I was about to order the book, but then I found something on the internet: Author Ian Barkley gave this interview in 2009:
Jackson's Former Photographer: Michael a Good Dad With a Drug Problem
2. Juli 2009 - 17:30 von Ashley Fultz and Megan Masters
Michael Jackson Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch
The past week has been filled with more Michael Jackson speculation than we even thought possible...and there's no end in sight.
Jackson's former personal photographer, Ian Barkley, spoke exclusively to E! News about the King of Pop's parenting, his apparent problems and various things he witnessed during his years spent traveling the world with the artist.
Barkley was hired in 2002 to document Jackson in all of his endeavors. "Michael liked having me around," says the photographer.
Throughout his years with the star, Barkley grew to know Jackson and his family intimately, gaining personal insight into a life shrouded in privacy. The ex-employee paints a portrait of Jackson as a doting father, saying that he and his three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7, had a "really good" relationship.
"His kids totally love their dad and he was extremely protective over them," says Barkley. "Even when we were just around his staff, he was protective."
Barkley explains Jackson's no-holds-barred attitude when it came to his children, in which the performer would go to great lengths to ensure their welfare, especially while on the road: "We would babyproof everywhere, like really expensive suites."
He continues: "They would tape up every corner with cardboard and make sure the kids couldn't hurt themselves, and they were very strict on what the kids would eat to make sure they didn't have allergies."
Jackson's overly protective nature seemed natural to Barkley, who says, "To some it was odd, but under the circumstances it was understandable."
When asked if he believed the star seemed mentally sound, Barkley explains that the answer always coincided with whether or not Jackson was using drugs.
"There were two sides to him. When he wasn't dosed up on pills, he was extremely mentally sound, very businesslike, very smart, but when he was on drugs, he would do some really odd things," claims Barkley.
"It was basically flipping a coin and depending on what day it was, was how he was," says the photog. "Some days Michael would show up to an event and we could tell because he had this giggly, laughing face on. I am not sure what kind of meds, but I know there were mixtures."
Barkley goes on to state that he wholeheartedly believes that the icon was a drug addict. Barkley tells E! News that during his three-year employment with Jackson, "50 percent of the time he was on drugs. He had doctor after doctor working with him and had people score him prescription drugs that he knew he didn't have prescriptions for. He definitely had a problem."
But recent claims of Jackson self-medicating due to immense pain comes as a surprise to Barkley. "He would dance around and didn't flinch. I think he just never got off of the drug from the many surgeries he had," the photog said.
The alleged addiction did not go unnoticed by those around him, however. Those who worked closely with the star would constantly attempt to intervene. "(Michael) would just get going and laughing and talking about other stuff and you just knew he was on drugs," Barkley says.
"He was off in his own little world. Managers tried to keep stuff away from him because there was a lot of business to be done, like when he was supposed to be at an event but was in bed sleeping 10 minutes before he was supposed to be there, and they would get on his case, but as soon as you tell him no, he starts pushing you out."
There was at least one instance of Jackson recognizing that he might have a problem, as Barkley claims that during his run with the singer, a "witch doctor was around to get Michael off the drugs, to go through a detox thing," but that it didn't work.
When child molestation charges were brought against Jackson, Barkley was sort of phased out of his job. "I stopped working with him when I was basically pushed out around the time when the trial started," says Barkley. "His people started not letting me go to events. It became a joke, and I just had enough."
As the Jackson family's custody battle starts to heat up and we wait to see where his children will end up, Barkley insists: "He was overall a good dad."
I don't think that MJ was a drug addict, I think that's a lie. There are so many trustable people who say they saw no strange behaviour or signs of addiction. The media says he was addicted - I don't believe that.
Also, Barkley claims he was his personal photographer from 2002, but wasn't Hamid Moslehi his personal photographer from the nineties to 2003?
Barkley gave some more interviews saying that Grace Rwaramba was Michaels secret girl friend - nobody knows if that's true (I don't think she was, but that's just my opinion), but nobody has the right to tell secrets to the media.
Anyway, I think I will NOT buy the book. My impression at the moment is that this is a person who wants to make money by exploiting.
"He was off in his own little world. Managers tried to keep stuff away from him because there was a lot of business to be done, like when he was supposed to be at an event but was in bed sleeping 10 minutes before he was supposed to be there, and they would get on his case, but as soon as you tell him no, he starts pushing you out."
So, now he was over-sleeping when he was on drugs!!
Yeah, I think people make up anything in hindsight, just for sensationalism, since they know that's what the public eats up and will pay lots of money for. Half-truths and lies. Then again Michael could actually be behind some of this, perpetuating controversy. I'm still looking forward to getting the book in a couple of weeks.
