Despite the usual cynical reaction by orgers - perhaps sadness that our man's record run will be broken - as a person who has been directly attached to both ground events, I can confirm that this summer's comeback will go ahead. There is no rumour element to this. AEG Live and Outside Organisation are handling it - just like Prince.

What's more is that Mr. Jackson was in perfect health last week, just a few training sessions short of tour readiness.

He is chomping at the bit to get back out there, and it's not just the money or proving people wrong. Jackson lives for his fans and the live performance. He has been through very difficult times, which made getting the best out of him was unlikely in recent years. He is very eloquent on the subject. Being the consumate professional and perfectionist, Jackson now feels in the right state of mind, with the right energy and motivation to produce his very best.

You can doubt all you like, but 2009 will go down as the year that the improbable happened, the year when Michael Jackson restored his mantle as one of history's greatest and most reputed live performers.

I will post some more details about the shows themselves at a later date.

If 2007 was the year of Prince, 2009 heralds the return of a King.

bollocks!

if MJ really does do it, it will be a miracle.

And how do they plan to sell this "live" event if he is going to lipsynch?

People coming to the 02 will be expecting Live singing, not lipsynching.

I really do hope he does it live, and perhaps sacrifice some of the dancing.

Because we would love to hear his songs sung with raw vocal talent, as opposed to a prerecorded track.

strutboy said:

No news about his NEW ALBUM.....it's quite surprising!?

You mean you read this article and considered it confirmed:

http://www.telegraph.co.u...ondon.html

Anyway, MJ will need more than 6 months to pull this off otherwise he's gonna end up canceling several dates.

After 12 years of not touring, this is very lame. Of course he chooses the UK where his endless compilations still keep on selling. But staying in one venue for 30 dates and call it a tour really smells like "I'm a hasbeen so I'm afraid I couldn't sell out a full world tour".

LiveToTell86 said:

Oh please, I understand most MJ criticism on here, but Michael could sell out a full world tour more then any other entertainer. If Madonna can sell out a world tour every two years, I can't even imagine how well Michael would do

^Then why isn't he doing a world tour? Or why didn't he do it to promote Invincible?

Oh and Madonna tours every 2 years indeed, but never a full world tour. It's only 2008-2009 when she visits most of Europe, before that it was selected countries (around 5-6) and mostly the US. She's been skipping Australia for 15 years and visited Japan & South America only once in this decade.

So yeah, MJ could pull off a shorter tour like that, but the O2 decision makes it seem that he's afraid of not being able to pull it off.

Arnotts said:

But Madonna releases new hit material regulary and people know what to expect from her. Whereas many people think MJ's nearly dying. If Jackson sells out his concerts, it's party based on the curiosity factor of thousands of casual fans.

But I disagree with the one who said people expect "live" singing. I'm sure people rather see Mj dance exactly like he did 25 years ago than singing but standing quiet.

^Yeah, I agree, it will be curiosity and also to see "Billie Jean" performed in the Motown 25th Anniversary way once again.

I agree that people will expect dancing from them, but the media would have a field day saying that it was like a Britney show and he can't sing "anymore" even though HIStory tour was like that too. Not that it would hurt ticket sales, but his legacy as a live performer is going to be affected.

Sorry,but I still have my doubts that it will actually happen.I'll wait for an official statement/press release.

dirtyman2005 said:

Yes, I also would prefer him to sacrifice the dancing and sing live... but I think for the masses it wouldn't make a difference whether it's live sung or lipsynced... if it is done in a good way, meaning, if he at least would re-record his vocals prior to the shows!

LiveToTell86 said:

Oh yes... but for Prince it's okay?? Michael stated time and time again that he loves performing, but hates touring! So it would make perfect sense for him to let the fans do the travelling! Prince showed that it works!
[Edited 2/21/09 5:19am]

PatrickS77 said:

No, it's not OK for Prince either, especially not if he tours this year and ignores Europe.

Your argument of making fans travel to see him does not stand for an artist who spent the whole decade with thanking fans who stuck with him and kept promising them new albums, shows and charity singles. Sorry but fans did their share of supporting MJ this decade, so the least he could do is conceive a proper world tour instead of staying in one place and make everyone go to him. I guess he believes people will travel from all over the world to see him, as if it was 1987.

LiveToTell86 said:

Well, you don't have to tell me what we did... but you know... shows won't be good if it is a drag for him to drag his ass across the world and he's unhappy and tired every night! The happier he is, the better the show will become! And if it helps him to only do the show and stay in one place, then that's fine for me! London is one of the cheapest cities to get to! And the people, who have supported him this decade, will go to see him... especially if there are 30 shows over a 2 or 3 month period!

I see it like this, either we travel or we don't get any shows at all! And it could be worse... it could be Vegas!

But whatever... it' s not even confirmed! So why get upset now?
[Edited 2/21/09 5:37am]

PatrickS77 said:

escapism from our actual lives

LiveToTell86 said:

What bullshit.

If MJ can sell out 30 dates at a major venue like the o2 then he'd be more than able to pull in the numbers for a full scale world tour.

The reason he doesn't I suspect is because he can't be assed to travel. And I can't blame him...

