>> he looks back and said he was abused. they call it abuse. sometimes if it wasn't for the strap, what would the world be like today? >> did you ever hope he would find true love? >> i always thought about that, but michael seemed happy. he found a lot of joy in his children. >> and the talent michael hid from the world. >> he loved art a lot. he loved paintings. he loved water colors. he loved even crayons. >> and his explosive theory about conrad murray. >> he did a terrible thing. there might have been others involved. i don't know that but i feel that. >> an extraordinary hour. the piers morgan interview starts now. tonight an extraordinary look at michael jackson's private life through his artwork. the pictures are new revelations about the iconic singer. much kept in an airport hangar in los angeles. some of it is in the studio with me. joining me now is his mother katherine jackson and his mentor livings ton. welcome to you both. >> thank you. >> most of this has never been seen. i love this picture, which is -- how old is he there, michael? >> he's about nine or ten there. >> and he's clutching his own work of art. >> yes. >> i don't know what's more impressive the art or the hat he's wearing. very stylish. clearly from an early age he loved art. tell me about that side of michael. >> michael loved art a lot. he loved paintings, he loved water colors. he loved even the crayons. he would always draw. and when he was even in school, he would draw pictures and they took one of his drawings and put it on the front of the yearbook. >> was he self-taught? did he teach himself? >> he taught himself. >> amazing talent. >> just the talent that he had. i can't say too much more about him, only his father was an artist too. he loved to paint and draw. so i thought maybe he might have picked it up from him. but he had a natural talent for it, michael did. >> did he always paint throughout his life? was he always painting secretly without people aware of it? >> yes. because when he was just a child, when we moved to havenhurst, it had a little house in the back. and he took that little house and made it into an art studio for himself. >> what do you think the art brought him? painting and stuff, what did it give him? >> you know what? i really don't -- i really can't answer that question. but sometimes when he's not doing anything he would start painting. it's a way of him just relaxing. >> a bit of escape, is it? >> yes. >> brett, you got to know him 25 years ago. tell me how you met and about this art collection. >> we first met about 1979 through mayor bradley of los angeles. two different occasions. and the first time i had a chance to talk to michael, he says now, you're a sculptor. i said yes. i said i build monuments. he said wow, i never met a monument builder before. i knew who he was but i said what do you do? he said i love life. i'll always remember that. i said wow that's a great job. i love life too. and he says, i'm an artist too. and i like to draw things that inspire my life. >> and this collection, how many pieces are there in it? >> well, i have -- we have 98 pieces. other people have some. and there's about -- maybe there's about 20 of these pieces i draw he did artwork on the other side. i made special paper so if anybody got it they couldn't counterfeit it. so he ran out of the paper. that's why he did artwork on the reverse side. >> some here, the martin luther king picture, abraham lincoln. he loved former presidents. >> he loved abraham lincoln. he loved freedom. he loved the whole aspect of people being free. being able to create beautiful things to inspire people like he wanted to create his music. >> he had a strange obsession with the number seven. and with chairs. now, tell me why those two things are in the pictures all the time. >> well, michael was a seventh child. he -- his name had seven letters in it. he would always talk about that. and, you know, the number seven means completeness in the bible, it tells us. >> so it's like a lucky number for him. >> for him. >> and what about the chairs? why did he like drawing or painting chairs? >> he just had an obsession of chairs. not just a plain chair, but chairs that you see had a lot of art in it. a lot of curves, a lot of other things like that. he would draw that. >> there's one very prophetic picture which is of a little boy sitting on his own in a corner. just seeing it on the screen. what's poignant is michael had written on this before you judge me, try hard to love me. look within your heart. then ask have you seen my childhood. what do you think he meant by that, katherine? >> you know what? i couldn't tell you. but that is the picture. i have one like that too. are they showing it on tv? >> yeah. we're looking at it now. it's very -- the boy looks, i guess -- >> he looks sad. you know, michael always said he missed most of his childhood. and he loved to run and play. he loved children. and i think this is what this picture