A medical examiner, striking a major blow to the defense of Michael Jackson’s doctor, said Tuesday it is unreasonable to believe Jackson could have given himself a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.

Dr. Christopher Rogers, who conducted the autopsy on Jackson, testified it was more likely that Dr. Conrad Murray overdosed the singer when he incorrectly estimated how much of the drug he was giving Jackson to induce sleep.

Rogers said Murray had no precision dosing device on hand in the bedroom of Jackson’s rented mansion.

“The circumstances, from my point of view, do not support self-administration of propofol,”

said Rogers, chief of forensic medicine in the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Rogers analyzed two possible scenarios for Jackson’s death. The first was the defense theory that while Murray stepped away to go to the bathroom, Jackson gave himself an extra dose of the drug he called his “milk.”

“In order for Mr. Jackson to have administered the propofol to himself, you would have to assume he woke up and although he was under the influence of … propofol and other sedatives, he was somehow able to administer propofol to himself,”

Rogers testified.

“Then he stops breathing and all of this takes place in a two-minute period of time,”

Rogers said.

“To me, that scenario seems less reasonable.”

“Less reasonable than what?”

asked Deputy District Attorney David Walgren.

“The alternate scenario would be in order to keep Mr. Jackson asleep, the doctor would have to give him a little bit every hour, two or three tablespoons an hour,”

Rogers said, noting that propofol is a short-acting drug that wears off quickly.

“We did not find any precision dosing device, so the doctor would be estimating how much he was giving,”

the medical examiner said.

Murray told police he gave Jackson only 25 milligrams of the drug, a very small dose that usually would have kept him asleep for no more than five minutes.

Rogers said he examined evidence found in Jackson’s bedroom and noted there was an empty 100 milliliter bottle of propofol.

Rogers said the cause of death was “acute propofol intoxication and the contributing condition was the benzodiazepine effect.”

Two sedatives from that drug group — lorazepam and midazolam — were found in Jackson’s system after he died.

Rogers said he considered a number of factors in ruling the death a homicide. Among them were Murray’s statements to police and the lack of sophisticated medical equipment in Jackson’s bedroom, where the superstar had been receiving the anesthetic.

He said there was no EKG monitor, no resuscitation equipment and no precision dosing device present in the room.

Rogers also testified it would be inappropriate to use propofol outside a hospital or medical clinic.

Walgren illustrated testimony about the autopsy by showing a stark photograph of the singer’s body on an examining table with his genitals covered. He appeared thin but not emaciated. The doctor said he was 5 feet 9 inches and weighed 136 pounds.

“I believe he was healthier than the average person his age,”

Rogers said, explaining Jackson had no fatty buildup in his arteries common to people his age.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Rogers’ testimony came after jurors heard the end of Murray’s June 27, 2009, recorded interview with police in which he first disclosed he had been giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep.

Prosecutors played the remaining 40 minutes of the interview, which included Murray’s description of informing Jackson’s mother and children that the entertainer was dead.

“After they cried and cried and cried, then his daughter uttered a lot of words of unhappiness,”

Murray told detectives, saying Paris Jackson was afraid of being alone after her father’s death.

“’I know you tried your best, but I’m really sad,’”

he continued, recounting her words.

“’I will wake up in the morning, and I won’t be able to see my daddy.’”

Jackson’s mother, Katherine, dabbed her eyes with a tissue as the recording played. She and other members of the Jackson family left court and did not see the autopsy picture.

A police detective who helped conduct Murray’s interview told jurors that Murray seemed surprised when, toward the end of the interview, he learned that three bags of medical items had not yet been recovered from the star’s bedroom.

The recording ended shortly after the physician explained the items could be found in a closet.

The interview helped transform the investigation into Jackson’s June 25, 2009, death from a simple death inquiry into a homicide case.

Prosecutors were expected to call an expert on propofol as a witness later in the day.

Source: washingtonpost.com

Michael Jackson was reportedly healthier than most people his age when he died from acute Propofol intoxication in 2009.

The ‘Thriller’ hitmaker – who died from acute Propofol intoxication in 2009 – was in good physical according to Dr Christopher Rogers, who ruled his death a homicide, and was most likely killed by the cocktail of sedatives in his body.

