This is just
spooky. I've avoided writing about all the deaths this
month because I didn't want to bring down the trip -
but after this news, I can't avoid it. If I were in
LA, I'd be at what I'm sure are several gatherings and
I would have a huge entry/video. Unfortunately all
I can do is write while sitting in the woods in a
campground in Italy.
It doesn't matter
what a circus he became, how much of his star was lost
in the last 15 years, if you're my age he was the
biggest thing in the world - and my heart is
incredibly shocked. My head has long since
known this was coming and even this month talking with
Alom in London - we both knew he was never doing those
London shows he booked. He was getting weaker by the
month and I honestly thought he'd commit suicide with
all of his financial troubles. But news of someone's
death isn't felt with your head, it's felt with your
heart. And he just meant everything to me growing
up.
Ask my mother. Ask
my mother, who had to listen to Side A: Thriller; Side
B: Billy Joel... ad nauseum for 2 straight years. I
loved him. I did the dance moves, I sang his
songs constantly - fuck is he actually dead? I'm so
goddamned isolated I haven't seen one news story. Oh,
I guess I should get to how I found out. It
actually starts earlier than I knew...
Last night at
around 9:30 I went back to the airport just to
upload 2 entries from Greece (yes, I love you Journey
followers). I saw the news online about Farah Faucett
and looked up at the TV (I was at an angle) and I
saw some clips of Michael Jackson and my first thought
was "Did he die too?"... but I looked at everyone's
reactions and everyone seemed normal. From what
I can gather - this was probably just the news
that he had been rushed to the hospital.
Then while walking
around Venice today I was in a store and I heard
someone say his name, but could understand nothing
else. Then I passed a store where his song was
playing. Then finally, when I got on the bus to get
back to the campsite "Bad" was on the radio.
I turned to the girl sitting next to me and said
"What happened with Michael Jackson?" "He died, of a
heart attack..." "Are you joking?" <why the human
brain says this every, single, time, we hear bad news
is beyond me> "No, heard it last night at the pub."
I was just floored. I joked to her and said: "Do
you realize that every single time I think of where
I was when I heard the news it's gonna be YOU?"
So I figured if that's my memory, might as well pull
out my camera:
Far more jovial
than I really felt. I was completely in shock.
I guess this is my "It's a drag" moment. When the
reporters asked Paul about John's death, he was
clearly shaken and also just a bit pissed at them and
said "Yeah, it's a drag isn't it?" to which so many
people gave him shit. Though I'm laughing in the
video, this sucks for me.
It is my
generation's Elvis for sure. And in that same way 30
years ago when Elvis died, people looked past his
later years and the drugs and the weight... I will
most certainly do the same. Artists are flawed at
their cores - and if they get really famous, really
early? Whew. That combination will fuck you up. It's
why even though I joked about Michael Jackson
constantly on my radio show... I still loved him. Do I
think he's a pedophile? Undeniably yes. It has no
bearing on what he meant to me however. I have no
problem compartmentalizing. It also helps that the
people that accused him really were greedy people that
in my opinion used their children to extort money. You
don't let your kids stay with Michael Jackson. Ever.
But after that 20/20 interview, there was no doubt.
His mind was warped, and he had no grasp on reality.
And he had to end tragically. I really am surprised it
wasn't suicide.
I guess it's
fitting that it happens when I'm in Europe. They loved
him far past his prime in the US. And that prime
honestly has not been seen since. However... and
you're all gonna laugh when I say this, Obama may be
as widely beloved as Jackson was in the mid-80s.
Seriously, this man is everywhere. The store I was in
today when I heard them say Michael Jackson? They
were selling these:
He's freaking
everywhere. I had no idea how big he was overseas.
He's honestly the only personality that approaches
Elvis/Beatles/Michael Jackson. Ironically, this was in
a Beatles store.
Anyway - I started
this by talking about all the sudden death that has
surrounded me on this trip, look at all
this:
-In Africa,
Linda's old boss at the Tavis Smiley show died
after a fight with cancer. She was devastated when
she got the email in Malindi. You never feel
further away than when someone you love
dies.
-In Paris, I
found out that an old friend of mine, Kathryn
Piermont, also died of cancer. I mention her all
the time (KP) in the WTVN entries. She was one of
the funnier people I knew, adored Moonlighting just
like I did, and we shared quite the bond with
our love for making fun of Cannon. She also took me
out on my 22nd birthday after my split with
Burgundie and I had, to date, one of the best
steak dinners ever, and she introduced me to Veuve
Cliquot for the first time. (There's no more to
that story, although re-reading this it certainly
seems to be set-up like there is. Ha. KP would find
that funny).
-When Ann got
back from Paris, she found out an incredibly close
friend of hers died of a heart attack the night she
left! Thankfully no one told her until she got
back. He was so excited for her to go on the trip
and couldn't wait to hear all the details. Talk
about a SMACK back into reality.
-The only
reason I was able to spend time with Anna on
Wednesday was that her boss's mother died and they
closed the store. She knew her as well and was kind
of in a daze about it when she told me.
-And of course
David Carradine and Farah Faucett. Forever linking
David, Farah and Michael together in the "Celebrity
Deaths in 3s" category. Which is about the only way
those 3 would ever be linked.
Anyway - I just
needed to type. I'm just in shock. It doesn't matter
that he was a shadow of what he was before - he was a
huge part of my life, and a bigger influence on my
music than many can imagine. Believe me, if I had
access to a studio I'd sound far more like Justin
Timberlake than Billy Joel. It's simply a product of
the environment. But if you listen to songs like
"Float Downstream" you can hear it. He was just the
coolest thing on the planet. Still can't believe it's
true.
Alright, after my
day in Venice I've decided to book an impromptu 2-day
trip to Rome. I'll work on the Venice entry on the
train.
Adam
PS - Kinda creepy
in Paradise Randoms 2, I alluded to Thriller with the
"Foulest stench is in the air" Random. :-(
