Part 28 (1/2)

The Still-Struggling Jacksons.

By 1990, Janet Jackson had come into her own with the biggest success of her career, the A&M alb.u.m Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, a string of hit records 'Miss You Much', 'Escapade', 'Rhythm Nation', among others and her first national tour. Charming and timid, talented and driven, Janet has turned out to be one of the better-adjusted Jackson siblings. With the exception of a relations.h.i.+p she maintains with her mother, she keeps her distance from the rest of the family. Though she is no longer managed by Joseph the break was predictably volatile he does profit from Rhythm Nation Rhythm Nation.

'I've studied the best Michael Jackson,' Janet said in April 1990. 'I'm not saying that just because he's my brother. I really feel he's the best. I saw how hard he works, his ambition. It's so strange to read things about him, because people just don't understand Michael much.'

Janet also noted, 'Michael has said that, out of everyone in the family, we're the two that think the most alike.' Janet is the only family member who makes it a point to show up at the taping of Michael's videos, just so that she can sit and watch him work. Still, she has to admit that a rivalry does exist between them. 'He's very compet.i.tive,' she said in November 1990. 'And so am I.'

Surprisingly, Michael is not as compet.i.tive with Janet as people might think. Mostly, he supports her efforts and offers advice whenever she asks for it. He thought Rhythm Nation Rhythm Nation was the work of a genius, and his biggest concern was not that it had sold so many copies, but that it hadn't sold enough. 'Why did it only sell five or six million copies?' he asked a former a.s.sociate. 'And what does this mean for was the work of a genius, and his biggest concern was not that it had sold so many copies, but that it hadn't sold enough. 'Why did it only sell five or six million copies?' he asked a former a.s.sociate. 'And what does this mean for me me and my next alb.u.m?' and my next alb.u.m?'

Like Michael, Janet has not been resistant to the plastic surgeon's knife. She has had at least two nose jobs, and some have speculated that she has had surgery on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. But she knows how to make plastic surgery work to her advantage. She looks stunning, especially after shedding, on a nine-hundred-calorie-a-day diet, the weight she'd been trying to lose for years.

The rest of the Jacksons have not fared as well in their recordings without Michael. Solo alb.u.ms by Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy all had disappointing sales. So too did an excellent group alb.u.m (recorded by Jackie, Jermaine, t.i.to and Randy) called 2300 Jackson Street 2300 Jackson Street, after the street on which the family lived in Gary.

Michael was bothered that 2300 Jackson Street 2300 Jackson Street had not been a commercial success, especially since he had telephoned Walter Yetnikoff and specifically asked him to take a special interest in the alb.u.m. But CBS Records could not successfully promote the Jacksons without Michael. It's not that the brothers have no talent; they do. After decades of experience, most of the Jacksons are first-rate vocalists, and they are all champion entertainers. However, trying to pursue their own careers while Michael Jackson's shadow looms is not easy. The public doesn't seem to want Michael's brothers; it just wants Michael. had not been a commercial success, especially since he had telephoned Walter Yetnikoff and specifically asked him to take a special interest in the alb.u.m. But CBS Records could not successfully promote the Jacksons without Michael. It's not that the brothers have no talent; they do. After decades of experience, most of the Jacksons are first-rate vocalists, and they are all champion entertainers. However, trying to pursue their own careers while Michael Jackson's shadow looms is not easy. The public doesn't seem to want Michael's brothers; it just wants Michael.

CBS did not renew its relations.h.i.+p with the Jacksons after 2300 Jackson Street 2300 Jackson Street. There was no fanfare, as when the Jacksons left Motown for CBS. Rather, the label just did not pick up the brothers' contracts. The Jacksons simply fizzled out.

Without Michael in the lead, his brothers have not been able to secure a new record deal.

Rebbie, by far the most resourceful singer of the three daughters, no longer records.

LaToya's memoirs, 'LaToya Growing Up in the Jackson Family,' was published in September 1991. In it, she was extremely critical of her family, but generous to Michael (and did not suggest that he had been molested). While she did not claim to have been molested by Joseph in the book the publisher did not want to risk legal liability on such a volatile issue she did so in her promotional tour. On talk show after talk show, she spoke of Joseph having forced her into s.e.xual relations with him, and Katherine having told him, 'Not tonight, Joseph. She's had enough.'

Again, who can truly know, considering the personalities involved in such madness, if the awful charges LaToya made against her father were true, or not?

Losing Count of the Plastic Surgeries.

There has always been a great deal of speculation about Michael's nose; it's the first of his features referenced when discussing, or even joking about, the extent of his plastic surgery. By the end of 1990, most people had lost count of how many surgeries Michael had undergone on his nose, but some in his camp have figured that it had to be at least ten. For years, plastic surgeons not related to his case have speculated as to whether the nose which has an elfin quality to it is made of bone, cartilage or latex. It's part of the public discourse when speaking of Michael: what is the truth about his nose?

The truth is that the structure of Michael's nose collapsed years ago, a consequence of extensive trauma from previous surgeries on it. One subsequent operation was to add cartilage into the tip, to support and reshape it. However, that procedure was not completely successful. Therefore, when appearing in public, and often in private, Michael wears a latex appliance, a prosthetic nose-tip, which he camouflages with stage makeup.

