From an interview conducted by Richard Lecocq from MJ Databank: (Translated directly, and badly, from French)
MJJNews.fr: The CD Michael: What was your involvement in these securities? What can you tell people who do recognize the voice of "James Gate" than Michael leads in songs?
Frank Cascio: Ok, my name is Frank Cascio and I have a brother named Eddie Cascio and .... "We Are Two Different People" (referring to the phrase of Michael alongside Janet at the Grammy Awards in 1993, Ed). I have nothing to do with this disc. I have no financial motivation and have nothing to do with it. I know that tomorrow (the interview took place June 5, 2012, Ed) I'll meet fans who want me to throw tomatoes, but I do not have to defend something I do not have to defend, but I can tell you is that it is Michael who sings on this disc. And if you read the credits, you will see that the recording studio is the same as that used for the remixes of Thriller 25. All this is unfortunate because the album could be successful. But because of these stories, it was not the case. I ask you just read between the lines. (...) Do you think Sony and the Estate take the risk of releasing a record without Michael's voice on it? They hired two experts to study the songs and both have confirmed that it was him. The songs were recorded when Michael got back to work. The only thing I am guilty of is having convinced Michael to return to the studio to create music and to dance again. I remotivé and showed him he could be himself and relax. It was a long "process". My brother had to go to London and build a studio to work with Michael there (for This Is It, Ed). That's what I can tell you ... "That's life" (in French, Ed).
MJJNews.fr: Personally what do you think the three songs that have created controversy?
Frank Cascio: I like Keep Your Head Up and it's one of the best songs on the album. I do my best to answer you but it would be to my brother Eddie to do so.
MJJNews.fr: What was the involvement of John McClain in the preparation of this CD?
Frank Cascio: I love John Branca and Michael did well to put it in there Estate because it handles things well. John and Michael may have had their differences over the years. But both have made ​​history, they purchased the entire Beatles catalog. Once a case was complicated surface, called John Michael to take things in hand. As for John McClain, I am reminded of an anecdote: one day he came to see me on the set of You Rock My World, saying: "Frank, you must blacken the skin of Michael and put the dough on the nose ... "And I said:" I do not think it's a good idea, if you want to say, go ahead, I do not tell him. And I suggest you not to do. " And you talk ... I got a call from Karen Faye asking me to come urgently. Michael's was locked in his dressing room and he had all broken after John McClain has finally said what he wanted to tell him. I knocked on the door several times and finally Michael opened. He was sitting on the floor, his hands on his face, crying like a baby. And I felt so bad for him. He said: "What a crazy team. Is what I'm strange to you? I did not tell them how they should be, me ... Let them go to hell, I cancel the shoot today and I canceled everything. " He cried. I could not believe it. How people could afford to say such things. If John really knew Michael would never have done that. (...) John played double game is never of course, I respect it for its place within the Estate. But I am aware of this animosity towards me because of my surname. He played double game could not stand to see me in the entourage of Michael, he took my name and has turned against brother. Eddie must have had six songs on the album, and John wanted to put in too. Again, read between the lines and this is only my opinion ...
MJJNews.fr: In the end, this story has brought controversy in the music of Michael, which was not the case in his lifetime. What do you think?
Frank Cascio: It should not have to be this way. It's sad because it's a good album, a compilation of good music. I learned one thing in life is that it is difficult to make everybody happy. I try to make everyone happy but that is impossible. And in the end it's me who suffers. I know how much Michael loved his fans. All I know is that my book helps preserve the legacy of Michael as Michael would have liked. He has so tried to explain who he was, but he did not know how. He said he wanted to make the world understand who he was. And there was this story with Martin Bashir .... But he tried. And it was stabbed in the back.
Interview by Richard Lecocq for MJJNews.fr / MJ data bank / Photo: Cristiane Montenegro / Saykou Diallo / (C) 2012 MJJNews.fr. All rights reserved.
http://mjdatabank.com/mjjnews/wordpress/2012/06/08/exclusif-frank-cascio-linterview-12/
At least we now have confirmation that Michael did indeed the Thriller 25 vocals in that basement, which just to go prove the point even further as they sound absolutely nothing like the Cascio tracks.
