Michael Jackson Sets His Site

In an effort to stem the tide of what he terms as "inaccurate" reports based on "hearsay" about his pending legal case in California, Michael Jackson has launched the site mjjsource.com, which the singer intends to be the official source for news about his child molestation case.

"I have become disturbed and troubled as a result of people speaking on my behalf whom I do not know," writes Jackson in his opening letter. "I have listened with amazement to people who have misrepresented their relationships with me. I will use this site as one of the mediums for speaking out on my own behalf."

Themed "A New Beginning," the site debuted today and features a calendar of upcoming court dates, profiles of Jackson's attorneys and spokesmen, a run-down of the singer's all-time sales figures, and will soon include a photo gallery, store and a subscription section with exclusive content.

Typical of the articles on the site is a story titled "Jackson Dream Team Busily Preparing for April 2nd Court Date," which features a recap of the charges against Jackson, a summary of past court appearances and an explanation of the strategy employed by Jackson's legal team to date.

Also included is a press release debunking a recent rumor that Jackson had checked into a rehab facility in Aspen, Colorado, and the singer's version of a recent incident at a Colorado Wal-Mart, where Jackson refused to remove a ski mask in the store and was asked to leave.

"I am appalled," says Jackson. "Let me state for the record, that I have not checked myself into any rehabilitation center in Aspen, Colorado; I am here for a few days with my children. I am outraged by these constant rumors. My team and I are going to use our best efforts to find out who these people are, who are continually trying to bring me grief and shame, and we are going to stop it."

The next step of the case, as marked in the site's calendar section, is the April 2nd hearing to set a date for the preliminary hearing.

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Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

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