Jennifer Batten - A Guitar for Michael

The guitarist who for years accompanied the King of Pop is still touring the world, between guitar clinics, advanced training schools, teaching programs and explosive shows in the most exclusive hard-rock clubs. Batten is a formidable musician, a true force of nature. A reliable session player and right-hand woman to Michael Jackson onstage during his biggest tours. Unforgettable is her performance on January 31, 1993 at the Super Bowl, alongside Jackson. A show that went down in history, watched live on TV by hundreds of millions of viewers, with the New York musician driving the crowd wild solo after solo. The hard-rock guitarist opens up, dwelling on some previously unreleased details, and finally offers her point of view on Jackson's legal case, sadly back in the spotlight in Hollywood and around the world following the release of the controversial documentary "Leaving Neverland".

You've given clinics at music schools all over the world. What's the state of health of the guitar as an instrument? Is there still the same interest among young people, or do you sense some kind of change?

I've heard from people I know in the sales business that sales have gone down, but I've seen an exceptional turnout at the School of Rock, not to mention that more than half the students are women. A lot of kids are more interested in computer programs than in learning an instrument, and the attention span of younger minds has been badly shortened because of smartphones and social media. Still, I keep doing clinics all over the world. I've just come back from 3 days in Brighton, UK, at Bimm. Their schools are expanding rapidly, so interest is definitely still alive.

You've often blended ethnic instruments with the sound of the guitar. With the advent of the internet, music from far-off countries is just a click away and everyone can listen to it easily. And yet, cross-pollination seems to be increasingly looked down upon, especially on a political and human level. Do you think music can serve as an example for a better approach in this sense?

I think musicians in general see the world as one human race, without paying attention to borders or any kind of division. We welcome inspiration from every corner of the world. The most exciting music is music that breaks the rules and contains elements that didn't exist before, so it only makes sense to embrace what I'd dare call "world" music. I was fascinated by African drumming, for instance, watching Tarzan movies as a young girl. Peter Gabriel is doing great things recording musicians from every part of the world on his Real World label. That has really helped bring exotic music to the so-called masses. Van Halen also loved using ethnic and exotic samples in their melodies. From my point of view, this kind of influence can only grow in the future. The people who look down on this growth are record companies chasing hits, who don't want to take any risks. It's a fight between money and pure creativity.

How did the song "Battle Zone" come about? What's your main "battlefield" today?

I was flown out to Jim Peterik's studio in Chicago. He wrote "Eye Of The Tiger" when he was in Survivor. We sat down together and he asked me to play a groove, and the song came out in just 20 minutes, between my guitar and his piano. Jim had a little recorder and sang the melody, which had nothing to do with the lyrics. The lyrics in the chorus were started by Jim and later finished by Marc Scherer. I believe the battlefield in that song refers to the struggle and hardships people often face just trying to survive. It can also be interpreted with a focus on the horrendous treatment of minorities in America. A lot of Black people have been killed by police with no consequences. Sometimes the police are justified, but often they're not, and so they abuse their power. Schools in America have also become a battle zone, with frequent episodes of mentally distressed kids mowing down their classmates with automatic weapons. I think all these thoughts came together in that song.

You've played with Michael Jackson and Jeff Beck. What did you learn from them?

The most important things I learned from Michael are the value of doing a ton of rehearsals to make the show super polished, and also the value of the so-called "entertainment factors" put together to amaze the audience. That's exactly why I now have a show with cinematic touches. I want people to be immersed in the experience, with visuals built on top of the music.

These days a very questionable documentary about Jackson is making the rounds. Do you agree with me that some people should let him rest in peace? What did you feel reading about all this again, despite the verdict that clears him of every accusation? Will this speculation ever end?

It's disheartening to see how people lie for money. As long as certain people hold out hope of getting some money beyond their own estate, they'll always try to come out of the woodwork and try every possible avenue to get rich. There are so many holes in these guys' story. Maybe they'll land a career in film, since they're such good actors. The director boasts that the guys weren't paid to appear in the documentary, but he neglects to mention that the film is really just a big promotion for the lawsuit in which they're seeking $1.5 billion. It would be the winning lottery ticket if they managed to convince some jury. Plenty of people lie for a lot less money than what they're asking for. They're making money off this kind of film to feed greedy Hollywood. A product perceived as a substitute for judge and jury. These things shouldn't be decided outside a courtroom. Public opinion is being shaped through directing techniques and dramatic music rather than truth and facts. The film is one-sided and only takes the side of the accusers. Still, I believe in a justice system capable of protecting the innocent from accusations like these. One of Michael's nephews, Taj, is trying to make a film that can also show what the defense argues. If it's good and gets the same level of marketing and promotion, everyone who now thinks Michael is guilty will change their mind.

In your endless touring around the world, you also play with John Macaluso, who has clear Italian roots. So, what do you like most about our country?

Yes, I started playing with John several years ago, just as I did with British bassist Simon Fitzpatrick. The band is really fun and top-notch. As for your country, I love the high-quality coffee and the seaside towns.

Is there any Italian musician you particularly like?

Sure: guitarist Alex De Rosso. He's terrific.

Extended interview from an excerpt featured in an article in Corriere del Mezzogiorno on 04/10/2019

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