Michael Jackson - King of Pop

Book excerpt: On 25th July, breaking news revealed that Michael Jackson, King of Pop, was dead. Fans and the media watched in shock as the story unfolded: doctors had lost the battle to save him after he had collapsed from a heart attack. In a cruel twist of fate, he had passed away before he got the chance to make his final curtain call in the form of 50 planned sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena. From a very young age, Michael's exceptional music talent was clear. He stood apart from his four brothers when they performed together as the Jackson 5 and, in 1974, he embarked upon what was to become a monumental solo career. A string of chart-busting albums and singles followed, with the Thriller album selling 47 million copies worldwide and yielding seven top-ten singles. It is belived that, in his lifetime, he sold around 750 million records, making him one of the most successful entertainers ever. This in-depth and affectionate biography traces the rise of the man, from child prodigy to tortured megastar. It is the definitive portrait of a pop legend whose strange and brilliant life will never be forgotten.