THE FANS MEANT EVERYTHING TO HIM
“If he wouldn’t have had his fans, it would have been almost impossible for him to find a further meaning of life. If he felt bad and down we cheered him up with fan gifts and letters. And he loved it from his very heart. First and foremost the paintings. Not only in those hard times, but always. No matter where we’ve been – if fans were around and he saw drawings and paintings, he always said: ‘Get me the pictures, get me those pictures!' The fans meant everything to him. They were his family. They were his crutch and they gave him strength. More than any other thing. And he loved them above all things for that. And he told this to his children too. Every time, in any place where we stayed in hotels he showed his fans to his kids and explained to them what the fans mean to him and how much they love him. His family were there and it was good that way. But Michael’s strength and comfort came clearly from the fans. He loved them beyond words … this closeness and love – it came rather from the fans" ~ Dieter Weisner (efter 2005-rättegången)