Date is set for Jackson's funeral

[Guest]

It is reported that Michael Jackson's funeral will take place in Los Angeles next week.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the funeral will take place on Tuesday, 7 July at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 10am local time.

The trade daily cites sources as saying that AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and the adjacent Nokia Theater, will use both venues and the surrounding plaza for the service.

The Staples Center can accommodate 20,000 people.

Jackson named the singer Diana Ross as the guardian of his children should his mother not be able to care for them.

In his five-page will, which has been registered in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, he left his $500m estate in a trust for his children.


He stated that his 79-year-old mother, Katherine, should be carer for his three children, Prince Michael I, 12; Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7.


Jackson said that should his mother be unable to look after the children, then Diana Ross, 65, his mentor, should be their guardian.

The will was made on 7 July, 2002 and three associates for Jackson - attorney John Branca, John McClain and Barry Siegel - were named co-executors of the will.


The will also stated that he chose not to provide for his former wife, Debbie Rowe.


The documents said Jackson's estate consisted almost entirely of "non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalogue of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities".

The Sony ATV deal includes the Beatles back catalogue.

[Guest]

How many hours are we behind USA. I'll bet they televise it on some channel.

[Guest]

I'll remember him for his music and his passion to help children all over the world.

[Guest]

How many hours are we behind USA. I'll bet they televise it on some channel.

8 HOURS

[Guest]

[Guest]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2514588/Watch-royal-military-band-play-Thriller-to-stunned-tourists-video-exclusive.html

CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE TO SEE THE VIDEO ONLINE
By ANDY CRICK
and RHODRI PHILLIPS

Published: Today

MICHAEL Jackson's mega hit Thriller has been given this hilarious revamp by the army's world-famous Band of the Coldstream Guards - just a stones throw from Buckingham Palace.
Hordes of tourists were left open-mouthed as they were treated to the spectacular show on Wednesday by the top military band.

Forty drummers, trumpeters, clarinet and trombone players belted out the song.






The band marched in formations almost mimicking the famous choreographed zombie routine from the music video.

"It came out of nowhere," Philip Marfleet, 22, said who watched in awe with pals.

"We were stunned.

"They were practising some more traditional tunes and then all of a sudden they started playing Thriller.

"What a moment."

The lighting engineer, from Colchester, Essex, managed to capture it on his mobile phone.

He gathered with more than 20 foreign tourists outside The Guards Museum, in Birdcage Walk, central London to enjoy the spectacle.

He added: "It obviously wasn't the first time they had played it.

"It was a polished performance.

"A few foreign tourists asked me what it was all about, but I was unable to give them an explanation.

"I was as stunned as they were.

"At one point the musicians even appeared to be putting together some moves to go with the music.

"Instead of marching in straight lines they formed a triangle."


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The oldest and best known band in the Army, based at the capital's Wellington Barracks, have actually been doing the routine for the last two months.

A MoD spokesman said: "The piece has been part of their summer repertoire for a number of events and they've been playing it publicly for the last eight weeks, including at the Windsor Tattoo.

"It is just a coincidence and not a tribute to Jackson."

It comes just a week after the world-famous regimental band signed a £1million recording contract with Universal Music.

Rapper Eminem and wacky pop star Lady Gaga are also signed to the label.

Onlooker Philip Marfleet, 22, of Colchester, Essex, filmed them on his mobile.

He said: "The band were practising traditional tunes in Birdcage Walk then suddenly started playing Thriller. At one point they even appeared to be putting together some moves to go with the music."

[Guest]

This is just sick. The father should be thrown into jail and the son shouldn't get off lightly either, ok his father made him do it but he's a grown man now, he's had plenty of time since becoming an adult to confess while MJ was still alive. His father abused him but he seems quite happy to live off MJ's money, warped logic if ever I heard it. Is he going to give the money back? Or whats left of it? They should be made to sell everything they own and pay back as much as they can and live their lives in a caravan.
Sorry for the rant but this makes me so mad, they made MJ's life hell and he may well not have been so hooked on drugs and died so early if it wasnt for these two.

[Guest]

That is disgusting making your son lie over child abuse.

[Guest]

I saw it on msn this morning . Brilliant

[Susan]

I just knew it! No pedo buys a home such as Neverland which is a childrens themepark to lure kids to it so the public suspect him!!

