'09
Earlier this week it was rumored that Michael Jackson was planning a series of concerts at London’s 02 Arena. However it’s Jacko, and you can never really be sure what’s going on with him. A butterfly could land on his hand and break his arm, preventing him from going to court. Imagine what could get in the way of a concert. But the King of Pop held a massive press conference today (he was an hour and a half late; no word on the excuse) in which he confirmed the rumors, saying that he would play a series of 10 concerts. He called them his “final curtain call.”
Michael Jackson returned to the spotlight Thursday after eight years marked more by scandal than by song and told a crowd of screaming fans that he would play a series of London engagements - his first concerts since 2001.
Wearing his trademark sunglasses and a silver-embroidered black military-style jacket, the King of Pop said his series of shows in July will be his “final curtain call” in the British capital.
“This is it,” Jackson said in a brief statement punctuated by the squeals of fans who gathered inside the massive O2 Arena in southeast London. “And when I say this is it, I mean this is it.”
Although Jackson said the shows would be his last in London, his statement left the door open for further concerts elsewhere. Promoter AEG Live told the BBC the shows might be part of a bigger, final world tour. An hour and a half late, Jackson appeared at the O2 - where the series of 10 concerts are due to be staged this summer - to announce the gigs.
More than 300 journalists had been marshaled to capture the event, even though news of the concerts had leaked out to the media days before. A telegenic army of screaming fans was there to greet their star - although many in the crowd said they were there to catch a live show due to play shortly after the announcement.
[From the Huffington Post]
Ouch to that last comment. I think that was meant as a dig. While Jackson hasn’t performed in concert since 2001, he hasn’t gone on a concert tour since the HIStory World Tour from September 1996 - October 1997, when he did 82 concerts in 58 cities. So if he were to actually expand the London shows into a worldwide farewell tour, it’d be his first in 11 years. Something tells me that would take a level of endurance (and lack of hypochondria) that Jackson just can’t muster anymore.
It’ll be interesting to see how these concerts go, and if he can in fact deliver. Obviously the man’s still got his fans. But he’s also got some powerful neuroses working against him. I don’t think you can sing properly on stage while you’re wearing a surgical mask. Though he does seem to have dropped that habit lately.
It could be a really dramatic show - from the pictures below, it looks like even the press conference was quite the theatrical event. There appears to have been quite a lot of wild gesticulating, impromptu dance moves, and more than one Nixon impression. I can only imagine what Jackson will be like when he gets on stage.
Images thanks to WENN.com and BauerGriffinOnline.
Written by JayBird
Posted in Concerts, Michael Jackson
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26 Responses to “Michael Jackson announces “final curtain call” in press conference”
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WHO in their right mind would actually pay money to see this freak…bet you five the shows never come off anyway. He needs to retire his traveling freak show. Music has moved on. He is no longer relevant.
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i am literally at almost crying laughing level over that chin. cannot handle it.
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Did Huey Lewis pop into anyone else’s head?
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It was my understanding no insurance carrier would cover him … THC
Or are we taking bets on his appearance.
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I wonder why he would choose to do it in the UK rather than in the US?
He looks like a wax figure from Madame Tussauds.
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Chiara he actually got a clean bill of health (if you can believe it) yesterday so he can be insured! Makes me think most of his health issues are in his head. I will try to find the link and post it for you.
Lina I thought the EXACT same thing!
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Guess he really needs the cash.
I’ve never liked the man - there was a disturbed fella in junior high yelling “Mickael Jackson” once in a while. A bit frightening.
And an artist wearing all that leather and having a girly shrieking voice and grabbing his crotch and breathing hard ? I was genuinely afraid. Ah, teenage memories…
To be honest, Madonna too frightened the hell out of me.
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I gather the tickets will be free…
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Wow, that is…quite the chin-cleavage.
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Orangejulius, you should not make people laugh so hard!
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He just scares me.
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Although he well and truly deserves the title “Wacko Jacko”, he still had some mad skills as a singer and dancer, I’d love to see if he still has it….?
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it’s a look alike it’s probably wasent even him.
explains the NO mask. -
I wonder why he would choose to do it in the UK rather than in the US?
++++++++++++++++++++
Because no one in the US really cares that much for him to sell out 6 nights in the same venue.
He still has a huge wacko following in Europe.
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Yeah…uh. No, thanks.
If Europeans and the Japanese like funding the lifestyle of a child molester…I suppose they have that right.
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Well, I certainly don’t appreciate him being in my capital city. Think most Londoners would agree.
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Thank Goodness “this is it” - waited a long time for him to just retire. He scares my kids…
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I think he thinks because other members of his family have had a good(ish) reception here on UK reality tv etc, he’ll be received in the same way. He sounded like a confused delusional old man yesterday. Think I’ll pass.
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hm — seems he goes to “Yabba Cadaver ‘Do’s” to get his hair done.
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Such a sad case…he’s obviously mentally ill. Hope he can handle the pressures of a tour.
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Aspen, some respect for us europeans,please. Most of us “normal” people do not like Wacko at all.
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I’m paraphrasing Mario Cantone but how ironic that Michael Jackson ended up with a clitoris for a nose.
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ROTFL @ mE !!!
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I’m sure I can’t be the first person to notice this — he really looks like the Crypt-Keeper doesn’t he?
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hasss que mal por ustedes los que sabemos de musik sabemos que michael es el mejor y aun que se encuentre en el otro mundo para nosotros no esta muerto ok
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During which, the rest of his nose will fall off…
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