The family of Michael Jackson have unveiled plans for a massive public ceremony celebrating the singer’s life.
Michael Jackson died last Thursday (June 25th) leaving a vast hole in popular culture. Whilst often lampooned, and sometimes even dismissed, Jackson remained a potent pop force until the end.
Announcing a series of shows in the O2 Arena in London earlier this year, Michael Jackson began intensive preparations at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. An enormous dance studio, Jackson began working on routines with a score of top dancers.
Recent video footage from the rehearsal shows an entertainer who had slowed with age, but remained a stunning performer. Michael Jackson is shown running through the classic track ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ in a militaristic style.
Click HERE to watch the video of Michael Jackson’s rehearsal!
After his death a clamour came from fans to have a public service celebrating his life. The Jackson family promised a series of shows stretching around the world, with the Staples Center service set to be the first.
Taking place in the Los Angeles dance studio, footage from the service will be simulcast as the nearby Nokia Theatre. Fans can register for tickets via the Staples Center website.
A problem with the site on July 5th meant that fans outside the United States could not register for the ceremony, with submissions only set up to accept zip codes – the American equivalent of a postal code.
Organised by AEG Live, the promoter’s managing director Randy Phillips told BBC News that the problem was now rectified and that it had not been their intention to exclude UK based fans.
According to Reuters, more than 1.6 million people have now applied for tickets with fans expected to travel from around the world to be there.
The Michael Jackson memorial service is due to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7th.
