Michael Jackson has reportedly left the Beatles back catalogue to Paul McCartney in his will in a bid to end the bitter feud between the two former collaborators that has rumbled on ever since Jacko beat Macca to buy the rights to 200 Beatles songs back in 1985.
The story goes that it was McCartney who first suggested to Jackson that he use some of his mounting fortune to buy publishing rights to songs because that, the former Beatle reckoned, was the safest investment in music.
What Macca did not expect, however, was that Jacko would follow that advice and promptly counter-bid against McCartney and Yoko Ono when they tried to buy ownership of the Beatles catalogue when it came up for sale in 1985 (the Fab Four having long since lost control of their songs by that point).
Jackson bid higher and won ownership of the catalogue, eventually merging it with Sony's publishing company to create SonyATV. McCartney's been a little bit bitter about it ever since, and was once quoted thus: "You know what doesn't feel very good, is going on tour and paying to sing all my songs. Every time I sing 'Hey Jude', I've got to pay someone". You can see his point, it must be a bit gutting.
McCartney's bitterness towards Jackson was back in the news over Christmas after rumours the BBC had had to cut a bit of an interview they'd done with the former Beatle because when Jacko was mentioned in a question Macca responded in a high-pitched Jackson style voice which the Beeb thought might be considered a bit offensive. Or something like that.
The Daily Mail quoted a source thus: "McCartney started to reply in this high-pitched Jacko voice, and apparently it was very funny. But the BBC - deeply nervous, perhaps because of the Jonathan Ross-Russell Brand affair - has declined to broadcast the interview. They say it's a 'trans-racial impression' - that's what they say in a memo - and even by Macca that is beyond the pale".
It should be noted a BBC spokesman denied the story to Gigwise, but it shows that Jackson/McCartney tensions are still newsworthy.
Which brings us back to Jackson's will. The Daily Mirror reports that Jacko will leave his estate to his three children, but that his stake in the Beatles songs will go to Macca. Another source is quoted, this time saying: "Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right".
It's not clear if Jackson intends to leave McCartney all of his 50% stake in Sony/ATV, or just his half of the Beatles catalogue. Either way McCartney (or his children if he were to die before Jacko) would only actually get Jackson's half of the Lennon/McCartney classics and maybe not even that, given the constant rumours Jacko will at some point be forced to sell some or all of his share of SonyATV to pay off his reportedly substantial debts.
Still, any share of the Beatles publishing rights is not to be sniffed at. And of course, if nothing else, the McCartney family having even a minority interest in those songs would really piss of Yoko, which would be amusing.
Given how other-worldly Jackson looks these days we probably shouldn't be surprised that he, a 50 year old man, is leaving things in his will to McCartney, a 66 year old man. Though I'm sure Jacko's people would like me to point out that, even though rumours of his will are being reported, the singer is not dying, as was also rumoured over Christmas.
Those rumours were along the lines that Jackson had some sort of rare lung disease and was at death's door. Jacko's people quickly issued a statement telling us that those rumours were a "total fabrication", adding: "Mr Jackson is in fine health, and finalising negotiations with a major entertainment company and television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances".