they may have copies of some things as stage clothes was manufactured in 2-3 copies, but he doesn't know for sure. He gave them what they asked for. (It seems like he donated Smooth Criminal lean shoes to the estate, because when I asked about them, he said the estate has them.) When I asked who made the selection - the executors, the kids or Katherine - he said he didn't know. He assumed it was a collective choice. Overall it seemed to me, that he is not in close contact with the estate. Some fans depict Bush as Branca's friend, ally, co-conspirator and whatnot - he isn't. From his answers it seemed that he communicated with the estate about the book and the auction through some formal representative, and he doesn't have much information about what they have in possession.
I asked about the autograph controversy. Bush declined to comment and said that he was only there to sign the book and didn't want to touch that. I said, "Fair enough," but I also told him that I thought it was in his best interest to clear this out, because some fans are boycotting and harming the book due to the controversy, and the book is very important for Michael's legacy. He said he understood, and that the situation would be cleared through proper and official sources. (I won't hold my breath though. But we'll see). Overall he seemed just a simple and nice guy to me.
I also asked some of my questions from the Q&A thread:
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/t...with-Michael-Bush-Submit-your-questions/page5
I asked if it's true that museums have rejected Michael's clothes (as was stated in ICONIC magazine). Bush said yes, due to different reasons, including legal issues and the fact that the clothes should be preserved under very strict temperature/light conditions which not all museums are ready to provide. So it seemed more like technical issues than disdain for MJ (which I feared it might have been).
I asked what happened to the trial suits and if there's any chance that they'll be featured in a book or exposition in future. Bush said they are not in his possession. He said Katherine asked for 4 of the suits - for her to keep. A few of the suits Michael kept, so they are probably in the estate's possession now. He also said that when he communicated with the estate about the book, they requested/advised not to include the trial suits in the book. He plans to release a 2nd edition/part 2 of the book though, and maybe he'll include them there. (I won't hold my breath for part 2 either, but who knows... He seemed to be pretty serious about it.)
I asked about the fencing suits and if Versace had anything to do with them. Bush said that Versace had absolutely nothing to do with them and was nowhere near. The idea of the fencing suit was theirs and Michael's, and it was developed by Bush and Tompkins. He says that maybe the rumor about Versace started because there is a photo of Michael and Versace together during the Dangerous tour.
I asked about the runes and funny letters in the HIStory teaser. Bush said they where Michael's idea and they didn't mean anything - he wanted something that doesn't belong to any particular language, so that no country could claim it and it would be equal for every fan in the world.
I asked if MJ's clothes ever didn't work as supposed to on stage, and if Michael got mad about it. Bush said that no, MJ always laughed it off, he was very nice and polite to the staff and didn't get anxious about things like this. He remembered an occasion when a button came off on MJ's gold HIStory suit, and Michael freaked out because it meant a flap right on his chest. But Bush quickly fixed it with some stapler.
I asked if Dennis was on tours with Michael - Bush said no, he didn't like to travel much, he stayed home and worked on new clothes while Bush helped MJ on the road. That way they made sure all fronts were covered.
Funny bit: He says when they went somewhere in the car with Michael, MJ always tried to make him sing karaoke. He used to say, "Come on, Bush, everybody sings in the shower!" Bush used to reply, "I don't. Don't make me sing, Michael."
He remembered that Michael used to buy books in different countries of the world. Because he couldn't do proper sightseeing, he flipped through books and looked at famous places there.
He said that his relationship with MJ was always more employer/employee than friends - for example, he usually didn't stay for dinners when he visited Michael in Neverland, etc. He did see a lot of Michael's life though, and he says that it was a hard life...
h34r:
