FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
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  • 2025 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam (Deluxe Edition)
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  • 2024 Reviews >
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    • Innes Sibun - The Preacher
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    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Look Out! Vol.1
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    • Various Artists - Tributes : Songs For Neil Vol 5
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    • Then Comes Silence - Trickery
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    • Deep Purple =1
    • Arielle - Reel To Real
    • Raintown - Acoustic Heart
    • Ivan Drever - Covered
    • Rich Young - Prozac Diary
    • The Dave Foster Band - Maybe They'll Come Back For Us
    • Mr. Big - Ten
    • Jill Jackson - Curse Of The Damned
    • Daryl Hall - D
    • John Oates - Reunion
    • Gagarin - Komorebi
    • Paul Mallatratt - The Planets; Screaming Thru Heartache
    • Quinn Sullivan - Salvation
    • Edit The Tide - Reflections In Sound EP
    • Attic Theory - What We Fear The Most
    • Stone Angels - Up In Smoke
    • Ramblin' Preachers - Sins & Virtues
    • The Treatment - Wake Up The Neighbourhood
    • Ben Hemming - Darkness Before Dawn
    • The Now - Too Hot To Handle
    • Kelowna - Better Day EP
    • Tom Killner - Borrowed Time
    • Beaux Gris Gris And The Apocalypse - Hot Nostalgia Radio
    • The Milk Men - Holy Cow!
    • The Toy Dolls - The Singles
    • Turbulence - B1nary Dream
    • It Bites FD - Return To Natural
    • Blue Öyster Cult - Ghost Stories
    • Hawkwind - Stories From Time And Space
    • These Wicked Rivers - Force Of Nature
    • Alice Di Micele - Interpretations Vol 1
    • Walter Trout - Broken
    • Silveroller - At Dawn EP
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Battles
    • Little Lore - Seven Stories EP (Part One & Part Two)
    • Elles Bailey - The Night Owl & The Lark EP
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    • Rick Wakeman - Live at the London Palladium 2023
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    • Thunder - Live At Islington Academy 2006; Live At Leeds 2015
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  • 2024 Featured Album Reviews>
    • Austin Gold - Ain't No Saint
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    • Mojo Thunder - The Infinite Hope
    • Beth Hart - You Still Got Me
    • Eclipse - Megalomanium II
    • Al Stewart - Past, Present & Future (50th Anniversary Edition)
    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Dirt On My Diamonds Volume 2
    • Scalet Rebels - Where The Colours Meet
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Red Moon Rising
    • Elles Bailey - Beneath the Neon Glow
    • Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - True
    • The Commoners - Restless
    • Brave Rival (Fight Or Flight)
    • Al Di Meola - Twentyfour
    • Focus - Focus 12
    • Big Wolf Band - Rebel's Journey
    • Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs (50th Anniversary Edition)
    • Vanden Plas - The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things
    • Troy Redfern - Invocation
    • Amigo The Devil - Yours Until The War Is Over
    • Preacher Stone - V
    • Bison Hip - Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life
    • Waysted - Won't Get Out Alive 1983-1986
    • SiX BY SiX - Beyond Shadowland
    • Dan Patlansky - Movin' On
    • Jane Getter Premonition - Division World
    • Today Was Yesterday - Today Was Yesterday
    • Steve Hackett - The Circus And The Nightwhale
    • Mama's Boys - Runaway Dreams 1980-1992
  • 2023 Reviews
  • 2023 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Blue Deal - Can't Kill Me Twice
    • THEIA - The Wet Die Young EP
    • The Round Window - Everywhere & Nowhere
    • Long Road Home - Are We Invisble?
    • Dolly Parton - Rockstar
    • Various Artists - Shake That Thing! The Blues In Britain 1963-1973
    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 1
    • The Blue Lena - Darkwood
    • LALU - The Fish Who Wanted To Be King
    • Celebrate It Together : The Very Best Of Howard Jones 1983-2023
    • Stray - About Time
    • Skinny Knowledge - twentytwo
    • Robin Trower (featuring Sari Schorr) - Joyful Sky
    • Trevor Rabin - Rio
    • Vega - Battlelines
    • Downes Braide Association - Celestial Songs
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    • Starlite & Campbell - STARLITE.ONE
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    • Joy Dunlop - Caoir
    • Mike Ross - Third Eye Open
    • Martin MIller - Maze Of My Mind
    • Cruachan - The Living and The Dead
    • King Kraken - MCLXXX
    • Heavy Metal Kids - The Albums 1974-1976
    • Anchor Lane - Call This a Reality?
    • Doomsday Outlaw - Damaged Goods
    • Hayley Griffiths - Far From Here Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
  • 2022 Reviews
  • 2022 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Moon City Masters - The Famous Moon City Masters
    • Steve Hill - Dear Illusion