According to TMZ, the doctor said in court today (11.10.11) that he came to the decision 50-year-old Michael’s death was not self-inflicted because the Propofol was administered by another person other than the patient.

Meanwhile, Dr. Conrad Murray claimed Michael never told him he was seeing other doctors.

The medic is currently on trial for the involuntary manslaughter of the ‘Thriller” hitmaker and although Conrad knew Michael visited other doctors regularly, he says the pair never discussed it.

During a taped interview with police – recorded two days after Michael’s death and played in court in Los Angeles today – Dr. Murray said:

“When [Michael] came back [from Klein's office], he was basically wasted and required 24 hours for recovery.”

The doctor added that he regularly spotted prescription pill bottles by the singer’s bedside, bearing other doctors’ names.

Source: femalefirst.co.uk

A coroner who conducted the autopsy on Michael Jackson says there is no evidence supporting the theory by attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray that Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol.

Dr. Christopher Rogers also testified Tuesday that the singer was healthier than most people his age and his heart did not show the usual signs of fatty buildup generally seen in men the same age.

Rogers explained to jurors how coroner’s officials determined the 50-year-old singer died in June 2009 from acute propofol intoxication.

The determination led to prosecutors charging Murray with involuntary manslaughter. The cardiologist has pleaded not guilty.

Source: ABCNews.com

The L.A. County Coroner has just officially announced the cause of Michael Jackson’s death – Acute Propofol intoxication.

The report says “other conditions contributing to death: Benzodiazepine effect.” Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs (see below) used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

The manner of death is ruled: “HOMICIDE”

The Coroner did not release the full autopsy report — just a press notice. It goes on:

The drugs PROPOFOL and LORAZEPAM (Ativan) were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr. Jackson’s death.

Other drugs detected were: Midazolam (Versed), Diazepam (Valium), Lidocaine (topical anesthetic) and Ephedrine (used to treat hypotension associated with anesthesia).

The final Coroner’s report, including the toxicology report, will remain on security hold, per the LAPD.

The Jackson family just released a statement:

“The Jackson family again wishes to commend the actions of the Coroner, the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies, and looks forward to the day that justice can be served.”

Source: TMZ.com

Michael Jackson’s three children “cried and cried and cried” when an emergency room doctor told them their father was dead, Dr. Conrad Murray said in a police interview two days after the pop icon’s death.

Jurors were hearing the last 45 minutes of the police interview Tuesday morning, the 10th day of Murray’s involuntary manslaughter trial. Most of the audio recording was played in court Friday.

Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson sat on the second row of court with her husband and several of her children Tuesday after being absent from the trial for more than a week on an international trip. The Jackson family listened as Murray described to detectives the reaction of her 11-year-old granddaughter, Paris, to being told her father was dead.
“I will wake up in the morning, and I won’t be able to see my daddy,” Paris said, according to Murray.
Murray is not expected to testify during the trial, but the interview playback means jurors will have heard his story — at least as he told it two days after Jackson’s death.

She was almost Michael Jackson’s doctor Jackson friend: Murray should do time Conrad trial testimony debated
The prosecution could benefit from the jury hearing Murray say he was away from Jackson for just two minutes before finding him without a pulse. Phone records and witnesses showed that moment came after he spent at least 45 minutes on his cell phone.

Murray’s defense, however, may gain by the more personal view jurors get of the doctor without subjecting him to prosecution questioning.

The jury on Friday heard Murray’s reasons for not immediately calling 911 for help, his explanation of his much-criticized CPR techniques, and his statement that he was trying to wean Jackson off a dependency on propofol.
Tuesday’s interview playback will begin with Murray relating how Jackson’s children “really were weeping, really weeping” when they were told doctors at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center were unable to save their father.

“I hugged them all, gave comfort to Paris, comfort to Prince, comfort to Blanket, which is the last little guy, because whenever they were sick, they would always ask for Dr. Conrad,”

Murray said.

Murray, who treated Jackson and his children for colds and minor illnesses when they visited or lived in Las Vegas, was hired as Jackson’s full-time physician just two months before his June 25, 2009, death.

