Ending 18 months of seclusion in Europe, reclusive superstar Michael Jackson was on a plane to the United States late Saturday bound for Las Vegas, where he plans a comeback.

Jackson and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II were due to arrive before midnight at a private executive terminal at McCarran International Airport, sources said.


We hear that Jackson's friend, Las Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna, was instrumental in having the pop icon move back to the United States.

Reminiscent of Howard Hughes' secretive arrival in Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Day in 1966, Jackson's surprise move came after his father, Joe Jackson, vowed his son would not live in the United States again.

The 48-year-old deposed King of Pop has lived in Bahrain and a Celtic castle in Ireland since being acquitted in California of child molestation charges in June 2005.

Wishna, reached by telephone, wouldn't comment, other than to confirm Jackson was moving to Las Vegas and to say, "We are working on several projects."

Jackson has had more than a dozen No. 1 hits on the U.S. charts, the last in 1995. He has not toured since the mid-1990s.

Wishna wouldn't say where Jackson might land on the Strip. Wishna made headlines during Jackson's trial when he courted the entertainer, saying a Jackson comeback would earn a Celine Dion-like contract in Las Vegas.

Calling Jackson "one of the greatest entertainers in the world," Wishna said the singer "is poised to return to the top of the entertainment world soon."

It's the latest coup for Wishna. Two years ago, he brokered a deal that put Donald Trump's $2.8 billion Trump International Hotel & Tower on Phil Ruffin's New Frontier site.

After arriving in Las Vegas in 1999, Wishna put together a deal potentially worth $250 million for Wayne Newton at the Stardust. Wishna has dealt with Michael Flatley, Britney Spears, Richard Branson and Mohamed al-Fayed on Las Vegas deals.
[Edited 12/24/06 14:31pm]

I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really hope this is true.

I mean beyond the obvious, me getting to see Michael live in America on a regular basis, songs like "Billie Jean" (especially with the whole routine) lend itself to Vegas if you ask me.

First Elvis, then Prince, next Michael Jackson. Wow.

It's Christmas Eve and I'm not trying to get a lump of coal in my stocking ...so I'll just leave this one alone!

omg i´m scared to go into the prince:music and more forum now

:dozensofinsanefamthreadsprincevsmjinvegas:

i would go to vegas to see this show. i think mj is the only person who, if performing regularly in vegas, i would go to vegas to see.

MJ is too good for vegas... i hope he doesnt do it... and even if he does he is NOT following in Prince's footsteps

TotalAlisa said:

come on, don't say it. it may be the last chance for americans to see mj in the states.

sallysassalot said:

maybe a couple of shows but not a contract to do shows for a year...

TotalAlisa said:

all i ask for is a week long stay. just one week.

Well, I wish MJ luck with his efforts-Hope it works out for him

IstenSzek said:

TotalAlisa said:

Lot's of folks didn't want Prince to do Vegas, yet after one month of weekly shows, the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive for those who went, and no-one can say that the shows they went to had that Vegas cheesey factor to it. I'll include myself because I went opening weekend.

I say this to say, just because it's Vegas doesn't mean it will be a bad thing, only, if the artist brings something unique to the plate.

IstenSzek said:

If this deal did happen, that would be the end of Prince playing at the Rio in Vegas two nights a week. Vegas is not big enough for both of them, and P has always tried to avoid speaking Michael Jackson's name much less perform in the same city as him. And MJ get off P's jock with you naming your kids after him.

However, Prince would blow MJ out of the water whether playing instrumetals with his band, or putting on a straight forward show with dancers, ballads, uptempos, blazing guitar solos and the whole nine.

bashraka said:

does it really have to be about who's better? why do some people wnt to suck the fun out of everything?

bashraka said:

Then again it may put a fire under P's ass and get him to stop resting on his laurels.

lazycrockett said:

and MJ isn't? Please let me know what has MJ done in recent years to garner such excitement. NOTHING. Its about MJ of the past.

This isn't exciting and does smell of jock riding on some level.

whatever

And the source for this "news" is...?

luv4u said:

be honest, how many did you have to lock yet?

JasonStar said:

just what is your attraction to a pedophile anyway?

purplerein said:

I have no physical attraction to MJ - If that is what you are getting at.

However, that being said, I have nothing but STRONG respect, admiration, and love for who he is as a person. (At least of what I have learned about him and observed first hand.) And his music..well he is the best there is, if you ask me.






















































Prince is a close second.
[Edited 12/25/06 6:58am]

who he is as a person...oh lawd....

bashraka said:

If we can't get past this capitalistic, competition based, ego maniacal nonsense today, we never will. We can front all we want to but the world keeps going round and round.

vegas wouldnt know what hit it if prince and mj were both performing regularly, can u imagine the hysteria that will create, i think it would b brilliant a return to the 80s rivalry and the return of real pop music, welcome back mj!

just what is your attraction to a pedophile anyway?[/quote]

Come on that shit is old, Michael Jackson isn't a paaedophile and has never been one, hes nbeen proven innocent twice by evil people that have taken advantage of him. Michael Jackson is a very misunderstood and very talented human being

bashraka said:

for the last time, MJ's kids aren't named after prince. MJ's grandparents and great grandparents were named Prince

and as for Prince doing a better show...Mike's been doing his thing much longer than Prince, he did Vegas when he was in his 20s so I doubt Prince's show would be better than Mike's

who cares anyways, im sure people would just go see both

tane1976 said:

What's even older are the bullshit excuses his fans make up for him.
[Edited 12/25/06 13:58pm]