永不會忘記與Michael Jackson在一起的百事官員夜晚
July 5, 2009
1986年，Clay G. Small是百事公司的副總裁和軟飲料部門顧問。他當時36歲，已任職2年，他也是Michael Jackson的大粉絲。4
Small在1995年-2002年擔任Frito-Lay公司的總顧問，目前59歲，擔任百事公司法律事務高級副總裁。他現在住在達拉斯。
上周傑克遜突然去世後，Small決定現在是合適的時機，寫下1986年他與Michael那晚的細節。他說他寫這個故事是因為“這一經歷是那麼奇特，與猩猩坐在一道看電視是奇特的
Michael和我 1986年，百事可樂公司年輕而有魅力的總裁，Roger Enrico把我叫到他的辦公室，總結了他剛與Jay Coleman通過的電話，後者是搖滾歌星的天才經紀人。
"你不會相信的，但Michael Jackson想和我們作另一個交易"他說。
1984年，發行Thriller之後，百事贊助了傑克遜兄弟的重組巡演。勝利巡演對傑克遜兄弟和百事公司來說是巨大的成功。但百事廣告拍攝過程中一起不幸的事件，使得這場成功不算什麼了。下落的煙火嚴重燒傷了Michael的頭皮。這個廣告，這個事故，更重要的是Michael的名氣，使Roger，一個把握著流行文化脈搏的精力充沛的管理者，成為了媒體的焦點。
不幸的是，燒傷事故使兩方產生了隔閡，尤其是在Michael發給我們一份投訴狀的草稿後，他想在洛杉磯高級法庭起訴我們。為避免進一步的負面公眾效應，我們給Mount Sinai醫院的邁克爾傑克遜燒傷中心支付了150萬美元。
Michael正計畫用新的巡演來支援Bad的發行，需要錢，這不奇怪。Roger的想法很簡單，我們飛到洛杉磯拜會Michael，第二天返回。
在百事飛機上，Michael的經紀人和律師加入我們。
這兩人只呆在洛杉磯。Frank Dileo曾是Epic唱片Thriller的推廣人員，是Michael的新經紀人。圓圓胖胖的，總是叼著根雪茄，Dileo使自己看起來象《黑道家族》中的角色。
John Branca, 是Michael長期的、長髮的律師。他有一個著名的叔叔， Ralph Branca是Brooklyn Dodgers的投手，他曾投出一個快球，以至於Bobby Thomson擊到了護欄外。這一投球的事傳遍了世界。
Roger 談到了要點 – "多少錢?" DiLeo回答巡演贊助1千萬美元 (是勝利巡演的2倍)，沒有討價還價的餘地，如果百事遲疑，可口可樂願意接手。飛行航程中都在談判百事的贊助權。
在描述傑克遜家族的屋子之前，回顧一下年代是有幫助的。1986年在Thriller之後，Neverland之前。Michael是世界上最有名的人之一，只作了一次鼻子手術，皮膚剛開始變白。他是一個可愛的奇妙體。
母親和木乃伊
屋子周圍有圍牆，法式城堡風格的房子，楔入周圍的中產社區，當然，有一個巨大的鑄鐵大門和警衛室。John Branca帶我們進入房子，指引我們到達起居室。我們路過的廚房中，Michael的母親，Katherine, 正在煎胡瓜魚-可惜，胡瓜魚不在我們的功能表上。
簡單地穿著漿過的白襯衫和牛仔褲, Michael平靜地歡迎我們，將我們領入餐廳。 我的第一印象是他的皮膚與我見過的任何人都不一樣，是半透明的。他當時20幾歲，沒刮鬍子。他的頭髮，他自身的頭髮是長的，閃亮著，完美的捲髮。他坐下來，向Roger點頭，Dileo描述巡演計畫時他什麼也不說。他的第一句話是問準備好吃飯了嗎？--於是一個木乃伊出現了。
從頭到腳纏著紗布的、一個沉默的年輕婦女在桌上放了小茶杯，一個大茶壺，她給我們倒優酪乳茶。Michael解釋道，輕聲說，這是他最喜歡的晚餐之一—優酪乳茶和無糖的甜餅。我真渴望胡瓜魚。
“晚餐”之後，談話回到了巡演計畫，Michael開始熱身了，描繪著他的全球巡演計畫，他說這次他將讓全世界都燃燒，然後說“噢”，一邊摸著他燒傷的頭頂。我大笑起來，直至我收到Roger酸澀的一瞥，意識到別人根本沒在笑。但Michael給予我一個神秘的眨眼。——只有我欣賞他的無厘頭笑話。當談話慢下來，Michael問我們是否想到他的房間看電視。
穿工裝褲的泡泡
別忘了，這是在1986年，某些事件使得Michael成為前所未有的吸引狗仔隊的磁石。
但他的房間很不尋常，偌大的房間裏有18個各種顏色的人體模型，包括紫色和綠色，各種不同的著裝狀態。我懷疑Michael和這些“朋友”說話和玩耍。房間的中央有一個從天花板到地板的籠子，住著泡泡，Michael三歲的猩猩。
穿著尿布和Oshkosh工裝褲，泡泡加入聚會，除了長著長毛，泡泡看起來就象一個正常的3歲小孩。DiLeo和Branca已經告退，於是 Michael, Roger,泡泡,我 和Jay Coleman坐在沙發上，坐了1個半小時，安靜地看約翰韋恩的西部片。Roger 問Michael是否對World Series（世界職業棒球賽）感興趣,Michae回答, "什麼是World Series?"
