">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Michael Jackson book a headache for Jackie O
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Michael Jackson book a headache for Jackie O
Reuters - Sunday, July 5
By Dean Goodman
ADVERTISEMENT
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson crossed swords with a lot of people when he was alive, but perhaps none more important than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
The former first lady, in her capacity as an editor at Doubleday Books, secured a coveted book deal with the pop star in 1984, when he was still riding high on the success of his "Thriller" album released two years earlier.
"She was only person in America who could get him on the phone," Stephen Davis, the ghostwriter of "Moon Walk," said in a recent interview with Reuters.
According to a People magazine article at the time, Onassis paid Jackson a $300,000 advance for the book. Davis received what he termed "a generous flat fee."
The book came out in 1988, topped the New York Times Best Sellers list, and quickly sold out of its initial print run of almost 500,000 copies, he recalled.
"That was an extremely successful book. They made money on it," Davis said.
The obvious next step was to print more copies, and then prepare a paperback version. But Jackson, who had total control of the project, vetoed both plans -- annoying Onassis.
"There was so much bad feeling when it didn't go back to press," Davis said. "It wasn't a great experience for her."
Relations between the two cultural icons were already strained, because Jackson had threatened to block the book's publication unless Onassis wrote a gushing foreword.
Onassis, who fiercely guarded her privacy and did not want her name in any book she edited, reluctantly made an exception and turned in a three-paragraph blurb.
Davis had won over Jackson with his infamously seamy Led Zeppelin biography "Hammer of the Gods," which was packed with tales of underage groupies, orgies and massive drug abuse.
"Moon Walk" on the other hand, with an apparently asexual and temperate childlike subject, was essentially "a very, very expensive press release," Davis said.
"The book was very meat-and-potatoes -- 'Diana Ross discovered us, and then we went to Motown and we worked for Mr. Gordy, and then we went to Los Angeles, I was in The Wiz...'"
The book's major "scoop" was Jackson's allegation that he was beaten by his father. But a throwaway comment Jackson made -- and Davis cannot remember if it was in the book -- proved to be more significant. Jackson had recounted how he and his older brothers would squeeze into a pair of hotel beds while on the road as youngsters, "and that's how I feel best about going to sleep, to this day."
Davis did not think it was odd that a preteen boy was always on hand at Jackson's Encino, Calif., home where the interviews took place over an intermittent eight-month period.
"It was like his ward. It was like Batman and Robin. He was a very nice kid," Davis said. "But there were several of them. They all looked like trial.
"I'm sure they were bedding down with Mike, but I don't believe for a minute that he ever molested them or touched them or anything like that, or gave them alcohol."
Rather, Davis surmised that they were playmates in Jackson's innocent fantasy world. They would play videogames, watch movies and run errands for him.
With Onassis applying deadline pressure, Davis hurriedly cobbled his interview transcripts into a narrative, sent off a rough draft and waited to be fired for shoddy work. But within a few weeks, Doubleday was sending him back proofs to check.
"It undermined my faith in publishing a little," he said. "I'm not even sure he read it completely...Or someone did, maybe his lawyer or manager."
Davis and Jackson never kept in touch. He occasionally bumped into Onassis while they were summering on Martha's Vineyard, but the whole Jackson saga remained a sensitive issue until she died of cancer in 1994.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Potter star Rupert Grint recovering from swine fluAP - 2 hours 49 minutes ago
US-ENTERTAINMENT SummaryReuters - 2 hours 53 minutes ago
Former Beatles, Stones manager Allen Klein diesReuters - 2 hours 54 minutes ago
Fans overlook Michael Jackson's dark sideReuters - Sunday, July 5
Prince sells out in eight minutes at Montreux FestivalAFP - Sunday, July 5
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Jackson fans told to stay away as tickets up for grabs
The daily grind: Sex for a week boosts sperm quality
Schwarzenegger declares emergency in California
Access to swine flu vaccine a 'critical question': WHO
Questions mount over Jackson animal kingdom
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 5 July 2009 Iraq declines offer of U.S. help with reconciliation
Two US soldiers, seven Afghan police die in blasts
Anti-G8 demonstrators clash with police in Italy
| International
|
Palestinian police arrest West Bank plotters
| International
|
At least 23 Somalis killed in latest clash
| International
|
Russia to grant U.S. Afghan supply route
Night of barbecue, fireworks on tap at White House
Chestnut wins NY hot dog eating match, again
UN chief outlines Myanmar vision in rare speech
Biden celebrates Independence Day with Saddam jibe
Obama's trip: 3 more countries, 1 broad mission
Pakistani airstrikes kill at least 12 militants
Budget battles keep states from tackling reforms
At least 9 killed in bus accident in eastern India
Obama, McCain give dueling holiday addresses
2 US troops die in attack on base in Afghanistan
Colleges focus on veterans as GI Bill ups numbers
Barak, Mitchell to meet again on settlements
Colin Powell cautions Obama on big government
At least 6 killed in bus accident in eastern India
NZealand reports first 3 swine flu-linked deaths
Indonesia's election candidates hold last rallies
Pakistani forces attack militants near crash site
More than 300,000 flee homes as south China floods
Thailand's swine flu death toll reaches seven
