They always come in twelves….

Add two more to the list of dead celebs:

• Karl “Don’t Leave Home Without It” Malden from ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘The Streets of San Francisco’
• Mollie Sugden, a particular favorite of mine, who played Mrs. Slocombe on ‘Are You Being Served?’ on the BBC and later here in the states on PBS.

RIP.

Just A Fan

Hi Mr. Phillips. This are truly sad days. The world has lost the greatest musician ever. I’m told that Michael wanted to do this for his children and for the world’s peace. He just wanted to tease the fans about the world’s health. “This is it” was to promote peace and love and I’m so sure that he was so involved and happy. He really wanted to do that.
Me, as a young huge fan of him (who I’ve never met) I think that you (and all AEG staff) could still do something for him. Why not continue “This is it”? I mean, he would be very proud and happy to see that you, we, care for the world and he’d just complete his mission: help people to help and save the world. That we have understand his message.
Why don’t unite all the great artists like Akon, Chris Brown, Ciara, Beyonce… artist that have been influenced by him and do the shows. Maybe not 50 concerts, but 20 for example. And then they’ll have time to rehearsal, and do the shows. I know MJ finished a video days ago, I know he had magic tricks and all this amazing stuff, do it, unite all these artists and do it.
You can also give back all the tickets if the fans want, but I’m sure that a lot of people will come and see it. And MJ will thank you from heaven.

I’m just a fan, I don’t want anything but respect and love for MJ and all his family. I hope you’ll understand and think carefully about that.

Thank you for your time.

You’re a very articulate young lady, a giant step above most of the recent posters. Too bad your words fall on relatively deaf ears, as I can’t do a damn thing to advance your suggestion.

But Chris Brown? Really? Did you see the pictures of Rhianna after he beat her? I just don’t know that he’d be a good fit for a concert like you describe.

Or is it only about the sexy?

An Ethical Quandry

The latest email regarding Michael Jackson is not a message at all, but an audio file of a terrible performance of a terrible song with all kind of Mariah Carey-like melismas and other vocal gymnastics that I will not post for your audition (you should thank me).

There was nothing else in the message, the subject of which is “I_______ SINGS LIVE! For Michael Jackson”. I’ve never heard of I__________, and there was nothing else in the message – no other text except the following:

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown.  This email transmission may contain confidential information.  This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly.  Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient.  Thank you for your compliance.

Now here’s the rub: how am I to know that I am not the ‘entity to whom it is intended’? It was addressed to my email address alone, no other recipients, no forwarding, so I have to assume that the sender deliberately typed my personal email address in the ‘To’ field. I suppose it’s reasonable to suspect that the other Randy Phillips is the the real intended recipient, but only because I have inside information.

Would I be justified in posting it? Dunno…

Let’s…GO TO THE TAPE!

I know I’m breaking my promise, but I have fans too, you know…

Dear Mr. Phillips,

When I say that I’m a big Micheal Jackson fan, I’m a BIG Michael fan. I spent the weekend crying for someone I’ve never met, yet who was like family nonetheless. He was a big part of my childhood. I sang all his songs and hoped to one day to marry him like most girls in my neighborhood. I have a suggestion about the concert scheduled for London. Give ticket holders another option. I’m hoping someone taped the rehearsals. If so, play the rehearsal tape at the concert instead. I know that if I were fortunate to have a ticket, I would gladly take the option to use my ticket to see Micheal in any form. The rehearsal tape could be used like a movie premier. Keep it under wraps until you’ve met the current ticket holder needs, then send it around the world. You would be giving those who love Michael (like me) another chance to see him again, and you won’t have to lose your money.  In fact, you would make more money than you ever anticipated. Michael is loved like no other. People will come.

K____ P______

Funny you should mention, Ms. P_________ – I just read today where DVDs of the last rehearsals in which MJ participated are being readied to milk sate the public’s demand for one last video of the King of Pop. So keep your eyes peeled.

And that other Randy Phillips (who you seem to think I am) says you can get a refund for your ticket – that, or get a special souvenir ticket that was created for the concert series with an MJ hologram. It’ll almost be like being there!

