After 18 years of installing his systems, Brad Sundberg saw everything from Michael’s work ethic to his love for his chimps. Integrators tend not to be star-struck since many cater to extremely affluent clientele. There are celebrities, and then there was Michael Jackson.
When Brad Sundberg, owner of BSUN Media Systems, mentioned his work on Michael’s infamous Neverland Valley Ranch during his CE Pro of the Week profile, questions came to mind:
What was Michael Jackson like as a client? What was he like away from the cameras?
Sundberg, who says he worked with Michael on countless personal and professional projects over 18 years, wrote about his experiences in a long essay in a BSUN e-newsletter sent a year after Michael’s June 2009 death. Following are some excerpts:
Meeting Michael Jackson
“Michael was working on Captain EO for Disneyland and Epcot Center. He was fresh off the Victory Tour, the Thriller album, his dominance of MTV, and he was back in the studio. I wish I could remember our first meeting, but it was likely just passing each other in the hallway. He was always warm, yet shy. Over time we would chat now and then, but it took time to build the trust.”
Michael’s nickname for Brad Sundberg
“Early in 1986 the team moved into Westlake Studio D in Hollywood to record the Bad album, and welcomed me in. I worked other sessions during the day, but at night I was invited to sit in and learn. Eventually I worked my way up to technical director for the team, and the trust was solidified. It was during this time that Michael nicknamed me “Really Really Brad,” a twist on the chorus, “Bad, Bad, Really, Really Bad.” Check the album credits, it’s there.”
Michael’s love of food and “family day”
“During the making of the BAD album, Fridays quickly became known as “family day.” He would have his two chefs, affectionately known as the Slam Dunk Sisters, prepare a large dinner for the crew, musicians and any family members that might be around. Since I was working sometimes 80 hours a week, it was not uncommon for Deb to come have dinner with us. Michael loved these family get togethers.
In later projects I would bring my girls, whom he loved and would play with. There is one moment in time in my head when Deb brought my daughter Amanda, who was just a baby at the time, into the studio for the afternoon. She set up a play mat and brought some toys, and Michael sat and played with her for a while. He looked at Deb and said, “This is her own little world, isn’t it?”
Celebrity visitors and chimps
“It was not uncommon for celebrities or VIPs to stop in. One day the Secret Service searched the building for a couple hours before Nancy Reagan came for a visit. Next it was Princess Stephanie from Monaco … The chimps were common guests in the studio, as was a giant snake, both of which I would wind up holding during MJ’s vocals.”
Watching Michael write songs
I have watched him write many songs, and the process is amazing. I asked him where they came from, and he said they were gifts from God. He could hear the entire song in his head before we could get tape on the machines. He would sometimes sing the drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, etc., and we would later bring in musicians to replace his demo tracks.
Michael’s childhood
I remember him telling me about grown women throwing themselves at him when he was just 9 or 10 years old.
One story I will never forget was him telling of flying with his dad and brothers through a lightening storm at night. The plane was being tossed around, lightening was flashing, and he started crying in fear. His dad ignored him, embarrassed. A flight attendant sat with until the plane cleared the storm. Hearing him tell that story, with tears in his eyes, gave a glimpse into his life.
Working at Neverland
Somewhere around 1991 he asked me to visit a ranch he had purchased, and design a sound system for a carousel. The next thing I knew I was at Neverland Valley Ranch, in Santa Ynez, CA. There was construction everywhere, and the amusement park was in the early stages of installation.
Over the next few years Michael asked me to build system after system, putting music on the bumper cars, in the petting zoo, on two trains, all around the amusement park, the boat lake, the train stations, and eventually inside the house, and inside his bedroom and bathroom. Deb loves to tell of the times Michael would call at 2 in the morning (his sleep schedule was never normal) to talk to me about a new attraction he had coming to Neverland, and if I would put music on it.
I still have an old answering machine tape of him thanking me for one of the systems we had built.
When Brad Sundberg, owner of BSUN Media Systems, mentioned his work on Michael’s infamous Neverland Valley Ranch during his CE Pro of the Week profile, questions came to mind:
What was Michael Jackson like as a client? What was he like away from the cameras?
