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One billion tune in for Jackson finale as burial plot remains a mystery
David Gardner, in Los Angeles08.07.09
Michael Jackson's final resting place remained a mystery today as plans emerged for another memorial concert in London next month.
Jermaine Jackson has said he wants his brother to be buried at Neverland Ranch, about 130 miles away on the California coast. But local laws prevent burial on the star's private property and his mother, Katherine, is also said to be against the idea. Jackson's death certificate says that Forest Lawn was a "temporary" disposition of his body. It also cites the cause of death as "deferred".
According to celebrity website the Hollywood Reporter, there are plans for another memorial show, this time at the O2 Arena in London, where Jackson would have been launching the first of his 50 This Is It comeback gigs next Monday. The date earmarked for the memorial show is 29 August, which would have been the star's 51st birthday. AEG Live, promoters of both the memorial and the O2 concerts, was unable today to confirm the plan, which would form part of a drive to recoup some of the estimated $30million it spent preparing for the This Is It dates.
A documentary about Jackson's comeback, drawn from more than 100 hours of footage, is being considered. AEG is also now selling T-shirts and other merchandise online which would have been sold at the London concerts.
AEG said it was too early to confirm reports that only 10 per cent of This Is It ticketholders had accepted souvenir tickets instead of a cash refund.
The most emotional moment of last night's memorial was the unscripted tribute by Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris. All three of his children - Paris, Prince Michael, 12, and Prince Michael II, seven - were in the front row at the two-hour event, which focused on Jackson's musical career, his charity work and his role in opening up the celebrity world to African-Americans.
Video: watch highlights of the memorial here
Gallery: see pictures from the ceremony here
Reader views (24)
Rob, Jimbob and other posters wanting a dig... get over it and stop wasting your time... it's a pointless argument.
Most celebs have issues... MJ may have had issues... he had plastic surgery... was he black or white... drugs -that's new amongst popstars is it?!?! Who bloody cares?!
The sales / massive fan base speaks for itself. MJ's music set a new standard which nobody has come close to! A legend who will live on through his music and never be forgotten!
MJ - We love you! RIP my friend...
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
"Please tell me any Superstar, who left half of their money to children's charities?"
Adrian, last I heard, MJ was 500 MILLION dollars in debt. You can't leave DEBT to charities in a will !
- Marianne, SW France/London
Rob, the fact one billion people tuned in to watch his funeral yesterday ought to tell you there are plenty out there who disagree with your puerile comments. This guy had been a performer for the past forty years, and his legacy will live on a lot longer than yours.
- Anon, St Albans, Herts
So sad that people who are fanatics - or fans - can't accept the fact there are some who are not. And yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion and sometimes NOT shared. Free speech.
Not being a fan I was not "devastated" but simply unsurprised that jacko died as a result of drug misuse. Anyone who plays around with drugs and is encouraged, not the reverse, as seems apparent from none of his fans, entourage,hangers-on,family, had the balls to nip all this in the bud YEARS ago and been brave enough to tell him he was acting strangely and dangerously. He would be alive today and might have been a happier,healthier person.
- Jack, Surrey, England
If you didn't think much of Michael Jackson and are fed up with hearing about him then why are you even concerning yourself with him on this site: other than being hypocritical of course.
The Jackson's can't win can they. A family grieving for a family member like any of us have to. Yet, a family member who was a world star for whom a mass public want to grieve as well.
The power and the words of Jackson's Earth Song along with the video make me conclude he was a genius and I am sticking to that. One of the few really good songs I've heard in my 65 years.
- Janet, London
all i can say is the big jackson memorial yesterday was for a big nobody that was the so-called "king of pop." give us a break from jacko wacko. bury him and then we can all shut our gobs. he'll be a little musical footnote and then hopefully soon forgotten thank god!!
- Uncle Monty, london, se.
Leave him and his children alone - enough's enough!!
- Donna, Kent
Rob is right and all of you should have a closer look in the mirror cos you are very sad.
Same media that caused his death is exploiting his funeral and bombarding us with hypocrisy. They did not praise the "king of pop" back then how it should have been looked, although I think he actually was, now they are trying to in a errounous way.
- Wklee, London,UK
Michael Jackson was the "King of Pop" solely because some well paid PR Company thought of the monicker.
The whole thing is a grotesque circus!
- Rebis, london
Jimbob - why should people comment on his plastic surgery?! that's not what they're grieving over, it's him and his talent and all he stood for!! he wasn't caught up in race, religion and all that nonsense - he was trying to break down barriers.
also, even if those kids aren't his biologically, he was still a father to them and they are still suffering the worst pain imaginable. however, my son is mixed race and isn't a lot darker than those kids, so until you know the facts keep your ill informed opinions to yourself. if you're not interested don't read these articles, no one made you!!