“After they cried and cried and cried, then his daughter uttered a lot of words of unhappiness and, you know, she will live alone without her dad and she didn’t want to be an orphan,”

Murray said, referring to Paris.

“She asked me, ‘Dr. Murray, you said you save a lot of patients. You know, you save people with heart attacks, and you couldn’t save my dad,’”

he told detectives.

“I said, ‘I tried my best.’ And she said, ‘I know that, Dr. Murray. At least I know. I know you tried your best. I know you tried your best, but I’m really sad. You know, I will wake up in the morning, and I won’t be able to see my daddy.’”

Murray said he also was unable to explain Jackson’s death to other family members gathered in a conference room at the hospital.

“Do you know why he died?”

one of them asked, Murray told police.

“My answer was ‘No,’ and that’s the reason why I was recommending to the family to have an autopsy, because I also wanted to know,”

Murray said.

Prosecutors contend Jackson died because of Murray’s criminal negligence, including the use of the surgical anesthetic propofol in his bedroom, without proper monitoring equipment.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Jackson’s death was the result of “acute propofol intoxication” in combination with several sedatives — all drugs Murray acknowledged in the police interview that he gave Jackson in the hours before his death.

But in the portion of the interview to be heard Tuesday, Murray points the finger away from him to other doctors.

“I was not aware of any other medications that he was taking, but I heard that he was seeing a Dr. Klein three times a week in Beverly Hills,”

Murray told police.

“And he never disclosed that to me.”

Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff contended at the start of the trial that Dr. Arnold Klein had addicted Jackson to Demerol, a narcotic pain reliever, during the singer’s regular visits to his Beverly Hills dermatology clinic in the weeks before his death.

“His production team had said to me recently that his worst days in the set is when he had gone to Dr. Klein’s office, which is about three times a week,”

Murray said in the interview.

“And when he came back, he was basically wasted and required at least 24 hours for recovery.”

Three earlier prosecution witnesses testified that they were aware of Jackson’s frequent visits to Klein’s office and that Jackson’s speech would be slow and slurred afterward.

Toxicology tests did not find Demerol in Jackson’s blood at the time of his death, but the defense contention is that it played a role because Jackson was unable to sleep because he was suffering from withdrawal from the drug.
Murray told police that Jackson was “showing signs of a withdrawal,” but he suspected it was from propofol, which he said he was trying to wean Jackson off after two months of nightly use.

Jackson’s death came after two nights of not using propofol. Murray said he gave him a series of three sedatives — Valium, lorazepam and midazolam — on the third night without getting him to sleep.

“It wasn’t working,”

Murray said.

“So, was he going through a withdrawal from that agent? Was it his mind that was forcing him to stay awake?”

After 10 hours of trying, Jackson begged him to give him propofol again, Murray said, which the singer called his “milk.” He needed rest before an important rehearsal for his “This Is It” comeback shows.

“I’ve got to sleep, Dr. Conrad,”

Murray said Jackson pleaded to him.

“I have these rehearsals to perform. I must be ready for the show in England. Tomorrow, I will have to cancel my performance, because you know I cannot function if I don’t get to sleep.”

By 10:40 a.m., Murray said, he gave in.

“I then decided to go ahead and give him some of the milk, so he could get a couple of hours sleep so that he could produce, because I cared about him,”

Murray said.

“I did not want him to fail. I had no intentions of hurting him. And I was compassionate. But what I was doing, too, recognizing that Michael Jackson may have had a dependency to a substance. I was trying to wean him off.”

On the recording, Murray insisted he kept a close watch on Jackson after he finally fell asleep. The physician never mentioned the long list of e-mails and calls that cell phone records later revealed.
The doctor said he left the room for about two minutes to visit the toilet. When he returned, he realized his patient had stopped breathing, Murray said.

“Immediately, I felt for a pulse and I was able to get a pulse in the femoral region,” he said. “His body was warm. There was no change in color, so I assumed that everything happened quickly.”

Murray told police he immediately started one-handed CPR on the bed alternately with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Jackson.

“I couldn’t lift him off the bed by myself,”

Murray said.

“What I did was to improvise. His bed is fairly firm, so I got my left hand under his body and I compressed with my hand not moving in place.”