Michael問我們是否想參觀房子。泡泡回到籠子，其餘的人開始參觀，第一個參觀的是Michael臥室旁的一個房間 – Diana Ross的聖殿。
房間有一個凸面的天花板和白磚牆，看起來象葡萄酒窖。房間的每一寸都覆蓋著Diana Ross早年在Supremes組合時的照片。架子上、桌子上和地板上是成百的蠟燭，Michael使其一天24小時、一周無休地點燃，以“向他的朋友致敬”。我們無語了。.
下一個房間是他的練舞室，帶有精巧的聲音系統。有發亮的地板和芭蕾舞扶杆，看起來就象其他的練舞室，只除了一點—沒有鏡子。我問了Michael鏡子的問題，他回答說不喜歡看自己跳舞。
真正的動物園
在樓梯的後下方，我們進入了車庫，這裏有著我從未見過的最清潔的地板。12輛車，你能想像的豪華車型，從法拉利到梅賽德斯，全是白色的敞篷車。我問Michael他最愛開哪輛，他咯咯地笑了，低聲說“只有那輛”，指向遠處角落裏的（譯者注：就是大眾高爾夫，並不是豪華車型）。
進入影院之前，我們停下來看10英尺長的糖果櫃，裏面堆滿各種你能想到的各種糖果。Michael Jackson的卡片展示著，我問他是否可以拿一些給我的孩子，Michael雙手握著放在頭後，說“可以，請拿著，就是派這個用場的。”影院有著紅色天鵝絨覆蓋的椅子和全尺寸的電影螢幕，是鄰近影院完美的複製品。
在出影院到動物園的路上，DiLeo加入我們。動物園裏全是溫和的動物，除了一隻。當我們走近羊駝時，Michael輕聲說我們不應靠得太近。忽略Michael的建議，DiLeo搖晃著走近一隻，馬上就被吐口水和被咬了。我們都笑了。
幾天後，Branca和我將合同發給客戶。我未再與Michael交談。但2周後，他給我每個孩子都送了簽名照，送給我他在麥迪森廣場花園演出的門票。
Pepsi official will never forget his evening with Michael Jackson
A Pepsi offical's evening With Michael Jackson
In 1986, Clay G. Small was vice president and division counsel for Pepsi Cola Co., the beverage division of PepsiCo. He was 36 and had been in the job about two years. He was also a big Michael Jackson fan.
Michael Jackson's menagerie included his chimp, Bubbles, and a bulldog. He also had zebras, giraffes and a touchy llama in his home zoo in Encino , Calif.
He worked as general counsel for Frito-Lay Inc. from 1995 to 2002. Now 59 and the senior vice president of legal affairs for PepsiCo, Small lives in Dallas .
After Jackson 's sudden death last week, Small decided it was right moment to put into writing details of the night he spent with Michael in 1986. He says he wrote the story because "the experience was so unique. Sitting and watching TV with a chimpanzee was unique."
Michael and Me
In 1986, Pepsi-Cola's young and charismatic president, Roger Enrico, called me to his office and summarized the telephone call he had just finished with Jay Coleman, a talent agent for rock stars.
"You're not going to believe this, but Michael wants to do another deal with us," he said.
In 1984, after the release of Thriller, Pepsi had sponsored Jackson 's reunion tour. The Victory Tour was an enormous success for the Jacksons and Pepsi. But the success was muted by an unfortunate incident during the filming of a Pepsi ad. Wayward pyrotechnics badly burned Michael's scalp. The commercial, and the incident, added to Michael's fame but, more important, made Roger a media darling – a hard-charging executive with his finger on the pulse of pop culture.
Unfortunately, the burning incident had also created distance between the parties, especially after Michael sent us a draft of the complaint he intended to file in Los Angeles Superior Court. To avoid further adverse publicity, we agreed to pay $1.5 million to the Michael Jackson Burn Center at Mount Sinai Hospital .
Michael was planning a new tour to support the release of Bad and needed cash, which was no surprise. Roger's idea was simple: We'd fly to L.A. to meet with Michael and leave the next day.
On the Pepsi jet, we were joined by Michael's agent and attorney.
These two could only exist in L.A. Frank DiLeo had been the promo man at Epic Records for Thriller and was Michael's new agent. Round-shaped, with a cigar prop at all times, DiLeo carried himself like a bit player in The Sopranos .
