Kill The Beat

Tag: heart attack, michael jackson, rest in peace, rip

UPDATE: MICHAEL Jackson leaves behind more than $600m of debt alongside his vast musical legacy and legions of adoring fans.

It was hoped that his unfulfilled comeback would rake in millions and erase his financial troubles.

The King of Pop died suddenly today at the age of 50, after a career spanning 40 years that included the biggest-selling pop album of all time, Thriller.

Despite taking in hundreds of millions of dollars as one of the most successful pop musicians of all time, Jackson racked up about $US500 million ($620 million) of debt, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal earlier this month.

His top assets, however, including copyrights to his own songs and a stake in the Beatles’ song catalog, are worth more than $1 billion, according to a music industry source.

Meanwhile Brian Oxman, lawyer and Jackson family spokesman, said he had had concerns about the singer’s condition, revealing that Jackson had been taking medication.

Mr Oxman compared Jackson’s fate to the overdose death of Playboy centrefold Anna-Nicole Smith.

“The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him… if you think that the case of Anna-Nicole Smith was an abuse, it was nothing to what we have seen in Michael Jackson’s life,” Oxman told CNN.

“When you warn people that this is what’s going to happen and then it happens – where there’s smoke there’s fire.”

Jackson’s brother Jermaine fought back tears outside UCLA hospital in Los Angeles as he formally announced the death, which had been confirmed earlier by the Los Angeles coroner.

“My brother the legendary King of Pop has passed away. The family requests that the media please respect our privacy in this tough time. Our thoughts will be with you always. Love you, he said.

The cause of his death remains unclear.

Law enforcement sources told the LA Times that Los Angeles Police Department robbery-homicide detectives have opened an investigation into the death, though they stressed there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

The detectives plan to interview relatives, friends and Jackson’s doctors to try to figure out what happened. The LA County coroner’s office will determine a cause of death.

Crowds of fans have gathered outside the hospital. Others have gathered outside his home. Passersby stopped in the street in New York’s Times Square when news of the singer’s death appeared.

An image has been published of Jackson receiving treatment from ambulance officers who were frantically trying to revive him. It was apparently taken by one of the paparazzi who had been a constant presence in Jackson’s life for decades.

US TV networks later broadcast live footage of Jackson’s body being flown by helicopter from the UCLA hospital to the LA morgue.

Jackson is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.

Shock death

Jermaine Jackson said medical staff tried to revive Jackson for an hour after first arriving at his rented home about 1pm local time (about 6am AEST). He died two hours later.

TMZ were told: “When paramedics arrived, Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.” The Los Angeles Times reported Jackson was in a coma when he arrived at the hospital.

Reports from Los Angeles have said some of Jackson’s family were with him. TMZ reported his sister La Toya ran into the hospital sobbing, but was too late – her brother had already been pronounced dead.

There was “chaos” in the hospital when Jackson was brought in, TMZ reported a source as saying. It said one of the people accompanying Jackson screamed “You’ve got to save him! You’ve got to save him!” as the singer was rushed to emergency.

Motown legend Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson’s seminal album Thriller, said: “For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words.

“He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Madonna, perhaps the only artist who could rival Jackson’s fame and influence in the 1980s, said: “I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever!

“My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”

Some of the first reaction from others in the entertainment industry came via Twitter, where gossip blogger Perez Hilton and celebrities including Pete Wentz engaged a public spat over how best to remember Jackson.

Comeback

Jackson was reportedly planning a comeback and was living in LA while rehearsing a series of 50 sold-out shows in London.

However those concerts – billed as the “final curtain” – had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month. Organisers of the concerts had stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson’s health.

“Like the whole world I’m absolutely devastated and lost for words,” Jackson’s friend Uri Geller told Sky News in the UK. “He was in good health – he was rehearsing and dancing. I’m shocked.”

It has been reported Jackson was taking prescription drugs as he prepared for the tour.

Influence

Jackson was known as the King of Pop for his dominance and reshaping of the music industry in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Jackson Five and later as a solo artist. He won 13 Grammys.

Thriller remains one of the biggest selling of all time and went platinum 14 times over here in Australia. The music video for the title track was a worldwide sensation and his “moonwalk” dance and distinctive fashion became landmarks for a generation.

But his career began sliding in the 1990s, when attention turned from his musical abilities to his bizarre personal life and he earned the nickname “Wacko Jacko”.

Reports of plastic surgery, odd behaviour and surprise weddings became tabloid fodder, but allegations of improper treatment of boys turned into a media frenzy when he faced trial on related charges in 2004.

His acquittal was carried live around the world, in scenes now echoed by the crowds of fans and followers massing outside his Los Angeles home and UCLA hospital.

LAPD homicide officers would also investigate the death, but that was only because of its high profile – there was no suggestion of foul play.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25692750-952,00.html