Jackson security chief Alberto Alvarez, the first person to join Murray in the effort, testified that he questioned Murray’s knowledge of CPR techniques because he was trained to put a patient on a hard surface and use two hands.
Murray said he did not call 911 for help immediately because he expected answering the emergency operator’s questions would take too much time away from the resuscitation efforts.

Instead, he ran down the stairs and shouted for the chef to summon help, and he placed a call to Jackson’s personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, to ask that he send a security guard upstairs, Murray said.
Murray said he tried his best to revive Jackson.

In the portion of the interview played Friday, Murray said Jackson told him that hiring him as his personal doctor was “divine guidance.”

Murray said that when he agreed to be Jackson’s personal physician for his “This Is It” shows in London, he had no idea he would have to give him regular infusions of propofol.
But it was a drug Jackson told him he had used for years to get elusive sleep, he said.

“I was a bit surprised of his pharmacological knowledge,”

Murray told police.

“He explained that he used it frequently on his tours.”

During his two months on the job, he gave Jackson propofol “30 days a month, every day, with the exception of three days leading up to his death,” Murray said.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Murray could spend four years in a California prison and lose his medical license.

Source: CNN.com

Jermaine Jackson has distanced himself from planned shows in honour of his late brother Michael, insisting he will not be performing at the Japan fundraising gigs.

After the success of Saturday’s Michael Forever – The Tribute Concert in Cardiff, Wales, the Thriller hitmaker’s mother Katherine announced two more shows in Tokyo, to raise funds for the survivors of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami disasters.
Several of the King of Pop’s siblings will be taking to the stage at the December gigs, but Jermaine – who strongly objected to the Wales tribute, which featured stars including Cee Lo Green and Ne-Yo – is not one of them.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, he writes,

“In response to (website) TMZ reports, I’d like to clarify that I won’t be taking part in any planned tribute concert in Tokyo.”

Source: contactmusic.com

Alien Ant Farm enjoyed their biggest success in 2001 with their cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal.’ The band just performed it at the ‘Michael Forever’ tribute concert over the weekend, which was held in Cardiff, Wales, alongside stars like Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Smokey Robinson and more. The Southern California band performed two Michael Jackson songs: the aforementioned, chart-topping cover of ‘Smooth Criminal’ and ‘PYT (Pretty Young Thing).’

Guitarist Terry Corso commented on the So Cal band’s performance at the emotional event, saying,

“I honestly think it would be extremely hard for me or any of my bandmates to really express how much of an honor it was for us to be included in the ‘Michael Forever’ concert in Wales. It was literally one of the most exciting and surreal moments of our careers. From hanging out with Cee Lo Green in our dressing room to passing Smokey Robinson in the hall, it was the stuff dreams are made of for guys like us who grew up in a diverse musical landscape.”

Corso admitted that the fact that the band was invited to be included was touching, as well. He said,

“We are very taken by the fact that the Jackson family would keep us in their minds and include us in this special opportunity to pay tribute to the King of Pop alongside so many people that loved him. MICHAEL FOREVER!”

In other AAF news, the band will begin working on its fourth album in November. A spring 2012 release date is being eyed. It’ll be the band’s first release in a half-dozen years. ‘Up in the Attic’ landed back in 2006. The new album is special in that it will mark AAF’s first release with their original lineup since 2003.

Source: Noisecreep.com

JLS are lining up a collaboration with the Jacksons

The lads took to the stage alongside three of the Jackson brothers, Marlon, Tito and Jackie, at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Cardiff.

They joined the likes of Pixie Lott — sporting a tiny silver dress — Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis on the bill at the Millennium Stadium.

But behind-the-scenes JLS were hatching a plan to ensure their performance of Blame It On The Boogie was not a one-off.

Oritse Williams said:

“We discussed some things backstage about the future and they want to take us out for dinner to talk further. Who knows? It would be amazing.”

If a project does materialise, Oritse, Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes and JB Gill won’t have it easy.

Oritse admitted the Motown legends still take performing very seriously and aren’t afraid to bark out orders. He said:

“The Jacksons are all about perfection. That’s why they’re the biggest and best band of music history. Marlon taught us a few moves and Jackie wanted to hear more of our harmonies. He even had a word with Marvin and changed his harmony.”

