KeithyT said:

duuh -- whats the web address?

CandaceS said:

He was out of his element for those shows

How cool would it be to see him sitting on a stool,performing gems like "I Can't Help It" and "Whatever Happens" without all the special effects,gimmicks,choreographed dance moves and lavish costumes?

Jacko has West End night with a Twist

Michael Jackson is to cause mayhem in the capital for the second time this week - for we can reveal he is to head into central London to see the West End production of Oliver.

Peekaboo: the Jackson family waves to the throng of fans outside the Lanesborough hotel

The singer, 50, who spectacularly relaunched his ailing musical career by announcing a 10-date tour at The 02 later this year, is to be accompanied by his children and close pal Mark Lester - who played Oliver in the 1968 film.

The current stage version features the nation's sweetheart Jodie Prenger as Nancy, while Rowan Atkinson has taken the role as Fagin.




Special guest: Mark Lester played Oliver in the 1968 film

We're told: "Michael was left on such a high after he announced his tour to hoards of fans. He has always been a massive fan of the film, so was really keen to see it on the stage.

"He has obviously been given the best seats in the house and is making it a real family outing, he considers Mark one of his best friends.

"Since he arrived he hasn't been demanding or throwing any diva strops with anyone - but it's unlikely he'll want to pop out for interval drinks."

Michael, who has attracted world-wide attention for his bizarre lifestyle, has only been in London for a short while and is staying at the Lanesborogh hotel in a £5,000-a-night suite.

Since news broke of his arrival, devoted fans rushed to the hotel and have been keeping a 24-hour vigil. Even the slightest twitch of the curtains at the star's hotelroom window draws adoring screams from the waiting pack.

Speculation over the singer's ill-health was finally scotched last night as he laughed and joked with assistants backstage at The 02 arena.

Michael has been training solidly for more than a month ahead of his "all singing and all dancing" two-hour show.

Yesterday, he took to the stage 90 minutes later than planned and told the crowd: "These will be my final show performances in London."

His last appearance in the UK was at the World Music Awards in 2006 where he mumbled his way through We Are The World before leaving the stage.

But this time, those close are saying that he is definitely back to his best.
http://www.thisislondon.c...article.do

Evvy said:

http://www.michaeljackson.com

and

http://www.michaeljacksonlive.com

Serena said:

Dear. It's called make-up. Michael Jackson has blotches on his skin due to the vitiligo / alleged skin bleach operation and covers them up with make-up. He was doing this as early as the 80s. People who have shaken hands with him tell the same thing.



This one's called "lupus", it's a disease. Also people on strong psyche medication (or any type of medication, really) might end up getting swollen hands. We know for a fact that he has been on pills for ages.

But perhaps it helps people's own ends if they are allowed to cling onto the imaginary fantasy that he has completely reconstructed himself from head to toe.

Vanilli said:

thanks!

Evvy said:

It's a place where you can go for official announcements and photos and stuff but that's not important right now.

BSOD said:

Looking closer at these pictures and the one where's his hands are kinda folded over his heart, my eyes were drawn to his hands. There's something weird about the folds, wrinkles, coloration & reflection. Even the fingertips/nails look strange and discolored. It looks to me like he has wrist length, flesh-toned, vinyl type gloves on?? In the one where he's doing the 'Nixonesque' victory sign pose, you can see a rough edge and it's not the same color as his skin. (not the string bracelets, they're probably there to distract...)

Not too long ago, on one of his trips to the doctor, the tabs had pictures of his hands looking all swollen and discolored...
[Edited 3/6/09 0:41am]

Serena said:

I think you're right!

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.

strutboy said:

Michael Jackson adds 10 more dates to comeback tour

6/03/2009

Jackomania gripped the world again yesterday, and we can reveal the comeback star is to stage a further 10 London concerts.
The dates, in addition to the 10 already confirmed by the singer this week, will be announced to fans imminently.
The news comes after nearly a million people registered for tickets – enough to fill the 20,000-capacity O2 arena at the former Millennium Dome 50 times over.
And the website to register for pre-sale tickets is reporting 14,000 hits a minute.
A source said: “There is no question Jackson has still got what it takes. The fact that he has been away for so long has only added to the clamour for tickets.”
Meanwhile friend and business manager Dr Tohme Tohme has spoken about the star’s planned comeback.
Tohme, who is staying with ***** at the Lanesborough Hotel, West London, said: “He has come back to put an end to all the bulls**t rumours about his health. I think he has answered his critics.
“He is back to his old self – he’s fine, and couldn’t be in better shape. He was away for all this time because he was dedicating his life to his children and being a single parent. This is the reason he took a break from music.
“It was his idea to make a comeback because he misses his fans and his fans have missed him.”
*****, rumoured to have caught MRSA and have respiratory problems, has always denied that he is in poor health. Last night, he was set to go to the theatre with friend Mark Lester to see Oliver!
Lester, 50, played the title role the 1969 film adaptation of the Lionel Bart musical.
At the launch on Thursday ***** vowed: “The Moonwalk is coming back.” His O2 residency begins on July 8 for 10 nights. The 10 extra shows are expected to run soon afterwards.
Randy Phillips of promoter AEG Live said that the dates are the first step of a three-year tour with plans for concerts in New York, Mumbai and Paris.
It is estimated the London shows and merchandise could net ***** up to £50million, and with a tour to follow this could rise to £280million. Tickets go on sale at 7am on March 13

source

http://www.mirror.co.uk/c...-21177334/
[Edited 3/6/09 15:19pm]

[b]And the signs were good for the star yesterday. More than 540,000 fans had registered on his official website in the first 24-hours following the announcement of his comeback, in the hope that they could get tickets when they go on sale next Friday

LondonStyle said:

Damn, they might sell out with the quickness. Get your clicker finger ready!

Axchi696 said:

omg i just nearly threw up all over my laptop

catpark said:

Damn that goretex lip insertion! He even lasered away his upper lip and tatooed a new smaller 1. How unhappy is this man?

catpark said:

Damn that goretex lip insertion! He even lasered away his upper lip and tatooed a new smaller 1. How unhappy is this man?

What's the over and under on the number of shows MJ will miss due to illness or fatigue. I will set the line at 3.5...now place your bets!

He said the singer would earn close to £50 million for the London shows alone.

LondonStyle said:

If all the tickets were priced at £75 (and they're not), then 666,667 tickets would have to be sold to generate £50 million.

OK, maybe they're thinking merchandise sales will also bring in a lot of money? Or is there going to be a corporate sponsor? Otherwise I don't see how the math works out.