And it’s spelled ‘Michael’, not ‘Micheal’. A before E…

Yet another record – thanks to Holland!

After a relatively slow day on Sunday (only 150 hits), traffic came roaring back on Monday, setting a new record for my little ole website of 306 hits. And the hits just keep on comin’!

I noted that I received a tremendous increase in activity from the Netherlands, of all places. A careful inspection of the traffic revealed that much of it was coming from a very nice mention of this very blog on the DePers website, which I think is a Dutch newspaper. Here’s a machine-translated version of the page – look for the paragraph the title of which is translated ‘wretched soothsayer’ – no, really!

So welcome, my Dutch friends. I’m reminded that when I was a kid, I used to listen to Radio Nederland on shortwave from Hilversum; I especially liked to listen to the legendary ‘Happy Station’ show on Sunday nights. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful country, but it’s on my list of ‘must visit’ places. And maybe if more weird emails for the other Randy Phillips come in, I’ll post them in your honor. Kom terug!

Okay, now this is getting weird…and creepy

Okay, enough. Although the emails are still pouring in, I won’t be paying heed to any more stuff regarding that other Randy Phillips.

But it’s been really weird lately with all the deaths in the celebrity world lately, hasn’t it?

• David Carradine
• Ed McMahon
• Farrah Fawcett (whose thunder was stolen by…)
• Michael Jackson
• Billy Mays
  And this morning:
• Fred Travalena

Here’s my brush with fame regarding Travalena: way back in the early ’90s when I was directing a little madrigal group called ‘Huzzah!’ we were up early on a Saturday morning for a flight to SoCal for our first performance at the San Bernardino Renaissance Pleasure Faire (in fact, this was the trip during which this took place). We were at the San Jose airport in full costume, waiting to board our flight, and one of the other passengers waiting to board was Fred Travalena, after his performance the previous night at the Fairmont Hotel. He was reading a newspaper, and paying absolutely no attention to anything else around him, looking very unapproachable. He wasn’t much of a morning person, I take it.

That’s it – not much of a story I guess.

THE WILL OF MICHAEL JACKSON

Another tribute concert – I think – this one from Brazil:

Good afternoon! RANDY PHILLIPS, do not give up, God is with you! So sad now, I Espresso MY FEELINGS TO YOU AND ALL THAT WITH BOTH EXCELENCIA was organized this great event! AND YOU ARE SO CLOSE TO THE TO ESTRELA that fell from heaven and that illuminates our lives with songs wonderful that attract the world with a so SPECIAL. MORE, FOR GOD HAS CALL YOU BACK AND HAD A BRIGHT IN SKY. I know, how much YOU are dedicated to achieve this great event! Who unfortunately was prevented from SE to take place by such immature FATAL TO THE SURPRIENDEU! We know that UP FOR OUR will is there a God who IN GORVERNA! WHAT IS SOVEREIGN! AND THAT NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION! ON this, YOU MAY MAKE A MAJOR APPLICATION, which you can find it folly of my departure, the more that it is not YOU! At dawn, APOIS DEATH OF OUR ASTRO, I SURPRIENDIDA with a great feeling, which I took the SONO: AND NOW! WHAT WILL HAPPEN! NO! We can not let CANCEL THIS SHOW! Sure, this would not be THAT THE WILL OF MICHAEL JACKSON, well know he was anxious HAPPY AND IN THE BACK STAGE AFTER BOTH OF YOUR TIME AWAY FANS! My request is: INVITE the big names of pop music, who loved The MICHAEL TRIBUTE TO MAKE A GREAT FAMILY AND A IT, SINGING THEIR MAJOR SUCCESS! Believes that this IS THE TIME AND ALL THE FANS TO BUY TICKETS WILL WANT IS THIS GREAT SHOW! POS is not the end, EXPECTED THIS EVENT. GETTING TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE EVENT IS IN Espresso FOOT AND THEIR TRUE FEELINGS! MICHAEL JACKSON WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN OUR HEARTS FOR ALL LIFE! JESUS  LOVE YOU ! V______ L________.