    • Kira Mac - Chaos is Calling
    • EBB - Mad & Killing Time
    • The Commoners - Find A Better Way
    • Rebecca Downes - The Space Between Us
    • Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight
    • Chris Antonik - Morningstar
    • The Milk Men - Spin The Bottle
    • SiX BY SiX - SiX BY SiX
    • Jeff Berlin - Jack Songs
    • Keef Hartley Band - Sinnin' For You The Albums 1969-1973
    • Toby Lee - Icons Vol.1
    • Montrose - I Got The Fire : Complete Recordings 1973-1976
    • Orianthi - Live From Hollywood
    • Valeriy Stepanov Fusion Project - Album No. 2
    • Dan Reed Network - Let's Hear It For The King
    • Ali Ferguson - The Contemplative Power Of Water
    • Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny
    • Joe Satriani - The Elephants Of Mars
    • Dave Cureton - State Of Mind
    • Larry McCray - Blues Without You
    • Tears for Fears - Tipping Point
    • Kris Barras Band - Death Valley Paradise
    • Dan Patlansky - Shelter of Bones
    • Black Lakes - For All We've Left Behind
    • Wille & The Bandits - When The World Stood Still
    • LALU - Paint the Sky
    • Various Artists - Revolt Into Style 1979
  • Selected 2025 Gig Reviews >
    • Robin Trower - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Gypsy Pistoleros and The Outlaw Orchestra - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Erja Lyytinen - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Troy Redfern - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2024 Gig Reviews>
    • Silveroller - Backstage, Kinross
    • Dave Arcari - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Gypsy Pistoleros - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Kira Mac - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr; Matt Pearce & The Mutiny - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • The Davey Pattison Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Verity/Bromham Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Moving Pictures - Venue 38, Ayr
    • The Countess Of Fife - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Connor Selby - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Rebecca Downes - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews >
    • Ben Poole - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Moving Pictures - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Hamish Stuart & James Bown Is Annie; Hamilton Loomis - Darvel Music Festival
    • Amigo The Devil - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Davey Pattison Blues Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Joe Satriani - O2 Academy, Glasgow
    • Walter Trout - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Focus - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Elles Bailey - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • The Blackheart Orchestra - Hotel Utopia UK tour
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews >
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
    • Daryl Hall - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations 2025>
    • Ned Evett (May 2025)
    • Sandi Thom (February 2025)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2024>
    • Mississippi MacDonald (December 2024)
    • Walter Trout (October 2024)
    • Albert Bouchard (August 2024)
    • Robert Berry - August 2024
    • Troy Redfern (May 2024)
    • Dan Patlansky (March 2024)
    • Connor Selby (February 2024)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2023>
    • Del Bromham (November 2023)
    • Sari Schorr (October 2023)
    • Suzy Starlite & Simon Campbell (September 2023)
    • Ali Ferguson (August 2023)
    • Leoni Jane Kennedy (August 2023)
    • Joy Dunlop (May 2023)
    • Dan Patlansky - April 2023
    • Hayley Griffiths (February 2023)
    • Steve Hill (January 2023)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2022>
    • Rebecca Downes (December 2022)
    • Chris Antonik (November 2022)
    • Pat Travers (October 2022)
    • Robert Berry (August 2022)
    • JW-Jones (August 2022)
    • Mike Ross (July 2022)
  • Selected Muirsical Conversations From The Archive>
    • Bernie Marsden (December 2021)
    • Robin George (November 2021)
    • Dennis DeYoung (June 2021)
    • Robert Berry (March 2021)
    • Dan Reed (February 2021)
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
  • Muirsical Articles >
    • 2019AB?
    • All the World's a Stage (and people falling off it) – 2015 in Review
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • Laser Love - Blue Oyster Cult Glasgow Apollo 29-04-78
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Preaching to the Glasgow Choir Slade 26-03-1982
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings >
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
  • Author Bio & Site Info
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The Michael Jackson Story: The Alternative Verdict
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In February 2010 Michael Jackson's personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in the aftermath of Jackson dying from a prescription drug overdose.
Murray pleaded not guilty, reportedly claiming Jackson fatally injected himself.

