According to The Sun, Matt Fiddes (28) has worked for Michael Jackson as a bodyguard on several occasions - and is proud to count him as a personal friend. When his mum was battling breast cancer, the entertainer even called her regularly to cheer her up. And dad-of-five Matt also had no qualms about his children meeting Michael. Matt says:
Michael must be the most misunderstood man in the world.
He is such a nice guy behind closed doors. Once you get to know him, you see that - but for most people his huge international profile tends to get in the way.
Michael definitely wants to keep the mystery going. It's like a game to him. He knows he can go out and be photographed and the photos will be used worldwide.
During a visit to London in 2002, Michael took my stepsons, Archie and Charlie, on a shopping trip to Hamleys toy store. He's a great guy and I didn't have any problem with it. It sounds like a dream come true to most kids, but the boys were too shy to choose anything expensive. They came home with just a few bits and pieces."
Matt Fiddes was introduced to Michael Jackson by Uril Geller after taking part in a fitness video alongside Geller.
One night Uri called me at 2am and said 'You have to come to my house now, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life.'
I made the three hour trip from Devon to Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire. My jaw dropped when I watched Martin Bashir's documentary at Uri's house. I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into Uri's living room and Michael Jackson was sitting there on the sofa.
Michael mentioned he was looking for a bodyguard in the UK and asked me to keep in touch. From then on I was his bodyguard on trips to the UK."
Amazingly, Matt was present at the Renaissance Hotel in London in 2002 when Martin Bashir pitched Michael Jackson the idea for his famous and so very controcversial documentary.
Martin told Michael it would be the best thing he could do for his career.
It was supposed to be about the music and Mike's children were to be kept out of the final cut. Of course it was nothing of the sort and my jaw dropped when I watched the show at Uri's house.”
During filming for Martin Bashir's documentary, Matt also worked for Michael Jackson, who tried to escape the press:
Michael would come up with elaborate plans to escape the crowds. He asked me to dress up like him to distract the fans and he would sneak out the back door. He produced white socks, a military-style jacket and sunglasses for me to put on. The US security team of four bodyguards came with me through the front of the hotel. People were grabbing my hands and talking to me as if I was their hero. Meanwhile Michael snuck out the back with one bodyguard and had about 20 minutes of hassle-free browsing before he was recognised.
Another time, Michael and I ordered a takeaway curry and escaped to Uri's house in Berkshire. I had to pinch myself when I was sitting on the floor with the King of Pop eating a curry and watching Bruce Lee movies."
Despite the excitement, Matt's memory of the time is tinged with sadness. During the same period his mum, Majella Norris, was diagnosed with breast cancer and given just six months to live. But when Matt confided in Michael, the star didn't waste any time giving his stricken mum a call.
That really touched me.
Michael's a very sensitive human being and he'd ring my mum every day to see how she was coping.
He makes a big impression on everyone, and she really appreciated his best wishes. Thankfully Mum pulled through and is loving her retirement."
Michael must be the most misunderstood man in the world.
He is such a nice guy behind closed doors. Once you get to know him, you see that - but for most people his huge international profile tends to get in the way.
Michael definitely wants to keep the mystery going. It's like a game to him. He knows he can go out and be photographed and the photos will be used worldwide.
During a visit to London in 2002, Michael took my stepsons, Archie and Charlie, on a shopping trip to Hamleys toy store. He's a great guy and I didn't have any problem with it. It sounds like a dream come true to most kids, but the boys were too shy to choose anything expensive. They came home with just a few bits and pieces."
Matt Fiddes was introduced to Michael Jackson by Uril Geller after taking part in a fitness video alongside Geller.
One night Uri called me at 2am and said 'You have to come to my house now, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life.'
I made the three hour trip from Devon to Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire. My jaw dropped when I watched Martin Bashir's documentary at Uri's house. I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into Uri's living room and Michael Jackson was sitting there on the sofa.
Michael mentioned he was looking for a bodyguard in the UK and asked me to keep in touch. From then on I was his bodyguard on trips to the UK."
Amazingly, Matt was present at the Renaissance Hotel in London in 2002 when Martin Bashir pitched Michael Jackson the idea for his famous and so very controcversial documentary.
Martin told Michael it would be the best thing he could do for his career.
It was supposed to be about the music and Mike's children were to be kept out of the final cut. Of course it was nothing of the sort and my jaw dropped when I watched the show at Uri's house.”
