Michael Jackson dies of reported cardiac arrest at 50

RIP MJ. I'm blasting speed demon as i type

50 is such a short life but gorgeous life.

...a very controversial life, sadly to be remembered for his downfall after his dealings with a young boy.

Much like many men my age are now reflecting back upon our infatuation with Farrah Fawcett and that famous red bathing suit poster we once had, I'm certain many women are no sadly reflecting upon their childhood crush on their Michael Jackson posters.

RIP Michael. Your music wasn't my style but talent is talent and you had it.

Taka

although he had a very up & down life, he put out some fantastic music since he was a kid & was a great showman. RIP MJ

An incredible entertainer is dead.

The only thing history owes the dead is the truth. I'm bracing myself for the outpouring of phoney grief and sweeping of all his outrages under the carpet.

Dang...life is too short but my what a ride he had.

Wow, didn't see this coming. With Farrah, I think everyone was expecting it, but nonetheless. Although not a fan of his now, I, like most of my schoolfriends, were real fans during the early eighties before all this wackiness set in. I hope that he really has found some sort of peace now. To me, he died many many years ago. Both he and Farrah died too young. RIP to both of them.

Yeah, like many stars, Jackson's life got really Bizarre after a while. I am sure the psychologist would have had a field day. But even with all of these recent things, I am still kinda shocked and a little saddened that such a legendary Icon has passed so suddenly.

this line sums it up.

"Over the years, his skin became lighter and his nose narrower."

will they be putting that one his tombstone?

he became the butt of many jokes. he caused himself and others a lot of grief. he was hounded and twisted, loved and hated. he was used and abused and he used and abused.

but he made some great music and he was something else.

Though I am also not a big fan, I respected his work and the pioneering efforts he made for music. It was sad to see his decline in recent years. No matter what his faults, he made a lot of people very happy world wide and his songs will be listened to for many years to come.

Rest in peace Michael. I hope what comes next brings you more peace than this world seems to have.

End of an Era ! Thank you Michael, you gave is so much.

My goodness. . . A moment of silence for the icon of pop music.

MSNBC saying he left the remaining Beatles catalog in his possession to Paul McCartney in a will written in January.

A true icon till the end

sometimes you just got to know when to beat it

RIP

My guess is Kim Jong IL, maybe Steve Jobs

Michael Jackson contributed more to music in the 80s than any other. RIP

I don't think it's like Kennedy was assassinated at all, but it's definitely the case that a very popular, and in many ways important, icon has passed away.

RIP. Hopefully you find more peace than you found persecution here (for crimes you didn't commit).

What an amazing life he had. Thankyou for the entertainment you gave. A great singer and a mesmerizing dancer. Your death will catapult your legend status to even greater heights. What is the bet a new "Graceland" appears in the very very near future. Perhaps the company who purchased his ranch will turn it into a museum and rake in the cash just as they did with Elvis.RIP

A very sad day...Rest in peace MJ...We will miss you. Thanks for all you have given us.

What an amazing person you are Michael. You will surely missed. My favorite of your music will always be "Heal the Wrold". RIP my Idol.

R.I.P

He was soooo overrated. I suspect suicide. 50 shows! Maybe he couldn't face the music.

RIP MJ. You will be missed

hey. I listen to death metal, hip-hop, industrial, and all sorts of stuff inbetween. But it all started with Micheal .my first cassete. RIP for sure. he led a very troubled life it seems. I hope he had some fun along the way.

"He was soooo overrated..."

Some 750 million albums sold... I think that says enough.

not mike. its too soon

he was selling number 1 hits when he was like 10.

im a grown man...... but i still feel sad.

I still think the "Off the Wall" album was his best. He had some good producers, most notably Quincy Jones. I'm sure President Obama will make a statement. They were of the same generation, more or less.

he couldnt have touched the kids. who in the world would rather take a cash settlement ranther than seeing him in jail for touchin their kids. its insane the world would still beleive that thoes allegations were true

Noooooo!

Bit of shock. Not my taste in music but undoubtedly a great talent.