Another thing....the boy said that they used to travel with Michael all over the word and he used to sleep with him in his bed all the time....fine...so where was the mother if that was true? Was she allowing it? No she wasnt! The greedy cow ad the boys father smelled money!

They should make that idiot pay back every cent with interest and put him in jail!

[Susan]

Damn! I've just come across this thread again....how sad the title is under the circumstances now

[lubelle]

I just knew it! No pedo buys a home such as Neverland which is a childrens themepark to lure kids to it so the public suspect him!!

Another thing....the boy said that they used to travel with Michael all over the word and he used to sleep with him in his bed all the time....fine...so where was the mother if that was true? Was she allowing it? No she wasnt! The greedy cow ad the boys father smelled money!

They should make that idiot pay back every cent with interest and put him in jail!

Well said

[Guest]

Damn! I've just come across this thread again....how sad the title is under the circumstances now

You're all gonna think I'm nuts, but I am actually sort of mournig him.....I cannot believe he's gone. I was SO in love with him for a few years and saw him at Wembley when I was about 16/17.....Now I will never see him live again....

RIP MJ x

[Guest]

http://au.video.yahoo.com/watch/5447622/14339616


Sure is spooky!

[Guest]

The SFX arent that good and the music is stoopid.

[Guest]

The SFX arent that good and the music is stoopid.

When you see the whole CNN footage you can tell it looks like someone's shadow walking across the room.

[Guest]

7:09pm UK, Tuesday July 07, 2009

Michael Jackson's family have gathered at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills to pay an emotional farewell to the King of Pop.


Gold coffin carrying Jackson's body is transported to the memorial service



The family and close friends attended a private funeral service for the star at the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park above Los Angeles.

His parents Joe and Katherine led mourners into the cemetery hall where a short viewing was apparently held on Monday night.

After the ceremony his body - resting in a $25,000 gold-plated coffin - was carried by pallbearers out of the hall and into a waiting hearse.

It was then taken to a the 20,000-capacity Staples Centre for a lavish memorial concert.


Around 17,500 lucky fans won tickets for the concert in an online lottery. More than 1,000 tickets were given out by the family to friends of the singer.

Stars expected to perform at the concert included Mariah Carey, Lionel Ritchie, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder.

Debbie Rowe, Jackson's ex-wife and the mother of his two eldest children, decided not to attend the tribute.


Meanwhile, at LA's superior court, the focus is on the legal complications over Jackson's estate.

A 2002 will valued Jackson's net worth at half a billion dollars, but it is estimated to be just half that now.

On Monday, the family lost its fight to control his business dealings.

Now the will's co-executors - lawyer John Branca and music executive John McClain - are the administrators.

A court rulling on who will gain permanent custody of Michael Jackson's children by Ms Rowe has been delayed until next week.

[Guest]

Michael Jackson's daughter has paid a tearful tribute to "the best father you could ever imagine".


Paris broke down in tears and was then hugged by Jackson's sister Janet



Paris, 11, broke down on stage at a public memorial and star-studded farewell to the King of Pop.

She said: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. "I just want to say I love him so much."

Her father's body - resting in a $25,000 gold-plated coffin - arrived at the LA venue to a chorus of cheers and screams from tens of thousands of fans.

Nelson Mandela and Diana Ross led tributes to the star as millions tuned in to watch the biggest celebrity send-off ever.

The packed Staples Centre joined in several minutes' silence before singer Smokey Robinson read out messages from Ross and Mandela.

"Michael was a giant and a legend in the music industry and we mourn with the millions of fans worldwide," Mandela said.



Jackson's gold coffin took centre stage at memorial



Earlier, family and close friends gathered at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills for a private funeral service.

The coffin was carried by pallbearers to a waiting hearse, and then transported under police escort to the lavish public memorial at the 20,000-capacity Staples Centre.

Around 17,500 ticket-holders watched the show with 1,000 tickets given to friends of the singer.

Performers on stage included Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie, and Britain's Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi - who flew to LA at the request of the Jackson family.

The tribute lasted over two hours and was beamed around the world on a live TV feed, courtesy of AEG Live.

