The King (of pop) is dead

FenderBender

Michael Jackson has died in an LA hospital after being found in a catatonic state and not breathing at his home yesterday. He was due to perform 50 sell-out concerts at the famous O2 venue in the UK, kicking off on the 13th of July and followed by three years of world tours set to be "the comeback of all comebacks" for the troubled musician. Despite his personal woes, he was a great artist and I, for one, will always regard his 80s work as some of the best pop of the decade. RIP...

Riaan-Combrink

Graeme Parfett wrote Despite his personal woes, he was a great artist and I, for one, will always regard his 80s work as some of the best pop of the decade. RIP...

Absolutely. Have to separate the wood and the trees on this one. Crafted masterful pop songs, and one of the great live performers of his generation IMHO.

Spyke

To a revolutionary, may you finally rest in peace.

Farewell

Riaan

May he rest in peace.

Dirk

Very sad indeed. I've been a fan my whole life ☹

Spyke

We're on the third MJ track in the office today already...

I'll bang out Dirty Diana and Give In To Me today - Good 'ol Slash.

DonovanB

Its odd, like everyone thought he would live forever....

I am not looking forward to the jokes this time.

aubs1

It was not possible not to acknowledge his absolute stunning contribution to pop music, an iconic artist. I was not really an MJ fan, but hey, he was the King of Pop!!!!
The news shocked me like that of Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon............May he rest in Peace!

inflames

I'm shocked! R.I.P mr Jackson.

TomCat

As John Mayer aptly put it......

"A vital strand of out cultural DNA has left us forever........"

Yup, it is the end of an era..........

Heath

it's a sad day in the music world today , the world has lost a great performer . i will never forget the first time i watched thriller as a kid ...... still know all the moves , hell even my kids love the song . may he rest in peace.

FatBoy

RIP ol white glove!

cain

He was one the people that greatly inspired my love for music!!! He is a legend!!! Through all his dodgy stories, i still always loved his music and he will NEVER be forgotten!!!

NorioDS

bLuEs wrote Very sad indeed. I've been a fan my whole life ☹

Me too. Even have a pic of me dancing like him around friends. Must've been 12 at the time.

DonovanB wrote Its odd, like everyone thought he would live forever....

I am not looking forward to the jokes this time.

Ditto.

Francis Viviers wrote He was one the people that greatly inspired my love for music!!! He is a legend!!! Through all his dodgy stories, i still always loved his music and he will NEVER be forgotten!!!

Me three. Here's my little tribute to the King:
http://www.norio.co.za/blog/my-tribute-michael-jackson.html

RIP MJ. Feels like I lost an old friend.

DonovanB

Norio wrote Me too. Even have a pic of me dancing like him around friends. Must've been 12 at the time.

-1.... lol, while he was cool, any photo/video evidence of impersonations of major icons, like MJ, Elvis, Elton John or Alan Ratcliffe are a big no-no in my books. 8)

Squonk

Never a huge fan but living through the 80's it's still hard to describe how much influence he had.

I remember talent shows at shopping centres where there were a million little guys in red jackets all doing the "Billy Jean" dance sequence.

Just last year my kids school did the "Thriller Video" with all the moves, hops and jumps.

I remember one TV interview in the 80's where one of the top choreographers, who was choreagraphing Michael and some top dancers for one of his videos saying " My dancers practice 8 hours a day and then you get Michael who just slots in and is just as capable as them. Pure talent!"

Squonk

And to add to my post

Michael was most probably one of the greatest influences in Pop Music ever. He shares this with Elvis and The Beatles.
He was more than music, and from what I saw in the 80's, kids(Even Adults) were completely captivated by his persona.

And for me being a progressive rock freak, I tried my best to dismiss him but ended up with RESPECT, as Ali G would put it.
☹

Spyke

Norio wrote
DonovanB wrote I am not looking forward to the jokes this time.
Ditto.

They've already started rolling in...

But... I would be honored to have random people cracking jokes about me after I pass away. That is a sign that I've made an impact on the lives of people I've never met. Strange, but how I feel.

WantzChas

I was talking to a friend early this morning when she said she just heard he was in a coma. First I've heard that he is dead. Sad to see a pioneer go and hope his soul finds peace.

NorioDS

Article @ http://guitar.about.com about Michael Jackson's collaborations with the cream-of-the-crop of guitarists...

http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa021501a.htm