On Tuesday, 19 November, '96, Michael granted local music guru, Ian "Molly" Meldrum
with an exclusive interview prior to MJ going on stage. The interview
, which was televised on Australian televisions, lasts for 6 minutes and here is the complete interview.
*** Molly was granted an interview on the condition that Michael had approval
of the questions. Molly suprised MJ with his final question (obviously
not pre-approved) but MJ's reaction is a classic.
***
MJ=Michael
Jackson.
Molly: Well, Michael, I can finally welcome you to Australia, and whether
you like it or not, being the King of Pop and the biggest recording star
in the world, what is your philosophy of staying at the top?
MJ: Boy, I think being humble and believing in yourself and having true
love in your heart for the world and really trying to help people
through lyrics and the love of music and dance because I truly do love
people very much.
Molly: Realising that, but does it not put pressure on you, I mean that you
have to be...
MJ: Well it always
Molly: ...and they hold you in such esteem.
MJ: Well it always does. The next album has to be better than the other.
[laughs]
Molly: Well how do you cope with all the hysteria? I mean wherever you go,
whether its London, whether its Munich, whether its New York, whether
its Bangkok, whether its Japan and even here in Australia, how do you
cope with the hysteria?
MJ: Umh...I know its all love, so it makes my heart very happy and I like
to give it back, you know through however I can give and it uh puts a
smile on my face to see all the children and all the teenagers and the
adults, the demographics. It makes my heart very happy, I love
them, I love all the fans very much.
Molly: Well coping with the hysteria, I mean I can't cope with it, I mean
watching all this going on around, I mean the press have been absolutely
manic, its been manic mania. Can I ask you, do you ever relax? Does
Michael Jackson ever relax? Cause I know you're a workaholic.
[MJ smiles]
MJ: Yes, I am a workaholic. Uh, I don't relax really, I don't sleep a
lot, I like to continually....... my mind never stops. I'm always
creating. I never stop. But, I love a good water balloon fight or you
know playing around, goofing off, nintendo games, arcades.
Molly: Now Michael, I have to ask you this question. Being possibly the
biggest profile in the world, um I guess Princess Diana matches you, you
read all these amazing stories about Michael Jackson. I mean I don't
know whether they're true or not. You read that Michael Jackson's a
weirdo, you read that Michael Jackson's bizarre, you read that he's done
this, he's done that. Now I know some of those stories are not true
because even I was accused of being at your wedding, and I knew that
wasn't true. But how do you cope, how do you feel about all these
stories that are written about you?
MJ: it's very sad, I just want the fans to know and to understand that
is not the truth... 99.9% of it is not the truth. And don't read it,
don't believe it, it's garbage. It's tabloid junk, I mean they just
simply make it up for greed and money.... so please don't listen to
it... it's trash.
Molly: Alright now, there's one more question I've gotta ask you... it's
about a personal friend of yours..... but I have gotta ask you this
question....
(MJ looks sternly at Molly)
Molly: .... I am a Stephen King fanatic I have every book ....
MJ: (laughs)
Molly: ....that possibly Stephen King has written, um... you can say mind your
own business. And I know you've done Ghosts with him and I think that's
a sensational piece of work.
MJ: thank you
Molly: .. did you enjoy doing that...
MJ: very much .. yes.. yes
Molly: I mean that skeleton blew me right out
MJ: Where you there at the premiere?
Molly: No but I 've seen it at home
MJ: ooohhh
Molly: It is just amazing. Can I ask you what is Stephen King like?
MJ: Stephen King is a very gentle sweet kind man I mean the profile that
we see... the books, with his works... he's nothing like that. He's
very humble.
Molly: Right.
MJ: ahhh... A lot of people judge me the same way. I'm pretty simple...
I love to create. I love to make magic. I love to create the
unexpected. You know. And Stpehen... He's just wonderful, he's not
bizarre or strange or weird. He's a loving person.
Molly: and great to work with?
MJ: Great to work with. Together, he and I wrote GHOSTS and had fun
doing it.
Molly: Alright now, listen, I never normally asks for autographs. But this
is a Stephen King book and it's called Insomnia, and I'm sure over the
last week I've had no sleep....
MJ: (laughs)
Molly: ... with the Michael Jackson thing. Can you sign this book of Stephen
King for me?
MJ: Sure ... Sure.. (takes book and signs)
Molly: Thanks very much.
MJ: Thank you Molly.
Molly: Enjoy Australia.
MJ: Thank you.
Molly: and we look forward to more work from Michael Jackson, more
records...
MJ: Thank You
Molly: and being the biggest star if not the biggest star in the world, and
entertaining everyone,
MJ: All my love to everyone, thank you
Molly: Thank you. [End of Interview]