Michael Jackson shows sell out

Michael Jackson's 50-show London residency has sold out.

Around 500,000 tickets, worth between £50 and $75, went on sale at 7am yesterday morning (13.03.09) and were quickly snapped up by eager fans.

Organiser AEG Live say every night of the 'Thriller' singer's 'This Is It' tour - dubbed his last ever UK performances - were sold before mid-day.

A further 360,000 pre-sale tickets were sold earlier this week at a rate of 333-a-minute.

Thousands of fans from around the world camped outside The 02 for days to secure the first general sale tickets. Most passed the time by singing Jackson's most famous hits and chanting his name.

Others jammed phone lines and crashed the singer's official website as they scrambled to get seats.

Thousands missed out on tickets, which are already selling on the black market for up to £16,000 a pair.

Jackson - who has returned to the US for rehearsals - is reportedly "ecstatic" about the sales figures and very "excited" about performing live.

President and CEO of AEG Live Randy Phillips revealed the cash-strapped star will make between £50 and £100 million from the shows.

Phillips said: "We organised 10 shows but we we're not sure what the demand would be - but we really misjudged it. We could sell more than one million tickets. We could have kept going.

"We could have done 150 shows as people would go more than one time. Michael Jackson is fantastic. He is physically and mentally ready to get back in the game.

"I'm not going to pretend the money is not a factor, but he is really doing it for the kids - they are old enough and he is young enough to still do it the way he did before."

The 50-year-old singer will begin his eight-month residency in July.

Via myparkmag.co.uk

Michael Jackson struck down by MRSA-type infection

Concern for Michael Jackson's health has fuelled fear that the star may have contracted an MRSA-type infection that is resistant to conventional antibiotics and might leave him needing reconstructive surgery.

The 50-year-old has reportedly been hooked up to an IV drip at a Beverly Hills clinic to receive antibiotics to cure the "staph" infection which may turn into a flesh-eating disorder.

A source revealed to The Sun that the virus has already spread to his face and body and doctors are trying all they can to beat the infection.

Jackson was photographed visiting the clinic for alleged treatment wearing a surgical mask, cap and sunglasses.

The disease is thought to be contracted through cuts and is some-what common to contract throughout health care facilities, much like MRSA.

If the 'staph' infection develops it has the potential to kill off body tissue, but if caught early and treated patients are expected to make a full recovery.

Michael Jackson's spokesman denied the allegation however, saying the pop singer is healthy and negotiating an entertainment deal currently with a television company.

Via metro.co.uk

Michael Jackson 'transplant' claim denied

A spokesman for Michael Jackson has denied reports the singer is suffering from a rare respiratory disease and needs a lung transplant.

Dr Tohme Tohme said in a statement issued to Reuters that stories claiming the singer was unwell were not true.

He added that author Ian Halperin made the claims to promote his unauthorised biography of the 50-year-old singer.

"The writer's wild allegations concerning Mr Jackson's health are a total fabrication," he said.

Halperin claimed in the Sunday Express that Jackson was suffering from an illness that affected the blood and lungs.

He told the newspaper the singer could barely speak, suffers from emphysema, internal bleeding, and has lost 95% of the vision in his left eye.

'Fine health'

Dr Tohme told Reuters: "Concerning this author's allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorised biography.

"Mr Jackson is in fine health and finalising negotiations with a major entertainment company and television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances."

Jackson recently settled a legal dispute over a music contract between himself and an Arab sheik.

The King of Bahrain's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, was suing Jackson for £4.7m, claiming he reneged on a music contract.

In November, Jackson's lawyer told the High Court the singer was unable to travel to London to give evidence because he was unwell.

But medical experts said Jackson was fit enough to travel, and the case was settled just before he was due to travel to the UK.

Via bbc.co.uk

Michael Jackson Gravelly Ill, According to Reports

Michael Jackson is always surrounded by one damaging rumor or report after another. The infamous charges and reports of molestation killed his career and his reputation in America. Since Jackson went overseas and into seclusion, speculation is even more pronounced about what he could be doing and is going through. But now, new reports and rumors have Jackson being worse off than ever. In fact, they even say that Jackson is fighting for his life.

A report is now out that Jackson is gravelly ill, with supposed quotes coming from new Jackson biographer Ian Halperin. According to CBS, media outlets are reporting Jackson has a genetic illness that has become a possibly fatal lung disease.

Jackson is rumored to be ill from Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which would require a lung transplant. According to these stories, Jackson has gotten so ill that he can barely talk and is going blind in one eye.

Another British tabloid, the Sun, quoted Jermaine Jackson as saying that "this isn't a good time" for his brother.

Jackson is infamous for, among other things, wearing face masks and other odd costumes to keep him hidden from the public, and apparently to protect himself from illness.

Jackson was just spotted in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, where there were photos of him wearing a Zorro like mask over his eyes. He was also seen in a wheelchair earlier this year.