RIP both to Michael and Farrah Fawcett.

sorry but for me it is bigger news that Farrah Fawcett died :-(

MJ lost my respect years ago - but RIP

What a shock. Farrah Fawcett, you could kind of see that coming. But MJ. Totally from left field. He was such a star, and then a falling star, falling to earth, burning and crashing. He gave up his childhood to become a legend, singing ABC and Never Can Say Goodbye. Who can forget such a sweet little voice singing "Ben"? By the time he put out Off The Wall, he was teh hotness, all grown up. He was irresistible then, and sooooo talented, his voice and his moves. Thriller took him to the state of being a demi-god, and that kind of fame would've been hard for anyone to take. Whether he was a child molester or not, I don't know. He definitely was a talented, tortured person on a strange journey through life. RIP, Michael. The pain that was life is all over for you now.

He should have died in the 80s. Perhaps 86 or so. Then the Icon would have been more or less untarnished. What did he really do in his later life except provide circus sideshow-like fodder for the global media?

RIP. Thriller was my first cassette and the reason why I started to learn English by myself when I was just 7. Oddly enough, I turned on the Japanese TV and he is not to be seen anywhere. I guess the drinking of a local forgettable idol is a good reason to stop all scheduled programs but not the death of a 20th century universal icon. Do I live in a planet called Japan and I did not know? Where is the rest of the world?

Regardless of how his life spiraled into oddity, Michael Jackson was a music pioneer, excessively talented and was a massive force within the music industry. Off The Wall and Thriller were genre changing albums, and just pain brilliant. Just try, dear readers of JT, to focus on that aspect of his life, if possible. I know it will be hard.

he must have been under huge pressure ahead of these 50 London concerts. many people were wondering what kind of performance he could produce and could he really last all of the dates. this must have contrubuted to his death.

Technologocal advancement does not help to refine the minds of some people.

If you have nothing good to say then it is better that you be silent. Whether you like it or not MJ made a name. When he was suspected of the said crime, many people in his country try to find out the truth. They did not cover it up and they never said that it was acceptable.

RIP Michael. You died a long time ago as someone else said. I don't know what it was that died in your name though.

What is left out of this blurb is the well-known fact that he paid millions to the family for their silence.

The boy's allegations came out under sedation, not the most reliable way of getting the truth. Testimony about molestation gotten by hypnosis and drugs is no longer considered true memory. Too many cases have occurred where the claims of abuse were found to be totally unfounded, planted by the suggestions of the therapist.

"Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old child named Jordan Chandler and his father Evan Chandler.[80] The friendship between Jackson and Evan Chandler broke down. Sometime afterward, Evan Chandler was tape-recorded saying amongst other things, "If I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever...Michael's career will be over".[81] A year after they had met, under the influence of a controversial sedative, Jordan Chandler told his father that Jackson had touched his penis.[82] Evan Chandler and Jackson, represented by their legal teams, then engaged in unsuccessful negotiations to resolve the issue in a financial settlement; the negotiations were initiated by Chandler but Jackson did make several counter offers. Jordan Chandler then told a psychiatrist and later police that he and Jackson had engaged in acts of kissing, masturbation and oral sex, as well as giving a detailed description of what he alleged were the singer's genitals.[83]

An official investigation began, with Jordan Chandler's mother adamant that there was no wrongdoing on Jackson's part. Neverland Ranch was searched; multiple children and family members denied that he was a pedophile.[83] Jackson's image took a further turn for the worse when his older sister La Toya Jackson accused him of being a pedophile, a statement she later retracted.[84] Jackson agreed to a 25-minute strip search, conducted at his ranch. The search was required to see if a description provided by Jordan Chandler was accurate. Doctors concluded that there were some strong similarities, but it was not a definitive match.[84]

Didn`t expect this. Despite all the stories that nobody really knows the truth to, Jackson was the forerunner of the multi-talented pop genre. He could make music, dance up a storm and put it all into one hell of a performance. He also contributed to countless organisations in need. Without question his music/legacy is here to stay.

I have never bought a MJ album and was not a fan of his music, but he had kept me entertained with his 'Wacko Jocko' antics over the last two decades, so I am gonna miss him. I don't like to think he was killed by the media attention, but......