^Who says he's gonna sell out 30 dates?

And touring is part of being a pop artist, it's not like people in these heights don't have their own private jet and stuff, I'm really not gonna feel sorry for either MJ or Madonna having to travel from country to country every other day.

I hope it's true, I will definitely go if it's in summer

LiveToTell86 said:

Well, no one is asking you too feel sorry!

And about the sold out... if Prince can pull it off, then Michael can easily... unless of course they think they can charge Barbra Streisand type of prices!

I wish he would tour North America, but I was planning to travel anyways this year to London, so I'm sure it'll fall at the same time and I can go

PatrickS77 said:

I don't think a MJ comeback tour ticket will cost around Ł31.21. It's gonna be closer to Madonna's prices. I admit that both ways would get criticism though.

^^^Yeah, unfortunately with him netting a rumoured 200 mio dollars tickets wouldn't be cheap... of course maybe the whole story is just bs anyway!

i dont believe this , as a fan

LiveToTell86 said:

I agree.I can't see how a musical artist can say that they "don't like touring".That's ridiculous.They got the wrong type of career if they feel that way...lol...

I hope it´s true.

SoulAlive said:

i see this differently. They might have Jets and luxuory, but this doesn't mean they are bored with that. Plus artists can't lead a regular life. They always have to worry bout their voice, about their fitness, and I fully believe that being in some hotel room after performing in front of thousand of people is a shock and can make depressive.

PatrickS77 said:

According to the
http://www.dailymail.co.u...story.html they will be charging £500 a ticket now who the fucks gonna pay that the way peoples finances are at the moment

I don't believe the Daily Mail. If they really want to charge £500 then they are not going to announce/schedule 30 dates, otherwise Michael won't perform to a full house on any of the shows.

Maybe the 30 dates is the bs part, he's only gonna do 8-10 dates and it's possible to sell that out with £500.

From The TimesFebruary 21, 2009
http://entertainment.time...768730.ece
Michael Jackson lined up for O2 concerts

Adam Sherwin and Helen Nugent
It's a tantalising prospect for the millions who worshipped Michael Jackson in his Moonwalking heyday. Could the former King of Pop retrieve his crown with a spectacular run of comeback concerts at the O2 Arena?

Negotiations are at an advanced stage, The Times has learnt, for the debt-ridden superstar to return to the stage with a residency of up to 30 concerts at the London venue.
The series, planned for the summer, would attract thousands of fans from across the world. VIP ticket packages could sell for £1,000.

AEG Live, the company that runs the 18,000-capacity arena, has reserved dates for the shows. Representatives of Jackson, 50, say privately that he is in better health than recent photographs suggest and could withstand the rigours of an intensive concert series.


Times Archive, 1972: The Jackson Five live at Wembley
Michael Jackson's twinkling feet scarcely seemed to touch the stage


“He is arguably the world's greatest entertainer and now Michael wants to seal his musical legacy,” a figure close to the discussions said.

Of course, nothing is quite so simple in the world of “wacko Jacko”. Previous plans for a live concert return after he was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, came to naught. Work on a “return to form” album with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas has stalled.

Jackson's last appearance on the London stage, at the 2006 World Music Awards, was a disaster. Expected to sing Thriller, he disappointed fans by delivering only a few lines of We Are The World, surrounded by children.

AEG, which launched the O2 in 2007 with a 21-night residency by Prince, a similarly mercurial figure, has been told that Jackson is capable of playing a full-length concert of his greatest hits. But given Jackson's recent poor health, insuring the residency against cancellations could prove difficult.

Mickey Price, senior manager at Event Insurance Services, a specialist event insurance company, said: “If Michael Jackson's health is not good, it may be that he is still insurable, but a higher rate may apply. Health is also taken into consideration, both physical and mental.” Insurers may ask Jackson to complete a medical before underwriting the event.

Although Jackson's reputation was further tarnished by the child abuse charges, his fanbase has remained loyal. A tribute musical, Thriller, has become a West End hit and a re-release of the classic Thriller album last year, to mark its 25th anniversary, sold three million copies.

Jackson's career record sales are estimated at 750 million but his live performances, which recreated the choreography of his groundbreaking videos, made him pop's premier entertainer. Between 1987 and 1997 Jackson played to more than 12 million fans in global tours that grossed $600 million.

Live performance is a vital source of income for Jackson, who is estimated to spend $35 million a year.

The most recent blow to his finances was a lawsuit from Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the second son of the King of Bahrain, who sued Jackson in the High Court for the return of £4.7 million he claims that the singer was given to revive his recording career after the abuse case. An out-of-court settlement was agreed.

Jackson could earn up to £50 million from the London shows, if the exchange rate goes in his favour. For AEG Live, a successful run of shows would seal the venue's global reputation with music's biggest names.

The venue is competing with Las Vegas resort hotels for the Jackson world exclusive, and the singer could be tempted by the $1,000-a-head prices offered in the United States.

The O2 hopes to offer tickets at a range of prices, so that fans who have waited years to see their idol can afford to attend.

A spokeswoman for AEG Live said that the Jackson concert series was “speculation at this stage”.

It would be nice for MJ fans to have some good news for once...