**Interview**
Navi’s concert tribute to the King of Pop
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
11th May 2017
Navi’s concert tribute to the King of Pop
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
11th May 2017
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Navi, is the man known worldwide as the closest thing to Michael Jackson you can get. Not only does he travel the world performing Michael’s hits, he now stars in the Michael biopic Searching for Neverland. As part of his new UK tour with his incredible tribute show ‘King of Pop,’ he is coming to the Cliffs Pavilion on 11th May. The spectacular show not only covers all the most famous Jackson hits, but it also features Jennifer Batten. She was Jackson’s legendary female guitarist and played with him for over ten years. She accompanied him on three of his world record-breaking tours and Michael always called her ‘his right-hand woman.’ Navi, who has been travelling non-stop performing his shows, spared some time out of his busy schedule to talk to Southend Theatre Scene. |
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Can you tell me a little about your new show?
I see it as a concert rather than a show; I lead it impersonating Michael Jackson, accompanied by a live band, dancers and of course Jennifer Batten. Having her on stage is a wonderful experience as she played for the great man himself. We did a short tour last year and it went well so I asked her back, and added in some extra venues so that we could go to different places.
Have you been to Southend before?
I was at the Cliffs some years ago, but as I travel the world, it is difficult to get back to the UK. However, I have been to Southend many times, and have attended the Rendezvous Casino; I see it as a home stop for me. . The UK is where we are the most recognised. We did the first Thriller live show, it wasn’t a karaoke
Why have you adopted the image of Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson is a big name. I can go anywhere in the world and they will recognise the image. I have been to the Caribbean, Thailand, Los Angeles, New York and he is a global figure. If you are working as an impersonator, it is better to do it as someone that big and recognisable.
Have you ever performed as yourself?
I have never performed in my own right. From an early age, I just wanted to impersonate Michael Jackson. I was his biggest fan. I worked hard to be the best. I learned the dance moves, the songs, the clothes and the makeup. I needed to manage myself, and have the drive to be pulled and pushed in every direction. I started out as the opening act for The Drifters, and now I am appearing at the Cliffs Pavilion. I have had experiences far beyond anything I could hope for. I started out travelling around as his impersonator doing small venues, birthday parties etc. Now I am at the top of what I do, not only that, I am on stage with Michael Jackson’s guitarist.
Why did you decide to change your look by plastic surgery?
Nobody looks like Michael Jackson. He had plastic surgery himself to look like that. He saw himself as a product and wanted an image for his time. I wanted to be the best impersonator around. Some people do tribute acts but they don’t look like the person they represent to be. I don’t like bad impersonators. As I told them recently in an interview in New York, ‘I just wanted to be credible and a credit to the star.’
Do you adapt your concert performance for different countries?
I choose what I think the audience will want to hear. I go to various places where they are familiar with different Michael Jackson hits. I change about 25% for each country. In the Middle East, they want hits of the 80s and the History tour of 95. Songs like Scream. In the UK, they want The Earth Song, which wasn’t so big elsewhere. If you go to a country with many expats, they want the Jackson 5’s I Want You Back.
How did you get the opportunity to appear in the film?
They approached me to appear in the movie. The producer Suzanne de Passe, who worked as Berry Gordy’s assistant for Tamla Motown, approved me. I turned down the offer five times and then they called me again. The company hadn’t found anyone that was right, and they wanted me not to perform as Michael, but to be him as he was in real life. They gave me acting lessons and a vocal coach and we were filming for 6 weeks.
I see it as a great privilege and honour to be in it. The film comes out world/wide on May 29th and is released June 25th in the UK.
Was there any reaction from the family to the film?
When I was cast, there were no complaints from the family. They knew I was a good choice as I understood the image and knew him personally. They complained when Joseph Fiennes was cast as Michael in a film.
I see it as a concert rather than a show; I lead it impersonating Michael Jackson, accompanied by a live band, dancers and of course Jennifer Batten. Having her on stage is a wonderful experience as she played for the great man himself. We did a short tour last year and it went well so I asked her back, and added in some extra venues so that we could go to different places.
Have you been to Southend before?
I was at the Cliffs some years ago, but as I travel the world, it is difficult to get back to the UK. However, I have been to Southend many times, and have attended the Rendezvous Casino; I see it as a home stop for me. . The UK is where we are the most recognised. We did the first Thriller live show, it wasn’t a karaoke
Why have you adopted the image of Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson is a big name. I can go anywhere in the world and they will recognise the image. I have been to the Caribbean, Thailand, Los Angeles, New York and he is a global figure. If you are working as an impersonator, it is better to do it as someone that big and recognisable.