Jermaine and others in the Jackson family disagreed with the timing of the Michael Forever show — in the middle of the Conrad Murray trial over his role in their brother’s death.

But the King of Pop’s mother Katherine, his sister La Toya, Alexandra Burke, and his three kids Prince Michael, Blanket and Paris were there.

A few stars had pulled out less than a week before the show. The Black Eyed Peas cancelled due to “unavoidable circumstances”, Jennifer Hudson cited production issues and Chris Brown couldn’t get a visa.

Source: thesun.co.uk

Following the Michael Forever bonanza in Wales, the Jackson family have announced another show in Tokyo, which will benefit survivors of the Japanese earthquakes

Following the tribute concert in Wales, Michael Jackson’s family have announced their next big-budget tribute show, to take place in Tokyo. Several of Jackson’s brothers will perform at the two-day concert, which will benefit children affected by Japan’s March earthquakes.

“[I'm] glad to see them back on stage,”

admitted Michael’s mother.

“If Michael was alive, he would definitely have done something to help the victims of the earthquake in Japan,”

Katherine Jackson declared at a London press conference.

“[He] loved children [and] he would have felt for those children who lost parents or homes.”

Jackie, Marlon and Tito Jackson – without Randy, according to his Twitter account – will perform as the Jacksons, singing “around 15 songs”. It’s not clear whether these will be drawn exclusively from the siblings’ old repertoire, or also from Michael’s solo hits. At Saturday’s Michael Forever bonanza, the three brothers joined JLS for a rendition of Blame it on the Boogie. JLS are hoping to release that team-up as a single.

“We discussed some things backstage about the future and they want to take us out for dinner to talk further,”

Oritsé Williams told The Sun.

“It would be amazing.”

In addition to the performance by the Jacksons, the Tokyo gigs will include numerous as-yet unnamed Japanese acts. All merchandising profits would go to Ashinaga, a charity that benefits children who lost their homes or families during this year’s earthquakes.

Thus far, the Jackson family have been split on the matter of tribute concerts. In particular, Randy and Jermaine have expressed their concern about drawing attention away from the trial of Conrad Murray, Michael’s former doctor. Janet Jackson also refused to perform at the Cardiff show. While Murray’s trial is expected to be completed before the 13-14 December concerts, Randy, Jermaine and Janet have not offered their support for the Tokyo event.

Source: guardian.co.uk

httpvh://youtu.be/8P2sPt2ggEs

Check out Christina Aguilera’s rendition of “Smile” at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert:

httpvh://youtu.be/ZiBktWXqVFA

Watch Ne-Yo’s “Billie Jean” rehearsals for his tribute performance at Michael Forever below:

httpvh://youtu.be/J_KNe21OtDs

The “Michael Forever” Tribute Concert is set to air in the UK and will be shown on Sky Arts, on 15th October 2011.

Janet Jackson, who promised a personal and intimate gig this weekend, gets candid about her late brother Michael, being ‘lucky’ and what fans mean to her in an exclusive interview with tabloid!

Janet performed in Los Angeles last month as part of her Number Ones tour.

“I am so fortunate that my fans, no matter where they are, are so loyal,”

she says.

When Michael Jackson died suddenly in 2009 the world plummeted into a state of shock.

And while his fans remember him through his endless catalogue of music, for one lady the child in Michael will always live on.

“I can remember doing our chores as kids,” said his sister Janet.

“We would be cleaning the kitchen and while we were all working we would be writing songs. I miss his laughter.”

Many people remember their idol through his brothers and sisters including Janet.

“Music has always been a part of our lives,”

she added.

“I love Mike very much.”

Currently on her Number Ones: Up Close and Personal tour, she has dedicated her most successful song ever to the city and people of Abu Dhabi ahead of the gig on Thursday at Yas Arena.

Janet awarded That’s The Way Love Goes to the capital of the UAE.

“Hey Abu Dhabi, I’m gonna take you places you’ve never been before,”

she said earlier through a release.

“That is why I’m dedicating That’s The Way Love Goes to all my fans in your beautiful city. See you soon.”