Sundberg, who says he worked with Michael on countless personal and professional projects over 18 years, wrote about his experiences in a long essay in a BSUN e-newsletter sent a year after Michael’s June 2009 death. Following are some excerpts:
Meeting Michael Jackson
“Michael was working on Captain EO for Disneyland and Epcot Center. He was fresh off the Victory Tour, the Thriller album, his dominance of MTV, and he was back in the studio. I wish I could remember our first meeting, but it was likely just passing each other in the hallway. He was always warm, yet shy. Over time we would chat now and then, but it took time to build the trust.”
Michael’s nickname for Brad Sundberg
“Early in 1986 the team moved into Westlake Studio D in Hollywood to record the Bad album, and welcomed me in. I worked other sessions during the day, but at night I was invited to sit in and learn. Eventually I worked my way up to technical director for the team, and the trust was solidified. It was during this time that Michael nicknamed me “Really Really Brad,” a twist on the chorus, “Bad, Bad, Really, Really Bad.” Check the album credits, it’s there.”
Michael’s love of food and “family day”
“During the making of the BAD album, Fridays quickly became known as “family day.” He would have his two chefs, affectionately known as the Slam Dunk Sisters, prepare a large dinner for the crew, musicians and any family members that might be around. Since I was working sometimes 80 hours a week, it was not uncommon for Deb to come have dinner with us. Michael loved these family get togethers.
In later projects I would bring my girls, whom he loved and would play with. There is one moment in time in my head when Deb brought my daughter Amanda, who was just a baby at the time, into the studio for the afternoon. She set up a play mat and brought some toys, and Michael sat and played with her for a while. He looked at Deb and said, “This is her own little world, isn’t it?”
Celebrity visitors and chimps
“It was not uncommon for celebrities or VIPs to stop in. One day the Secret Service searched the building for a couple hours before Nancy Reagan came for a visit. Next it was Princess Stephanie from Monaco … The chimps were common guests in the studio, as was a giant snake, both of which I would wind up holding during MJ’s vocals.”
Watching Michael write songs
I have watched him write many songs, and the process is amazing. I asked him where they came from, and he said they were gifts from God. He could hear the entire song in his head before we could get tape on the machines. He would sometimes sing the drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, etc., and we would later bring in musicians to replace his demo tracks.
Michael’s childhood
I remember him telling me about grown women throwing themselves at him when he was just 9 or 10 years old.
One story I will never forget was him telling of flying with his dad and brothers through a lightening storm at night. The plane was being tossed around, lightening was flashing, and he started crying in fear. His dad ignored him, embarrassed. A flight attendant sat with until the plane cleared the storm. Hearing him tell that story, with tears in his eyes, gave a glimpse into his life.
Working at Neverland
Somewhere around 1991 he asked me to visit a ranch he had purchased, and design a sound system for a carousel. The next thing I knew I was at Neverland Valley Ranch, in Santa Ynez, CA. There was construction everywhere, and the amusement park was in the early stages of installation.
Over the next few years Michael asked me to build system after system, putting music on the bumper cars, in the petting zoo, on two trains, all around the amusement park, the boat lake, the train stations, and eventually inside the house, and inside his bedroom and bathroom. Deb loves to tell of the times Michael would call at 2 in the morning (his sleep schedule was never normal) to talk to me about a new attraction he had coming to Neverland, and if I would put music on it.
I still have an old answering machine tape of him thanking me for one of the systems we had built.
The co-executors of Michael Jackson's estate think Discovery Channel did the right thing when they yanked a documentary from their UK schedule that was to feature a reenactment of MJ's autopsy.
A rep for John Branca and John McClain tells TMZ, "The co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson are pleased that Discovery Channel made the correct decision in choosing to cancel this exploitative program."
The co-executors went on to say they feel Michael's fans played a large role in Discovery's decision, saying, "While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored."
As for any future plans to air the show, Branca and McClain said, "We are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future."
A rep for John Branca and John McClain tells TMZ, "The co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson are pleased that Discovery Channel made the correct decision in choosing to cancel this exploitative program."
