Marrk said:

I thought the same thing - funny how they don't want to see the proof even when it's there.

Timmy84 said:

Why not?? He always worked with Greg Phillinganes... he was also at the MSG shows and Jennifer is just on tour in the UK and was asked about the UK shows and said, that she hopes to get the call, even though so far no one of the old band has been asked, according to her!

leecaldon said:

Yeah, in the excitement of the moment, when everybody around you is singing anyway the lipsynching is not such a big issue... but then again, I've always been front row, so I imagine for people standing farther in the back, who have to rely on the screens to see something, it's a bigger issue... and certainly it makes it very dull to listen to HIStory tour recordings! Like I said before, I hope he uses the Dangerous Tour as an example for the mix between live singing and synching... but I want him to rerecord the parts he's synching and I want him to sing the ballads live!

leecaldon said:

Correct. I took the 103 Million from the Guinness Book of Records who awarded him with this achievement for Thriller when he visited a few years back.

As for the 750 million - yeah I am at a loss as to where that figure came from. I vaguely recall him getting an Award circa 86 for sales of 120 Million from Sony just prior to Bad being released. I assumed that included all works from at least the Jacksons, and most likely Jackson 5. It is dubious that he has sold 530 million in the 20 years since.

DarlingDiana said:

Well i guess it all depends on who voted. I know when I did I put in Butterflies, Stranger in Moscow, Remember the Times. But hey, who even knows what the real setlist will be.

PatrickS77 said:

I wouldn't mind a new line up of musos - but I think Michael likes a trusted band who won't have expectations of hanging out after the show, lol.

I have to say when I saw John Blackwell playing drums for Justin Timberlake I did think hmmmmm, now how would he sound in Ricky's spot. But maybe that's better left alone save more drama on here.

What I would ultimately love would be a mix of MJ veterans and some new talent, bringing it live in ways that just encourage Michael to do his thing, and sing live. When I listen back to him doing Rock with You during the Bad Tour, or Workin' Day n Night in the Dangerous tour, I just yearn for that passion and energy in the vocals.

Swa

Swa said:

Yeah, MJ should certainly leave his fingers off John Blackwell... it's enough that he has the gall of playing the O2! I too hope for a good mix of old and fresh faces... I don't want him to have a totally new band! Well, he certainly will have a new rhythm guitarist though! It's still shocking that David Williams is not around anymore... I wanted to see him back! And a horn section truly would be nice!

Oh yes!

Plays brass slide from JAM "da da da de de da da da da doooo"

Swa said:

Yeah i remember 'Off The Wall' magazine in 1990 stating he'd sold both 100m in the 70's and 80's. i don't know where these figures come from either.

Michael Jackson : Jacko ropes in WILL.I.AM and Ne-Yo for comeback track
Posted by ranjankul

One-time op king Michael Jackson has roped in talented rockers like Black Eyed Peas’ WILL.I.AM and Ne-Yo for his comeback track.

The ‘Heal The World’ hitmaker, who will be belting out hits at his much anticipated London’s O2 Arena concert in July, wants to be ready with some foot-tapping numbers.

Michael has headed back to the studio to record thrilling tunes with the help of WILL.I.AM and Ne-Yo, reports the Daily Star.


Meanwhile, Kanye West has sent Michael a track and is currently waiting for his approval. (ANI)

http://www.entertainmenta...9031712858

Marrk said:

and nobody said that there were 10,000 people, it was around 2,000. And I know people who went.

150 is too small of an estimate, but hey, people love to come in threads about acts they don't like to talk shit

bboy87 said:

Well the figures i got was 4,000 by the time he arrived...which from the pictures it could well be because it's a large space at the fron and that was full so it's 4,000 + my guess

MICHAEL JACKSON BEGINS REHEARSALS; NE-YO, WILL.I.AM WORK ON ALBUM
Posted March 16, 2009 • 5:33 a.m.


It’s highly possible that Michael Jackson’s new 50-concert run in London is part of a three-year master plan that could net the King of Pop a staggering $500 million! I’ve talked all weekend long with my old Fleet Street pals and discovered a goldmine of gossip nuggets!

There’s a solid rumor that when Michael’s first England run ends in September and resumes again there in January that he may well do a series of U.S. concerts. Although AEG wants him to appear in Las Vegas, it’s more likely it will be in New York or L.A. where there are arenas with 15,000 to 20,000 seats.
“The London ticket sales were really a testing of the waters,” one source told me. “There’s no question that Michael and AEG are discussing a world tour now.”
AEG is the giant concert promoter that also controls the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and The Colosseum at Caesars Palace here. In fact, owner and Denver billionaire Phillip Anschutz had to give his OK and the guarantee to the company to sign Michael to the $50 million to $100 million earnings commitment in London!

