News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 10:22
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Michael Jackson left Paul Anka "beyond" angry when he stole a recording of a song they worked on together on Anka's home studio

    The 80-year-old crooner and Michael - who died in June 2009 from acute Propofol intoxication at the age of 50 - became friends in the 1970s when the pop star and his family attended Anka's Las Vegas shows.


    Eventually, Anka and Michael discussed working together and the 'Beat It' hitmaker agreed to be a guest on his 1983 album 'Walk a Fine Line', but after being sent the tapes of their recording, Michael decided he wasn't going to record the track and never sent back the masters.

    Speaking to the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column, Anka said: "I got close to them.

    "I sent the tapes to Los Angeles for him to meet me there so we could put the rest of the band on. They called me from there a couple of days later and said, 'Mr. Jackson stole the tapes.'

    Recalling how he then contacted his lawyers - who also represented Michael - he added: "I said, 'Guys, am I missing something? We've got a contract.'

    "Well, Paul, you know he's got 'Thriller' out and it's taking off. He just doesn't want anything else out there, blah blah. And we can't find the contract.' I said 'What? OK, boys, I see who's more important. You're getting sued. I'm out of here.'"

    Anka did eventually get the tapes back and hired new lawyers, but he was left stunned in 2009 when Michael - just before his tragic passing - released the song 'This Is It' which he immediately recognised as the track the co-wrote back in the 1980s.

    The 'Diana' singer said: "I got a hold of the lawyers, who were the same two lawyers who screwed me in the beginning. I said, 'Hey guys, that's my song with Michael. We have a problem here, boys. This ain't going to fly; you've got about two, three hours to fix this.'

    "It was very simple. I said, 'I want half of everything or it's not coming out.' And we got what we wanted."

    The Michael Jackson Estate also later confirmed that 'This Is It' - which was the name of Michael's planned 50 concert residency at The O2 in London which never took place and the name given to the documentary about the rehearsals - had been "co-written by the legendary Paul Anka".

    Despite the legal wrangling, Anka holds no ill-feelings toward Michael as he deserved all his huge success.

    He said: "Michael went on to be what Michael is, deservedly so as an artist. He was a great artist."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Inside Islamic State's transformation, from life support to 'slaughtering with gusto'
     29 Mar: Stephen Colbert regrets being one of the famous faces who stoked conspiracy theories about Catherine, Princess of Wales ahead of her cancer treatment announcement
     29 Mar: John Lydon felt as if he lost "half" of himself when his wife died
     29 Mar: Jessie James Decker's husband Eric has had a vasectomy
     29 Mar: Joely Richardson struggled to find an agent after she turned 50
     29 Mar: Steve Harvey could easily "get rid" of one of his daughter's boyfriends
     29 Mar: King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend the Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Calls for Rugby Australia to back their women's game from Chiefs Manawa fullback Renee Holmes More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    Calls for Rugby Australia to back their women's game from Chiefs Manawa fullback Renee Holmes 10:07

    Tennis:
    The men's semifinals at the Miami Open will feature a rematch of this year's Australian Open final 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Inside Islamic State's transformation, from life support to 'slaughtering with gusto' 9:57

    Entertainment:
    Stephen Colbert regrets being one of the famous faces who stoked conspiracy theories about Catherine, Princess of Wales ahead of her cancer treatment announcement 9:53

    Law and Order:
    Investigations continue after a serious assault at a restaurant in Auckland's Browns Bay shortly before six last night 9:47

    Business:
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion 9:27

    Entertainment:
    John Lydon felt as if he lost "half" of himself when his wife died 9:23

    Golf:
    To a Foxy-finish with a flourish on golf's PGA Tour.. 9:07

    Entertainment:
    Jessie James Decker's husband Eric has had a vasectomy 8:53

    Entertainment:
    Joely Richardson struggled to find an agent after she turned 50 8:23


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd