1994 ~ 1995
Michael Jackson | The Jamma V1
Meeting Michael and other legends was awesome! But then…
I mean really, you couldn't make this shit up!
After what had happened before, in 1994 I was on about 10% energy and drive, and was clinically depressed.
My suicidal thoughts arrived a bit later, but I had definitely lost the will to live. I was utterly broken but I didn't realise it.
And that, dear reader, is very, very dangerous. And also utterly horrible, and completely destructive for those who you share your life with. That’s something I have to live with.
I know now, looking back, that was the reason The Jamma (V1) didn't go anywhere, which is uncomfortable for me, but true.
Meeting Michael Jackson And Other Legends
Meeting Michael Jackson was extraordinary for reasons you probably won't expect.
The bitter irony is that I met his brother Jermaine Jackson, many years before and he had asked me to "name your price" (for The Jamma) all those years ago. He said "my brother will love this" I so wish I did!
Read the full story in the Jamma Legends page. And meeting other legends like the late, great, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales and many more in New York was a wonderful ‘musician-meets-musician’ experience. No bullshit, no fan shit, no egos, just real connections.
The Jamma Legends page is where you can read all of my stories about meeting these - on the whole, really nice people.
The Jamma V1 Launch (ish)
So, in 1994, with business minded colleagues, I launched The Jamma (V1) EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) - a way for investors to invest with tax beneficial incentives. There were articles in The Times and loads of other newspapers. The EIS was looking really good, and even in my deep, deep, depression (see Before) I was just a tiny bit excited.
There was a glimmer of hope maybe..?
Then, just as we were about to reach our minimum investment of £230K, the government, bless them, lowered the ‘tax benefit’ allowance.
And boom. It was over. Just like that.
Again.