However a near two-year legal battle over who was responsible for Jackson's death on the 25th of June 2009 was concluded when, on the 7th of November 2011, a jury found Conrad Murray guilty of the charge against him.
Three weeks later Murray was given the maximum sentence of four years in prison. 

But that was just the latest instalment of the Michael Jackson Story.


Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers of the late 20th century and was responsible for some of the most successful pop and dance songs of any generation.
His album Thriller is the greatest selling album of all time.
He also created some unforgettable pop videos and dance routines while being, in terms of classic dance choreography, no Fred Astaire (who was clearly an influence).

Michael Jackson was this generations Elvis Presley. The adoration towards him during his career and the iconic status afforded him in death is of no surprise.

But that's only part of the Michael Jackson story.

The singer and entertainer was a troubled soul who had personal problems throughout his life, starting with childhood abuse at the hands of his father then mysteries surrounding just about every one of his later problems.
Genuine medical condition relating to the changes in physicality, or self inflicted?

Mental issues, or a tragically misunderstood individual?
Child-like in character, or 
child abuser?

The latter question links his genuine love for the company of children to the abuse accusations that were to the fore in 1993-94 then 2003-05.
He almost certainly slept with kids but actually slept with them, as part of sleepovers, for comfort and friendship. 
But it took just one kid to admit to mummy and daddy he had slept with Michael Jackson and his parents couldn't get to the Lawyers Ka, Frigging & Ching quick enough.

Whether he actually was a paedophile is a debate that continues to this day.
There are incredibly impassioned views on both sides, from the "absolutely not" of his defenders to the "absolutely was" of his accusers. 

What is interesting to note is shortly after those episodes and in later years he was pilloried by many Stateside – described as a "weirdo" or an alleged "kiddie-fiddler."
Yet after his death the US public (most, but certainly not all) expressed an incredible outpouring of grief and sympathy. Over 30 million people in the States alone watched the televised memorial service.

The aforementioned problems are more conjecture than concrete fact and there's also the report of serious financial debt in 2006, reportedly cleared by 2008.
The truth behind all such troubles will probably never be known.

Because that's yet another part of the Michael Jackson story.

Some seven weeks after his death his mother demanded another autopsy (there would be three in all) as she, like many, firmly believed he was intentionally killed.
Conrad Murray was initially put in the frame for potential Homicide.

Meanwhile, Columbia Pictures were buying the rights to the rehearsal footage filmed shortly before his death (for $60 Million), which was later made into a movie, followed by the DVD release.

Those rehearsals were in preparation for the '50' Tour that was due to take place in London, starting in July 2009.
Those shows were to be not only his "final curtain call," to quote Jackson, but would have been his first major concert events since 1997.
That's a lot of pressure to deliver and a lot of shows to perform, especially for someone over fifty years of age that hasn't done concert tour shows in 12 years.
 

That pressure led to the physical and mental strain that led to the prescribed medication that clearly became an addiction 
– Jackson died from cardiac arrest brought on by acute propofol (a surgical anaesthetic) intoxication in combination with two sedatives. 

As regards the rehearsals it was no surprise the footage was purchased and made into the massively successful movie This Is It followed by a DVD release 
– the marketing potential and revenue from such was guaranteed to be record breaking (and was).
But what the footage shows is a tired and emaciated man not exactly at his best physically, but the hardcore fans (from the dedicated to the deluded), will never see, accept, or admit that, preferring to equate it to a tortured genius.

Some of his more obsessional followers went to see the film dozens of times and many defended the movie when it was later confirmed that parts of it contained vocal and music inserted from previously released material, as the rehearsal audio was either too poor or too muted to use.
Well, it would be, it was a rehearsal.
It was never meant to be heard or seen by the general public.

And, as the last live production Jackson was associated with, it should have been released freely on the Internet or perhaps with a small download fee attached (the proceeds could have gone directly to his Estate or family).
But that was never going to happen, especially when one considers the money it was clearly going to make. And in light of particular legal and financial issues between the artist, management and promoters...

In June 2009 concert promoter Allgood Entertainment sued Jackson for $40 million, claiming that the singer (through his manager) had agreed to a lucrative reunion concert with The Jackson 5 (and his sister Janet).
The alleged agreement prevented the singer from performing elsewhere before the reunion concert and for a period after it. Agreeing to the '50' shows was therefore an alleged breach of the contract.
Hence the big bucks in respect of the movie.

Columbia Pictures bought the rights to the rehearsal footage with reports stating that Jackson's estate would get 90% of the profits, while AEG Live would get the remaining 10% of the film's revenue.
The film grossed over $260 million worldwide (before DVD sales are even considered), making it the biggest selling documentary/ concert movie film of all time. 

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So, This Is It?
Hardly. The Michael Jackson Story is far from over...

Exactly a year after his demise it was confirmed that revenue since his death (from the This Is It movie, accompanying soundtrack CD, DVD's and other album sales) was in the region of one billion dollars, which also confirms what many of us knew would be a financial fact of life after the fanfare of his death:
Michael Jackson is worth more posthumously than he ever was alive.

As regards those financial facts?
In March 2010 Sony Music Entertainment agreed a $250 million deal with the Jackson estate to control the rights of Michael Jackson's recordings until 2017. 
This deal also includes the rights to release seven posthumous albums in the decade after his death and up to ten albums in total.
The albums will presumably be a mix of previously released material newly presented and unreleased work.

All of which leads to the alternative verdict and an undeniable truth:
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is dead. Long live the Michael Jackson Story.
And the money to be made from it.

Ross Muir
November 2011

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