Music Blogs

It seems remarkable that some 15 years since his last Number One and a few months after he moon-walked/ staggered into his 50th year, Michael Jackson remains a pop culture circus. He has wronged everyone now, it seems, as was alleged in the High Court last week by Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the second son of the King of Bahrain. His lawsuit claimed Jackson reneged on a contract for a new album, autobiography and a stage play, after accepting millions of dollars in advances.

The Arab prince took the singer in when he was essentially on the run from the rest of the world, after his amazing 2005 child molestation acquittal. Telling the court of their client's "strong sense of personal betrayal", the Sheik's case demanded Jackson give evidence. Of course, the withered star is permanently sick, particularly when a public appearance is required. "It would be unwise for him to travel, given what's he's got now", Jackson's lawyer Robert Englehart explained comically. In the circumstances, it came as no surprise when the self-trumpeted "King Of Pop" was cleared to fly on Friday. Neither did what happened next.

"As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle", a spokeswoman announced last night. Surely, no-one actually believed he was coming?! This is a man who now deals only in deception and publicity stunts, the very reasons for the lawsuit and "amicable" pay-out, which eats further into his dwindling fortune days after Neverland was lost forever. But what of this music? Court papers show Jackson and Sheik Abdulla had been working together. "I am incredibly excited about my new venture, and I am enjoying being back in the studio making music", he said at the time of these never-to-be-heard recordings.

This is the same man who vetoed a Jackson 5 reunion last month, because he was supposedly too busy plotting a solo comeback. "I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon", he claimed. Yeah right. Who really buys this talk of a live return or the baloney about collaborations with Akon, Will.I.Am or Kanye West? None of these things ever happen because Michael Jackson is no longer capable. Brother Marlon was recently asked about his whereabouts. "I think he's in Egypt riding a camel or something", was the dismissive reply. That camel should watch its back.