I remember when the Thriller album came out and it was acceptable for rock fans to admit they liked it because Eddie Van Halen played the solo on Beat It. Brilliant marketing and music.

RIP. Truly a talent and cultural, not just that, a historic icon has been lost.

And the japanese students in the dorm room next door have started what might be an all night crying festival. First my mom, now this.

I completely forgot that Van Halen played on that album. That was sheer genius. The fact that the album went platinum over 20 times testifies to that genius. I dont think there will be another artist like this one for another 20 years or so.

the day music died? he hadn't made a decent song in 20 years, you can still enjoy his music. sorry he's gone but far from a life changing event, he was pretty much gone decades ago.

So sorry tolose King of Pop of modern era. We may have another MJ in next century. God bless his soul.

the news coverage in the states has been absolutely ridiculous.

I'll admit, I am completely thrown for a loop by this. What a tragic end for such a talent.

He had said a few months ago he was at the end of his life. The exact reasons why are his problem and should remain private, but I didn't expect him to reach a very old age.

I was not a fan, I think he did weird things, but surely, few kids have been as much abused as him, few people have been sold like laundry powder as much as him. He never seemed to find happiness. So RIP.

I hope his kids can escape the custody of the Jackon herd.

this is really sudden. my colleages and i were just talking about him yesterday. although i'm not a fan, i am aware of his valuable contributions to the world of music. i don't think anyone can top his achievements. RIP King of Pop.

What an entertainer! Personal life was a disaster. Fame and Fortune doesn't bring happiness, but it sure can help:-)RIP

I did hear somewhere a few years back that he`ll either pass on or be admitted.. RIP white brutha.

RIP

MJ is dead, okay, he made some album made tons of cash lost tons of case. Got accused of being a molester but was found not guilty once and paid out the other.

Then he dies of a heart attack...

RIP...

I for one was never a MJ fan, I liked some of his songs but never bought one album of his. I found his music too poppy for my taste.

When Ozzy, tony Iomi, or Dio passe away that to me will be a sad day.

But MJ, well he will be missed by some people but not I.

RIP MJ.......

Wow, this would have generated even more interest on live TV than OJ's Bronco car chase down the freeway!

What's everybody's top 3 MJ tracks? Mine are:

Michael Jackson's passing is not one I'll mourn. Hope McCartney gets his songs back.

"From fairest creatures we disire increase, that thereby beauty's rose might never die". I wish the news would cover geopolitical and economic issues like they are covering Michael's death. I don't think that Mike would want this much attention for his death if he were alive. RIP Michael.

Thriller - biggest selling album in history. Estimated sales of 50 million.

That's talent.

Wonder how many other people are going to watch some MJ videos on Youtube today.

I saw the BBC documentary that proved the allegations of child abuse were all false. RIP MJ.

May Allah forgive his sins or give him a rebirth. We live in a illusive world without any value and meaning.

THANK YOU MICHAEL JACKSON! Your music and exceptional showmanship will forever be a part of many people’s live. Regardless of some of the negative things said here (yes everyone is entitled to an opinion) your mark on life will always inspire the chosen few in the entertainment world to reach higher.

Why are people saying thank you and rest in peace etc???? He can't here you!

RIP Michael, the genius will be remembered, the rest should be forgotten. But common, what is Mariah doing in that top for God's sake!!

Rest in Peace. We will all miss your music

simply cant stil believe he is no more with us!!! such a heart breaker.....

A tragic end to a tragic life. At least now you can rest, man.

Grown men don't have sleep-overs with children. Fathers don't dangle their babied from balconies. Its up to someone else to decide now.

He will never be forgotten in the music industry or by anyone who enjoys music anywhere in the world. He had been invited to be involved in the INIRA CD 4 The Troops project recording at Bryan Adams' Warehouse Studio in Vancouver BC but due to touring he was not able. He will be there in spirit. RIR. Gone but will never be forgotten. From your friends at INIRA and INIRA.orgThank you for your many positive contributions not only to music but to the world as a whole. You brought people of all nationalities together and truely wanted to "Make This World A Better Place".

