Michael Jackson Does ‘Q’ Magazine
I absolutely planned on NOT posting any Michael Jackson news today but considering that Q magazine is about to release their August issue with MJ on the cover, presumably his last magazine photoshoot ever, well … I felt it was worth posting on the blog. Unfortch, the photo is not a flattering one … and I understand that the coverstory article deals with the (last) four years leading up to his This Is It Tour that was to kickoff in London, England on Monday July 13. Here is Michael Jackson on the cover of Q magazine and some info about the coverstory:
On the eve of what could have been one of the greatest comebacks in music history, this month Q delves inside the mad, bad world of Michael Jackson. Charting the story of the last four years of his life, we journey through the personal, emotional and financial turmoil of the great icon. Q salutes the Thriller album as tribute to the King of Pop. A remarkable work by a truly remarkable pop star.
Because this issue went to press before MJ’s untimely death two weeks ago today, the magazine posted this disclaimer on their website:
Please note that this issue went to print prior to the sad news of Michael Jackson’s death. We hope that no offence is caused by its content in light of the tragic passing
After the jump, if you are so inclined, check out one more photo of MJ from this photoshoot with Q magazine. As unflattering as these photos are, they are among the last photos that MJ posed for before his death …
From the blog Boy Culture: A devastating portrait of the late Michael Jackson appears on the cover of Q Magazine (August 2009), possibly the last coverstory he posed for in advance of his This Is It comeback shows at London’s O2 Arena. John Wright shot the pulls-no-punches photo, in which the performer’s face appears remarkably gaunt, he has salt-and-pepper stubble on his chin, his lips are bright red, his tortured nose looks ready to be brushed away and—above a surprisingly hairy brow—the netting holding his wig in place is clearly visible under a pound of makeup. Wright reported that Jackson’s demeanor at his 90-second (!) photo shoot (he seems to have wrung only two shots out of it) was that of an unfailingly polite person whose parents would “be proud of how you’d brought him up.” Ironic. The feature, “Michael Jackson Unmasked,” was written by Cole Moreton. It is a warts-and-all story of how Jackson was lured back to the stage that begins: “Will he turn up? Will he sing more than a few lines? Can Michael Jackson really survive 50 shows or will his body or mind, both seemingly so fragile, disintegrate under the pressure of it all?” The hard-hitting report is prefaced online with an apology considering it went to press before Jackson answered the latter question. The mag also includes a truly fascinating read on “The Making of Thriller” … It’s unfortunate timing, but the article rings true, especially in light of the probably understandable and predictable deification process that’s been happening in the wake of his shocking death.
Wow. It remains to be seen if Q magazine would’ve chosen to publish the article anyway if there was time to stop the mag from going to press but, in all honesty, I doubt they would’ve. There were so many questions as to whether or not MJ was up to the task of performing his 50 shows … and I suppose those questions were answered by his death. But I know that Michael Jackson really had a strong chance at pulling off one of the biggest comebacks in entertainment history. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to give the shows a shot … based on what we’ve seen from rehearsal footage, the This Is It Tour would’ve most likely been a stunning spectacle.
Tags: Michael Jackson, Q Magazine
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July 9th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
How is it obvious he had a wig on?? Actually, does anyone know why MJ had to wear one??
July 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I’ll be buying this issue. I loved me some early MJ but like you Trent, I came to a point where I found myself constantly thinking “Michael, please stop being so weird and start making your fantastic music again.”
July 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@Cherry — if you look closely, you can see the wig netting at his hairline :(
July 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
A couple of weeks before Michael passed I saw a piece of footage(can’t remember the network) of him saying he was upset that they scheduled him in for 50 shows, that he had agreed to 20 or something. I didn’t really support the crazines with the plastic surgeries and his behavior in recent years but I think its really sad how this all turned out for him. I truly hope people will stop prying into what was his life, wanting to know every private detail because its not right, and its not fair. I know the media will not stop because thats the world we live in, its just very sad imo.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Actually, I don’t think the photos were all that unflattering. It seems like MJ was taking steps in the last few months to shed some of the strangeness. The fact that he’d be photographed for a cover sans makeup was probably a huge step for him.
Also, @cherry, his dermatologist said he had lost most of his hair, possibly because he had lupus. So the wig is no big deal.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
That is a scary picture…could they have possibly come up with something a little more flattering?