Have you ever performed as yourself?
I have never performed in my own right. From an early age, I just wanted to impersonate Michael Jackson. I was his biggest fan. I worked hard to be the best. I learned the dance moves, the songs, the clothes and the makeup. I needed to manage myself, and have the drive to be pulled and pushed in every direction. I started out as the opening act for The Drifters, and now I am appearing at the Cliffs Pavilion. I have had experiences far beyond anything I could hope for. I started out travelling around as his impersonator doing small venues, birthday parties etc. Now I am at the top of what I do, not only that, I am on stage with Michael Jackson’s guitarist.
Why did you decide to change your look by plastic surgery?
Nobody looks like Michael Jackson. He had plastic surgery himself to look like that. He saw himself as a product and wanted an image for his time. I wanted to be the best impersonator around. Some people do tribute acts but they don’t look like the person they represent to be. I don’t like bad impersonators. As I told them recently in an interview in New York, ‘I just wanted to be credible and a credit to the star.’
Do you adapt your concert performance for different countries?
I choose what I think the audience will want to hear. I go to various places where they are familiar with different Michael Jackson hits. I change about 25% for each country. In the Middle East, they want hits of the 80s and the History tour of 95. Songs like Scream. In the UK, they want The Earth Song, which wasn’t so big elsewhere. If you go to a country with many expats, they want the Jackson 5’s I Want You Back.
How did you get the opportunity to appear in the film?
They approached me to appear in the movie. The producer Suzanne de Passe, who worked as Berry Gordy’s assistant for Tamla Motown, approved me. I turned down the offer five times and then they called me again. The company hadn’t found anyone that was right, and they wanted me not to perform as Michael, but to be him as he was in real life. They gave me acting lessons and a vocal coach and we were filming for 6 weeks.
I see it as a great privilege and honour to be in it. The film comes out world/wide on May 29th and is released June 25th in the UK.
Was there any reaction from the family to the film?
When I was cast, there were no complaints from the family. They knew I was a good choice as I understood the image and knew him personally. They complained when Joseph Fiennes was cast as Michael in a film.
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As you have changed your features, you will always have the Michael Jackson look, won’t that limit opportunities.
One day I will have to stop touring as Michael, and then I will have acquired the skills for another career in acting. I still have my own image and identity. My face is not completely altered. I am still me without the makeup. When I go out on my own, nobody recognises me as Michael Jackson. How long does it take to put the makeup on? For the show it takes 1 ½ hours. However, for the film it took 4 hours every day, it was all makeup not lighting. You knew Michael. What was he like in real life? For 28 years, I worked as a decoy for him, in the UK, Europe, and the Far East and we had a good relationship. He invited me to his home and I have pictures of us together. I also have one of him applauding me when I performed for him. I was just a fan but he performed for fans from the heart, and I want to celebrate him as King of Pop. In real life, he was very normal. He didn’t speak in a high voice, but had a soft, deep one. When I was acting in the film, they kept telling me to lower my voice to be like him. No one wants to be seen as just the boy next door, so he made himself different, he created an image. He was amazing and a great human being. Like many people, he had issues, there were money problems as deals fell through, but most importantly, he just wanted to be a good parent. In the film, we try to portray that, we have scenes with him sitting with his kids watching TV, eating popcorn, and playing games. When he took them out he wanted to protect them so they wore masks, but when they went out with their nanny, they were just ordinary children and nobody took any notice. |
The real Michael Jackson and Jennifer Batten performing during the Bad Tour. Photo Credit: Sawf News
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After he passed on did that make any difference to your career?
I wanted to continue dedicating myself to him. I was in the papers as the best tribute artist around. I am committed to Michael. My concerts have a big following so I can’t just walk away. I am training understudies to continue to keep them going and keep his name alive for his fans. There are thousands of followers on my Facebook page. We owe it to Michael’s memory to continue. We could do separate shows at the same time with the understudies, but that would be difficult as many of them already work in other shows. They are handpicked and are being trained in the vocal style and the mannerisms, but they are not having plastic surgery.
How do you feel when you are out on stage as Michael?
