MICHAEL JACKSON 1958-2009

Although he was only 50 at the time of his death, there is a strong argument that Michael Jackson’s decline as a musician was inevitable more than half his lifetime ago. He was barely 24 when he made Thriller in 1982, which, according to the Guinness Book Of World Records in 2007, has so far sold 65 million copies, and cast a giant shadow over the rest of his career. Compilations and remix projects aside, he went on to release just three more full albums.

And while diehard fans will try to convince you that Bad, Dangerous and Invincible all had their merits, none came within a country mile of their behemoth-like predecessor’s musical and cultural impact. A child star at Motown, both with his brothers and as a solo act, Jackson endured a lean spell after quitting the Detroit “family”, and it took a collaboration with Quincy Jones on 1979’s Off The Wall to remind the record-buying public that he still had something to offer.

What he offered amounted to nothing short of redefining mainstream black pop, distilling the sounds of close friend Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, even Sly Stone, then adding an indisputably more blatant commercial sheen that moonwalked its way across genres and hitherto rigid marketing “formats”. Off The Wall has notched up 20 million sales to date, certainly not to be sniffed at, but it was Thriller, or more specifically its second single, “Billie Jean”, that cemented Jackson’s standing as a global force.

As with two comparably-sized pop icons of previous generations, television played a major role. Elvis Presley went from hillbilly to household name thanks in no small part to exposure on The Steve Allen Show, while Ed Sullivan’s variety cavalcade helped Beatlemania go truly ballistic. For Jackson, it was the fledgling MTV, who were reluctant to showcase black acts until “Billie Jean” came along. It took CBS label boss Walter Yetnikoff’s threat to withdraw all product from the cable channel to get Jackson on the air in the first place, but soon a symbiotic relationship between broadcaster and artist developed, to the point where it could be argued that neither would have flourished so heartily without the other.

In terms of genuine creativity, this is perhaps where the Michael Jackson story ends, and the media circus feasting on bizarre behaviour, curious marriages, remarkable physical transformations and allegations of child abuse takes over. It’s a safe bet that elsewhere Jacko the supposed freak will garner as many, if not more, column inches than Jackson the musician, so Uncut might be best leaving the door-stepping salaciousness to others. Tabloid scandals throughout the 1980s and 1990s were punctuated by some genuinely astonishing live performances, acting as occasional reminders of why he caught our attention in the first place.

Thought to be in permanent retirement after 2007’s headline-grabbing child abuse trial, it surprised many when Jackson announced he was returning to the stage for a marathon residency at the O2 Arena in London. In all, 50 dates were confirmed, meaning a total of one million people were due to witness his “comeback” over the next six months.

Long before his death there were question marks hanging over the O2 concerts. American promoters were threatening legal action, claiming Jackson had agreed to not play anywhere in the world until after a series of US gigs with his brothers, while some commentators doubted that a performer of his age who’d been inactive for so long, and therefore well below his punching weight, would have the physical stamina to endure 50 high-energy shows. Several media reports have even suggested that strenuous rehearsals at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles in recent weeks may have contributed to the heart attack that killed him.

Jackson didn’t need that one last hurrah to leave his mark on history. It’s unlikely there’s a single R&B act of the last quarter of a century who doesn’t cite him as a major influence, much in the way that anyone who ever picked up a guitar might have looked in the mirror and dreamed they were Presley or Lennon. He was also a towering inspiration to the worldwide black community, as important a figure as Muhammad Ali, and a touchstone for anyone who might wanna be startin’ somethin’.

TERRY STAUNTON

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Lisa Marie Presley, who was married to Michael Jackson briefly has spoken out publically with an honest heartfelt blog on MySpace titled ‘He knew’. She says that Jackson had predicted he would “end up” like Elvis.

Lisa Marie also refutes that the couple who were married briefly between May 1994 and January 1996 were together as a sham, saying “I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much”

Lisa Marie Presley writes of her heartbreak at having to witness the scenes which unfolded of Jackson as he was taken to hospital on June 25, scenes which she’d already witnessed once with her own father.

She blames herself for not having helped Jackson from celebrity more. The blog reads as follows:

“He Knew.

Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general.