Richie appeared on stage to sing Jesus is Love before Queen Latifah spoke of the worldwide sadness over Jackson's death.

"In Birmingham Alabama and Birmingham England, we are missing Michael Jackson," she said.

Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, said later: "He raised the bar, then broke the bar."

Wonder sung his songs Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer and They Won't Go When I Go to a standing ovation.

"This is a moment I wished I had never seen come," he said. "Michael, I loved you and I told you that many times, so I'm at peace with that."

In a rousing speech, the Rev Al Sharpton claimed Jackson laid the foundations for a black man to become US President.

The civil rights activist added: "It was Michael Jackson that brought blacks, whites and Asians together."

Earlier, cheers went up at the venue as footage on big screens showed Jackson's coffin - decorated with red flowers - emerging from the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park above Los Angeles.

His parents Joe and Katherine led mourners into the cemetery hall where a short viewing was apparently held last night.

Inside the Staples Centre, the stage was adorned with the star's image.

A mural of the singer carried the words: "In Loving Memory - Michael Jackson King of Pop - 1958-2009."

As the gates opened, thousands of fans flooded in, with many stopping at a memorial wall to pay a personal tribute.

Many had dressed up in costumes honouring their music hero.

Scott Avig, 32, wore a red suit reminiscent of the Smooth Criminal video.

He said: "I have been a loyal fan since I was five years old. I love him, he was my idol. I just wanted to pay my respects to him."

[Guest]

I know some may say it was over the top, but really, Michael Jackson was a massive star who actually was entered into the Guiness Book Of World Records for being the entertainer to have given the most in time and money to charity. He was a musical genius who really changed alot in the music industry.

Many stars were completely gutted and I feel the memorial was a fitting tribute.
I did cry, i admit it!!

[Guest]

I expected it to be over the top as americans always do it but it was low key and personal.

[Guest]

I think it was a beautiful tribute to Michael.

May he Rest in peace.

[Guest]

It looks like Elvis to me

[Guest]

Jacko Whacked? Sister La Toya Cries 'Murder'
10:08am UK, Sunday July 12, 2009

Michael Jackson was effectively "murdered" for his money in a conspiracy by shadowy hangers-on, his sister La Toya has said.


LaToay and Michael Jackson in 2004



In interviews with Sunday newspapers, La Toya said several people were responsible for the King of Pop's death.

The 53-year-old accused her brother's entourage of forcing him to perform five times as many gigs as he wanted to at the O2 Arena.

"He was surrounded by a bad circle," La Toya said, as quoted by the Mail On Sunday.

"Michael was a very meek, quiet, loving person. People took advantage of that."

She added: "Michael was worth more than a billion dollars. When anyone is worth that much money, there are always greedy people around them.



La Toya (right) with sister Janet Jackson and two of Michael's kids

"I believe Michael was murdered, I felt that from the start."

She told the News Of The World: "We don't think just one person was involved in the murder. It was a conspiracy to get Michael's money."

La Toya described her brother as the "loneliest man in the world" at the time of his death - less than 12 hours after completing a rehearsal for his tour.

She described being at home close to her brother's in Beverly Hills when she was told by her father that Michael had been taken to the UCLA Medical Centre.

While in the car on the way to the hospital she said her mother screamed down the phone "He's dead!! I nearly crashed my car..." La Toya said.

Once at the hospital, she was taken to the area where Jackson had been admitted.

She recounted: "Mother was crying and Michael's kids were crying. I screamed, 'Is it true?' and she said, 'Yes, he's gone'. I couldn't stop crying."

La Toya claimed her brother had only wanted to do 10 shows in London but that the people around him did not care about him and were only interested in his money, and forced him to agree to do 50.



La Toya at UCLA Medical Centre

While Jackson regularly kept up to £1m in cash at his home, La Toya said no money or jewellery was found.

"Michael didn't keep a close eye on his finances," she said. "A lot of people made a lot of money out of Michael."

She pledged the family would file a civil lawsuit against anyone they believed responsible and push for police to bring criminal charges.

La Toya added: "It's not about money. I want justice for Michael. I won't rest until I find out what - and who - killed my brother."

[Guest]

Actually thats the first thing I thought about when I heard he'd died. I know he was on painkillers and maybe other drugs but if his doctors were the best then he should have been cured of it.

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