London press conference announces O2 shows
By Jeffrey Jolson

Jackson to moonwalk again

LONDON (Hollywood Today) 3/5/09 — Say what you want about Michael Jackson, but the kid can dance. He’s had his share of bad recordings lately, money troubles and of course legal problems. Yet he’s finally going back to his strengths, which are his live shows where he struts his stuff and greatest hits.
Wearing dark glasses and a silver and black suit, Jackson said in London to cheering fans “This is it. I will be seeing you all in July.” He implied it would be his last concerts, but don’t count on that.
Whether this will prove a true comeback to his position of the former “King of Pop” is unlikely, he will still sell out his series at the O2 arena in London, and this will kick off a longer tour. It will likely be overseas for the time being, as Americans are less tolerant of his alleged child molestation past, though he has never been found guilty in a court of law.
However, albums like “Thriller” and “Bad” are ingrained in music fan’s memories, and even Hollywood Today’s staffers, of many age groups, would like to see him moonwalk. Besides being a darned good songwriter, he was always a great performer.
His present financial condition may have led him back to the stage. The man who used to blow a million dollars on a shopping spree has had to sell off or get loans on his Neverland home in Santa Barbara and his purchased share of the Beatles Northern Songs publishing catalog.
The singer’s company, MJJ productions, filed suit in LA Superior Court Wednesday against Julien’s Auction House. The suit claims that the auction house failed to provide Jackson an inventory list of all the items to be auctioned, as promised. Last month, Jackson supposedly said that he planned to auction off 2,000 of his personal effects in April, including the American Music Award he won for “Thriller,” a basketball signed by Michael Jordan, and a Rolls-Royce.
Yet he has still had 13 No. 1 hits and on 13 Grammys, so while he may no longer be King of Pop, he certainly has a place in pop royalty, but it remains a question whether fans remember court or concert appearances. Still the tickets should be snapped up as quickly as they are put on sale.