stands for. >> i've interviewed a lot of people about michael. many of your family, your children i've interviewed janet, la toya, jermaine. all said the same thing. michael was such a happy child. he loved playing pranks on people, that kind of thing. do you ever feel a regret as his mother that he did lose the childhood, really, to super stardom? if you had the time again, would you want the kids, especially michael, to go into that crazy world? >> well, to a certain extent. none of my children were really just loose. because my husband was sort of -- i should say very strict about things like that. where we came from, there was a lot of crime. and we cared about our children. we didn't want them out there on the street running around breaking in cars and doing like most other children did back then. we did things with them in the house. that's when they started singing. as far as having a good time and all, they were in the little league and things like that. then they learned to play the music. and michael always said he didn't have a childhood, but he enjoyed what he was doing. >> i think that's true, isn't it? you talked about his father's being tough with them. was he too tough or not, do you think? did he have to be that tough? >> i didn't think he was too tough, but back in those days everybody raised their children about the same. if you did something wrong, it was terribly wrong, you got a scolding for it and a licking as they called it. today you can't do that. so michael looked back at those times and said he was abused. well, they call it abuse, but some time if it wasn't for the strap, what would this world be like today? >> do you think the world has gone a bit soft in terms of discipline? >> i think it's gone a bit too soft. i really do. and then they have too much things out for our children to do. and they're too open with a lot of things. things that were weren't open years ago about. i just feel bad because i know that the world is, i think it's doomed. the bible tells us the world will be destroyed. so i think -- >> when you look at modern america now, where do you think people are going wrong especially in bringing up children? >> well, i think society is sometimes is the fault of it. because they tell the children to call 911 and in some cases, maybe they need to do that. but then some cases -- some parents are afraid of their children. and some children tell their parents if you do this to me, i'm going to call 911 or call the police or whatever children can. what are the parents to do? >> it's interesting. when i talk to your children, all of them have said at various stages of their lives, well, we had this tough upbringing. our father was very strict. they all as they got older and had their own kids they've begun to realize it was maybe the kind of tough love they needed. it's been interesting for me to talk to them. now they're a bit older. for you it must be an interesting experience to hear their views change as they get older. >> children change. tito, he was one of them that say -- excuse me -- that said i'm going to raise my children just like -- they called their father joseph -- just like joseph raised me. because he always said my children don't get in trouble or anything like that. all these terrible things they laid on michael, he didn't do these things. but it's just there are wicked people out there. >> must have been very hurtful for you as his mother, some of the things michael was accused of, the court cases he had to fight and stuff. how did you feel as his mother? >> oh, my gosh. it almost destroyed me in a way. when i say it just hurt. because i know michael didn't do those terrible things. but then there are so many wicked people. why are they doing this to him? >> just hold that thought far moment, katherine. when we come back, i want to talk about michael's legacy. r moment, katherine. when we come back, i want to talk about michael's legacy. or moment, katherine. when we come back, i want to talk about michael's legacy. [ mujahid ] there was a little bit of trepidation, not quite knowing what the next phase was going to be, you know, because you been, you know, this is what you had been doing. you know, working, working, working, working, working, working. and now you're talking about, well you know, i won't be, and i get the chance to spend more time with my wife and my kids. it's my world. that's my world. ♪ that's my world. fore! no matter what small business you are in, managing expenses seems to... get in the way. not anymore. ink, the small business card from chase introduces jot an on-the-go expense app made exclusively for ink customers. custom categorize your expenses anywhere. save time and get back to what you love. the latest innovation. only for ink customers. learn more at chase.com/ink i'm back now with michael jackson's mother katherine and his friend brett livingstone strong. did you ever try to advise michael, his own behavior -- i interviewed