By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES - The King of Pop is lightening his load.

At an April auction featuring more than 2,000 personal items, Michael Jackson is planning to sell his American Music Award for "Thriller," a velvet cape given to him by his children for Father's Day in 1998, a pair of rhinestone-trimmed socks from 1981, a basketball signed by Michael Jordan and his own original artwork.

The 50-year-old singer is also parting with his platinum and gold records, a customized Harley Davidson and a Rolls Royce limousine.

The five-day sale was announced in December by Julien's Auctions but the full extent of the items available wasn't known until Tuesday, when the auction house released images of the lots.

The auction begins April 21.

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On the Net:

http://www.juliensauctions.com

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music...16-ap.html

He's selling an award for Thriller?

So what's he cleaning house for anyway? Purging the clutter or trying to make some extra cash? What's the sitch?

he cannot have money (depiste what some fans say). It must be hard for him to auction a gift from his children.

graecophilos said:

Maybe not, but I doubt he's doing this for money. The auction is estimated to bring in only a couple of million USD, which is pocket change for him, and wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket to cover his debts.

My guess is that he's planning to get rid of Neverland permanently, or use it for something besides living, and needs to clear out some of the crap so he won't have to pay storage fees.

Annika said:

That's still a nice wad of change even for the wealthy. It would at least cover some basic expenses.

JackieBlue said:

Maybe so, but my point was that if he was doing it because he needed the money, there are ways for him to raise way more than that without letting go of things he wants to keep. He also wouldn't be paying god only knows how much in rent for that awful house he's living in at the moment. I'm just saying that this looks more like part of an overall down-scaling execise than a fire sale, you know?

Annika said:

Oh yeah, absolutely. He could make more with another venture than having an auction. Where does he live now anyway? Vegas? I can't keep track.

LondonStyle said:

Given to him by his children in 1998? Prince must have been only about 1 year old back than and Paris was not even probably alive?

Anaway, whatever he´s selling, I don´t really care.

http://photos.tmz.com/gal...ouseintaer

He's still in this wretched place? How gaudy.

In pictures: Jackson memorabilia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...896352.stm

I like the gloves

Veteran pop star Michael Jackson is planning to sell off more than 2000 personal items of memorabilia at an auction in April. These sparkly gloves are completely covered in Swarovski crystals.

Car Boot Sale...

JackieBlue said:

yeah, some rooms are too much, but some rooms are really lovely. And the pool ain´t bad either. How can someone who lives in this house be in financial crisis? I´d love this type of financial crisis.
[Edited 2/18/09 11:03am]

JackieBlue said:

There is absolutely NOTHING guady about that house at all.

Thats what he get for trying to live so extremely extravagantly. Love him but still..this is something to be embarassed about especially for fans.

paisleypark4 said:

I don't see why this is embarrassing. The last one was embarrassing, since he'd obviously had no say, but this just looks like house-cleaning to me. He's not the first wealthy person to have amassed too much gaudy crap.

LondonStyle said:

Here it is:

DiamondGlove said:

It's a matter of taste and Michael's taste has always been questionable. While I realize that may not be his furinture I find it gaudy.

dag said:

yes, i do love the pool, though. I wonder if that was for staging or the previous owner's stuff. I'd love to come in there with a decorator and make it a little less busy.

there sure doesn't seem to be much of anything with any real value.

a bunch of crap. especially the furniture and 'antiques'

god all the 'decorative arts' ore fitting for a landfill or a salvation army at the most.

who told him to buy all that crap? or was it given to him?

Annika said:

It's always nice to be optimistic about your fav. artist...but seriously
How is it considered "house cleaning" when his selling his award and Rolls Royce...

paisleypark4 said:

paisleypark4 said:

Is that supposed to be a replica of Disney World or something?

Cuddles said:

He bought it for few bucks and he´s gonna sell it for lot´s of money, just becuase it was his.

Mike´s never been into cars, so it doesn´t bother me that he´s selling Rolls Royce, but I don´t understand why he´s selling the award.

midiscover said:

He's selling one award and one Rolls out of many. The award was probably chosen because it would garner some attention, without being one of the legendary 7 grammy set (or whatever it was) the album generated, and he seems to go everywhere in his SUVs these days anyway. I fail to see what the big deal is?

^^^Well, maybe he's not that interested in awards after all... he said in a interview once, that he doesn't even have his gold and platinum awards on the walls!

But WHY is there one award?

Why he is getting rid of his music awards and the gold and platinum records??

More random stuff:


This photo released by Julien's Auctions shows a thirteen by ten vintage sepia photograph of Roddy Mcdowall in an elaborately decorated frame, inscribed in black ink, [b]"To Estelle In appreciation for all the lovely things you have done for me Love Roddy". The item is among many owned by Michael Jackson and being auctioned on the Auction Network on April 22- 25. A public exhibition of the items will be held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills from April 14- 21. Auction Estimate: $100 - $150.


This photo released by Julien's Auctions shows a 1911 Grosset and Dunlap edition of "Peter Pan: The Story of Peter and Wendy," by J.M.Barrie, with embossed cover and scenes from the photoplay featuring Betty Bronson, that belongs to singer Michael Jackson. Julien's Auction estimate: $50 - $100.


This photo released by Julien's Auctions shows "Prince, The Boy King", oil on linen, depicting a sleeping Prince Michael on a throne with attendants, signed lower left. David Nordahl (American, B. 1941) Auction Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000. The item is among many owned by Michael Jackson and being auctioned on the Auction Network on April 22- 25. A public exhibition of the items will be held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills from April 14- 21.


This undated photo released by Julien's Auctions shows a 1979 certificate to singer Michael Jackson in recognition of Nomination for the Best R&B Performance, Male, for his single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," presented by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Julien's Auction estimate: $600 - $800.


This photo released by Julien's Auctions shows a custom display of Michael Jackson's signature crstyal glove in five different colors. The gloves are identical to those worn by Jackson throughout his career but have been mounted to custom posed mannequin hands and mounted to a black plexi glass base with clear plexi glass cover, each glove is completely covered in Swarovski loch rosen crystals. The display gloves include: a silver spandex glove with irredescent crystals; a lime green spandex glove covered in matching crystals; a white spandex glove covered in clear crystals, an emerald green spandex glove covered in matching crystals; and a royal blue spandex glove covered in matching crystals.Auction Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000.

Hey Mike, do us all a favor and abdicate already...