Interestingly, when Michael is seen wearing the surgical mask that is so much a part of his image, it's not always because he is attempting to hide his ident.i.ty or even avoid germs. Sometimes, it's simply because he was not inclined to wear the prosthesis. Putting on the appliance is an annoying and frustrating process. It's his cross to bear on a daily basis, and there are days when he simply can't bear it... thus, the mask.

In March 2003, Vanity Fair Vanity Fair reported that, without the prosthesis, Michaels 'resembles a mummy with two nostril holes.' This is not true. Without the device, his nose appears flatter, more blunt not pointed and he doesn't really look like... Michael Jackson. Self-conscious about his face, he refuses to be seen without it. If nothing else, the prosthesis must be a painful and daily reminder to Michael of his past choices where plastic surgery is concerned, and the impact they have had on his life. reported that, without the prosthesis, Michaels 'resembles a mummy with two nostril holes.' This is not true. Without the device, his nose appears flatter, more blunt not pointed and he doesn't really look like... Michael Jackson. Self-conscious about his face, he refuses to be seen without it. If nothing else, the prosthesis must be a painful and daily reminder to Michael of his past choices where plastic surgery is concerned, and the impact they have had on his life.

It has been suggested that Michael is somehow addicted to plastic surgery. 'People can easily get addicted to plastic surgery, as they can to alcohol, drugs, or food,' according to Dr Alfred Coodley, a.s.sociate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA.

'Actually, it's more of an obsession than an addiction,' Dr Robert Kotler, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who has not treated Michael, observed. 'I think you have to know when to quit. That's the greatest message a cosmetic surgeon can bring to his patient. A conscientious surgeon will say to a patient, ”Enough is enough.”'

There are several reasons for Michael's extremely pale skin, especially on his face. First, he used to bleach his skin with different chemicals. Is it possible for a black person to make his skin lighter? 'Yes,' said Robert Kotler. 'You can't make it white, but you can make it lighter. There are cla.s.sic bleaching compounds that are commonly found in over-the-counter bleaching creams like Porcelana. Also, there are known bleaching agents, a cla.s.s of compounds called Hydroquinones, that will make a black person's skin lighter.'

One employee of Michael's recalled, 'He used to rub a cream on his face and neck in the morning and, again, at night. He had all of these little tubes in his makeup kit. I asked him what it was, thinking it was some kind of skin nutrient. He told me it was 'medicine'. I left it at that. I then noticed that whenever Michael would go out into the sun, he would cover his face with his hand or wear a big hat. He seemed petrified of sunlight, as if he was afraid he would burn.'

According to The Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs The Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, 'As the sun's ability to darken skin is much greater than that of Hydroquinone to lighten it, strict avoidance of sunlight is imperative. Although sunscreens may help, even visible light will cause some darkening. The preferable packaging of Hydroquinone is in small squeeze tubes. The dosage is a thin application of 2 per cent concentration rubbed into affected areas twice daily. Once the desired benefit is achieved, Hydroquinone can be applied as often as needed to maintain de-pigmentation.' Some have noted that Michael's fingernails seemed brown and discolored on Martin Bas.h.i.+r's 2003 doc.u.mentary about him. One possible reason for this is that Hydroquinone stimulates pigment-producing cells in the nail plate, making them darker rather than lighter.

In the 1980s, he was diagnosed with the skin disease Vitiligo. (Some doctors have speculated that the Vitiligo is not as much hereditary as it is the consequence of damage done by bleaching chemicals over the years. Vitiligo makes the sufferer sensitive to sunlight.) In the late 1980s, Michael's dermatologist, Dr Arnold Klein, diagnosed him as having discoid lupus an auto-immune disease that causes darkening or lightening of the skin on his scalp.

There are two variations of lupus: discoid, which is skin deep, and systemic, which can be deadly. As a part of the treatment for discoid, Michael's doctor prescribed the skin lightening creams, Solaquin, Retin A and Benoquin. As a result, Michael was told that, more than ever, he had to avoid all sun exposure which is one of the reasons he is often seen s.h.i.+elding himself with an umbrellas on sunny days. Also, Michael had to endure the direct injections into his scalp of hydroxy chloroquin a steroid in painful, recurring treatments.

Presently, his lupus condition is in remission.

Michael also uses plenty of pancake makeup to even out his skin, which makes him appear even lighter.

In terms of specific plastic surgeries, he will admit to only two nose jobs and the cleft in his chin, but it does not take a cosmetic surgery expert to see that cheek and chin implants and all sorts of other work, including on his eyes and lips, are not beyond the bounds of possibility. Trying to actually detail the work Michael had had done is simply not possible; only he and his surgeons can fully doc.u.ment the extent of it and it also seems, at least to people who know him well, that he truly doesn't remember it all.

Some professionals have gone on the record saying they believe Michael suffers from body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition of people who are obsessed with their appearance, work on it constantly and have no concept of how they are perceived by others.

