Mike Smallcombe - Making Michael

Having risen from humble beginnings to become a child star with The Jackson 5, and then the most successful entertainer of all time, Michael Joseph Jackson was the epitome of the American Dream.

But he didnt do it quietly. His personal life enhanced the feeling that he really was bigger than life; from another planet. The Pepsi burn incident, Bubbles the chimp, Neverland Ranch, the skin colour change, the plastic surgery, the Peter Pan image, the child abuse allegations, the drug abuse, his children, his reclusiveness, his finances and a marriage to Elvis Presleys daughter, among many other things, kept the world guessing for decades. Just when a life couldnt get any more mysterious, he died in shocking, unique circumstances, right before the start of a monumental comeback. Even in death, the life of Michael Jackson has been far from straightforward.

Amid the chaos, its easy to forget what all the fuss was about in the first place. Ultimately, it was the music, stage performances and videos that made Michael Jackson arguably the biggest superstar that has ever walked the planet. He is the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music, and his Thriller album is the biggest-selling of all time. On stage he danced and performed like no other, with the moonwalk and single white glove becoming instantly recognisable symbols. Michaels undying love for film also saw him transform music videos into an art form and promotional tool in the early eighties, with Thriller breaking racial barriers and having a huge impact on popular culture.

Like millions across the globe, I was shocked when Michael died on that unforgettable day in June 2009. He kept a low profile after the image-shattering second child abuse allegations culminated in an acquittal in court four years earlier. But three months before his untimely death, he announced 50 shows at Londons O2 Arena as part of a comeback tour called This Is It. All 50 dates sold out in record time, and I somehow obtained tickets for the opening night on July 8, which was later pushed back five days.

After Michaels death, which placed him in the spotlight more than ever before, I read the few credible Michael Jackson biographies that were available. Although they provide plenty of insight, the primary focus is the personal life; in terms of his career, there are several gaps. There is almost zero information about Michaels final three studio albums, Dangerous,HIStory and Invincible, or the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor. Other gaps include parts of Michaels career outside the studio, such as the world tours, his fall out with Sony Music, his movie dreams, his work in the secretive last five years of his life and the preparations for This Is It.

I couldnt fathom how there wasnt a book based solely on the 45-year career of a man many believe to be the greatest entertainer of all time. Then, one night early in 2010, something just clicked. I felt confident I could take on the challenge. I wanted to know a different Michael Jackson; to discover the untold stories and secrets behind an enthralling, albeit turbulent career. The aim was to write a biography about a whole other life; the Michael Jackson who made making music his lifes work rather than the one portrayed on the front pages of the tabloids. I wanted to delve deeper into his career than ever before, and I didnt want to leave any stones unturned. But it was also important to remain objective and not take a fans point of view.

I decided to base the book on Michaels career using a unique behind the scenes structure, like the reader is there for the ride; like a fly on the wall. Initially, I envisioned it as a 25-year timeline from the early recordings sessions in 1978 for Michaels first major solo album, Off the Wall, up to his last release of original music in 2003, the One More Chance single. I then realised I had to go further after all, Michaels career didnt end until the day he died; less than 12 hours earlier he was in rehearsals for This Is It at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles. So I went all the way up until his death.

I also figured I had to explain to readers how Michael reached the point of recording Off the Wall, as his work with his brothers in The Jackson 5 set the tone for his adult solo career. But I wanted to keep this brief, to simply set the scene, as much of the information about the Jackson 5 days is already out there.

The starting point was to gather all the relevant information that was already in the public domain but hidden in online forums, court transcripts, web interviews and old magazine and newspaper articles, and bring it under one umbrella. But I knew the only way I could really go behind the scenes and deliver an accurate and fresh account of Michaels career was to contact as many people who had worked with him as possible. Over 60 of his collaborators agreed to be interviewed; I was both shocked and pleasantly surprised at how open and generous these individuals were with their time and insights.

I twice travelled to Los Angeles, The Entertainment Capital of the World, to conduct some of these interviews face to face, and to get a feel for the city where Michael made most of his music. That was important for me. As well as interviewing, I visited several of the recording studios where Michael worked, including Westlake Studio on Beverly Boulevard, where Thriller was recorded, and Record Plant in Hollywood, where Blood on the Dance Floor and Invincible were made. I also took a trip to 100 North Carolwood Drive in Holmby Hills, where Michael was living when he passed.

Although I tried to avoid using secondary sources as much as possible, I used them in instances where the person is either deceased, such as Michael himself or his former manager Frank DiLeo, or where the person in question did not wish to be interviewed. There were also instances where I interviewed an individual about a certain subject, but they had already covered the matter in an online forum, in their own book or with a magazine, so they referred me to that.

To achieve my aim of making this book a fly on the wall experience, I was very strict with myself with regard to how the timeline is presented. This became an incredibly difficult challenge, as the estate of Michael Jackson does not grant access to the archives as a research tool for third parties. Some of Michaels albums took two or three years to record, and it was difficult to determine the points during this period that he began writing or recording certain songs. But the structure of the book is one of the aspects that makes it a very unique product, so it was never going to be a simple task.

It has taken me more than five years to research and write this book, much longer than I anticipated. I was always seeking to discover new information and to take different paths in an attempt to make the most complete anthology possible. Although costly, I chose to self-publish this work rather than seek a traditional publisher, for one simple reason: control. I wanted to fully realise my creative vision and not that of somebody else; to have the final say on everything from the title to the content, the length of the book, the layout, the front cover design and the photos inside.

My hope is that I have created an account of Michael Jacksons career that has been missing for far too long. Now Michael has passed, more and more people are fascinated by the man who changed the course of music history rather than the eccentric side show, and appreciate that there will never be another performer like him.

Mike Smallcombe
January 2015