He died at the age of 50 years, when his hit album, "Thriller" (the best-selling album of all time), has sold an estimated 50 million copies, and as he was rehearsing hard for a comeback with an unprecedented 50 concerts scheduled. Strange how "50" keeps recurring.....

rip michael. i will always remember your thriller.

Grown men don't have sleep-overs with children.

It was for Make-A-Wish type, he had kids undergoing or recovering from cancer to Neverland for sleepovers. He redid rooms in his house to make it easier for the sick kids to stay. Here's a link with a list of the charities he either contributed to, or as active in...

http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/charities.html

Sorry 'it was for either Make a Wish or that type of thing,'

Deleted a few words, sorry.

Either you liked him or not, from now on, he will live as a legend in the history.

The legend has already started, like it or not.

Michael is alive and living in xyz...

He's a legend, excellent dancer, and great singer. As for the allegations we'll never know whether it was true or not. But watch a few of his old videos and hopefully people will remember him for the innovation and fantastic showmanship he brought to the music industry. That man could dance and had a great voice.

i'm actually surprised he died a normal death

I was so looking forward to his comeback in London.

R.I.P.

People type whatever you like about him, but for me he is of the best artists ever. I'm only talking about his huge singing talent. Maybe he did a few things that were wrong, but maybe he didn't. But I won't judge that because he also made songs about world peace. That counts for me too. So everyone has his own view on this. Which is good, noone is totally perfect. But one thing is clear, Michael Jackson always knows how to get the spotlights on him, negative or positive. Anyways when it comes to his music I think he's one of the best artists. R.I.P. Michael Jackson

Michael jackson is great talent of music in 1980s.

All the money he helped make in the world,yet michael passes away at 50.

Money did not buy him his health.

Fame that michael had, also brought many woes and also did not buy health.

He should not have tried to restart the concerts in UK,if he was not healthy.

He was too rich and too famous for a black guy in the peak of his career in a racist America. They pushed him down, like another black Michael. Yes, he was a freak. But a victim too.

"his infant son, Prince Michael II"

Anyone know who this kid's mother is?

MJ was weird, but an excellent entertainer. RIP.

He was too rich and too famous for a black guy in the peak of his career in a racist America. They pushed him down, like another black Michael. Yes, he was a freak. But a victim too.

Exactly HOW was he "pushed" down by racist America?

"Exactly HOW was he pushed down by rascist America?"

He wasn't, of course.

Michael Jackson will live forever

The heart attack could be a cooked up story. I always thought that Michael would choose his departure time rather than grow old. It could well be the case. However I did shed a slight tear for him. There will be a lot of news about his estate and fighting to cover his debts in the coming years.

Here's a video in tribute to Thriller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbvP7dT3Dx0

I am assuming that the moderator was not so petty as to delete my post, and that I didn't press the submit button properly.

Pukey - that's a big assumption to make.

I was amazed by this news. Apparently there is speculation that he was abusing painkillers again, which explains his recent frail, disoriented appearance.

His doctor was with him when the heart attack struck. There is speculation that he "kept" a doctor who wrote prescriptions as required, for a retainer, in much the same way that Elvis did.

Which is bad. It's bad. Really, really bad.

I, like most posters on here, have nothing relevant to add. That is all.

I think it's the more-than-irreverent and downright insulting calling people pedo-freaks and stuff that's gotten people's comments banned. Not just Michael Jackson either, to be fair to the mods, it happened on the Carradine thread as well.

I wasn't a huge Jackson fan at all after Thriller, and I certainly questioned some of his unusual tastes, but there are more than a few posters on here willing to carry on the Jackson mudslinging for things he was proven innocent of, and that's just not right.

In other words, speak 'negative' all you like, but make it constructive.

No only has the world lost a great performer, 3 young children have lost their father.

They have had a hard upbringing, dealing with his eccentricites, and looking completely caucasion, despite having an African American genetic father.

Wacko Jacko Heart Attacko?

I dont think so. He was so into being super fit, diet was superb. I suspect he was mixing his own medications and like the King went down for the count due to his own addictions.

He was a strange one but became an international phenomenon after Thriller. He owned the 80s with his music.

