65 year old Evan Chandler was found dead in his apartment in New Jersey on November 5, but news about his passing only emerged on November 17. Chandler was found in bed with a gunshot wound in his head.
Evan Chandler was the father of Jordy Chandler who claimed Michael Jackson had molested him in 1993 when he was 13. In return for 22 millions dollar, the case never reached court, but MJ’s life would never be the same.
With all the stories circulating about MJ’s so called addictions and fragile health, I wasn’t sure what to expect from This Is It. Today, even his worst enemies who have seen the movie will have to admit how talented he really was. It was beyond anything I could have dreamed off.
Michael loved to quote Michelangelo who once said: “I will bind my soul to my work”, and that’s what Michael Did.
A star among the stars rehearsing for what should have been the crowning glory of a most unique music career.
Jermaine Jackson has just announced that the planned tribute to Michael Jackson in Vienna on September 26 has been cancelled and rescheduled to June 2010. The tribute will take place in the Wembley Stadium in London.
Jermaine blames the short time they had to organize the monumental event. Some artists, like Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown and Natalie Cole, were not able to change their schedule.
All tickets (40,000) that have been purchased for the Vienna tribute will be refunded. If you purchased a ticket online or in a call center, you will receive an email from oeticket today with instructions on how to get your refund. Tickets purchased at ticket-outlets can return their tickets at the same location beginning on September 21. Money will be refunded immediately.
Tickets for the London concert will start at £44 ($73) and the list of performers will be announced in December.
MTV, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment are partnering to launch the official trailer from MJ’s This Is It during the “2009 Video Music Awards” on September 13 at 9pm ET. A first peak of the highly anticipated movie that will hit the theaters on October 28.
This It It will offer the Jackson fans a rare view of Michael’s work during the rehearsals for the 50 sold-out concerts that were supposed to take place in the O2 Arena in London this Summer. It will not only show the rehearsals but also the development and creation from April until that fatal day at the end of June.
This Is It captures the singer, dancer, filmaker, architect, creative genius and artist at work.
The trailer for Michael Jackson’s This Is It will make its debut in theaters on September 18 with the Sony Pictures Animation release of ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs‘.
The movie will be shown for a limited period of only 2 weeks. Tickets will go on sale on September 27. For more info and updates, visit thisisittickets.com. This movie site will be launched simultaneously with the trailer on the 2009 Video Music Award.
On September 3, 2009, exactly 70 days after his death, Michael Jackson has finally been buried. It was supposed to be a private ceremony, although media from all over the world were reporting from Glendale, California. The arrival from family and friends and from the hearse was authorized to be aired, but not the ceremony itself, which made the whole event very strange to watch from a distance. In the beginning, it felt like July 7th all over again, especially when Michael’s children arrived, until the media lights went out.
The ceremony was supposed to begin at 7pm local time, but there was a delay. At 8.14pm Michael’s 3 kids arrived. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes.
Someone was playing a long but beautiful version of ‘I Will Be There‘ on the piano. The song was still playing when the hearse arrived at 8.28pm. At 8.33 the lights go out. From that moment, we saw shaky helicopter images from 3,000 feet above the cemetery, while boring people discussed the life and death of Michael Jackson from the Anderson Cooper 360 studio.
What we didn’t see, was Gladys Knight performing ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow‘, Clifton Davis performing ‘Never Can Say Goodbye‘ and attendees ‘celebrating‘ or talking about Michael’s life, but I believe the Jackson family deserves some privacy. I believe the whole coverage should not have happened.
Michael Jackson is now buried in a crypt inside the well-guarded and ornate Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. The mausoleum includes a stained-glass replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper and replicas of Michelangelo’s statues.
He has finally reached his final resting place. Rest in peace, Michael.
I went to the Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute in Best near Eindhoven together with a friend, but unfortunately we couldn’t stay until the end as I had other obligations. But I’m glad I was there and I enjoyed the atmosphere from 4.30 until 6.30pm.
The best part was that the REAL atmosphere wasn’t taking place on stage but in the crowd where a few people started to dance, as if they had their own Michael Jackson dance competition.
I saw Ojay Jackson from Germany performing.I also took a couple of pictures in side the Mc Donald restaurant.
Kudos to Thijs Smits and to everyone who was there.
