Frank Cascio met Michael Jackson in 1984, when the King of Pop was at the peak of his career. For the next 25 years Cascio and his family traveled the world with the superstar. When he was 18, Cascio became Jackson's assistant and then went on to manage the star.
In the new book "My Friend Michael," Cascio writes honestly and candidly of his long relationship with Jackson, including sticking by him during some dark periods like Jackson's child molestation charges and prescription drug use. It's a fascinating glimpse into Jackson's world and what emerges is a new, unexplored side to the entertainer -- a surprisingly sweet and normal version of the controversial star.
How did you meet Michael?
When I was four years old, my father was the general manager of the Helmsley Palace in New York and Michael became very friendly with my father. After they established a relationship, Michael wanted to meet the rest of the family, so one day my father took me to work to meet him. I had no idea who he was.
Your family became very close with Michael. You and your brother went on tour with him and your family celebrated holidays with him. How did your personal relationship with him grow?
We established a real friendship. We became a big family; Michael was a part of our family. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday -- we made a point to celebrate together. It became tradition for all of us.
You went to work for him when you were 18 and you write that you witnessed some of his problems with pills.
There were times. When I first started working with him, in Munich, he fell 50 feet [when] there was a mishap during a concert. That took a tremendous toll on his back. When you're in pain, doctors give you medication. There were times when I was a bit concerned. I definitely witnessed some of it but it wasn't a constant pattern -- I want to make that clear. It was based on what was going on in his life, his schedules, but yes, there were times when I was concerned.
His family tried to stage an intervention.
Yes, there was a time when his family wanted to speak with him. Michael just didn't want to have any conversations about it.
How did the first molestation charges against Michael affect him?
That really, really hurt him because he was falsely accused of something he did not do. It really comes down to [Jordy Chandler's] family's manipulation and the father's jealousy. It was really sad. The whole world got a false impression of Michael. Something that was so beautiful -- Michael's innocence and affection for children -- got completely turned around. He was so passionate about helping kids and it was turned around and used against him.
You and your brother slept in his room hundreds of times.
There was nothing sexual about it at all.
But now as an adult, do you realize it wasn't normal behavior?
From the outside looking in, I completely understand how people might think that's strange or weird or inappropriate. I can absolutely see that side of it, but it was a different situation. Michael was a different person. You can't compare Michael to anyone else in this world because he sincerely was a child at heart. He was truly a special individual. But I can tell you there was never anything inappropriate. He had no sexual attraction to children. Children were his inspiration.
You write that he once had a fling with a fan.
He was very flirtatious with fans. I remember once seeing him in the back of a car kissing a fan.
Even though you two were extraordinarily close, you also had a falling out with him. What happened?
It was due to a lack of communication during the second [molestation] trial. Michael was told false information that I did not wish to testify on his behalf -- which really hurt him -- and that was never ever the case. I was more than willing to testify on Michael's behalf. I was an unindicted co-conspirator, so we were legally not allowed to be in constant communication. There was a lot of jealousy on behalf of the people who were working with him at the time. They didn't want me back and they tried everything in their power to make sure I did not get back and start working with Michael again. It really hurt because I would do anything for Michael.
You say that at the end of his life, he acknowledged his perilous financial situation.
He acknowledged to me that things had to change and we were in the process of putting an incredible machine in place with great people to turn everything around. At one point he had some bad advisors advising him. I'm very happy that John Branca is one of the trustees [of Jackson's trust] because, through their ups and downs, he was always great to Michael. He always did the right thing by Michael.
Did it break your heart hearing the recordings of Michael that Dr. Conrad Murray made?
The fact that this man would even record him in that [medicated] state... It's just wrong. You just don't do that. You don't take advantage of someone when they're in that state of mind. It's so sad because if you listen to what he's saying, he's truly concerned about children. He's talking about building a children's hospital. It was so dear to his heart.
One of the things that comes most through the book is how much he loved being a father.
He was the greatest father in the world. I don't think I've ever seen somebody prepare for fatherhood like he did. He was a surrogate father to myself and my brothers and sisters. The amount of books that he read on parenting... He wanted to be the greatest father in the world and he achieved that. I can't properly explain how amazing a father he was. He loved his children more than life itself.