Really sad, eccentric he may have been but at his height he absolutely changed the music business. I remember when I was a kid going to a friend's house (we didn't have cable) to watch the premier of the Thriller video on MTV. It was the coolest thing we'd ever seen. RIP Michael, you'll be missed.

What about Steve Austin's bird? ...both Farrah and Micheal, what a cruel day.

I wasn't a huge Jackson fan at all after Thriller, and I certainly questioned some of his unusual tastes, but there are more than a few posters on here willing to carry on the Jackson mudslinging for things he was proven innocent of, and that's just not right.

In his first trial he settled out of court. Which should be a good warning light that something odd did happen.

The second trial the boys parents were out for money. so of course he would be acquitted.

I think the fact that a 40 year old man sleeping in the bed with a child whom is not his own is wrong. I mean just look at the documentary and tell me something wasnt quite wrong.

"I mean just look at the documentary and tell me something wasnt quite wrong."

Well, if he was doing anything he won't be any more.

I have to give him an RIP though. A fantastic artist in the 1980's. He should have died then from an excess. Much like Eric Clapton should have during the seventies with 6 grams of coke in his right nostril driving a Rolls into a swimming pool.....

Let these stars get old they generally become embarssing, as did Jacko.

RIP all the same.

He was biggest icon of american (european) racism fight and full cultural acceptance of black performers. His own skin torture taught hard lesson for racist america.

He made sure that his own children did not have to go through the same, by breeding white children. They almost appear to have skipped right out Sweden or somewhere, rather than looking like typical mixed race kids.

Keep in mind MJ didn't bleach his skin, he suffered from a rare skin disease visilago which causes people to lose pigmentation of their skin. He apparantly also suffered from PTSD and lots of depression as well.

Its interesting that someone else had to talk MTV into airing Michael Jacksons videos because he was black and they were still pretty prejudiced in the 80s with TV programs.

sorry its called vitilago

He also had a disease which made his nose appear non African, in fact plasticky looking and pointy. Not cosmetic surgery, according to Jacko though, of course he always told the truth...

Only in America can someone be born a poor black kid, and die a rich white woman.

-some are saying it was demerol.

-Janet also has the same skin type/issues as Michael. Some diseases (like histocytosis) can also ruin (a sort of scarring) the pigment in the skin = white dots.

Michael never had the ability to "grow up" = in many ways he was still a child. You need to appreciate and understand that. =Michael was a 50yr old, 13yr old.

My first thought was that I saw Thriller on MTV, but now I think I saw it on a show called "Friday Night Videos." Me and a buddy of mine stayed up late just to see the video.

If you were a kid in suburban America in 1983 then MK is part of your childhood. Thinking about the Thriller album pretty much takes you right back down memory lane....

I watched this live on TV way back when....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZt_qpZ1N3o

Keep in mind MJ didn't bleach his skin, he suffered from a rare skin disease visilago

Have you ever seen cases of Vitiligo? Do a search of images. Physicians who have commented on MJ say his case is not Vitiligo, but likely bleaching.

@Superlib; "......If you were a kid in suburban America in 1983 then MK is part of your childhood. Thinking about the Thriller album pretty much takes you right back down memory lane...."

same goes for canada.

Yeah yeah.... if it wasn't for Michael Jackson we'd all be racists.. enough already..

yawn

i read reports of MJ having 100 unreleased songs. songs he wrote recorded for his kids. these will now be released. i can't wait. i'm not a MJ fan per say. but these songs could wind up being very different than his other material. this could be very interesting.

I think he ran out of inspiration years ago. This must have been his greatest worry with the 50 concert tour coming up in a couple of weeks.

He was a nicon and a juggernaut if entertainment when I was in Jr. High and High School. I liked a lot of his songs, but wasn't a huge fan. Nevertheless, this is a huge tragedy. I first heard of his death during a free period at the school I teach in, and was stunned. As with 9/11 and the Challenger disaster, I'll always remember where I was when I heard aobut Jackson's passing. My prayers are with his family...

Michael left such a huge number of great songs ,with great messages.

His deeds is huge and beyond normal person . His songs,messages and great energy music speak for themselves.

His messages was for good, for all mankind care.

Shower all blessings,Lord, to Michael.

