 Now more famed for the string of scandals which have plagued his life since the early 90s, the original ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson celebrated his 50th birthday on Friday (29.08.08).
However, unlike fellow member of pop royalty Madonna – who recently commemorated her half century with a lavish party at exclusive London nightspot Volstead – Michael’s landmark birthday prompted little celebration. There was no talk of a star-studded party and seemed to be a marked lack of magazine columns dedicated to following the run up to his special day.
The man who was once known as one third of the holy trinity of pop music – alongside Prince and Madonna – now cuts a sad figure, better known for his penchant for plastic surgery and infamous child-sex trial than for his music.
So, how did Michael’s glittering career end up so far removed from his contemporaries, and will he ever be able to scale the dizzy heights of success again?
Michael first burst onto the music scene alongside his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon in the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5’s first four singles – ‘I Want You Back’, released in 1969, and 1970 hits ‘ABC’, ‘The Love You Save’ and ‘I’ll Be There’ – all peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. As the loveable youngest member of the group, Michael was praised for his voice and dancing prowess.
He embarked on a solo career in 1972 while he was still part of the band, but it was with his debut 1979 solo album ‘Off The Wall’ that Michael proved he was destined to be a successful stand alone artist. The record went on to sell 15 million copies worldwide.
However, it was the iconic 1982 ‘Thriller’ album which cemented Michael’s position as one of the world’s greatest pop stars. The record sat at the top of the Billboard 200 chart for 37 weeks and remained in the chart for 80 consecutive weeks, prompting the New York Times newspaper to comment: “In the world of pop music, there is a Michael Jackson and there is an everybody else.”
As well as a string of top 10 singles and the iconic ‘Thriller’ music video, the album also unleashed Michael’s dancing skills on the world. While performing on a TV special in 1983, Michael wowed the audience with his now-signature move: the moonwalk.
Michael continued to release four more solo albums, but none was them could match the success of ‘Thriller’. His inability to replicate the triumph of the album caused the media to begin speculating about his increasingly erratic lifestyle, with focus shifting towards his growing obsession with plastic surgery and his unorthodox private life.
Michael did little to dispel the myriad rumours which swirled around him – he even spoke of his pet chimpanzee Bubbles, who he claimed shared his toilet and cleaned his bathroom.
However, it was the endless surgical enhancements – reportedly several operations on his nose as well as a forehead lift and lip and cheek surgery - and ever-lightening skin tone which really caught the world’s attention.
Although Michael has always claimed he suffers from the skin condition vitiligo, an illness which causes patches of the sufferer’s skin to lose its pigment, there have been widespread rumours he bleaches his skin.
In 1993, the stories surrounding the singer took a darker turn when 13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused him of sexual abuse. Michael’s relationship with children had already sparked massive media scrutiny when it was revealed he allowed youngsters to stay overnight as his Californian home – called Neverland, named after the fantasy island in ‘Peter Pan’ where children never grow up. The ranch also sported a large amount of attractions solely for children, including a zoo and theme park.
Through their lawyers, Michael and the Chandler family’s lawyer attempted, unsuccessfully, to reach a financial agreement. Jordan then made further accusations to a psychiatrist and later police, prompting a full scale investigation to take place.
As the stress of the allegations grew, Michael became increasingly dependant on painkillers and eventually checked into rehab.
In January 1994, Michael and settled out of court with the Chandler family for $22 million. Although he was never charged with a crime, the damage to the singer’s reputation was irreparable.
Later that year, Michael married Lisa Marie Presley but the press branded the relationship a stunt to boost Michael’s ailing career. The pair divorced less than two years later.
 He went on to marry dermatologist’s nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe in 1996. The pair had son Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson together before divorcing in 1999, with Rowe giving Michael full custody of the children.
Although the world was used to Michael’s ever-changing appearance, his desire to keep his children’s faces hidden caused widespread concern. Until recently, both Prince and Paris were only ever be seen in public with their faces were totally covered by a variety of cloths and scarves.
