While we are discussing covers and/or content how about a story on the amazing guitar talent that MJ recorded and/or toured with...Van Halen, Lukather, Batten, Stevens, Slash. And who played those perfect octaves in 'I want you back'?! Who played guitar on off the wall - great funk-pop guitar all over it...

Excellent idea; good call!

Maybe you should also post this over on the Guitar Player Editors' Office-Forum, so that Mr. Molenda's most likely to see this...

I went to a Jennifer Batten Ibanez clinic back in around 1990. I haven't seen or heard a more accomplished technician since. Truly frightening. She was a warm and intelligent person and funny too. A good clinician. She signed my copy of GP that had her on the cover.

Yesterday they showed MJ footage on all the music channels. There was live footage of "Dirty Diana" with Batten and Steve Stevens both going nuts. It was awesome.

Ya aughtta seek out a YouTube or similar such vid of that "Dirty Diana"/Jennifer Batten/Steve Stevens performance, 'n' post it here on the Forum...

cheers! will do...

I for one would LOVE to see a retrospect and even comment from the musicians he hired over the years. Remember Sheryl Crow was a backup singer on one of his tours (back when she was trying to break into the business).

To MJ's credit I remember there was some kind of controversy over black musicians and mainstream music and they asked him about it and he said AND I quote (because I've always respected him for this) "I don't hire color, I hire competence!

I found the full quote...

I happen to be colorblind. I don't hire color, I hire competence! Racism is not my motto. One day, I strongly expect every color to love as one family.

[Michael Jackson, 1984]

http://michaeljackson4eva.freewebspace.com

Here it is, MJ and Jennifer Batten on Dirty Diana from the BAD tour 1988...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je4JtubwFYs

A member of our own "family" has done extensive work with Jackson.
Not a guitarist but Geoff Grace, originally posting as "Soapbox" & later under hiw own name, can be encountered on the Keyboard forum or at http://geoffgrace.com/
He's also a regular @ HCentral.

He's a very talented & nice fellow & responds to anyone contacting him.

If it wasn't for Mike's choice of guest guitarists I never would have been into his music at all. He was a genius at marketing to us rockers that's for sure. As soon as buddies started telling me "Eddie Van Halen is playing on Beat It" I gave the entire album a chance. I ended up really enjoying Mike's music.

Ya know, I can't say I was a BIG fan of his music, but after watching a lot of YouTube clips, it looked like his shows were pretty darn good rocking events. Just look at the caliber of musicians he hired.