Certainly, Michael has not had it easy. In 1995, when he released his composition 'Childhood', on HIStory Past, Present and Future, Book I HIStory Past, Present and Future, Book I, many people were bored to tears by the notion of him still going on and on about his missing boyhood. However, the song is about more than just his lost youth; it's a plea for compa.s.sion and understanding. If one truly contemplates and reviews the challenges he has faced with his appearance, the fact that Michael Jackson is ever able to muster the self-confidence to make well-scrutinized, public appearances seems almost a miracle.

A Maddening Decade, An Uncertain Future.

By 1990, both family and career pressures continued to take their toll on thirty-two-year-old Michael Jackson.

In June of that year, Michael was in negotiations with Disney Studios to lend his name to a new robotic attraction at their theme parks. At the same time, David Geffen, who was affiliated with MCA (a division of Universal), wanted Michael to appear at the opening of the Universal Theme Park in Florida, as did Steven Spielberg. However, Michael Eisner, head of Disney, told Michael that if he had anything to do with MCA-Universal, he would never be able to be a.s.sociated with Disney again. This was pressure.

Michael desperately wanted Disney, and Michael Eisner, in his corner, but he also wished to maintain his friends.h.i.+p with David Geffen and Steven Spielberg. He anguished over this matter for weeks until, in his mind, the dilemma became overwhelming.

On 3 June 1990, Michael was admitted to St John's Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica. Accompanied by Steven Hoefflin, he was gripping his chest and looked dizzy, pale and weak. It was later reported that he had suffered chest pains while doing his Sunday dance exercises.

The hospital immediately ran a battery of diagnostic tests, including an HIV test. Michael's blood work came back from the lab negative, as expected. However, it was determined that he suffered from an enzyme deficiency and was anaemic, probably due to his strict vegetarian diet.

Michael's hospitalization made headlines for days. President Bush, Liza Minnelli and Elton John all telephoned to wish him well. Katherine and other family members visited. LaToya sent a dozen black roses, an odd gesture, but, said LaToya, 'I think they're beautiful.' Fans held all-night vigils outside of the hospital.

It was reported that Michael was diagnosed as having a condition called costochondritis, a cartilage inflammation in the front part of the ribs, an ailment most commonly found in young athletes who exercise sporadically. The condition is caused by overexertion and stress.

'What bulls.h.i.+t,' one of Michael's former close a.s.sociates noted. 'The kid had an anxiety attack.'

Indeed, Michael had exhibited the symptoms of sweating, shaking and panting often a.s.sociated with a cla.s.sic 'panic attack', a psychological problem sometimes suffered by people under great stress and anxiety.

Michael had suffered such attacks when he was a teenager; he still has them from time to time, today. After his hospital stay generated such worldwide publicity, he was apparently embarra.s.sed to say that he'd had a panic attack, had his representatives come up with a disease no one on the planet had ever heard of, and the public had to accept it.

Michael's spokesman, Bob Jones, did admit that Michael had been 'under some stress, lately.' He said that Michael was particularly saddened by the AIDS-related death of his friend, eighteen-year-old Ryan White, who won a long court battle to attend public school and overcame prejudice against himself and other AIDS victims. Bob also said Michael was still upset over the deaths of his maternal grandmother, Martha Bridges, who died in May, and Sammy Davis, Jr., who also died that month. Moreover, Michael was agitated because work on his alb.u.m was not progressing quickly. He didn't mention the real problem: whether Michael should be loyal to Universal or to Disney not to mention what he'd been through recently with his family members and business a.s.sociates.

After Michael was released from the hospital, he went about the business of reorganizing his affairs. He had said privately that when he returned from the Bad tour, he would fire everyone on his staff. 'I don't trust anybody,' he said to one a.s.sociate. 'Except Katherine.'

Frank Dileo had been dismissed after the tour was over, and Michael apparently felt no regret over the decision. He still communicated with Frank, but only through middlemen, and only when he was agitated about something. For instance, when Michael heard that someone was again spreading rumours that he was a h.o.m.os.e.xual, he had an a.s.sociate telephone Frank demanding to know if it had been he who was the source of the story. Frank was hurt. He later said he wondered how a person he once considered to be a son could be so mistrusting of him. However, he'd always known Michael was a suspicious person. Two months before Michael fired Frank, he purchased from a New York-based security firm a briefcase featuring a hidden tape recorder for himself and six Voice Safe telephone scramblers for his home. The briefcase could be used to tape meetings secretly, and the scramblers made it impossible to tape the user's conversation off a telephone line.

After the Bad tour, Marshall Gelfand, Michael's accountant of seven years, was given his walking papers by John Branca. Michael felt he was too conservative in his investment strategies and had John hire a new accountant, Richard Sherman, who also worked for David Geffen.

By the summer of 1990, Michael had also begun to have doubts about John Branca. In recent months, despite John's many professional strengths, Michael allowed his insecurities and it was said by his a.s.sociates, David Geffen's personal feelings about John colour his perception of the high-powered attorney. For instance, Michael suddenly became overly concerned about the ident.i.ties of John's other clients. Frank Dileo was not permitted by Michael to even have other clients, but John was an attorney who had been practising law before that day in early 1980 when Michael came into his office. By 1990, he had twenty-five clients in addition to Michael.