In 2002, Michael’s son Prince Michal Jackson II (nicknamed Blanket) was born. The identity of his mother has never been made public, with Michael only confirming he was conceived using artificial insemination. Fears for the singer’s children were again raised when Michael showed Blanket to his fans by dangling him over the balcony of his hotel room in November 2002, a stunt which caused him to be voted one of the world’s worst hotel guests in a recent online poll.
With the singer becoming increasingly reclusive and his behaviour ever more obscure, in 2003 he was once again accused of child molestation, although this time the case did make it to trial.
In what has been dubbed the ‘trial of the century’ the singer faced a total of 10 charges, including molesting his accuser Gavin Arvizo, intoxicating a minor with alcohol and plotting to hold his family captive.
Prior to the trial, Michael was examined by mental health professional Dr. Stan Katz who eventually claimed the singer was a regressed 10-year-old who did not fit the profile of a paedophile.
Michael denied all the charges brought against him and the case eventually went to court in 2005. Although the star was eventually acquitted of all charges, the five-month trial took its toll. Such was the glare of publicity thrust upon him Michael became even more reclusive, choosing to move to Bahrain after the ordeal to avoid unwanted publicity.
Engulfed by rumours of financial ruin, the singer all but disappeared from the public eye, seemingly content to be pushed around in a wheelchair – he reportedly suffers from arthritis-like trouble in his knees, ankles and fingers – while wearing pyjamas, his face hidden behind a large baseball cap and a surgical mask.
Despite his very public fall from grace, the singer stated there was nothing about his life he would change during a rare appearance at a ‘fan appreciation event’ in Tokyo in 2007.
“I've been in the entertainment industry since I was six-years-old,” he said. “As Charles Dickens says, ‘It's been the best of times, the worst of times’ but I would not change my career. While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in my stride.”
By choosing to hide away from the world, Michael has only served to promote speculation about when, or if, he will ever make a comeback.
Last year, Jermaine hinted a Jackson 5 reunion could be one the cards, saying: “It could be sometime in 2008. Michael will be involved. We feel we have to do it one more time.”
There was also talk Michael was to appear at this year’s Grammy Awards, although he allegedly infuriated event bosses by insisting the whole evening be dedicated to his career. Speculation then began that he was to perform on the final of the TV show ‘American Idol’, but the star reportedly pulled out after being paralysed by stage fright at the last minute.
Most bizarrely of all, earlier this year it was suggested Michael was to star in a reality TV show with his siblings Tito, Janet, Jermaine and parents Joseph and Katherine. The documentary was to follow the family as they relocated to a small fishing village in Devon, England and tried to befriend the locals. Unsurprisingly, the show is yet to come to fruition.
Rumours of a series of comeback concerts at London’s O2 Arena proved baseless, with Michael apparently turning down the opportunity even though promoters were offering a massive $1 million per show.
Currently, there is talk of a set of shows in Las Vegas – for which Michael reportedly wants to secure a laser-shooting 50 ft robot, modelled on himself - but nothing has been confirmed. He is also tipped to present an award at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles next month.
Despite the eccentric lifestyle, excessive amounts of plastic surgery and even despite the sex scandals, Michael still boasts some of the most loyal fans of any act in the music business.
 Earlier this year, the star released ‘Thriller 25’ - a special edition of the album to mark its 25th anniversary. The record proved a huge success and sold three million copies worldwide.
Now, Michael’s record label is releasing a special album called ‘King of Pop’ on August 25 to celebrate his birthday.
Fans in many countries had the opportunity to pick tracks for the album by voting for their favourites, meaning a different version of the record will be available in each country it is released in.
Michael is also working on a brand new album of solo material, and is rumoured to have already worked with Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am, New Kids On The Block, Kanye West, Ne-Yo and Akon.
With a new album in the pipeline and so many reports Michael is desperate to raise his public profile, it seems it will only be a matter of time before he attempts to re-launch his career. Whether his efforts will be a success remains to be seen.
BANG Showbiz 29 August 2008 |