The tour differs from previous concert schedules due to the fact the 45-year-old performs music exclusively from her chart-topping Number Ones which boasts 35 No 1 hits.

Janet herself promised no two shows on the schedule would be the same, saying of the tour “more revealed, more intimate, and more personal than ever before”.

But while the pop sensation was more than happy to chat about the tour, touching on the subject of Erotic Queen of Pop — a title she’s picked up over the years — was not met with a smile. Asked whether it was a title she had actively pursued at anytime she simply replied “no”.

Excerpts from the interview.

This tour has been your biggest to date. How does it feel to have remained on top for so long?

I really love this tour and am very grateful to all the fans for their support over the years.

We read no two shows have been the same so far. How much creative/musical input do you have in any one show?

I am always looking to grow as an artist. When creating this tour, I wanted to tell a specific story in each section of the show. I am having fun looking at these songs and seeing what I can do with them and let them inspire me. I am a very creative person, so I love to experiment. I have been making changes throughout the tour. I have changed some of the costumes, added songs and videos to the line up. I love to create so it has been a lot of fun.

Which is the acting role you have taken the most from on a personal level and why?

I think you grow whenever you get to play a character that you have not done in the past. That happened for me with For Colored Girls.

Do you have a Twitter/Facebook profile? Is the social network scene something which fascinates or bores you?

They are a lot of fun. I have both a Twitter and Facebook profile.

What was it like being the youngest of the Jacksons? Did it ever mean you got away with things the others didn’t?

(Laughs) I think I am going to keep that one to myself…

You do many “meet and greets” and have allowed fans to have input on this tour. How important are your fans to you and why?

I am so fortunate that my fans, no matter where they are, are so loyal. They give me so much love and I am excited to return mine to them. I know that there are many fans that I get to see in many cities throughout the tour. It is great.

Do you consider yourself a lucky lady? What is the best part about being Janet Jackson?

Yes, I am very lucky. I would say the best part is all of the amazing people that I get to meet. I have made some amazing friends along the way.

Your name is constantly mentioned when other artists — Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Britney to name a few — are asked who inspires them. Who truly inspires you?

There are artists, true performers that have come before me who have been a big inspiration to me. I hope I do the same for others.

Don’t miss it

Janet Jackson will perform at Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday. Tickets, priced Dh265, Dh365 and Dh665, are available at thinkflash.ae.

Source: gulfnews.com

PRODUCER DAVID GEST AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES ANNOUNCE ALL-STAR WORLD PREMIERE OF GEST’S NEW FILM ‘MICHAEL JACKSON: THE LIFE OF AN ICON’ IN LONDON ON 02 NOVEMBER 2011 AT EMPIRE LEICESTER SQUARE, 7:00PM

London, Wednesday, 5th October 2011 – David Gest and Universal Pictures today announced they will co-host a special all-star event to celebrate the world premiere of Gest’s new film ‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’ to be held in London at 7:00pm, Wednesday 02 November 2011 at the Empire Leicester Square. The film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 31 October 2011.

In attendance will be Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine, brother Tito, sister Rebbie, David Gest, the film’s director Andrew Eastel and lawyers Thomas Mesereau and Susan Yu (who successfully acquitted Michael Jackson of all charges during his child molestation court case in 2005). They will all participate in a special Q&A to discuss their involvement in the project prior to the screening. Joining them at the event will be more than 100 celebrities including many of the music industry’s top recording artists, motion picture and television stars, sporting legends and other well-known personalities. In addition, Michael Jackson fans from all over the world will have the opportunity to win tickets to attend this event. They will be able to join celebrity guests on the red carpet, view the film and have a chance to be selected to pose a question during the audience Q&A. Universal Pictures will soon announce details for Michael Jackson fans to participate in this event.

Television star and producer David Gest, who produced Michael’s last concert ‘Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration’ in 2001, which was the highest-rated musical television special in history and featured the final reunion of the original Jackson 5, said: “I am thrilled that Katherine, Tito, Rebbie, Andrew, Thomas and Susan as well as 100 stars will be in attendance for the world premiere of my new film ‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’. There is going to be a jam at the invitation-only after-party following the premiere and more than 20 legendary artists who appear in the film will take part. I am thrilled because so many of today’s contemporary artists who are friends of mine are really looking forward to performing with these legends. This party is going to be historic!”

