Michael Jackson Dead?

[Afghan Dave]

 Who will comfort "Blanket" ?

[Philly Q]

My bet is that he overdosed on prescription drugs to get out of the hole he had dug with these O2 gigs.

I am 100% convinced he was never going to do those gigs.  He clearly wasn't in any shape to cope.  I think it would've been a lookalike doing the dance moves, with Britney Spears style backing tapes for the vocals.  After all, his face changed so often could anyone be really sure it was him or not?

Now I think they should just carry on with exactly the same shows and call them "tribute" shows.

[Philly Q]

Who will comfort "Blanket" ?

Hmmm, maybe they'll give him back to his real parents?

[Afghan Dave]

My bet is that he overdosed on prescription drugs to get out of the hole he had dug with these O2 gigs.

I am 100% convinced he was never going to do those gigs.  He clearly wasn't in any shape to cope.  I think it would've been a lookalike doing the dance moves, with Britney Spears style backing tapes for the vocals.  After all, his face changed so often could anyone be really sure it was him or not?

Now I think they should just carry on with exactly the same shows and call them "tribute" shows.

What made me laugh was that the Managing Director of the O2 was on LBC (london radio station) two days ago denying any and all rumours that MJ would postpone or be a no show.

I also heard that the insurance for these concerts was not up to scratch and required massive risk of O2 (AEG) assets.   

[FELINEGUITARS]

It could seriously affect The O2 venue
They turned down a lot of gigs to stage that show

Maybe they could persuade AC/DC to play 50 nights instead - or get Prince back

[Dmoney]

or do a jam night.
you just turn up and get to play the 02. for a giggle.

[JDC]

everyone on my facebook is on about wacko jacko, they never met the guy!!! why do people get emotionally connected to celebs?

the media will have field day with this like they did with jade goody, may as well call it elvis mk2

[noodleplugerine]

I've got a few friends selling tickets for the o2 shows now... Anyone interested?

[gingataff]

I'm looking forward to the juicy details.

My bet is that he overdosed on prescription drugs to get out of the hole he had dug with these O2 gigs.

...Or maybe the realisiation that "Peter Pan" was living inside a 50 year old body was too much for him.

But Jackson's belief that "I am Peter Pan in my heart," his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname "Wacko Jacko."

..Or perhaps he was trying to get out of being sued by his former publicist http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE54584L20090506

[CaptainDesslock]

Just answer this...

Would YOU have trusted the man to be around your kids?

Well to be honest, I wouldn't trust you, or any other $%&#ing stranger around my kids

If I had any :)

[38thBeatle]

I was exhausted from work and I went to bed aware that he was in hospital and during the night got some texts from the USA. All I'd say is RIP Michael.I met him once-can't profess to know him but I am sure plenty will be said about him by those who think they knew him.

[Philosoful]

I think it's sad how many people thing they know him just from what the media shows of him. It's so judgemental. We've heard of his father beating him and such and thus, yes, I'm sure it affected him, he probably was yearning for a childhood that he didn't have hence Neverland.

to the dude earlier saying about backing tracks - I think he's used them tons before, I don't know if he did in his prime but I've seen some youtubes where it was defo backing tracks.

[AndyR]

Yeah, RIP Michael Jackson. He made some very good records - though none of them are entirely my cup of tea. I remember seeing him on TV when I was little - were they regulars on the Andy Williams show? (Or is that my imagination?)

I suspect he was "show business" through and through, even the way he lived/behaved/thought privately. How old was he when he started? He was very good at it right then, and he's known no other kind of life since.

I haven't got a judgement I feel I can make on all the other stuff - I haven't got enough information, there was too much media and money involved, who knows what to believe? I watched a program about one of his brothers a while back - he seemed to be an ordinary dude who had had a rather "different" lifestyle, so was somewhat "strange" and didn't seem to know it. And every f@cker, who was actually interested, wanted a piece of him... MJ's world must have been even crazier...

I'm not too sure about this "King of Pop" thing though - is he up there on the podium with Elvis and Buddy Holly and the Beatles, etc... I spose he is by default, record sales, etc, but I can't quite see it myself (might be something to do with my age though :lol:)... I can't help feeling, and always have done, that what really made those records (Thriller etc) was the collaborator - and I can't remember his bluddy name!! ... AGH! er... ..was it Quincy Jones?

[Twinfan]

Yep, it was Quincy Jones  :)

I would say he was as influential and as truly unique and distinctive as all the greats - Elvis, Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry etc.

One of the all time greatest contributors to music and he produced the best selling album of all time: Thriller.  100million copies worldwide - over twice as many as Back In Black and Bat Out of Hell...

[horsehead]

Apparently he didn't die of a heart attack...


he had a stroke while in the childrens ward