Friday, March 06, 2009

Michael Jackson Announces Concert Dates

The infamous King of Pop in more ways than just music announced yesterday that he would be playing his :final curtain call" in London this year. Jackson, 50, revealed the details of the concerts at a news conference in London, where he said he would perform 10 shows at the O2 Arena, beginning July 8. “When I say this is it, I mean this is it,” Mr. Jackson said, according to Reuters. “I’ll be performing the songs my fans want to hear.”

Jacko hasn't performed since 2002 where he held a benefit concert. He appeared on stage in 2006 at the World Music Awards where some audience members echoed boos.

I wonder how successful this tour might be. I still assume that many can forgo their personal thoughts of Jacko and just enjoy his music, but the backlash has to be huge for such a tour. Pulling out the mold killer to dust off his old CDs might get a few back in the mood for such a concert. His music is still recognized as some of the greatest ever, but the man himself is more or less considered, for lack of a better phrase, "freak show".

Jackson has been accused, and paid off families in connection with being accused of molesting underage boys, outbid Paul McCartney for his own songs in a highly publicized fight, he has stiffed financial backers in recent years, and has changed his appearance so drastically through plastic surgery in his lifetime that he is almost unrecognizable at this point. He's even making news as he is suing to get some memorabilia back. Still...hearing Thriller, Beat it, Billy Jean, and other classic pop tunes will surely bring back memories of the better times for die hard fans.

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