John Branca, Michael's longtime, long-haired attorney, was DiLeo's laid-back foil. Branca has a famous uncle: Ralph Branca, the Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who threw the fastball that Bobby Thomson hit over the fence – "the shot heard around the world."
Roger got to the point – "how much?" DiLeo answered that $10 million for the tour sponsorship (double the price of the Victory Tour) was non-negotiable and that Coke was ready to pick it up if Pepsi hesitated. The flight was spent negotiating Pepsi's tour sponsorship rights.
When we landed, stretch limos took us to the Jackson family compound in Encino.
Before describing the Jackson family house, a little chronological perspective is helpful. 1986 was post Thriller but pre-Neverland. Michael was one of the most famous people in the world, had undergone only one nose surgery, and was just beginning to pale. He was a lovable oddity.
Mom and the mummy
The family's fenced, French chateau-style compound was wedged into a middle-class neighborhood and, of course, had an enormous wrought-iron gate and guard house. John Branca let us into the house and guided us to the living room. We passed the kitchen where Michael's mother, Katherine, was frying smelt – unfortunately, smelt was not on our menu.
Plainly dressed in a starched white shirt and jeans, Michael quietly greeted us and led us to the dining room. My first impression was that his skin was like none I had ever seen. It was translucent. He was in his 20s but still didn't shave. His hair, at this time his own, was long, sparkling and perfectly coifed. He sat down, nodded to Roger, and said nothing while DiLeo described the tour plans. His first words were to ask if we were ready for dinner – then the mummy appeared.
Wrapped from head to toe in gauze, a silent young woman carried to the table small tea cups and a large urn through which she poured us yogurt tea. Michael explained, in his whisper voice, that dinner would be one of his favorites – yogurt tea and cookies made without sugar. I yearned for a smelt or two.
After "dinner," the talk returned to tour plans, and Michael began to warm up. While describing his plans to tour the globe, Michael said that this time he would "set the world on fire" and then said "oops" as he touched the top of his singed head. I laughed out loud until I fielded a sour glance from Roger and realized no one else was even smiling. But Michael gave me a secret wink – I was the only suit who had appreciated his irreverent joke. As the conversation slowed, Michael asked if we would like to go to his room and watch TV.
Bubbles in overalls
Remember, this was 1986, and some of the events that made Michael a paparazzi magnet had not yet occurred.
But his bedroom was far from normal. Throughout the enormous room were 18 mannequins of multiple colors, including purple and green, in various states of undress. I suspect that Michael spoke to and played with these "friends." In the middle of the room was a floor-to-ceiling cage housing Bubbles, Michael's 3-year-old chimp.
Dressed in a diaper and Oshkosh bib overalls, Bubbles joined the party looking and acting like a normal 3-year-old, except awfully hairy. DiLeo and Branca had begged off, so sitting on the couch were Michael, Roger, Bubbles, me and Jay Coleman. And there we sat for an hour and a half, silently watching a John Wayne Western. Roger asked Michael if he was interested in the World Series, and Michael responded, "What's the World Series?"
Michael asked if we would like a tour of the house. Bubbles went back in his cage while the rest of us began the tour with the room next to Michael's bedroom – the Diana Ross shrine.
With a convex ceiling and white brick walls, the room looked like a wine cellar. Every square inch was covered with photos of Diana Ross from her earliest years with the Supremes. On shelves, tables and the floor were hundred of candles that Michael kept burning 24/7 to "honor his friend." We were speechless.
The next room was his dance studio with an elaborate sound system. With shiny floors and ballerina bars, it looked like any other dance studio with one exception – there were no mirrors. I asked Michael about the lack of mirrors and he responded that he did not like to watch himself dance.
A real zoo
Down the back staircase we entered the garage with the cleanest floor I have ever seen. The 12 cars were of every imaginable luxury model, from Ferrari to Mercedes, and they were all white convertibles. I asked Michael which one he liked to drive. He giggled and whispered "only that one," pointing to a VW Rabbit in the far corner.
Before entering the theater, we stopped to examine his 10-foot candy counter stocked with every type of candy known to man. On display were Michael Jackson trading cards, and I asked if I could take some to my kids. Michael grasped his hands together beside his face and said, "Yes, please do, that's exactly what they're there for." With its red plush velvet chairs and full-size movie screen, the theater was a perfect replica of a neighborhood cinema.
On the way out of the theater, we were joined by DiLeo on the way to the zoo. With zebras and giraffes, the zoo was filled with gentle animals. Except one. As we walked toward the llamas, Michael whispered that we should not get too close. Ignoring Michael's advice, DiLeo waddled right up to one and was promptly spat on and then bitten. No one even tried to stifle their laughter
We said our goodbyes and promised to meet again the next morning. Roger steered us to the hotel for his Sambuca, espresso and cigarettes. At around 1 a .m. he announced he was leaving for New York in the morning and directed me to stay in L.A. until the contract was signed.
A few days later, Branca and I sent the contracts to our clients. I never spoke with Michael again, but two weeks later, he sent each of my children an autographed photo and sent me tickets for his show in Madison Square Garden .
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