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Michael Jackson guitarist hits right notes

Friday, 5 February 2010

Michael Jackson may have spent much of his private life in an oxygen tank, but musically he didn’t live in a bubble. The King of Pop had many skilled collaborators, one such being shock-haired guitar slinger Jennifer Batten.

Now 52, Batten came to Belfast’s Black Box last night to perform an intense one-woman multimedia show. It was Batten, her guitar, a video screen, a bass-and-drums backing track and a bewildering array of effects pedals.

Between songs, the amiable musician told random stories and discussed her art with wit and charisma.

The mostly instrumental performance was lapped up by Belfast’s muso fraternity, but there was also much to enjoy for more mainstream fans.

Batten augmented the riffs and solos with film clips, many of which she had compiled herself, and there was even a 12-minute tribute to her former employer.

Andrew Johnston

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Re: the Pigger. Whilst your claims echo what is generally common pop-culture myth, it is not entirely false. The backing band on the greatest hits tour were provided with oxygen masks while in the backstage while only the man himself was treated to the luxury of a gigantic oxygen chamber. I hope this is of some help.

Posted by Mr. Scrivens | 11.02.10, 13:39 GMT

Re: The Mugshots post. I also heard that for some stages of the Greatest Hits tour, attempts were made to seal the entire backing band in an enormous oxygen chamber, not unlike Mr. Jackson's.

Posted by The Pigger | 09.02.10, 19:41 GMT

Mr. Johnston, as MJ's old mucker in the good old days I can confirm that he did indeed love oxygen chambers. To the point that almost all of the secondary vocals on 'Man In The Mirror' were recorded in one. Other friends will recall the 'Heal The World' release party, held entirely inside an oxygen tank.

Posted by The Mugshots | 08.02.10, 16:23 GMT

I agree. poor journalism .... Newspapers are a joke these days.

Posted by bill | 07.02.10, 18:12 GMT

Ms Batten is indeed a skilled musician, but once again this story is let down by the author being unable to resist a ridiculous comment at the late Mr Jackson's expenses. As you should know by now, if you have read the other comments, Michael spent only a few minutes in an oxygen chamber just to see what it was like. Please Mr Johnston, do yourself a favour and get your facts straight before you write any more articles!

Posted by Magsy | 05.02.10, 17:23 GMT

why does the story start so offensively? MJ spent his life in an oxygen tank???? cmon..he was a gifted, talented musician whose life was ruined by news artcles like this.
Shame on the Belfast Telegraph for such irresponsible journalism.

Posted by costech | 05.02.10, 10:53 GMT

Hi good article, but I think you ought to know that Michael Jackson only really spent 5 minutes in an oxygen chamber, whilst testing the equipment during a visit to a burns centre which he paid for, after experiencing burns himself. Some journalist took a pic while he was in it, and here you go, a myth has been born. I thought you being a journalist would know this! Well now you do eh?@

Posted by John | 05.02.10, 08:51 GMT

The person who wrote this article is apparently from another planet! No way did Michael Jackson "spend most of his private life in an oxygen tank." He was quite healthy and certainly would not otherwise have planned a 50-concert series, nor could he have passed the medical exams required by the insurers before even planning the concerts.

The "Telegraph's" report isn't worth reading.

Posted by saralee | 05.02.10, 08:06 GMT