him a few years ago, and he had a childlike quality to him. did you feel concern that he was allowing himself to get put into positions for this around. did you say you should be careful of this. the rest of the world may not see this in the innocent way that you do? >> i've talked to him about it. i never told him to stop having children around. but he did stop having -- most of the children around michael was his own relatives. and i can remember that my sister-in-law, she walked into the store and she saw this -- one of these tabloids. and they had something ugly to say in them in the headlines. and she just went berserk. she said they're my grandchildren, they're michael's cousins. why are they saying this about him? >> do you think all the accusations, the trials he had to go through, do you think it all contributed in the end to his physical condition and his early death? do you think all the drugs he was taking for the anxiety, for the lack of sleep, the painkillers and so on. was it all connected, do you think, in the end to the pressure that he felt and the tension and the stress? >> i think a lot of that was exaggerated about the different things he was taking. because i've been to my son's house unannounced. and i've been there announced. i have never seen him in that way. i know he was taken painkillers because he got burnt on top of his head. very painful. all this other stuff they added to it, i don't know if that was the truth or not. but i don't think that had anything to do with the way he died. >> what do you think, as his mother, caused his death? >> i don't know. all i know is they used propofol, and they shouldn't have used it. they were using the wrong setting. that's all i know and that's what caused his death. >> what are your feelings towards dr. conrad murray? do you blame him? >> you know what? i can't even describe the way i feel about him. he did a terrible thing, and it might have been others involved. i don't know that, but i feel that. you know what? i'd rather not answer that question. the only thing he did for a person's life, four years is not enough. i'll never see my son again. but he can get out and he'll enjoy his children. >> michael trusted him. >> yes, he did. he did. he trusted him. >> he trusted a lot of people. >> he trusted everybody. >> did you ever meet conrad murray? >> never met him. still to this day i have never met him. >> has he ever tried to contact you? >> i don't think so. >> he's never written to you or anything? >> no. >> it is a devastatingly awful thing to happen. you lose this son of yours. he's just 50 years old. it's half a life, really. >> yes. >> will you ever get over this, do you think? >> never. every morning, all through the day, i think about michael. if i wake up through the night, my mind is there. but -- >> what do you think when you think of him? >> i just miss him. but being a christian and believing in the resurrection, i feel that i'll see him again. i'm sorry. i just -- >> it's perfectly understandable. you're his mother. i can't imagine a worse thing. i'm a parent myself to four kids. i can't even imagine how horrendous it must be to lose a child. >> i know. >> it's so unnatural, isn't it? >> it is. and it should be -- >> lots of people say, katherine, that michael in the buildup to his death was working too hard, was too tired, he couldn't sleep, all that. you've heard all this. is that true? i've also heard from people who were working with him on the tour and everything that he was pretty fit. that he was enjoying it. he was having a good time and he was excited. what's the truth? >> what's the -- excuse me? >> how did you think he was in the buildup to his death physically? >> you know, we have a trial going on and i'd rather not say. i talked a lot already about it. >> were you concerned about him? >> oh, yes. when he had 50 shows going on, i was concerned. i thought that was a little too much. michael hadn't been on stage in about ten years. i called him. and i told him because the way they had it structured, every other night he would be working. on a night, off a night, on a night, off a night. and he was used to working at least once or twice a week. and i just kept calling him telling him to change that schedule. that was -- i didn't like the way it was going. i thought it was a little bit too much for him. >> did he listen to you? >> oh, yes. >> did you feel there were bad people around him? >> yes, i do. >> enabling, i guess is the word you would use. people who were allowing him to -- >> it was -- i just don't want to answer those questions right now. but i do feel that it was. they didn't care about him. all they cared about was money. >> you think it was all about money? >> yes. >> let's take a short break. when we come back, i want to talk more about this incredible art. i also want to talk about how michael's children are doing. you're raising them now. >> yes. >> i think people are fascinated by that and how