Michael Jackson has given a rare interview with the African-American magazine 'Ebony'.
The yet-to-be published issue (it hits newsstands on Monday) is already courting controversy, with Jackson gracing the cover dressed in an all-white suit. "Michael Jackson has to be the whitest person to ever be on the cover of Ebony magazine," saida blogger on dotspotter.com.
Critics have also noted that the article fails to adequately address Jackson's infamous 2005 child molestation trial and acquittal.
Still, Jackson does offer his views on a variety of subjects. Discussing his reputation as a walking freakshow, the 49-year-old says, "I don't pay attention to that. In my opinion, it's ignorance. It's usually not based on fact. ... Every neighbourhood has the guy who you don't see, so you gossip about him. You see those stories about him, there's the myth that he did this or he did that. People are crazy!"
Discussing his musical evolution, Jackson explained that he has studied composition from an early age, and that Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite' has influenced him the most.
Twenty-five years on from the release of 'Thriller', he says, "That Michael is probably the same Michael here. I just wanted to get certain things accomplished first.
But I always had this tug in the back of my head, the things I wanted to do, to raise children, have children. I'm enjoying it very much."
And on today's music, he explained, "I don't think people are being as experimental and innovative enough. I know people can easily say, 'Well, we don't have the Michael Jackson budget.' Wrong, you can be so creative with almost nothing. And that's usually the best stuff, when you strip it down to the bare minimum and go inside yourself and invent.
"I always want to do music that influences and inspires each generation," he continued. "Let's face it, who wants mortality? You want what you create to live, and I give my all in my work because I want it to live."
Jackson is reportedly working with Kanye West, will.i.am and Akon on both new material and on remixes celebrating the 25th anniversary of 'Thriller'.