I am elated that as his biggest fan, I am more than just a tribute. There are other impersonators, but no one else has the credibility. As a result, I am booked for specialist parties like the Formula 1. I worked for him, knew him and for that moment become him. My profile is greater. He gave me the stamp of approval. I saw him in concert and I want my show to be a concert, so that people can experience what it must have been like to see him for real. In that moment they will believe that, they are seeing him and experience how great he was.
If you missed seeing the great man himself, Navi is the next best thing. For a magical Michael Jackson experience, the concert is on at the Cliffs| Pavilion Southend, on 11th May at 8pm. Tickets are available from the box office:-
Tel: 01702 351135 or online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk
£27.50, £22.50
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
I wanted to continue dedicating myself to him. I was in the papers as the best tribute artist around. I am committed to Michael. My concerts have a big following so I can’t just walk away. I am training understudies to continue to keep them going and keep his name alive for his fans. There are thousands of followers on my Facebook page. We owe it to Michael’s memory to continue. We could do separate shows at the same time with the understudies, but that would be difficult as many of them already work in other shows. They are handpicked and are being trained in the vocal style and the mannerisms, but they are not having plastic surgery.
How do you feel when you are out on stage as Michael?
I am elated that as his biggest fan, I am more than just a tribute. There are other impersonators, but no one else has the credibility. As a result, I am booked for specialist parties like the Formula 1. I worked for him, knew him and for that moment become him. My profile is greater. He gave me the stamp of approval. I saw him in concert and I want my show to be a concert, so that people can experience what it must have been like to see him for real. In that moment they will believe that, they are seeing him and experience how great he was.
If you missed seeing the great man himself, Navi is the next best thing. For a magical Michael Jackson experience, the concert is on at the Cliffs| Pavilion Southend, on 11th May at 8pm. Tickets are available from the box office:-
Tel: 01702 351135 or online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk
£27.50, £22.50
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Interview: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Navi’s King of Pop tour starts follows:-
May
Thus 4th PRESTON - Guild Hall 01772 80 44 44
Sun 7th SUNDERLAND - Empire 0844 871 3022
Mon 8th BIRMINGHAM - Alexandra 0844 871 3011
Tue 9th BILLINGHAM - Forum 01642 552 663
Wed 10th AYLESBURY - Waterside Theatre 0844 871 7607
Thu 11th SOUTHEND - Cliffs Pavilion 01702 351135
Fri 12th DERBY - Arena 01332 255800
Sat 13th HASTINGS - White Rock Theatre 01424 462288
Sun 14th YORK - Opera House 0844 871 3024
Tue 16th HULL - City Hall 01482 300 306
Wed 17th LINCOLN - Theatre Royal 01522 519999
Thu 18th TELFORD - Shrops The Place @ Oakengates Theatre 01952 382 382
Sat 20th TORQUAY - Princess Theatre 0844 871 3023
Sat 27th LIVERPOOL - Echo Arena (Auditorium) 0844 8000 400
Mon 29th MANCHESTER - Palace Theatre 0844 871 3019
Wed 31st CARDIFF - St. David's Hall 029 2087 8444
June
Thu 1st LEICESTER - De Montfort Hall 0116 233 3111
Fri 2nd DUNDEE - Whitehall Theatre 01382 434940
Thus 4th PRESTON - Guild Hall 01772 80 44 44
Sun 7th SUNDERLAND - Empire 0844 871 3022
Mon 8th BIRMINGHAM - Alexandra 0844 871 3011
Tue 9th BILLINGHAM - Forum 01642 552 663
Wed 10th AYLESBURY - Waterside Theatre 0844 871 7607
Thu 11th SOUTHEND - Cliffs Pavilion 01702 351135
Fri 12th DERBY - Arena 01332 255800
Sat 13th HASTINGS - White Rock Theatre 01424 462288
Sun 14th YORK - Opera House 0844 871 3024
Tue 16th HULL - City Hall 01482 300 306
Wed 17th LINCOLN - Theatre Royal 01522 519999
Thu 18th TELFORD - Shrops The Place @ Oakengates Theatre 01952 382 382
Sat 20th TORQUAY - Princess Theatre 0844 871 3023
Sat 27th LIVERPOOL - Echo Arena (Auditorium) 0844 8000 400
Mon 29th MANCHESTER - Palace Theatre 0844 871 3019
Wed 31st CARDIFF - St. David's Hall 029 2087 8444
June
Thu 1st LEICESTER - De Montfort Hall 0116 233 3111
Fri 2nd DUNDEE - Whitehall Theatre 01382 434940