The Archive

Poorly googled obituary II

Michael Jackson is dead.

The singer rose to prominence as the angelic singer for the Jackson 5 along with siblings Janet, Jesse, General Stonewall and Action.

After a number of hits with the Jackson 5 including Don't Blame it on the Sunshine (unless it's skin cancer) and Can You Feel It? (oh go on, please), Michael embarked on a solo career.

Teaming up with popular music producer and TV Coroner Quincy, Jackson first released Off The Wall, an album whose lyrics were taken entirely from graffiti Jackson had encountered whilst on tour, and then Thriller.

An instant success, Thriller sold over 109 million copies and featured the song of the same title. The video for this featured zombies who's rotting, peeling faces were said to give Michael the inspiration for his future look.

It was at this time that Michael Jackson joined NASA on a space mission, becoming the first popular entertainer to walk on the moon, despite competing claims later made by Sting.

Thriller would prove the apex of his career, as he himself seemed to acknowledge with the release of the album 'Bad' and its follow-ups 'Worse', 'Shocking' and 'No Jacket Required'.

Eventually, Jackson's music career was eclipsed by increasingly bizarre stories about his personal life which he shared with a chimp, a selection of under-aged children and two hundred papparazi.

Things reached a low with accusations of child abuse - which Jackson dealt with by marrying Lisa Marie Presley in a ceremony attended by thousands, including her father Elvis, Lord Lucan and Bigfoot.

It didn't last.

Michael Jackson went on to have three children of his own. Nothing has been proven about those of other people.

Gradually, his albums became less and less successful, leading to his ill-advised attempt to re-launch his career as a baby juggler. But nothing seemed to be working.

Eventually, going back to his roots, Jackson announced a number of tour dates in London which sold out almost immediately. But before he could perform in even the first one, he died.

R.I.P. Michael, you poor, strange dude. Thriller and Off The Wall are brilliant.

posted by Peter The Great @ 9:16 AM