I can’t recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Fathers Death.

At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, “I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did.”

I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.

14 years later I am sitting here watching on the news an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the Cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears.

A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn’t predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened.

The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy.

All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted.

I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once.

Our relationship was not “a sham” as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a “Normal life” found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much.

I wanted to “save him” I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened.

His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn’t know how and this was 14 years ago. We all worried that this would be the outcome then.

At that time, In trying to save him, I almost lost myself.

He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated.

When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad.

Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson’s being or actions.

I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him.

I was in over my head while trying.

I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision.

The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.

After the Divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret.

Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation.

At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now.

As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play The exact Scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted.

Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him.

He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together.

I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now.

He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be.

I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is.

The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right.

I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening.

~LMP”

***

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Tickets for the 50-date run of Michael Jackson concerts are to be refunded in due course, London O2 Arena organisers have said in the wake of the singer’s death on Thursday (June 25).

The ‘This Is It’ shows, billed as Jackson’s comeback – his first concert ‘tour’ in 12 years were due to start on July 13.

O2 organisers have said: “At this moment our thoughts are with Michael’s children, family and friends. We will announce ticketing information in due course.”

A screen outside the O2 Arena (pictured above) passes on the O2 organiser’s message, and fans have been leaving floral tributes beneath it.

Also, Eric Baker, CEO, viagogo, the official seconadary ticket sellers has also commented along similar lines: “Everyone at viagogo is deeply shocked and saddened at the news that Michael Jackson has passed away.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. All Michael Jackson tickets purchased through viagogo will be refunded directly to fans. No forms, no fuss, just refunded. We will be in touch with everyone in due course.”

However, some fans have been leaving messages on stories about the financial implication of the cancelled shows to say that they would be keeping the tickets.

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Read the full Uncut Michael Jackson obituary here.

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Phenomenal sales of Michael Jackson albums following news of the icon’s sudden death yesterday (June 25) of a suspected heart attack have resulted in an unprecedented occupation of the Top 15 places in Amazon.com’s bestsellers list.

He also has three other singles and albums in the top 25.

Jackson’s iTunes chart is currently topped with “Thriller”, with “Billie Jean” at No.2 and No. 3 (two versions), “Man In the Mirror” at No. 4, and at No.5, “Beat It.”

Top 15 Amazon Bestsellers chart is currently as follows:

1. Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller

15. Blood on the Dance Floor: History in the Mix – Michael Jackson

Click here for the Top 15 Amazon Bestsellers chart

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Michael Jackson who died yesterday (June 25) of a suspected heart attack was in resuscitation at Ronald Reagan UCLA in Los Angeles for more than an hour, his brother Jermaine Jacksonsaid in a statement last night.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Jermaine gave the following comment at a short press conference to confirm Michael’s sudden death:

“This is hard. My brother, the legendary king of Pop michael jackson passed away on Thursday June 25 2009 at 2.26pm It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy are known.

His personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resusitate my brother and, as did the paramedics who transported him to Ronald Reagan UCLA. Upon arrival at the hospital at approximately 1.14pm a team of doctors including emergency physicians, cardiologists attempted to resusitate him for a period of more than one hour. They were unsuccessful.

Our family please request that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time.

And may Allah be with you Michael always. I love you.”

Fans had been gathering outside UCLA hospital from the moment reports of the entertainment legend got out and fans around the world have expressed their grief with floral and candle tributes at various sites around the world, from his family home and Neverland ranch to Madame Tussauds in Shanghai.

Read Uncut’s full obituary to Michael Jackson, here.

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The Los Angeles Times has reported that pop icon Michael Jackson has died of a suspected heart attack today (June 25).

Paramedics were called to the singer’s home at noon and was at 3.15pm “pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.”

Celebrity website TMZ.com reported earlier today that Jackson had died, although their reports were unconfirmed.

Read Uncut’s full obituary to Michael Jackson, here.

The singer had been due to start an incredulous 50-date live residency in London from July 13, his first shows in 12 years, and had been rehearsing for the shows in LA.

Jackson has been a star for more than 40 years, with his biggest hits including “Billie Jean”, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”, “Bad” and “Earth Song.”

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