they're getting along. they seem to be getting along great which is good news. >> they are. >> we'll come back in a moment. >> okay. when i look up into my students faces, i see pride. you know, i have done something worthwhile. when i earned my doctorate through university of phoenix, that pride, that was on my face. i am jocelyn taylor. i'm committed to making a difference in people's lives, and i am a phoenix. visit phoenix.edu to find the program that's right for you. enroll now. i bathed it in miracles. director: [ sighs ] cut! sorry to interrupt. when's the show? well, if we don't find an audience, all we'll ever do is rehearse. maybe you should try every door direct mail. just select the zip codes where you want your message to be seen. print it yourself or find a local partner. and you find the customers that matter most. brilliant! clifton, show us overjoyed. no! too much! jennessa? 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[ applause ] [ male announcer ] go online to reach every home, every address, every time with every door direct mail. today is gonna be an important day for us. you ready? we wanna be our brother's keeper. what's number two we wanna do? bring it up to 90 decatherms. how bout ya, joe? let's go ahead and bring it online. attention on site, attention on site. now starting unit nine. some of the world's cleanest gas turbines are now powering some of america's biggest cities. siemens. answers. it's the travelocity spring into summer sale. you can save up to 50% on select hotels and vacation packages. so book your summer vacation now and save up to 50%. offer ends soon. book right now at travelocity.com. daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. and i just wanted to say i love him so much. >> the heart breaking scenes at michael jackson's memorial service there with paris jackson, his daughter. a moment many will never forget. i'm back with katherine jackson and his art mentor brett livingstone strong. incredibly painful for those poor kids, particularly in public like that. you've now taken them into your home. you're bringing up michael's children. >> yes. >> how are they getting along? >> they're getting along very well. >> they seem -- i mean, to be doing remarkably well. they also seem to have, between them, all his kind of zests for life. his talent, his confidence in public. all those things. it's extraordinary to watch. it must be for you too. it's almost reliving michael. >> they're in school, and the two oldest children go to private school. the youngest doesn't want to leave home yet, so we have a tutor, a teacher there for him. excuse me. and the oldest, prince, the oldest boy is such a great student. >> is he? >> his grades are so good. they're a-pluses. >> do you see the spirit of michael in them? >> yes, i do. i do. >> paris has already started down this road. if they want to go into show business? >> yes, paris does. >> do you feel pleased about that or concerned? >> well, i'm pleased and i'm concerned at the same time. i don't think that michael would have wanted her to be out there this soon. but she wanted it so badly and she kept saying please grandma, i want this. it was something she really wanted so i gave in and said okay. >> and how good is she? how talented? >> she's very good. i said how do you know you can act? you haven't acted. i sent her to acting. before that she said just try me, she said. and she said i can cry on cue. and she showed me how she can cry. and then -- >> amazing. that's not easy. >> she's very good. she is good. >> how do you think they have coped with losing their father? >> you know, i don't think that they act like normal children. they play, they have good time. i don't think they'll ever forget. i don't think so. but they're doing quite well. very well. >> brett, come back to you and michael. you knew him extremely well. very heart rending talking to katherine about all of this stuff. can't get a more powerful voice, really. >> no. >> than michael's mother. does this resonate with you? i mean, what was your feeling about michael and the buildup to his death? were you concerned about him as a friend? >> well, his enthusiasm to succeed brought all the strength out in him. he just wanted to create more. he wanted to be in front of his fans again. and he was enthusiastic. >> were you concerned as a friend of his about what was possibly going on. >> during the time he was pretty much studying to do these concerts, i had very little contact with him. so the contact i did have, it was upbeat and enthusiastic. he would call me early hours of the morning and leave me some fantastic messages. i never knew that he ever had any problems. but i do know that over the years that he would trust people and he would not do any due diligence or sometimes his inner feelings, he wouldn't listen to them. and i think he had a lot of trust that he should have questioned. >> you also said an interesting thing to me in the break about