SquirrelMeat said:

.....Who's Bad.....

He's just leaving his hotel now. Although he is in a bus, I hear he is going to tranfer to a helicopter for the O2 arrival. He's late. No suprise.

Michael: 'Doing It For My Kids'

So why is Michael Jackson committing to his summer shows in London? Other than money?

A source close to him tells me, "Michael’s doing it for his kids. He wanted them to see, at least once, what he did for a living."

And so maybe he shall if everything goes mostly as planned. I’m told that Jackson’s old musical director Kenny Ortega has already been contacted to direct the show. The production itself will be handled out of AEG Live’s London offices.

If all goes according to plan, Michael’s comeback will also be a coup for AEG Live’s Randy Phillips. It was Phillips who got this ball rolling two years ago, talking to Jackson when the O2 Arena was still the Millenium Dome and making the transition to rock venue.

But still, there may be trouble ahead. I’m told that Raymone Bain, Jackson’s former general manager and publicist, is thrilled that Jackson is heading back to the stage. But Bain, like so many former Jackson advisers, may soon make a legal claim against the former pop star. Bain’s friends say that she was the architect of the deal with AEG Live back when it first surfaced in 2007. Jackson turned it down after much negotiation back and forth. Now, they say, Jackson may not be aware that his new adviser, one Tohme Tohme, re-started Bain’s original plan.


While Jackson stands to make anywhere from $10-$200 million on all his deals with AEG Live, friends point out that Bain toughed it out with during the lowest point in his financial history. Last year, Bain helped put together the deal that moved Jackson’s $325 million to a consortium of banks and brought him $25 million in cash through refinancing. A little over a year ago, I wrote in this space that Bain had left Jackson. In fact, I’m told that Jackson prevented her from leaving his employ several times. Her actual status with the singer is still up in the air.

http://www.foxnews.com/st...09,00.html

SquirrelMeat said:

I'll go to the window and give him a wave....

NaughtyKitty said:

Oh dear. (JOKE!)

http://www.billboard.com/...8204.story

Micheal Jackson May Play 25 London Shows


March 05, 2009 10:15 AM ET

Bill Werde, N.Y.

AEG president and CEO Tim Leiweke revealed that Michael Jackson is set to perform 20 to 25 shows at London's O2 Arena and that the singer is "very focused." Leiweke was speaking during his keynote Q&A session at the Billboard Music & Money Symposium at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City.

"The man is very sane, the man is very focused, the man is very healthy," Leiweke said of Jackson. "I think he has been dragged through the mud."

As reported earlier, the run of Jackson shows, set to begin on July 9, will be announced at a press conference later today (March 5).

The shows will be promoted by AEG Live, which also put together Prince's record-setting run of 21 sellouts at the O2 that grossed more than $22 million. The Spice Girls, Take That, and Kylie Minogue all have played multiple nights at the London arena, and Britney Spears has an eight night run scheduled for June. AEG operates the O2 venue.

Leiweke told the Billboard Music & Money audience: "We’ll announce 10 shows. I think you'll see 20, 25 dates at the O2. His production budget is... Wow."


"Despite everything you read about him, he was fine," added Leiweke. "The man took a physical for us to go do these concerts."

Leiweke also confirmed that it has taken some time to get Jackson to agree to the deal. Jackson has not released a studio album or played a full concert since 2001. His last major tour was the "HIStory" World Tour in 1996-1997.

"We spent two years working with Michael trying to get him comfortable with this," said Leiweke.

Asked why the comeback was being staged in London at the O2, Leiweke commented: "It's the most important venue in music today. With all due respect to the Staples Center and the [Madison Square] Garden, the O2 is where you went to see Led Zeppelin reunite."

Click here for more on upcoming Billboard events.

SquirrelMeat said:

Why is he using an image that's like 20 years old?

JackieBlue said:

He's been using those pix in this whole decade. Also, because it seems the shows are done to remind everyone of his glory days.

NaughtyKitty said:

Right along with the auction suit, no surprise here.

LiveToTell86 said:

Yes, I know and I'm ready for some new art work. Nostalgia is one thing but it also makes a strong connection to the past and not the present.

JackieBlue said:

Well, he's all about nostalgia, and people will buy tickets because of that. They want to see the same "Billie Jean" performance from Motown 25 etc...

LiveToTell86 said:

I'm in the minority I believe.

SquirrelMeat said:

have to go!!

A live blog:

http://metro.typepad.com/...ag/rss.xml

If we really must compare: MJ gets more media attentioen than Prince did with the O2. (at least here in Holland).

NaughtyKitty said:

it doesn't work

LMAO

Media are in place now and the crowd are getting restless. There are shouts of "I've been here for six hours". Still not full!

This is all very Tavern on the Green 1983.

A man walks on stage. Jubilent cheers. Walks off. ‘One, two, test’. Chant now. Michael, Michael. Dead again


hahahah..the blog is killing me.

From somebody on Twitter

http://twitter.com/MJpressconf

Geez, he is really late--its going on 1 hour and a half now since the press conf. was supposed to begin! I can only hope that when July arrives and he is scheduled to perform, he wont be so late for his concerts.

NaughtyKitty said:

You are kidding, right?

lilgish said:

Some things never change.

i hear a soudn but no video!!

Just heard on CNN that Michael is just NOW leaving his hotel?!?!??!!

MattyJam said:

It's starting.....

OK on michaeljackson.com I get sound and a video (finally!) Still no Mike. They're just showing a video of Mike's greatness (former performances, videos, concerts, screaming fans, etc)

HE'S THERE!

it has started