Katherine Jackson To Seek Control of Son Michael's Estate

Michael Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson is expected to seek control of her late son's estate today in court. Last week, Katherine filed a petition against the co-executors named in Michael's 2002 will for intentionally "keeping her in the dark" when it came to matters like the financial terms of Michael's AEG Live contract and other dealings, CNN reports. According to Jackson family lawyer Londell McMillan, executors John Branca and John McClain will be questioned under oath to determine if they are "fit and able" to administer the Jackson estate. Branca and McClain have had temporary control of the estate since Michael's 2002 will was filed.

While the co-executors of Jackson's estate estimate its value at $500 million, McMillan believes Jackson's estate is worth $2 billion. McMillan also questions the "suspicious circle of relationships" between the singer and Branca, Jackson's attorney, and McClain, a music executive and Jackson's longtime friend. According to CNN, Branca has refused Katherine access to Michael's contracts with AEG Live unless she promises to keep the terms of the deal confidential, as there is a provision demanding confidentiality in the AEG deal. Katherine's lawyers have also issued a 19-page demand for documents from McClain and Branca.

Under the terms of Jackson's 2002 will, Barry Siegel was also named as an executor, but he resigned from the executor board in 2003. When Jackson's will was filed, the court asked for the two executors to keep Katherine in the loop, but the Jackson family feels that hasn't been the case. As Rock Daily wrote last week, today's court date will also feature Katherine officially being named permanent guardian for Jackson's three children after the Jackson family reached an agreement with Jackson's former wife and mother of Jackson's two oldest children, Debbie Rowe.

Related Stories:
• Court Gives Control of Michael Jackson's Assets to Co-Executors
• Michael Jackson's Will Filed, Names Diana Ross as Guardian
• Katherine Jackson to Keep Custody of Michael's Children

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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