Jackson is also facing a new lawsuit from a woman calling herself "Billie Jean Jackson" after one of Jackson's biggest hits. She claims that she is the mother of Prince Michael II.

Jackson's money problems already forced him to sell Neverland Ranch and leave the country. He had claimed that "ill health" caused him to miss a recent court date involving a legal dispute with a Bahraini sheik.

These illness reports would seem to back up those claims, but these reports come from tabloids and other sources that have been questionable in covering Jackson. The British Sun, in particular, is a hard to trust source.

Via associatedcontent.com

Michael Jackson asked to rescue giraffes

PETA has asked Michael Jackson to save four giraffes which used to reside at his Neverland Ranch.

The animal rights group claimed that the animals have been housed in Arizona in under-sized pens for more than a year.

PETA has now written to the pop icon asking him to rescue his former pets from their poor living conditions.

"When Jackson faced recent financial troubles, the giraffes were sold to a couple in Page, Arizona, who were reportedly planning to set up a zoo," a spokesman said.

"More than a year later, the giraffes are still confined to pens that allegedly each measure approximately 15ft by 15ft, and the animals reportedly have not been receiving adequate veterinary or husbandry care.

"If Michael could see the giraffes' plight for himself, I'm sure he'd agree that it's bad - really, really bad. The giraffes may be out of Michael's life, but he has a responsibility to see that they don't suffer."

Via digitalspy.co.uk

Michael Jackson has sold his Neverland Ranch

Troubled singer Michael Jackson has officially passed property deeds over to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC, effectively losing his nearly 3,000 acre estate he lovingly called Neverland Ranch. Michael, who hasn't lived at Neverland since 2005, bought the property in 1987 to turn it into a "paradise for children".

The troubled singer - who saved the 2,800-acre Californian estate from auction earlier this year after striking a deal with an investment company – has now officially passed the property deeds over to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC.

Santa Barbara public records confirm Michael is no longer the owner of the ranch.

Earlier this year, Michael’s brother Jermaine said the singer would do everything he could to keep his home, despite having over $300 million of debts.

He said: “It's not for sale and it never will be. Over my dead body will it be sold.”

Michael hasn't lived at the Neverland ranch since June 2005, when he moved to Bahrain.

In 2006, authorities ordered the property to be boarded up after it was revealed Michael had not paid his employees or kept up with insurance payments.

The eccentric pop star bought the property in 1987, intending to turn it into a "paradise for children".

After installing a parade of fairground rides and a zoo, which included elephants, snakes, giraffes and llamas, Michael opened up his fairytale home to children.

Via welt.de

Michael: Jackson 5 Not Reuniting After All

No one who read Jermaine Jackson's assertion that a Jackson 5 reunion is in the works will likely be surprised to hear that Michael Jackson has denied that the reunion will happen.

"My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we've certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them," said Michael Jackson in a statement. "I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon."

So much for a Jackson 5 reunion. We'll have to settle for a 50-foot Michael Jackson robot prowling the desert outside of Las Vegas instead.

Via wired.com

Michael Jackson's approved an attempt to break 'Thriller' record

Michael Jackson has approved an attempt to break the world record for dancing to his hit song 'Thriller'.

Fans and Jackson look-a-likes are set to flock to the Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York today to try to break the Guinness World Record of the most people doing a simultaneous 'Thriller' dance.

The attempt marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic video's debut - which featured Michael and an array of dancing zombies - which premiered on MTV in 1983.

While the pop icon himself won't take part, he has lent his support to the stunt, saying: "I always thought Halloween and 'Thriller' fit each other like a glove."

Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Michael - who was seen shopping for Halloween costumes with his three children, Prince Michael, 10, Paris, nine, and Prince Michael II, five, yesterday - is preparing to head out on the road with the Jackson 5.

The brothers - Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Randy and Marlon - are reportedly planning a world tour next year, for which they will be joined by their sister, 'Together Again' singer Janet Jackson.

Jermaine is quoted as saying: "This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together. It is just the timing, so what we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics."

No dates have yet been announced.

Via chinadaily.com.cn

Happy 50th Birthday, Michael Jackson!

First Madonna, now another big 80s music star Michael Jackson turned 50 today. But while her career is still going strong as she tours her latest album - things have been quiet on the Jackson front.

It's not surprising as recent years have seen him go through a very public trial, before being acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005.

Since then there have been money difficulties with his Neverland Ranch, which came close to being auctioned off this year when he owed $24.5 million on the estate.

After his days in court, Jackson has stayed away from his Neverland home to live abroad in Bahrain, France, and a castle in Ireland - but there are rumours of a comeback.

Music names like Will I Am from the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo have all been linked to stories of new Michael Jackson material.

One of the best-selling artists of all time, he started his career in family group The Jackson 5 and had huge hits with albums like Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and HI.

Via ndtv.com