Michael Jackson dies

MJ was rushed to hospital in the States

26 June 2009 - The King of Pop, Michael Jackson has died. He suffered a heart attack in a Los Angeles hospital late on June 25.

The pop legend, whose life was deeply rooted in controversy, was about to perform a string of massive shows at the 02 in London.

He had had a  history of health problems prior to his sudden and tragic death, and speaking on behalf of the Jackson family, Jermaine said doctors had tried to resuscitate the star for more than an hour without success.

He added: "The family request that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time." "And Allah be with you Michael always. I love you."

The pop legend was driven to University of California at Los Angeles medical late on June 25 and paramedics had administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the ambulance, but it was too late as he never regained consciousness and was reported dead about three hours later.

He sold over 750m albums worldwide and won 13 Grammy awards. But he had withdrawn from the public eye, taking his last tour in 1997 and releasing his last album of new material in 2001.

“He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul"
Paul McCartney

World Tributes

Across the globe messages have been flooding in as the music industry reacts to the death of Michael Jackson.

Quincy Jones

"I'm absolutely devastated at this news. I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together and allowed us to do what we could do through the 80s.

Paul McCartney

“He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.”

Robin Gibb

“I think he was a victim of society as it were no less than Oscar Wilde was 100 years ago. I think he was a very sensitive, gentle, gifted artist who deserved better. I think he was frightened stiff of getting back on stage again in front of the media.”

Paul Gambaccini, Music Journalist

“In decades to come people will look back and think of the historic recordings and the freak show will be a footnote but it will be a long footnote because at three years old his public life was crazy.” Dionne Warwick “He’ll live on in my memory through his songs.”

Nile Rodgers, Music Producer

'When you listen to Michael's stuff, you can see that it was ground breaking on many different levels. Imagine having a career over and over and over and over again. And each time that that career jump started the next phase of his life -- it sort of changed pop culture.”

P. Diddy

"Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life. He made me believe in magic. I will miss him. My heartfelt prayers go out to his entire family."

Berry Gordy, founder Motown records

"Michael Jackson doesn't just come along once in a century or a lifetime, he only comes along once, and so we had the benefit of enjoying him, we will enjoy him forever through his music."

Adrian Larkin & Emily Wither