It is beginning to look like a circus. First it was reported that Michael would be buried on his birthday, August 29, but for “some” reason I decided not to post about it. I had this feeling that it just couldn’t be true and if it was, it would have been the worst choice ever. But Michael’s mother, Katherine, didn’t want the burial to take place on his birthday.
It was postponed to August 31 and now a spokesman of the Jackson family has said that MJ’s burial will take place on September 3 at 7pm. Isn’t that a strange time of the day to bury someone?
According to Latoya Jackson the family wants to make sure there aren’t any other events taking place on that day as well as no other services being held at the same time as MJ’s burial.
Michael will be buried in a mausoleum at the Forest Lawn that is protected with security cameras everywhere. Fans will not be able to pay their respect to the King of Pop. Access will only be granted to his family and closest friends.
Let’s hope the information is correct this time, but I wouldn’t bet the house on it. The confusion could be a way to have him buried in private, without the media circus. Time will tell.
A video of Dr. Conrad Murray has appeared on the web with a short “thank you” message to all his patients and friends who have been supporting and praying for him since Michael Jackson died.
Dr. Conrad Murray is “afraid to return phone calls or use his email because of all that is going on” and decided to make this video instead to let all these people know he has been receiving the messages.
Murray hasn’t been able to return any of these messages which is “not normal for him”.
“As long as I keep God in my heart and you in my life, I will be fine. I have done all I could do. I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.“
With Propofol for sleeping in MJ’s house and questionable CPR practices, I also have faith that truth will prevail one day, “Doctor”…
My impression is that Dr. Conrad Murray made that video because he’s scared. (He’d better be!) The fakeness in his message is so obvious, he’s only making the situation worse for himself.
Note that Dr. Conrad Murray did not mention “Michael Jackson” once. It was only about him. I guess I’m expecting too much from a cold-blooded murderer.
It is raining tributes lately, but the following confirmed event is definitely one of the more important coming events for the true fan. 1000’s of fans are expected to gather at an 11 meter high Michael Jackson HIStory statue in Best (near Eindhoven) in The Netherlands on his birthday (August 29) for the Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute in open air.
There will be a show with several international artists and imitators of MJ with laser light show and pyrotechnic effects. Two mega video screens will be projecting the best of Michael Jackson. The best part is that this event is entirely free!
Confirmed artists are:
Andre Santisi (Germany) Kent Olaf (Norway) Ojay Jackson (Germany) Ceyload (Germany)
Many more names have yet to be announced.
Keep an eye on this website for more updates and news in the coming days: jacksonevent.com
One of the founders of The European Jackson Event, Mr. Thijs Smits says:
“In 2005, I, along with many others worked on an event called The European Jackson Event. Mr. Jackson couldn’t attend, however he participated by providing a video and merchandise for us to give to his fans. Over 1000 adoring fans from all over the world gathered in Eindhoven, Holland to show their support for Michael Jackson in 2005, and with his passing, we will gather one more time to show our respect and our love to the King. This will be an open air event for free with international artists and bands who will pay their tribute to the one and only King of Pop.“
Here is how it looked like back in 2005:
Gary Taylor, President and owner of MJJCommunity.com, is also one of the organizers of this event.
He says:
“Thijs Smits came me with this awe inspiring idea to organize a once in a life time event in the shadow of Europe’s only Michael Jackson History statue. Immediately, I knew this was going to be the event of the year and that it would be a perfect way to honor our Global legendary Icon, the late Michael Jackson. Therefore I, along with the staff and members of MJJCommunity.com are proud to partner with EJE and endorse The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute.“
Since the death of Michael Jackson, the statue in Best has turned into a pilgrimage for MJ fans.
Time of the event: 2pm – 11pm August 29, 2009 (After-party will be announced)
The Austrian capital is proud to announce a huge Michael Jackson tribute concert at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna on September 26.
Jermaine Jackson has asked “famous friends” to participate and he should be announcing a list of 10 names in less than two weeks. Together they will perform at least a dozen of MJ’s biggest hits and the concert will be broadcast across the globe.
The venue was chosen because Michael loved Vienna and loved castles.
The earlier announced tribute concerts in London – on Michael’s birthday (August 29) and the day after – are cancelled. Organizers ran out of time to finalize the deals with the artists.
The Austrian capital is proud to announce a huge Michael Jackson tribute concert at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna on September 26.