Saudi petrochemicals exporters slam China over dumping probe
Former Beatles, Stones manager Allen Klein dies
| Entertainment
|
Fans overlook Michael Jackson's dark side
Fans overlook Michael Jackson's dark side
| Entertainment
|
Recession adds to challenges for suburban arts
Michael Jackson book a headache for Jackie O
| Entertainment
|
Michael Jackson book a headache for Jackie O
"End of the Line" film rings alarm on fish supply
Jackson children 'don't know' mother: adviser
End of the Line film rings alarm on fish supply
| Entertainment
|
One Dead After Fireworks Truck Explodes In North Carolina
Statue Of Liberty's Crown To Re-Open July 4 For Public
Millions Of Fans Rush To Get Jackson's Memorial Service Tickets
Body Of Man Found In River Near Philadelphia; 11-Year-Old Boy Still Missing
Two U.S. Soldiers Killed In Eastern Afghanistan
North Korea Tests Seven Missiles Defying US Independence Day, UN Sanctions
US Marines in fierce battle during Afghan offensive
French arrest three key ETA suspects
OAS suspends Honduras over coup against Zelaya
| International
|
Biden spends July 4 with son, other troops in Iraq
Bolivia points to energy, rail nationalization
Hardline Iran editor calls for Mousavi to face trial
Militant ambush kills 10 Chechen police
North Korea may have shot mid-range missile
| International
|
Ex-Siemens executive seeks to avoid extradition to Greece: report
Russia calls on U.S. to compromise on missile defense
| International
|
GM considers options ahead of court ruling
Polish shipyard sale still pending: Qatari investment bank
Gunmen kidnap 16 Afghan U.N. demining workers
| International
|
Mexico ruling party to struggle at mid-term election
| International
|
Obama says U.S. a strong partner of Iraq despite pullout
| International
|
Vietnam northern floods kill 15, dozen missing
| International
|
Blast outside church in Philippine south kills 5
| International
|
WITNESS: Battling to borrow money in sanctions-hit Sudan
| International
|
US celebrates Independence Day
1 dead, several hurt in Fla. lightning strike
Fireworks explosion on NC island kills 2, hurts 3
Beatings spark fears for Bangladesh's tigers
McCain says Palin to play leadership role as ex-Governor
Four dead, 34 wounded in Philippine church bombing
Zelaya says he's optimist, will return to Honduras
Palin links resignation to `higher calling'
Australian navy investigating sex bet allegations
Palin's replacement her polar opposite
Still a long way to go: Aussie cycling ace Evans
First Asian elephant born in Australian zoo
Thunderous Okla. applause greets Bush on July 4
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,322
Myanmar's frustrated generation looks abroad
Marines march in grueling Afghan sun on July 4
Oasis amidst war, Afghan valley looks to tourism
South Korea to raise $1.6 bln for green industries
Former Beatles, Stones manager Allen Klein dies
| Entertainment
|
Jackson death fuels business bonanza
1.6 million seek Jackson tickets: organizers
Bodies found from Indonesian plane crash: report
Harry Potter's nemesis revels in hard-edged new film
Beatles, Rolling Stones ex-manager Allen Klein dies
Madonna pays tribute to Michael Jackson in concert
Mega pan-African festival kicks off in Algeria
TV One to begin Sunday show aimed at blacks
Ex-Beatles, Rolling Stones manager Klein dies
US celebrates Independence Day
Networks to offer live Jackson memorial coverage
Iran to free eighth British embassy worker: Miliband
Yemenia jetliner's black box signal detected
Earn our trust or go, Afghan villagers tell Marines
| International
|
Khodorkovsky must confess for pardon: Medvedev
Mexican ruling party to struggle at mid-term vote
| International
|
Two British soldiers killed in Afghan assault
Recession could boost Bosnia micro-credit sector
Harry Potter's nemesis revels in hard-edged new film
Settlements, regional peace on Israel-U.S. agenda
Pakistani jets pound Taliban on Afghan border
| International
|
Pro-reform clerical body protests Iran elections
An Iranian clerical group says vote result invalid
| International
|
Chinese floods kill 15, displace 550,000
| International
|
Crime and crisis focus of Bulgarian election
| International
|
Rioters battle with police in Hamburg
| International
|
Settlements, regional peace on Israel-U.S. agenda
| International
|
Spanish winemakers look to higher ground
Post publisher apologizes for paid dinner plan
Obama to begin overseas mission Sunday
Coast Guard plucks French kayaker from Bering Sea
Russia calls on U.S. to compromise on missile defence
Iraq not on 'bottom shelf': Biden
Taiwan benefits from China's economic stimulus
Chinese carmaker bids for GM's Opel: reports
Late monsoon brings fears of food shortages in Nepal
Taliban cash in on Pakistan's untapped gem wealth
India looks to cut out middlemen on gold
China won't press for new global currency at G8
Hong Kong, Taiwan fans mourn Michael Jackson
Omg! Positive tone boosts Yahoo celeb site to top
Fourteen dead after train hits bus in Indonesia: reports
Jackson fans prepare farewell to 'King of Pop'
Jackson memorial gets 1.6 million ticket requests
Slum tours give hard dose of reality in Indonesia
Spanish winemakers look to higher ground
Sarkozy pries open France's door to Sunday shopping
Tourism, religion threaten Ethiopia's tribal warriors
After 'King of Pop,' an empty throne
Fake Tamiflu Spammed Online More Than Counterfeit Viagra
Tooth Implanted In Eye Makes Blind Man See Again
Colorado Firm Offers Eco-Friendly Burial Thru Biodegradable Caskets
North Korea Airs First Beer Commercial
Contest Offers $1 Million In Prizes To Fastest Keyboard Typists
PETA Wants Rights To Michael Jackson Song To Help Save Lab Rats
World's Biggest Communications Satellite Launched From French Guiana
Microsoft's Bing Gains On Google, But MJ's Death Reveals Its Weaknesses
Johnny Depp Can't Bear To Look At Himself In The Mirror
Ryan Reynolds Wore Cellophane Underwear In His Latest Film "The Proposal"
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights