Jacko, His Rise and Fall: The Social and Sexual History of Michael Jackson [Hardcover]

Darwin Porter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2007

You've heard scattered segments of the MICHAEL JACKSON saga, but never in a smooth chronological progression that bonded all the elements together, and managed, en route, to include many of the entertainment industry s most intriguing celebrities: Jackie-O, the Reagans, the Bushes, the Windsors, the aristocracy of America s pop culture, and many of the movie stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. They all opened their doors and sometimes their arms to MICHAEL, the Gloved One, the Thriller. From humble beginnings as a bubblegum star in Gary, Indiana, to his unenviable role as the most famous, and most maligned, celebrity in the world, this comprehensive biography reveals the good, the bad, the ugly, and in some cases, carefully documented interludes so bizarre as to be virtually unbelievable. It's the publishing industry's first comprehensive overview of a career that could only have happened in America. In March of 2006, The Sunday Times of London referred to Darwin Porter's biography of Marlon Brando as "Lurid, raunchy, perceptive, and definitely worth reading," and Australia s Women s Weekly referred to it as being as X-rated as Brando himself. WAIT TILL THEY SEE WHAT HE'S DONE WITH MICHAEL JACKSON! NO ONE, until now, has ever published a full journalistic overview of a superstar whose fame equals, (and possibly exceeds) that of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, the Queen of England, and the Pope. But here it is, at last: MICHAEL, The Gloved One, the Thriller, the pop star whose antics onstage and off have generated more ink, episodically, than any other living entertainer. Jacko, His Rise and Fall: The Social and Sexual History of Michael Jackson. By Darwin Porter. Hardcover. 542 pages. with approximately 100 photographs and a detailed index listing references to the names of hundreds of celebrities and wannabes who interacted with or reacted to Michael in ways which, at the very least, were highly eccentric. In addition to the names cited a

Editorial Reviews

Review

I'd have thought that there wasn't one single gossipy rock yet to be overturned in the microscopically scrutinized life of Michael Jackson. But Darwin Porter's exhaustive (but always zippy) hybrid of celebrity bio and solid reporting proves me quite wrong. It's all here: The abuse Jackson suffered as a boy from the fists of his father; rough early years on the "chitlin' circuit; his rocky relationship with Diana Ross and his quirky relationship with Liz Taylor; his sham marriages and his oddly conceived three children; unflagging rumors of his homosexuality; and his scandalous affection for generations of adolescent boys. Definitely a page-turner. But don't turn the pages too quickly: Almost every one holds a fascinating revelation. --Richard Labonte, Books to Watch Out For

Despite Michael Jackson's spectacular fame, no one has ever published a fully inclusive and comprehensive biography with inside information about his highly dramatic life. All of that changed with the release of this book. Meticulously researched over several tumultuous decades, it explores and explains many of the secrets that Michael Jackson wanted to keep hidden from the world. It explores the man behind the myth, a public figure whose eyes are often hidden behind dark glasses, his face obscured by an even darker mask. It s peppered with quotes from the subject himself. But for deeper insights, author Darwin Porter turned to the hundreds of Jackson associates who were linked to the growth, maintenance, and/or decline of his spectacular career and severely bruised public image. Ironically, long after the headlines died, thousands of celebrity watchers and pop music fans continued their obsession with this charismatic star, wildly celebrating his acquittal from child molestation charges in California. But after restless wanderings in Bahrain, Ireland, England, and France, where Michael will go next is a question the author tries to answer. Ironically, everyone knows Michael's music, but despite its commercial and artistic success, the world is more concerned with what he does whenever he's not onstage. His saga is unique in the American entertainment industry, moving from the poverty of America's Rust Belt (Gary, Indiana) to the oil-enriched desert sands of Bahrain, with detours en route to Neverland, Michael's private Land of Oz. The most talked-about and written-about megastar in history, Michael Jackson is stranger than we ever knew, as will be revealed within the pages of this page-turner. This is the story of a brown-skinned boy with a big nose who moonwalked his way into the world of white, with a re-sculpted face and financial assets that the rest of the world seemingly felt free to pillage. Michael's talent was and is t --Georgia Literary Association

A new biography of Michael Jackson contains stories that are eyebrow-raising even for his weird life. "Jacko: His Rise and Fall" recounts an encounter between Truman Capote, Jackson and a teenage John F. Kennedy Jr. that the author claims Capote told him about. "Jackie [Kennedy] invited Michael to accompany her to the Robert Kennedy Tennis Tournament, where she introduced him to her children," Darwin Porter writes. Jackson and Capote were then invited by JFK Jr. to the locker room after he played a match. "At the time, I didn't know John-John was an exhibitionist," Porter reports Capote said. "Before both Michael and me, John-John peeled off." Later, Jackie - sensing something was off with her son's new buddy - "intervened and nipped Michael's friendship with John-John in the bud." There's also a hilarious account of a dinner party at the home of Liberace ("Just call me Cuddles, dear boy"), where Mae West told the young Jackson: "Let me give you some advice, kid. You should develop a distinctive walk on the stage." Porter said that story was told to him by Liberace's former boyfriend, who was present. --Ben Widdicombe, in the New York Daily News

About the Author

Darwin Porter: In addition to Jacko, His Rise and Fall, Darwin Porter has penned at least four other unauthorized biographies, covering subjects which have included Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Howard Hughes, and Marlon Brando. Each of these four biographies has been replicated, in serialized form, in major newspapers of the U.K., including THE MAIL ON SUNDAY and THE SUNDAY TIMES. Darwin is a long-time associate of THE FROMMER TRAVEL GUIDES, and has authored many of that series' guides to Europe, the Caribbean, and sections of the U.S. When not traveling (which is rare), he lives in New York. with frequent excursions to London and Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 542 pages
• Publisher: Blood Moon Productions, Ltd (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974811858
• ISBN-13: 978-0974811857
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars -, December 5, 2007

By 

neems "Gary" (Somewhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jacko, His Rise and Fall: The Social and Sexual History of Michael Jackson (Hardcover)

I've read a couple of Michael Jackson books, just because he's a very interesting person. One thing I found very annoying about this book was that, the author seems to have problems staying at one chapter of Michael's life and continue with the same story until its actual finished, and then start with another. The time line is also very confusing; there were a lot of mistakes. Like, when he tells one part about Michael's life in the late 70's, it'll suddenly skip to Michael's Thriller days then back again to the late 70's and some of his facts are just absolute Bull. Another thing I got annoyed by was the fact that the author kept addressing Michael Jackson as Wacko Jacko (Thus, the cover title). Which professional writer goes by a tabloid name that was given to Michael, rather then just simply using Michael Jackson? Obviously the author believes more to that Michael, is a pedophile. Not only is the title unprofessional, the ads at the end of the book, that was lame. Some of the references the author made in this book are already made public as rumors, and yet he puts them as facts. There's no doubt that there are some interesting TRUE facts in this book, and you can find these facts in other more interesting Michael Jackson books. Now if you're an Obsessed Michael Jackson fan, who takes every word seriously and who are overly sensitive over Michael Jackson's life should not buy this book.

When reading this book, I kept an open mind and I know what sounds right and what smells like BS. Most of the author's sources are from other books about Michael Jackson, and it seems like every tabloid story (That were written in the books the author used as reference) was the author's main interest. I guess this book is what the author believes, All the rumors, all the accusations, all the stories, he compiled them told Michael Jackson's story the way the author feels is what happened in Michael's life. Some are true, some are completely ridiculous. It all comes down to opinion, and my opinion is that this book is the author's point of view on Michael's life.

For people who want to know about Michael Jackson out of curiosity/love/hate or whatever, just buy the book by J Randy Taraborrelli, The Magic and the Madness, the latest edition. It's the most realistic book ever written about Michael and very interesting. Again, if you're obsessed with Michael Jackson you should probably buy books that say "Michael the king/Angel/God", if that only satisfies you. [Some fans criticize me for buying this book and actually reading it] Another book that is very good (About the trial in 2005) is Michael Jackson conspiracy by Aphrodite Jones.

Overall, this book is based on rumors and it may be interesting but it's not factual.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware, August 14, 2009

By 

Sherley J. Pierre (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jacko, His Rise and Fall: The Social and Sexual History of Michael Jackson (Hardcover)

I think this author lacks credibility. He makes basic factual errors like writing that Michael Jackson wrote the song "She's Out of My Life" when Michael Jackson, did not write that song he only recorded it. This is something you can verify by just reading the linear notes of the "off The Wall" album. I cannot trust an author who cannot get his basic facts straight. The author blantantly steals from Bob Jones's book, J. Randy Tamborelli's book and a whole host of other author's books.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money!!!, August 28, 2009

By 

Fuschiaqueen "Fuschiaqueen" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jacko, His Rise and Fall: The Social and Sexual History of Michael Jackson (Hardcover)

Including 'Jacko' in the title should have warned me this book would not show MJ favourably at all. It is full of 'well informed sources' who don't wish to be named and who generally have a 'bone to pick' over some issue or other. Early into the book the writer comments on how Michael Jackson in spite of being old enough to have a girlfriend, showed no interest in sex. Porter then proceeds to make negative comments about this. And then he says Michael was 13 at the time. I found this disgusting. He was merely a child. I wondered whether Porter is some kind of sexual deviant.

The book shows no matter what Michael Jackson did, he would be crucified from every angle possible and from many 'players'. He simply couldn't win in the end. He is one of the greatest, if not the greatest entertainer of all time, clearly demonstrated by his phenomenal record breaking sales. Eccentric yes but he was a creative genius. Yet he is put down for not being sophisticated, well read, aware of all the classic movies, who starred in them, that he wasn't politicised, that he wasn't very articulate, on and on it goes - all this when he was in his late teens and early twenties. These skills take time to develop. When was he supposed to have 'clocked up' expertise in all these other areas as well is what I'm curious about. Porter's tone throughout the book is one of mockery and sarcasm rather than objectivity. Considering MJ came from a poor Afro American background where he was severely abused, the guy should be hailed as a miracle rather than put down and demonised as he is in this book. He must've had a phenomenal amount of inner personal strength and spirit to have merely survived as long as he did let alone reach such heights of creativity and success.

Michael Jackson was acquitted of molestation charges. What I am baffled about is why didn't ALL the boys and their parents come up and give evidence against him before, during and even after the hearing or start their own new prosecution against him if he molested them? Virtually every page however, shows Porter's biase towards Michael Jackson being a pederast or gay or both.

I felt incredibly frustrated and angry reading this book. I can honestly say I had one of Michael Jackson's CD's prior to his death but wasn't a passionate fan prior to his death but since his death, I have become rather curious about him. I have purchased a number of books and other reading material. After buying 4 DVD's and another 4 CD's I am now a passionate fan and can't believe what I have missed for all these years. What this book shows is that no matter what he did, he couldn't win. Virtually everyone he came in contact with wanted his money and would try to get it from him in any way possible.

If you're a Michael Jackson fan, don't read it. It is very upsetting. Go for Aphrodite Jones instead. Much better writer. Respectful, clear thinking and has a conscience.