July 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@Frisa — the photo and article were not published as a hatchet job, apparently MJ only sat for a 90 second photoshoot and these were the only 2 pics that came from the shoot. there weren’t any more flattering photos to choose from, I think.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
@Cherry – ever since his fire incident at the pepsi commercial, according to several ’sources’ he wore a wig because he had a bald spot where he got burned. And hair loss is common with the skin condition he had, I know someone with it had she has lost quite alot of hair because of the condition.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Wow thanks for the info guys, I didn’t know that he had problems with hair loss as well.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I like the cover photo too, as he opted to go without the white powder (like on his cover photo of Ebony). What terrible timing for the publication’s print – though I suspect it’ll increase this sales rather than decrease them.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Wow…will we be able to buy this here?
July 9th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
personally, i love the photos. they’re real and honest, not some snow job photoshop.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I totally agree with carrie. Sure, the pictures may be a little unflattering, but they’re who he was. It has an honesty to it that many magazines are shying away from now.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I don’t like these photos because I think they wanted to bring home the fact that he wasn’t well. Even if that was true, why publish an untouched photo. Its very disrespectful.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
PISNB, thanks for posting this, i just ordered a copy from the website, it’ll arrive within 28 days! Michael, WE LOVE YOU MORE!!!
July 9th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Honestly, I agree with most people on here, I like the photos. I think they are gritty, real, human, and sexy. He looks good…he looks like Michael Jackson.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I agree with Jennifer. I like real photos, and I being able to see his face as it was, without make-up.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
*like* being
July 9th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
From what I’ve read, the autopsy was leaked and it talked about how horrible he had aged, he had to wear a wig because he nothing but peach fuzz on his head.
tatiana – I’m pretty sure that the photos were touched up. As a photographer I’ve had experience with people who didn’t look that great and so when doing touch ups I can make them look 100% better and natural but they still need a miracle. I’m sure that Q magazine did what they could to make him look as good as possible, yet that was the best they could do and still have him look as human as possible.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
so it’s not airbrushed or made-up. for me, this is one of the more real photos i’ve seen of him in a while.
i just saw that he lost hair after the accident during the pepsi commercial. he had several skin grafts to fix the burns he suffered.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I actually really like this picture…..I think he looks a lot better in it then some of others photos I have seen. His nose doesnt looked so jacked up in it so that’s good. I really think he was getting his life back together for these shows, just heartbreaking that its all gone now.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Honestly, was it possible to get a flattering photo at this point in his life? Such a talented and tragic figure.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
what sad is that if he was a hollywood “it” girl, they would have photoshopped the hell out of this picture…but because it’s “weird” michael jackson, they left it as is….wig netting and all.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
*what’s
July 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Uh, the dude is 50. Take a look around at the 50 year olds you know. They might not have scary nose but I bet they have some balding, fat rolls, liver spots, wrinkles or worse. He’s a human, age 50. Having him look perfect goes against the laws of the universe. Maybe we should just get over it.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:52 am
yeah it is actually a nice pic, he looks real…not doll-like…RIP Soldier!!!!!!
July 10th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I think MJ had some alright choons (keep in mind that im too young to appreciate all of his music) but holy shit he is/was the most scariest “person” that ever lived.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:18 am
@duh — You do have a point. Can you imagine what an untouched, unphotoshopped photo of Madonna’s 50 year old face would look like?
July 10th, 2009 at 8:02 am
“Can you imagine what an untouched, unphotoshopped photo of Madonna’s 50 year old face would look like?”
Like a cat in a washing machine.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
that poor nose….
July 11th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I actually like this picture because he looks human.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Just some info for the road;
He was burned [remember that horrible accident at the pepsi commercial?] and was partially bald because of it so he used expensive weaves and wigs…
He was getting fixed up [no surgery] recently before his passing by his dermatologist to make him more natural after all those plastic surgery mistakes.
Michael Jackson was HUMAN. He was 50. He was[is] the King of Pop.
I like these pictures because theyre real, honest and human. He was who he was, leave it alone.
RIP
July 20th, 2009 at 4:05 am
I think the pictures look like the sweet, loving person that he was. Why can’t everybody see that? We miss you so much MJ.. :0(
July 21st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Honestly… I don’t see what’s so scary about the picture. Sorry.
August 18th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I think he looks good. i like the hairiness of his face, the unibrow and the dark peach fuzz. i wish he didn’t wear the sunglasses, though. i even like the visible wig netting and flaws, its a great shot, for mj fans to get a taste of what they might see in the morning. His ambulance pic was beautiful too and that was totally sans makeup.