He made good and was never bad, even via press made so called protrayal as bad record .

He is just made good genius music and and album called Bad.

Bad press always follow people like Michael Jackson and his genius music.

This is big business for the false gossip in Gossip Press/Gossip Media.

You don't pay $20 million dollars to your victims because you're innocent. He was a pedophile. He'll burn in hell for what he did and the lives he ruined. So celebrate all you want, you should mourn the lives he devastated for life.

Have you ever seen cases of Vitiligo?

I have, and many people with it put on make up to unify the color of their faces. It takes years for the face to become completely white, the color disappears in patches.

What will happen to his kids? Did he have death insurance? Can they continue to live in the Holmby Hills mansion? I sure hope so.

his ex, their mother will get custody.

Michael Jackson arrived at the Pearly Gates and St. Peter said, "Beat it. Just beat it."

You don't pay $20 million dollars to your victims because you're innocent. He was a pedophile. He'll burn in hell for what he did and the lives he ruined.

if you believe in hell you've probably heard, 'don't judge lest ye be judged.'

i give him the benefit of the doubt. he was certainly strange but where that strangeness went has never been proven. and they did try.

it will be interesting to see if any of the kids in question come forth as adults to tell their stories.

Hey, not many caring parents would accept 20 million dollars for having their kid scarred for life. I personally would want to see someone carted off to jail knowing full well what happens to pedophiles in prison. This just goes to show that it is all about the green for some folks. Anyway, R.I.P. Mr. Jackson. I am an 80s kid and have many fond memories of the songs you wrote and the amount of good that you did despite those who tried to taint you. We all know that the brighter any light shines, the darker the shadows around them grow.

Michae Jackson is forever via his music.

His songs are forever good and full of energy, to listen .

The songs made by his band ,is timeless classics ,more so now.

Hate him and kick him,but nothing will stop what he started.

More so after his disapperance.

His record of over 750 million albums sales,it will only go higher now.

This is 1 album bought for every 7 person.

The 80's music revolution generation ,is what michael and his fans are about.

He will be now be as famous as Elvis for the 80's teen generations.

Elvis graceland fans was there.

Now make way for huge Michael jackson neverland fans.

Graceland for elvis and neverland for the 1980s teen generation.

Neverland is a place, where people are immortally young forever via michael's music.

it's interesting. obama hasn't come out and made a direct statement on MJ. he only released one through his spokesperson. MJ was too controversial.

i guess he doesn't have to worry about the black vote.

oh michael jackson thank you so much, i hope you happpy in paradise because you have been my inspiration, you are the real king of pop everbeen, arigatou gozaimasu jacko san, sayounara.

I surprised myself, cried some real tears...there are no 'famous' deaths that touched my heart, not at all, not one bit, except whacko Jacko's. I suppose he seems to me to be the most human, having made such diabolical and offensive mistakes, so publicly, but having enough of whatever it is that the world requires, to keep on bouncing straight back, and survive the worst of the world's disapprobation. Imagine, jumping around like that in serious pain a lot of the time. Of his music, I know almost nothing, a bit irritating, is my impression, his werewolf and zombies, dull, but his energy, and dance and total committment.... plus all those errors = one memorable man, who never gave in or gave up. RIP, Whacko.

Can I say the unsayable? I did not care for MJ's music and cannot name anyone from my contempories who ever was a fan. He did not invent pop music, but he did produce the most popular music of the 1980s. However, how often do you actually hear Jackson songs being played nowadays (prior to his death)? Hardly ever.

When I was growing up in the late 80s, Jackson was music for early teens, housewives or easy listening fans (sorry for the ageism, sexism and elitism) and by the 90s, he became a laughing stock.

Ah so....sounds like blasphemy, but I totally agree with you. I am an 80's teen too, and never got the Michael J thing. Now he's departed, he has turned from Wacko Jacko to Saint Michael overnight. Death becomes him.

Can I say the unsayable? I did not care for MJ's music and cannot name anyone from my contempories who ever was a fan. He did not invent pop music, but he did produce the most popular music of the 1980s. However, how often do you actually hear Jackson songs being played nowadays (prior to his death)? Hardly ever.