To date, AEG has been able to secure insurance for only the first 10 shows. However, Anschutz is prepared to self-insure the remaining shows in Britain, but negotiations over large premiums with Lloyds of London underwriters are continuing.

Here’s what else I learned:

*Michael is now back in L.A. where the show’s strategy and rehearsals will get underway with director-choreographer Kenny Ortega. Michael is already plotting a new dance routine to outshine his moonwalk.

*Vegas superstar Ne-Yo will join with Will.I.Am to complete Michael’s album, which will be released at the same time as the first concerts. Ne-Yo is scheduled to perform in July on one of the open alternating dates at 02 Arena.


*It’s rumored that a new 3D version of “Thriller” will be produced in time for the London premiere July 8! AEG’s London chieftain Randy Phillips commented: “There will be a new Michael Jackson single before the first date.” He also hinted that the new album might even be given away free to fans who attend the shows. “Michael has got some new music, and he is looking for a new way of disseminating his material to his fans.”

*Michael was wooed for two years by AEG for the London gigs. When he decided to green light them, he told them it was for his financial future and that his children were now old enough to see him in concert. Kenny, who produced the “Sirens of T.I.” on the Strip, is promising the most elaborate and fabulous spectacular ever staged!

*Phillips revealed: “Michael wants to use some technical effects that have never been seen before.” London insiders say that could include an opening where he duplicates Criss Angel or other Strip magicians by floating over the stage and landing on a center mark!

*A small army of Michael Jackson look-alike dancers might be recruited as a backup troupe to handle the more challenging routines so the 50-year-old singer won’t be strained during the nightly 100-minute production, his first since 1997.

*First headlines out of London indicate that Rod Stewart might rent Michael his sprawling mansion on a 180-acre estate 4 miles outside London.
On a final note about the current L.A. activities of our on-and-off Vegas resident: The proposed April 21 auction of his Neverland estate can go ahead for now with promotion, advertising and catalog mailings at least until an April 3 court hearing. Apparently, Michael wanted to keep the gates to Neverland that were listed in the auction catalogs, and that is one of the sticking points.
Vegas DeLuxe will continue to monitor the auction, as well as the concerts as the July premiere ticks closer. Remember I will be there on opening night to send back live reports from the concert that you’ll only read on Vegas DeLuxe as it happens!

http://www.vegasdeluxe.co...-ne-yo-wi/

http://perezhilton.com/20...to-america

Wacko, Bringing His New Concert To America?
Filed under: Music Minute > Michael Jackson



Far exceeding our expectations, tickets for all 50 of Michael Jackson's shows at London's O2 Arena completely sold out in a matter of hours last week.

Spurred by that recent success, it seems that child-loving singer might be coming with the show to the U.S.

According to reports, once Michael's European tour ends next January, he'll do a tour in the US.

He'll likely do extended stays in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Sources say that concert promoters AEG are discussing a world tour now.

One source says, “The London ticket sales were really a testing of the waters. There’s no question that Michael and AEG are discussing a world tour now.”

Let's hope that Jackson actually makes it through all his tour dates. Right now, we're still a bit skeptical.

With all this money he'll be making, Michael can finally pay off his debtors!
[Edited 3/17/09 9:06am]

NaughtyKitty said:

that sounds crazy...bbuuuttt- doesn't the President use a double in dangerous situations?

^^This doesn't only sound crazy it also sounds like total BS!

WHO'S JUST GOT THE THANK YOU TEXT FROM MJ ....GOING TO ITUNES TO CHECK IT OUT

got the code but for some reason i cant seem to get it to download

b3xy said:

it's for the Billie Jean video

Sorry, who said there were 150 fans at the press conference? I was THERE. There were about 5000.

Ellie said:

people who like talking shit

I'm not good with judging numbers, but come on, 150 made up maybe the front 3 rows of fans in the big circle sectioned off for the people who were waiting all day. I was late as I had to work that day, so I was standing at the back with the press and there were still about 1000 people behind me after I'd stood for half an hour to wait. I'd say 5000 as that's about the capacity of the Hammersmith Apollo as it looked similar.

Ellie said:

I was told it was packed and that there were people outside. News of the conference spread quickly through all of the forums.

Jeffiner said:

Haha! With all these responses now who looks pathetic? Although, we already knew that.

I agree with Jeffiner.

eireboy34 said:

Despite the fact that Jeffiner is obviously factually wrong, and there are pictures and testimonials to prove it?

eireboy34 said:

Yes eireboy, there were 150 fans that turned up....

A predisposition to want to enflame and rattle belies a need for attention.