By now were sure many in our readership have heard about the interview with Quincy Jones in which the living legend spills the beans on just about anything hes asked, with a few strategic exceptions, of course. Published by GQ, the interview with Jones is culled from two conversations had between he and writer David Marchese.
The 85-year-old musical genius, once known to be coy when asked questions about other celebrities and friends, just let it all out for the world to see. You ain’t heard? Read on!
Here are a few choice excerpts from that interview.
About Michael Jackson:
I hate to get into this publicly, but Michael stole a lot of stuff. He stole a lot of songs. [Donna Summers] State of Independence.” Originally written by Vangelis and longtime Yes front man Jon Anderson, State of Independence was recorded by Donna Summer in 1982. Michael Jackson helped out on backing vocals, and the songs central riff does sound awfully similar (albeit faster) to the iconic bass riff on Jacksons hit single Billie Jean. The notes dont lie, man. He was as Machiavellian as they come.
Greedy, man. Greedy. Dont Stop Til You Get Enough Greg Phillinganes wrote the c section. Michael shouldve given him 10 percent of the song. Wouldnt do it.
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Continuing on Michael:
I used to kill him about the plastic surgery, man. Hed always justify it and say it was because of some disease he had. Bullshit.
How much were his problems wrapped up with fame?
You mean with the way he looked? He had a problem with his looks because his father told him he was ugly and abused him Jackson described being abused by his father Joe in a 1993 interview with Oprah, as well as in a 2003 interview with Martin Bashir. It was really bad, he recalled during the latter.. What do you expect?
About the Beatles
That they were the worst musicians in the world. They were no-playing motherfuckers. Paul was the worst bass player I ever heard. And Ringo? Dont even talk about it. I remember once we were in the studio with George Martin, and Ringo.
The song, and album, are more than a bit gloopy. had taken three hours for a four-bar thing he was trying to fix on a song. He couldnt get it. We said, Mate, why dont you get some lager and lime, some shepherds pie, and take an hour-and-a-half and relax a little bit.
So he did, and we called Ronnie Verrell, a jazz drummer. Ronnie came in for 15 minutes and tore it up. Ringo comes back and says, George, can you play it back for me one more time? So George did, and Ringo says, That didnt sound so bad. And I said, Yeah, motherfucker because it aint you. Great guy, though.
On racism in Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Its still fucked up. 1964, when I was in Vegas, there were places I wasnt supposed to go because I was black, but Frank [Sinatra] fixed that for me. It takes individual efforts like that to change things. It takes white people to say to other white people, Do you really want to live as a racist? Is that really what you believe? But every place is different. When I go to Dublin, Bono makes me stay at his castle because Ireland is so racist. Bonos my brother, man. He named his son after me.
About contemporary music:
The mentality of the people making the music. Producers now are ignoring all the musical principles of the previous generations. Its a joke. Thats not the way it works: Youre supposed to use everything from the past. If you know where you come from, its easier to get where youre going. You need to understand music to touch people and become the soundtrack to their lives. Can I tell you one of the greatest moments in my life?
Well, whos doing good work?
Bruno Mars. Chance the Rapper. Kendrick Lamar. I like where Kendricks mind is. Hes grounded. Chance, too. And the Ed Sheeran record is great. Sam Smith hes so open about being gay. I love it. Mark Ronson is someone who knows how to produce.
Well, whos doing good work?
Bruno Mars. Chance the Rapper. Kendrick Lamar. I like where Kendricks mind is. Hes grounded. Chance, too. And the Ed Sheeran record is great. Sam Smith hes so open about being gay. I love it. Mark Ronson is someone who knows how to produce.
On Marlon Brando:
He could dance his ass off. He was the most charming motherfucker you ever met. Hed fuck anything. Anything! Hed fuck a mailbox. James Baldwin. Richard Pryor. Marvin Gaye.