When I was growing up in the late 80s, Jackson was music for early teens, housewives or easy listening fans (sorry for the ageism, sexism and elitism) and by the 90s, he became a laughing stock.

Listen, Ah So...you just don't get it. Saint Michael sold 750 Mill. records, and was the most popular artist in the 80s, therefore you can not say anything negative about him. He will soon be canonised. He pushed the boundaries of modern pop music, allowing white people to listen to the music of the black people, on MTV. And those little boys were just asking for it.... Saint Michael could turn water to wine, walk on water, and possibly turn flour into cocaine. How dare you question the genius of Saint Michael?

easychord2: "He was a pedophile."

Yeah? You saw him fondling kids' genitals, did you?

He was weird, but I don't think he was a pedophile. In any case, he was found innocent of such charges.

why so sad for something that already finished 20 years ago? you still have the CDs? what had he done for you lately? if you want to get sentimental and remember the good times that's fine. RIP. for me the 80s belonged to Public Enemy and Black Flag, his music was barely a blip

"his music was barely a blip"

Yeah, he only had the best selling album of all time.

barely a blip TO ME. I liked the scorsese video though

Yeah, he only had the best selling album of all time.

Exactly. I am now getting worried about Meat Loaf - the 4th best seller of all time, at around 45mill records. Mr. Loaf's music changed the world, and is continuing to do so. I mean, everyone can sing at least a few Loaf songs, the guy inspired a generation. When Mr. Loaf dies - perish the thought - I am bracing myself for a similar seismic rocking of the world. Also, the legends that are the Backstreet Boys, coming in at number 8... lets all pray that one of those legends don't drop off the twig soon, riots and pandemonium will ensue all around the world.

GET A GRIP, PEOPLE! WACKO WAS TO MUSIC WHAT McDONALDS IS TO FOOD.

Yeah, he only had the best selling album of all time.

so what? since when has more always meant best? coke is better than root beer? carrot top is better than bill hicks? most people would say 'yes'. most people don't think much.

Barley a blip? I am confused. When did a 20x platinum album qualify as "barley a blip"?

can't you people read?

"WACKO WAS TO MUSIC WHAT McDONALDS IS TO FOOD"

Yeah, Wacko and McD's rules.

I am now getting worried about Meat Loaf - the 4th best seller of all time, at around 45mill records. Mr. Loaf's music changed the world, and is continuing to do so.

BurakuDes - thanks for your witty posts on things. The following is a quotation from and editorial in today's (London) Times (OK Mod?):

"...facially reconstructed lady boy who prances about making high-pitched squeals while scratching his crotch like some gibbon with a bad case of fleas."

"Try humming thriller. You can't. It's dirge and the melody goes nowhere."

Sarge:

He was weird, but I don't think he was a pedophile. In any case, he was found innocent of such charges.

I hate to appear to split hairs, but he was found "not guilty". Not guilty is not proof of innocence.

25 million buys a lot of silence.

Like the man said....

"When you take a look behind and don't like what you find, there's something you should know"

facially reconstructed lady boy who prances about making high-pitched squeals while scratching his crotch like some gibbon with a bad case of fleas."Try humming thriller. You can't. It's dirge and the melody goes nowhere.

Ouch. That's nasty - but so true!

As for mega-star singer-celebrity deaths...how about if Michael Bolton tragically died? I am starting to fret about the wailing and gnashing of teeth that will ensue should this tragedy unfold. Not to mention the endless playing of his top-selling classic mega-hits for weeks on radio. He sold tens of millions of albums, therefore his music has certainly changed the world for the better.

The more we know,the less we understand MJ.

MJ came from providence,and went back to providence.

Let's do more for the living and heal the world,cause life goes on.

If we keep carrying grief/hate,it will eat us up inside.

Forgiveness is best way,it does not eat us up,inside.

There many great musicians still alive in living world, in big entertainment world,stiil making great albums.

Let's do more for others,for the living.

Grand design is made by the Lord.

MJ paid millions in hush money to avoid having to go to court. Why pay millions if your not guilty, especially in the case of child molesting. No matter what his accomplishment were, he was still a child molester and therefore not worthy of praise.