The co-executors went on to say they feel Michael's fans played a large role in Discovery's decision, saying, "While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored."
As for any future plans to air the show, Branca and McClain said, "We are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future."
ok so i got the new mj album next to the experience.
the album is amazing and hopfully some of the songs will be heard on the radio and the following now series. the album has 10 songs.
1. Hold My Hand (Duet With Akon)
2. Hollywood Tonight
3. Keep Your Head Up
4. (I Like) The Way You Love Me
5. Monster (Featuring 50 Cent)
6. Best Of Joy
7. Breaking News
8. (I Can't Make It) Another Day (Featuring Lenny Kravitz)
9. Behind The Mask
10. Much Too Soon
well when i looked on the back of the CD it said 9 of the tracks were origonaly recorded and made by michael himself they were all finished by using parts of the songs and extending them or looping them.
this is a great album but im not so sure about number 10 it sounds just like him or maby it was all looped to finish
the album is amazing and hopfully some of the songs will be heard on the radio and the following now series. the album has 10 songs.
1. Hold My Hand (Duet With Akon)
2. Hollywood Tonight
3. Keep Your Head Up
4. (I Like) The Way You Love Me
5. Monster (Featuring 50 Cent)
6. Best Of Joy
7. Breaking News
8. (I Can't Make It) Another Day (Featuring Lenny Kravitz)
9. Behind The Mask
10. Much Too Soon
well when i looked on the back of the CD it said 9 of the tracks were origonaly recorded and made by michael himself they were all finished by using parts of the songs and extending them or looping them.
this is a great album but im not so sure about number 10 it sounds just like him or maby it was all looped to finish
Now let's Go into MJ Omg is it just me isnt he the best,amazing,sexy,hotty, celeb to walk this earth! Omg i wish he was here, i miss him soo much but everytime i come on here i think "WOW he is the one, the one that brought us together, He did it he reached his message.L.O.V.E".. Please everyone carry on MJ's message n Contunie to Listen to REAL POP music and that's MJ Music!!{{Not saying every other pop artist is bad some of the pop music today is great, but MJ's was better}}
Love you All-
Jacinda a.k.a JanetJfan
Caroline couldn't believe what happened at that moment.. When they stopped they looked at eachother for a moment.. they tried to understand what happened.... but they coudn't..
Caroline:"MIchael.. I.. I don't know what to say.. "
Michael went very red.. he was licking his lips.. and biting his lower lip..
Michael:"I'm sorry.. but I had to do it.. I couldn't resist..I'm too much in love with u Caroline.. Since I was at high school.. i was in love with u.."
Caroline was shocked.. but happy.. she felt a sense of satisfaction....
Caroline..:"Michael.. even I.. when u hugged.. I felt something that i never felt before.. it was something special.. from that moment i didn't stop thinking about u.."
They looked at eachother than they kissed.. they were together.. forever..
Caroline:"MIchael.. I.. I don't know what to say.. "
Michael went very red.. he was licking his lips.. and biting his lower lip..
Michael:"I'm sorry.. but I had to do it.. I couldn't resist..I'm too much in love with u Caroline.. Since I was at high school.. i was in love with u.."
Caroline was shocked.. but happy.. she felt a sense of satisfaction....
Caroline..:"Michael.. even I.. when u hugged.. I felt something that i never felt before.. it was something special.. from that moment i didn't stop thinking about u.."
They looked at eachother than they kissed.. they were together.. forever..
The next day.. she was at work.. she works as a doctor.. The door knocked..
Caroline:"Come in"
It was Bernard...
Caroline:"We need to talk.."
Bernard said:"Tell me hun.."
She gave hin an angry face..
Caroline:"I went at a bar yesterday.. and u know who i saw? I saw u holding a girls' hand.. and u were laughing together!"
Bernard froze..
Caroline:"Don't u ever talk to me again.. it's over.. i don't want to see your face again.. go home and take your things back were they belong.. get out! Now.."
Bernard:"No.. wait I can explain"
Caroline:"Out! Get out you fool!"