Now it’s getting nasty

Hello Mr. Phillips

Perhaps you should assist in presenting my celebrity virtuoso piano recital in Spring 2010 at the above venues, instead of helping to sell drugs to young people through your youth marketing presentations.

At your age, it won’t do!

Best wishes
Stanislav Yovanovitch
www.XXXXXXXXXX.com
Honorary Professor, University of Binjao, China
001 415 533 3872, Fairfax, California

My goodness! What a jerk! If he’s not smart enough to figure out that I’m not the Randy Phillips of AEG Live, then he doesn’t deserve to have ANYONE show up at his ‘recitals’ – I’ll do my part to make sure those halls are empty (not that there’s much I’d waste my time doing).

Shove it up your soundhole, Stan.

Do It Or Else!

Regarding the MJ tour:

DEAR MR. PHILLIPS,

NOW I KNOW YOU HAVE RECIEVED PLENTY OF EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS IN REGARDS TO THE DEATH OF MR. JACKSON, BUT NONE LIKE THIS ONE.

NOW I HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD BE BY FAR THE TOUR OF THE CENTURY.

BUT THIS TOUR MUST GO ON AND I HAVE SEVERAL IDEAS THAT I HAVE OUTLINED THAT WOULD BE GROUND BREAKING.

1. TICKET SALES GO TO ALL 35 CHARITIES THAT MJ HAVE FUNDED OVER THE YEARS.
(NOT SAYING THAT YOU COULDN’T TAKE OUT YOUR CUT FOR FUNDING THIS TOUR & LAVISH ESTATE)

2. ADDING ANY MUSICAL TALENT THAT WANTS TO PERFORM ON THIS TOUR.
(WITH THE HELP OF AEG FUNDING THE TRAVEL AND ROOMING)

3. AND ANY SUPERSTAR THAT JOINS THE TOUR MUST BE ON BOARD FOR THE LONG HAUL NO DROPPING OUT. CAUSE YOUR NOT GOING TO WASTE THE TIME OF ANY OF THESE FANS THAT WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH.

4. IN BETWEEN EACH ACT THERE MUST BE A VIDEO MONTAGE OF MJ AT HIS BEST WETHER ITS HIM PERFORMING OR IF ITS HIM JUST LIVING LIFE THEIR MUST BE THIS MONTAGE TO SEND THE KING OF POP OUT THE WAY HE WAS TRYING TO DO IT!!

NOW YOU MAY THINK I’M A YOUNG KID TRYNG TO MAKE A DIME OFF THE DEAD AND THAT ISN’T THE CASE AT ANY CHANCE I WOULD LIKE ONE TICKET TO A US SHOW IN LOS ANGELES AND THAT IS IT. MY MAIN GOAL IS TO SEE THIS TOUR COMPLETED!!

THANKS,

C______ W_______
661-###-####

First of all, C______, please ease up on the Caps Lock key – I don’t appreciate being shouted at.

You are a very demanding young person – you mistake arrogance for assertiveness. Words like ‘must’ have got to go. The whole think kind of rubs me the wrong way. So forget it – learn a little humility.

India Wants To Know!

From a journalist:

Dear Sir,
I’m a journalist of The Statesman House, Kolkata, India.
I beg your perdon for disturbing you at this crutial hour.

I just want to know a few words on

1. How much close were you, with Late Jackson?
2. What was your special plans regarding his comeback show?
3. How much loss you have to face?
4. Are you planning any show in memory of the Legend?

I know, you are not in the state to answer all this, but I’m really helpless.
Hope, you will understand the situation.
Waiting for your kind cooperation, sir.
With Best Regards,
Your Sincerely,
– M_____ B_____

Dear M________:

1. I didn’t know him at all – I do have a few of his CDs though, does that count?
2. If there’s a comeback now, wow – what a story that would be! Otherwise, I never had any plans, and still don’t.
3. I think my only loss will be my mind, if I keep getting stupid emails like this.
4. I personally am planning no shows. If someone wants to hear me play ‘Billie Jean’ on my ukulele, I’d be happy to oblige.