Musical legends already confirmed to perform at the exclusive after-party include: Russell Thompkins, Jr., the original lead singer off all the Stylistics hits (‘I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’, ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’, ‘Rockin’ Roll Baby’, ‘Sing Baby Sing’); Peabo Bryson (‘A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme)’, ‘Beauty & The Beast’ ‘Tonight, I Celebrate My Love’); Deniece Williams (‘Let’s Hear It For The Boy’, ‘Free’, ‘Too Much, Too Little, Too Late’ & ‘It’s Gonna Take A Miracle’); Kim Weston (‘It Takes Two’, ‘Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)’ & ‘Helpless’); Brenda Holloway (‘Every Little Bit Hurts’, ‘When I’m Gone’ & ‘You Made Me So Very Happy’ which she co-wrote); Jimmy Ruffin (‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’, ‘I’ll Say Forever My Love’, ‘It’s Wonderful’ & ‘Hold On To My Love’); Martha Reeves (‘Dancing In The Streets’, ‘Heatwave’, ‘Jimmy Mack’ & ‘ I’m Ready For Love’) and many more to be announced. According to Tito Jackson: “this is going to be like a 60′s, 70′s and 80′s soulfest with so many legends gathered in one place in honour of my brother. Michael loved soul music and grew up on it and my mother, sister and I are really excited to hear and see all these great performers in one room. It is going to bring back a lot of wonderful memories!”

‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’ is a powerful behind-the-scenes account of the star’s life, providing fresh insight into his early years with the Jackson 5, his rise to global solo-stardom through to the final moments of his sudden death in 2009 featuring exclusive interviews with Katherine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Smokey Robinson, David Gest, Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston, Paul Anka, Michael’s manager, the late Frank DiLeo in his last interview, Valerie Simpson and her husband, the late Nick Ashford in his last interview, Petula Clark, Mickey Rooney, legendary record producers Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, the songwriting team of Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Eddie Holland and more than 50 friends, peers and associates share intimate and fascinating stories about the singer’s celebrated life. Released on DVD and Blu-rayT on Monday 31 October 2011 from Universal Pictures International Home Entertainment, the film will feature performance footage as well as never-before-seen family photography.

Directed by Andrew Eastel and produced by Michael Jackson’s childhood best friend David Gest, ‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’ gives Katherine Jackson the first chance to tell her side of the story about Michael’s upbringing in Gary, Indiana, his relationship with father Joe, her support for her son during the court cases and her thoughts on the life he faced afterwards. Rebbie Jackson, Michael’s eldest sister, gives a very rare interview and recounts the star’s childhood growing up in Gary, Indiana and his extraordinary bond with mother Katherine. Gest’s other best friend, Michael’s brother, Tito provides an in-depth look into Jackson’s history and what his mother and family went through during the sensational child molestation trial in 2005 that he was acquitted from an all counts.

Michael’s mother Katherine says: “‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’ is a truly remarkable film that captures the true character, wit and sensitivity of my son. Producer David Gest takes you on an emotional roller coaster that will bring people to tears as well as really understand who the man behind the music was and is.”

About David Gest:

David Gest and Michael Jackson began their friendship in 1969 and more than thirty years later the two formed a successful business venture, World Events LLC, where Gest produced and Jackson starred in the highest rated music television special in history ‘Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration’ on the CBS Network. It was seen in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Gest produced these historic last live concerts of Jackson at Madison Square Garden on 07 and 10 September 2001 which also featured the last reunion of Michael and his brothers, The Jackson 5.

About ‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’:

Producer, narrator and best childhood friend to Michael Jackson, David Gest has pieced together the most important facts about Jackson’s life based on unseen first-hand accounts he recorded during the last 15 months with many of Michael’s family members, friends and close associates who knew the star well. In addition to celebrating his many achievements as the biggest selling artist of all-time, the film will finally answer some of the speculation surrounding Jackson’s life. Also included in the show is rare, in-studio and live television performance footage of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 as well as unforgettable original music from the Motown period by Michael, the Jackson 5 and other artists who Jackson respected and was influenced by. The soundtrack includes more than 21 classic tunes.