He went out.. Caroline took a deep breath and continued working.. Then the first word that came in her mind was "Michael".. She thought of him that moment.. she smiled.. then she continued working..
Caroline:"Come in"
It was Bernard...
Caroline:"We need to talk.."
Bernard said:"Tell me hun.."
She gave hin an angry face..
Caroline:"I went at a bar yesterday.. and u know who i saw? I saw u holding a girls' hand.. and u were laughing together!"
Bernard froze..
Caroline:"Don't u ever talk to me again.. it's over.. i don't want to see your face again.. go home and take your things back were they belong.. get out! Now.."
Bernard:"No.. wait I can explain"
Caroline:"Out! Get out you fool!"
He went out.. Caroline took a deep breath and continued working.. Then the first word that came in her mind was "Michael".. She thought of him that moment.. she smiled.. then she continued working..
Good news for the fans of the king of pop – link, you can now sleep on Jackson’s bed in the Irish country mansion which was once the home of the late star and his kids, but, is now open to public. The estate owner Paddy Dunning is offering the holiday makers and the fans of Jackson to live life like the king of pop. Jackson’s fans can now stay at the Coolatore House for a weekend or so and sleep in Jackson’s bed for upwards of $1,500.
TMZ has learned the Holmby Hills mansion where Michael Jackson died is getting a serious boost in security -- so nobody messes with the super-expensive property while it's on the market.
Sources connected to the home tell us ... now that people know the home is "vacated and for sale, the property owners have increased security to keep it safe."
As we previously reported, the owners are requiring potential buyers to go through an "extensive pre-qualifying check" before they can even walk in the door ... just to keep out the riffraff.
The home is currently on the market for a cool $28 mil.
Sources connected to the home tell us ... now that people know the home is "vacated and for sale, the property owners have increased security to keep it safe."
As we previously reported, the owners are requiring potential buyers to go through an "extensive pre-qualifying check" before they can even walk in the door ... just to keep out the riffraff.
The home is currently on the market for a cool $28 mil.
An MJ fan club is on a desperate mission to clean up the recent graffiti onslaught outside the King of Pop's tomb -- claiming a few bad apples could spoil everything for MJ's non-vandal followers.
The Official Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California have extended an olive branch to Forest Lawn Cemetery -- where MJ is buried -- offering to clean up the recent wave of hidden vandalism outside the singer's tomb ... before the cemetery decides to ban MJ fans altogether.
A rep for the group -- which organizes a monthly pilgrimage to MJ's burial place -- tells TMZ, they want to "fix this mess" so FLC doesn't associate MJ's upstanding fans with a bunch of sharpie-wielding hoodlums.
As TMZ first reported, Forest Lawn is currently on red alert over the illegal doodles -- hunting down the artists responsible ... and threatening to ban any potential copycats for life.
No word if Forest Lawn will take the fan group up on their offer.
The Official Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California have extended an olive branch to Forest Lawn Cemetery -- where MJ is buried -- offering to clean up the recent wave of hidden vandalism outside the singer's tomb ... before the cemetery decides to ban MJ fans altogether.
A rep for the group -- which organizes a monthly pilgrimage to MJ's burial place -- tells TMZ, they want to "fix this mess" so FLC doesn't associate MJ's upstanding fans with a bunch of sharpie-wielding hoodlums.
As TMZ first reported, Forest Lawn is currently on red alert over the illegal doodles -- hunting down the artists responsible ... and threatening to ban any potential copycats for life.
No word if Forest Lawn will take the fan group up on their offer.
The film deals with the life of Jackson from his childhood until the death of large stars. The Katherine, in fact, intends to offer hundreds of hours of family videos to Howard Mann, who wrote the album with her. These include hardware since the family moved from Gary Indiana to Los Angeles as soon as the Jackson 5 signed with the label Motown.
Said even, that the Howard has paid richly-digit amount to the former partner of Michael, Marc Schaffel, for 26 additional hours of video material with the king of pop. The Katherine Howard and planning a series of films for Michael. The documentary "This is it in the preparation of the king of pop for the comeback, earned profits of 400 million U.S. dollars to the family.