I don't think that MJ was a drug addict, I think that's a lie. There are so many trustable people who say they saw no strange behaviour or signs of addiction. The media says he was addicted - I don't believe that.
Also, Barkley claims he was his personal photographer from 2002, but wasn't Hamid Moslehi his personal photographer from the nineties to 2003?
Barkley gave some more interviews saying that Grace Rwaramba was Michaels secret girl friend - nobody knows if that's true (I don't think she was, but that's just my opinion), but nobody has the right to tell secrets to the media.
Anyway, I think I will NOT buy the book. My impression at the moment is that this is a person who wants to make money by exploiting.
I agree that I don't believe Michael was a dug addict either. I feel that he intentionally created this and other controversie. This adventure (hoax) was planned for a very long and it seems that many things such as "drug addict", "burn victim disguises" and other behaviour, that has been described as "bizarre", has actually been done intentionally. These actions are the set up for what we find ourselves exploring now; a man who is supposed to be dead but is alive, exposing hidden truths and directing a play on the largest stage possible.
There are also discrepancies between the article and the linkedin page for him (which he has paid for and created himself or was created on his behalf)
Jackson's Former Photographer: Michael a Good Dad With a Drug Problem
Barkley was hired in 2002 to document Jackson in all of his endeavors. "Michael liked having me around," says the photographer.
Barkley tells E! News that during histhree-year employment with Jackson,
When child molestation charges were brought against Jackson, Barkley was sort of phased out of his job. "I stopped working with him when I was basically pushed out around the time when the trial started," says Barkley. "His people started not letting me go to events. It became a joke, and I just had enough."
Director of Still Photography
Neverland Entertainment
(Photography industry) 2003 — 2006 (3 years )
Worked as Michael Jackson's personal photographer. Initiated a sophisticated syndication strategy that allowed our team to deliver approved photos to press outlets while creating a new source of revenue for the King of Pop. Also acted as a liason between Michael's camp and the media during various periods. Interviewed multiple times on Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show, Entertainment Tonight etc. http://www.linkedin.com/in/ianbarkley1
Article: Stared working - 2002 Linkedin: Started Working - 2003
Article: Stopped Working - 2005 (when the 2005 trial started) 2005 trial dates: January 31 – Jury selection begins, February 24 – Jurors and alternates seated, February 28, March 1 – Opening statements begin. Linkedin: Stopped Working - 2006
There are also discrepancies between the article and the linkedin page for him (which he has paid for and created himself or was created on his behalf)
Article: Stared working - 2002 Linkedin: Started Working - 2003
Article: Stopped Working - 2005 (when the 2005 trial started) 2005 trial dates: January 31 – Jury selection begins, February 24 – Jurors and alternates seated, February 28, March 1 – Opening statements begin. Linkedin: Stopped Working - 2006
Wow, Serenity, you always do such great research! I never thought of comparing the interview to his own page... Thanks for your research, you are so right, there are indeed contradictions!
So he says on his linkedin page that he worked for him from 2003 until 2006 while in the interview he said he stopped working for him when the trial started... Obviously he's really a liar and indeed not a trustable person.
I've reached the overall conclusion this isn't even real.
No other major retailer (apart from Waterstones UK)has it on pre order,it is weeks late,has no cover,no explanation,no marketing,no promotion,no website,the publishers dont even have a website....there is nothing about it being delayed anywhere apart from Amazon who changed it's release date to 28th Feb 2011.
Sorry to break the news to amazon, but that has been and gone lol.
I am emailing someone tonight for an explanation and to see who is dishing refunds out to people who have pre ordered it.
If anyone has it,speak up and let us know.
Until that happens,I am going with the idea that this is another hoax ...just a mini one.
I've reached the overall conclusion this isn't even real.
No other major retailer(apart from Waterstones UK) has it on pre order,it is weeks late,has no cover,no explanation,no marketing,no promotion,no website,the publishers dont even have a website....
no mention of a delay anywhere apart from Amazon who have changed it to the 28th Feb 2011.
Sorry to break the news to amazon, but that has been and gone lol.
I am emailing someone tonight for an explanation and to see who is dishing refunds out to people who have pre ordered it.
If anyone has it,speak up and let us know.
Until that happens,I am going with the idea that this is another hoax ...just a mini one.
Interesting Sind - let us know if anyone gets back with you. One more thing we can add to the list of "didn't happen". Blessings.