- Berry, london
Rob,
I think u sound like a hater and very envious.how much have u given to charity ur enterie life.
- Obi,Nigeria, nigeria
I personally have been very touched by the memorial events, and am welcoming the chance to pay my respects in London. Let's not forget that the Jackson family are all grieving for their loss, but have also tried to involve Michael's huge, adoring following around the world, which we are thankful for.
Michael didn't feature too much on playlists in recent years? That depends entirely on the stations you listen to or the clubs you go to. He obviously wasn't given as much airplay as in the 80s - partly because he was 'out of sight, out of mind' - one reason being the constant hounding by the world media. He was only human. It seems that the world didn't know what it had until it had gone. Too little, too late.
As for the sad fools getting a life - congratulations, Terry Chambers, for writing a comment that can do nothing but potentially hurt a huge number of people. I hope you feel good.
- Bereaved, London
Spot on Rob,
For 2 weeks we have been bombarded with every aspect of his death and it is starting to make me want to puke.
It is very sad that the guy died, but please remember that not everyone on the planet could give two hoots about his music.
What I find even more disturbing is that no one has yet commented on his extensive plastic surgery to make himself into a white man, yet it is the black community who are climbing all over themselves to claim him as their own (you're welcome to him).
Have a look at his kids, has nobody else noticed that they are white? or is it just me alone with the common sense?
- Jimbob, Kensington
I have no opinion either way about Michael Jackson, but what was his "inspiration" quoted by Steve Green. There have been many people in this world who can claim to have been an inspiration but, sorry, not Michael Jackson. Good singer/songwriter definitely, lets not get carried away any further than that.
- Pamela Mckay, Dagenham Essex
I disagree with Rob's sweeping statements. Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, not just because of his huge success. But because he was a genius on many levels. A genius of a singer, dancer, songwriter/ composer and producer.
So Michael Jackson hasn't been many playlists over the last decade, well he's had number of his vocals sampled that have been Top 5 hits. And he is constantly cited as a huge musical influence by many artists and bands from different genres. His influence is everywhere in music, that is why he is the King of Pop and he set the bar in music so how that even the best of todays artists fail to reach it, and no one has come close to generateing the excitment of Michael Jackson, which is why their is so much attention to his sad passing.
- Ben S, London
Well said Rob.
- Joanna, London
He is still following the American Dream, did not happen when still alive - Sell Sell Sell.
- William, Hay~Heath UK
Rob, you sound like someone who didn't like Michael jackson, but please keep your so called negative comments to yourself mate...
Please tell me any Superstar, who left half of their money to children's charities?
Jackson, was ridiculed by the media and he went into hiding, look like Diana, the same thing..
Jackson was a innocent man picked on by the media, because they had nothing on him or anything to say..
He had to deal with people saying things about him...
Let the man rest in peace...
- Adrian, london
Michael Jackson was a legend. His legacy will live on forever! He was an inspiration in a world full of a cold-hearted and cynical people.
- Steve Green, London
Shut up Rob and leave them alone. Have you ever lost someone very close. As his brother said people may finally leave him alone in death but obviously he was wrong. Get a life
- Carolette, england
Put a sock in it Rob from London. When they say 'King of Pop', they mean he's the one who was a fore-runner in that genre of music. He re-invented disco, plain and simple. He started most of all what you hear today, people like Justin Timberlake et al, would probably be working in some car-wash somewhere in Alabama if it wasn't for him.
Who has sold the most records on the planet, brought down boundaries when it comes to race, status and class? No one else, plain and simple. Michael Jackson was a man, and as all men, he had his own faults, but that doesn't mean his life's work should be undermined.
Do some research about where he got started from and what he has done for his own community before you complain. No pop star has been less avaricious than he has, he spent foolishly but also gave abundantly.
Whatever happens at the 02 will not be a memorial. It should be and hopefully will be, a celebration of his life. Yes, his demise was self-inflicted, that in itself makes his story even more touching. He should have focused more on assuaging his demons and less on helping the world or making it a better place.
He was the King of Pop and STILL is. No one has had more hit singles, sold more albums, or had has many songs as he had which all were conveying a message. FACT.
R.I.P - Michael Jackson.
- Dave, London, England
Will they have got the jubilee line sorted by then?
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs
I agree with Rob this is getting all out of hand the Jackson's are milking it for all they can the sad people doing this and crying have never met the bloke
GET A LIFE YOU SAD FOOLS
- Terry Chambers, London
Another memorial? Oh,please pass the sick bag. Isn't it time that they laid this poor guy to rest? Especially as his demise appears to be self-inflicted and his private life very questionable.
If he was such a great 'King of Pop' how come that he didn't feature too much on playlists over the last decade or so and nothing new coming out of his stable either. I can think of many other musicians who have a far better claim to the title 'King'.
- Rob, London