He was told to pay by his lawyers that's why. They thought he didn't need the negative press. As for the others, do you know why they tell you not to pay off hostage takers? Because then every Tom, Dick and Harry comes out of the woodwork to make a quick buck. MJ is simply a case-in-point. Those people came to MJ with their hands out first, they gave him a price for silence. If you truly think he did something to your child, would the first thing you'd do be to ask for millions not to take him to court? I know I wouldn't.

The boy man never matured beyond the age of 12 it seems. The fake marriages fooled no one, he did that to cover his boy toy habit.

However it will be his music that will be remembered. No one cares that Beethoven was a freak or that Hemmingway offed himself. Their art lives on.

Ah_so:

"I hate to appear to split hairs, but he was found "not guilty". Not guilty is not proof of innocence."

Maybe not here in Japan, but in the USA, it is. It is Innocent until PROVEN GUILTY. Michael Jackson was never proven to be a pedophile, so history must look at him as he was: tried, but found innocent (not guilty).

True he was found not guilty as a pedophile, but did admit sleeping with children in his care as well as giving them alcohol..

Rythm music dancer MJ,is dancing more in upper world.

No one can kick him,hate him or anything else him,he is gone to upper world.

Are Pepsi cola sales going up or down?

Now they will have to find a new living icon ,like Michael.

Coca Cola fans ,must not miss the loss of competition.

Maybe not here in Japan, but in the USA, it is. It is Innocent until PROVEN GUILTY. Michael Jackson was never proven to be a pedophile, so history must look at him as he was: tried, but found innocent (not guilty).

There is a legal presumption of innocence, but it still does not follow that a person found to be "not guilty" is found "innocent". The verdict of "not guilty" is an option, whereas "Innocent" is not an option, for the very fact that jurers are not asked to determine innocence, but rather if guilt can be demonstrated "beyond reasonable doubt". This is a significant distinction - see OJ Simpson, who was found not guilty of murder but was later held to be the cause of death in a civil case, where the burden of proof is less.

I do not know if Jacko was guilty in this case, but am fairly sure that his urges were not those shared by the vast majority of the adult population. Don't know if he even had any "urges" beyond the mild curiosity of a child.

I am sorry that he has died. He was a pathetic individual who never seemed happy with himself. Even though he was found not guilty of the pedophilia I was never comfortable with the verdict. In fact, for some reason I was never comfortable with him and his music. I never permitted my son to listen to his music. He was banned from my home way before all the stuff about the boys became public. Again, I am sorry that he has died and my condolences to the family. I can only imagine their grief.

All the hating on this article needs to be taken elsewhere, a hater forum or something. Let's celebrate someone whose powerful and evocative music lifted so many hearts.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if MJ had serious psychological issues as a result of not only being a child star, but being a star who never, ever left the limelight since those days.

And I feel sorry for your children, OhioDonna, for being deprived the chance to make their OWN decisions about an artist and his work, and the fact that they were probably subjected to all sorts of awkward moments with friends when it was revealed that they didn't know his songs during his heyday.

All this does bring around an interesting topic, though: the current generation of kids and their exposure to MJ's music. I've no doubt that like the Beatles, his music will continue to live on and be used in many contexts, but what will remain known about him? I showed a book on Elvis to some Japanese jnr high school students not 15 minutes ago, and they didn't know who he was. And chatting about MJ to a 23-year-old here, he was only familiar with MJ and when I showed him a clip from 'Beat It', he said the song was not familiar.

Ah_so: "I hate to appear to split hairs, but he was found "not guilty". Not guilty is not proof of innocence."

Well, show me a court-room that declares somebody 'innocent' when reading the verdict. As far as I know, it's always 'not-guilty', and as such, that equals 'innocent'. If the media decided to split-hairs later and word things 'not-guilty' as opposed to 'innocent', that's different. You may as well ask the court to change the verdict of 'guilty' to 'not-innocent' if you want to read so much into things.

Thank god loads of innocents are now safe from this menace. His child abuse must have harmed so many and he didn't serve time becuse of his money and fame, same as OJ. He's gone, get over it folks.