You know,a lot of people who don't use English as their first language have said they have got better at it since they joined the forum/s which is awesome!
Your English is amazing,you're doing very well =]
Nooo! Don't let it put you off posting!!
We will understand the majority of what you write xo
You're doing great <!-- s;) -->;)<!-- s;) --> I improved a lot too by staying here. I still make mistakes, but don't worry, we all make an effort to understand each other so it's ok <!-- s;) -->;)<!-- s;) -->
Thank you soooo much, Sinderella and whatyourheartsays! <!-- s:) -->:)<!-- s:) --> To read that puts a happy smile on my face. <!-- s:) -->:)<!-- s:) -->
Anyway it's better than you writting in german and me answering in french <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D -->
<!-- s --><!-- s --> That might be very true - I learned french in school but that was 25 years ago and I forgot almost everything. <!-- s:oops: -->:oops:<!-- s:oops: -->
@ Dancer Your english is better than my German. Maybe I should post my posting in German so I will get better. Sie sind Sie können englisches besseres, als glücklich schreiben ich Deutsches, I had t take my German books to write this, this is bad. I need to brush on my German again.
French I can speak fluently, so if you need any help I can always help you. So what ever mistakes you make, it doesn't matter, we all learn by our mistakes. God bless.
@ Dancer Your english is better than my German. Maybe I should post my posting in German so I will get better. Sie sind Sie können englisches besseres, als glücklich schreiben ich Deutsches, I had t take my German books to write this, this is bad. I need to brush on my German again.
French I can speak fluently, so if you need any help I can always help you. So what ever mistakes you make, it doesn't matter, we all learn by our mistakes. God bless.
Thank you so much, all4loveandbelieve! <!-- s:) -->:)<!-- s:) -->
I've reached the overall conclusion this isn't even real.
No other major retailer has it on pre order,it is weeks late,has no cover,no explanation,no marketing,no promotion,no website,the publishers dont even have a website....there is nothing about it ANYWHERE apart from Amazon who still have it's release date as 14th..then the 28th Feb 2011.
Sorry to break the news to amazong, but they have both gone lol.
I am emailing someone tonight for an explanation and to see who is dishing refunds out to people who have pre ordered it.
If anyone has it,speak up and let us know.
Until that happens,I am going with the idea that this is another hoax ...just a mini one.
Interesting Sind - let us know if anyone gets back with you. One more thing we can add to the list of "didn't happen". Blessings.
Oh I will,I'll post my reply here if I get one,which I will because I will just keep on at them until they do lol.
That list must be getting pretty long now..is anyone keeping track of it..they should
Comments
Jackson's Former Photographer: Michael a Good Dad With a Drug Problem
2. Juli 2009 - 17:30 von Ashley Fultz and Megan Masters
Michael Jackson Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch
The past week has been filled with more Michael Jackson speculation than we even thought possible...and there's no end in sight.
Jackson's former personal photographer, Ian Barkley, spoke exclusively to E! News about the King of Pop's parenting, his apparent problems and various things he witnessed during his years spent traveling the world with the artist.
Barkley was hired in 2002 to document Jackson in all of his endeavors. "Michael liked having me around," says the photographer.
Throughout his years with the star, Barkley grew to know Jackson and his family intimately, gaining personal insight into a life shrouded in privacy. The ex-employee paints a portrait of Jackson as a doting father, saying that he and his three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7, had a "really good" relationship.
"His kids totally love their dad and he was extremely protective over them," says Barkley. "Even when we were just around his staff, he was protective."
Barkley explains Jackson's no-holds-barred attitude when it came to his children, in which the performer would go to great lengths to ensure their welfare, especially while on the road: "We would babyproof everywhere, like really expensive suites."
He continues: "They would tape up every corner with cardboard and make sure the kids couldn't hurt themselves, and they were very strict on what the kids would eat to make sure they didn't have allergies."
Jackson's overly protective nature seemed natural to Barkley, who says, "To some it was odd, but under the circumstances it was understandable."
When asked if he believed the star seemed mentally sound, Barkley explains that the answer always coincided with whether or not Jackson was using drugs.
"There were two sides to him. When he wasn't dosed up on pills, he was extremely mentally sound, very businesslike, very smart, but when he was on drugs, he would do some really odd things," claims Barkley.
"It was basically flipping a coin and depending on what day it was, was how he was," says the photog. "Some days Michael would show up to an event and we could tell because he had this giggly, laughing face on. I am not sure what kind of meds, but I know there were mixtures."