During filming for Martin Bashir's documentary, Matt also worked for Michael Jackson, who tried to escape the press:
Michael would come up with elaborate plans to escape the crowds. He asked me to dress up like him to distract the fans and he would sneak out the back door. He produced white socks, a military-style jacket and sunglasses for me to put on. The US security team of four bodyguards came with me through the front of the hotel. People were grabbing my hands and talking to me as if I was their hero. Meanwhile Michael snuck out the back with one bodyguard and had about 20 minutes of hassle-free browsing before he was recognised.
Another time, Michael and I ordered a takeaway curry and escaped to Uri's house in Berkshire. I had to pinch myself when I was sitting on the floor with the King of Pop eating a curry and watching Bruce Lee movies."
Despite the excitement, Matt's memory of the time is tinged with sadness. During the same period his mum, Majella Norris, was diagnosed with breast cancer and given just six months to live. But when Matt confided in Michael, the star didn't waste any time giving his stricken mum a call.
That really touched me.
Michael's a very sensitive human being and he'd ring my mum every day to see how she was coping.
He makes a big impression on everyone, and she really appreciated his best wishes. Thankfully Mum pulled through and is loving her retirement."
control, how low you go
Just enough to make your juices flow
Press play, don't stop, voltage, too hot
You feel I'm real
I'm everything you need, so
tell me what's the deal
[Chorus]
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what you say don't overload
[ Find more Lyrics on link ]
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what you say don't overload
3D, high speed, feedback, Dolby
Release two or three, when I reach I
can go ‘til I hit my peak
Compact steelo, chico, D-Lo, highpost lady
Shorty really wanna be there for me
[Chorus]
[Ad Libs]
[Chorus out]
link
You were there
Before we came
You took the hurt
You took the shame
They built the walls
To block your way
You beat them down
You won the day
It wasn't right
It wasn't fair
You taught them all
You made them care
Yes, you were there
And thanks to you
There's now a door
We all walk through
And we are here
For all to see
To be the best
That we can be
Yes, I am here
'Cause you were there
And we are here
For all to see
To be the best
That we can be
Yes, I am here
'Cause you were there
And we are here
For all to see
To be the best
That we can be
Yes, I am here
'Cause you were there
Before we came
You took the hurt
You took the shame
They built the walls
To block your way
You beat them down
You won the day
It wasn't right
It wasn't fair
You taught them all
You made them care
Yes, you were there
And thanks to you
There's now a door
We all walk through
And we are here
For all to see
To be the best
That we can be
Yes, I am here
'Cause you were there
And we are here
For all to see
To be the best
That we can be
Yes, I am here
'Cause you were there
And we are here
For all to see
To be the best
That we can be
Yes, I am here
'Cause you were there
Music and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, music and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, music and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two friends can be
There have been others
But never two lovers
Like music, music and me
Grab a song and come along
You can sing your melody
In your mind you will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, music and me
Music and me
Music and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, music and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, music and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two friends can be
There have been others
But never two lovers
Like music, music and me
Grab a song and come along
You can sing your melody
In your mind you will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, music and me
Music and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, music and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, music and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two friends can be
There have been others
But never two lovers
Like music, music and me
Grab a song and come along
You can sing your melody
In your mind you will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, music and me
Music and me
Music and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, music and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, music and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two friends can be
There have been others
But never two lovers
Like music, music and me
Grab a song and come along
You can sing your melody
In your mind you will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, music and me
Music and me
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
IN THE LOVING MEMORY OF RYAN WHITE
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
IN THE LOVING MEMORY OF RYAN WHITE
Sung to our hearts
Removed evil from our worlds with your sweet loving nature.
But behind your smile was both happiness and pain.
You carried the pain,
While we, oblivious, stole the happiness.
A ray of sunshine and in a class of your own.
This world ever trying to destroy your light, not worthy of any part of your life.
Yet you never saw it that way and gave us everything till nothing was left.
How could we have placed hatred on someone completely incapable of it.
In heaven now, you have been set free to live eternally where you belong. No pain will reach you up there, of that I’m sure.
You entered this world loved, left loved, and forever will be loved - what happened in between is unforgivable on our part but I pray that home at last it can be dealt with.
- you said you saw the face of God in children, we saw it in you.
R.I.P Michael.
king of pop.
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