Barkley goes on to state that he wholeheartedly believes that the icon was a drug addict. Barkley tells E! News that during his three-year employment with Jackson, "50 percent of the time he was on drugs. He had doctor after doctor working with him and had people score him prescription drugs that he knew he didn't have prescriptions for. He definitely had a problem."
But recent claims of Jackson self-medicating due to immense pain comes as a surprise to Barkley. "He would dance around and didn't flinch. I think he just never got off of the drug from the many surgeries he had," the photog said.
The alleged addiction did not go unnoticed by those around him, however. Those who worked closely with the star would constantly attempt to intervene. "(Michael) would just get going and laughing and talking about other stuff and you just knew he was on drugs," Barkley says.
"He was off in his own little world. Managers tried to keep stuff away from him because there was a lot of business to be done, like when he was supposed to be at an event but was in bed sleeping 10 minutes before he was supposed to be there, and they would get on his case, but as soon as you tell him no, he starts pushing you out."
There was at least one instance of Jackson recognizing that he might have a problem, as Barkley claims that during his run with the singer, a "witch doctor was around to get Michael off the drugs, to go through a detox thing," but that it didn't work.
When child molestation charges were brought against Jackson, Barkley was sort of phased out of his job. "I stopped working with him when I was basically pushed out around the time when the trial started," says Barkley. "His people started not letting me go to events. It became a joke, and I just had enough."
As the Jackson family's custody battle starts to heat up and we wait to see where his children will end up, Barkley insists: "He was overall a good dad."
<!-- m -->http://de.eonline.com/uberblog/b132592_ ... chael.html<!-- m -->
I don't think that MJ was a drug addict, I think that's a lie. There are so many trustable people who say they saw no strange behaviour or signs of addiction. The media says he was addicted - I don't believe that.
Also, Barkley claims he was his personal photographer from 2002, but wasn't Hamid Moslehi his personal photographer from the nineties to 2003?
Barkley gave some more interviews saying that Grace Rwaramba was Michaels secret girl friend - nobody knows if that's true (I don't think she was, but that's just my opinion), but nobody has the right to tell secrets to the media.
Anyway, I think I will NOT buy the book. My impression at the moment is that this is a person who wants to make money by exploiting.
So, now he was over-sleeping when he was on drugs!!
I agree that I don't believe Michael was a dug addict either. I feel that he intentionally created this and other controversie. This adventure (hoax) was planned for a very long and it seems that many things such as "drug addict", "burn victim disguises" and other behaviour, that has been described as "bizarre", has actually been done intentionally. These actions are the set up for what we find ourselves exploring now; a man who is supposed to be dead but is alive, exposing hidden truths and directing a play on the largest stage possible.
There are also discrepancies between the article and the linkedin page for him (which he has paid for and created himself or was created on his behalf)
Article: Stared working - 2002
Linkedin: Started Working - 2003
Article: Stopped Working - 2005 (when the 2005 trial started)
2005 trial dates: January 31 – Jury selection begins, February 24 – Jurors and alternates seated, February 28, March 1 – Opening statements begin.
Linkedin: Stopped Working - 2006
So he says on his linkedin page that he worked for him from 2003 until 2006 while in the interview he said he stopped working for him when the trial started... Obviously he's really a liar and indeed not a trustable person.
It's gone past Feb 14th...and the book still has not gone on sale,has no promo/marketing,no cover image and is still on pre sale
Just following on from delayed games....delayed album.....delayed everything really.
No other major retailer (apart from Waterstones UK)has it on pre order,it is weeks late,has no cover,no explanation,no marketing,no promotion,no website,the publishers dont even have a website....there is nothing about it being delayed anywhere apart from Amazon who changed it's release date to 28th Feb 2011.
Sorry to break the news to amazon, but that has been and gone lol.
I am emailing someone tonight for an explanation and to see who is dishing refunds out to people who have pre ordered it.
If anyone has it,speak up and let us know.
Until that happens,I am going with the idea that this is another hoax ...just a mini one.
Interesting Sind - let us know if anyone gets back with you. One more thing we can add to the list of "didn't happen". Blessings.
@ Dancer Your english is better than my German. Maybe I should post my posting in German so I will get better. Sie sind Sie können englisches besseres, als glücklich schreiben ich Deutsches, I had t take my German books to write this, this is bad. I need to brush on my German again.
French I can speak fluently, so if you need any help I can always help you. So what ever mistakes you make, it doesn't matter, we all learn by our mistakes. God bless.
Oh I will,I'll post my reply here if I get one,which I will because I will just keep on at them until they do lol.
That list must be getting pretty long now..is anyone keeping track of it..they should
Did you get a refund?