Michael Jackson to make massive live comeback.

[MattyJam]

Michael Jackson will take over the O2 arena in London for two months this summer after signing a deal worth more than ?100 million, the Evening Standard can reveal.

The 50-year-old singer, who will formally announce the concerts at the venue tomorrow, will earn the extraordinary amount for the residency scheduled for June and July.

The deal, which a source said could go "up to 50 nights", was hammered out this week following months of negotiations between the singer's representatives and AEG, operators of the 20,000 seat-venue. Jackson was in London to sign the deal.

Promoter Harvey Goldsmith also played a key role. They will be the only concerts Jackson performs in the world this year with tickets from ?75 upwards and will be his first major performances since he was acquitted on child abuse charges in 2005.

This is the longest run of shows by any one act since the venue at the former Millennium Dome opened two years ago.

It is the type of deal which until now had only been seen in Las Vegas, where both Elton John and Celine Dion have had long-running residencies which were established by Frank Sinatra.

A source close to the deal told the Standard that negotiations have involved a series of "creative commercial opportunities" connected to the residency, which could include a new album being given away free to fans, a share in merchandise sales and an official DVD of the shows.

Jackson is said to be putting the finishing touches to his first new album since 2001, and has collaborated with songwriters Kanye West, Will.I.Am and Ne-Yo.

The source continued: "Michael Jackson will not be playing anywhere else in the world so there will be huge demand for tickets.

"The exact number of dates are not finalised yet but could go up to 50. He will have no problem selling out that many shows."

AEG are thought to have received reassurances about Jackson's health after he was photographed in Las Vegas, just before his 50th birthday last August, dressed in pyjama trousers and looking gaunt.

The source added: "Performing live is what Michael Jackson does best and he is a professional entertainer. He wouldn't be going in to this if he wasn't feeling 100 per cent up to it."

The singer is reportedly more than ?100 million in debt and is clearing out his Neverland ranch for an auction next month.

More than 2000 items - including the property's gates - will go under the hammer during the five-day sale in Beverly Hills.

Also for sale are the sequinned glove Jackson wore in the Billie Jean video, a customised Harley Davidson and a Rolls-Royce.

In 2007, Prince performed 21 sell-out shows at the O2 and gave away his new album free to fans.

The Outside Organisation, the agency which represents Jackson, declined to comment. AEG also would not comment.

[Izzy]

I'll be there just as I was for the Prince tour

But lets face reality - if wacko jacko could tour...he would have years ago

He's too ill and too strange to actually get his act together now

[D]

Micheal Jackson has had his faults, but that guy has something that very very few people have. I don't really get too star struck but I would really lose my mind seeing him in concert. He is just a remarkable performer.

Thats why I always laugh at tabloids saying he is broke and shit.

All dude has to do is something like this and his debts are long gone and he will have multi millions back in the bank.

[norway]

Yeah, without all the nonsense with dubious sources it's a great musican here.

He is a great singer, great performer and dancer. The king of pop.
Thriller, with it's guitar-riffs and solos, beats and MJ's high pitched voice over it is a indisputable classic.

How cool would it be if he borrowed Buckethead a little, one can only dream.

It will be intresting to see, he obviously has a musical genious inside himself.

[kmorgan]

It's so nice to see nice talk about MJ.  I know he is seen as a freak in many ways, but I remember when Thriller came out, and there was simply nothing like it.  It makes me sad that today's generation has only seen the "wacko" side of him.  I have a MJ-Number Ones CD that I pop in from time to time, (or I did before I got CD), and it is amazing.  It's nice to know others appreciate him still!!!  Watching him dance is unbelievable.  I just don't know how he does it.

[GNRreunioneventually]

what do you want to bet he tries something with one of the rodies?

[D]

U hear a song like Billie Jean and that bass guitar. I mean that is probably the greatest bass line next to Another One Bites The Dust or Under Pressure ever written

[GNR4L]

Can't wait for a new album and possibly a DVD.  Flying to London if I had the money.

[FunkyMonkey]

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-to-announce-open-ended-london-1003947955.story

Michael Jackson To Announce Open-Ended London Concert Run

Michael Jackson returns to the concert stage this summer.

March 05, 2009 12:01 AM ET

Michael Jackson will start an open-ended run of performances at London's O2 Arena on July 9, according to a Billboard source.  The shows, Jackson's first scheduled full concerts since 2001, will be announced at a press conference at the arena at 4:00 PM GMT today (March 5).  The first 10 dates will begin July 9 and the run will be extended as long as demand dictates.  Jackson is expected to appear at the news conference for the announcement.

The deal has been in the works for two years, as previously reported by Billboard. The shows will be promoted by AEG Live, which also put together Prince's record-setting run of 21 sellouts at the O2 that grossed more than $22 million.  The Spice Girls, Take That, and Kylie Minogue all have played multiple nights at the London arena, and Britney Spears has an eight night run scheduled for June.

If organizers hope to see a return of the fan frenzy that once followed Jackson everywhere, they may be disappointed. Only a handful of people joined the packs of press photographers and camera crews Wednesday outside Jackson's London hotel ? and several of those said they were seeking autographs to sell on eBay.

But even if Jacksonmania is a diminished force, his comeback would be a huge event.

[AxlsMainMan]

Butterflies from his Invincible album is mindblowingly good, definately one of my favorite tracks.

[Alan]

Michael Jackson will be making a special announcement at The O2 Arena on Thursday 5 March at 4pm(UK time). Fans are welcome to go to the O2 to see the man himself making the announcement or check back here after the event and we'll have full details...

http://seetickets.com/see/content_michael_jackson.asp

[CheapJon]

http://www.michaeljackson.com/

[Gunner80]

Maybe when I was 8 - but not now.

[GNR4L]

Man I wish he just played Las Vegas that would be cool.

[Izzy]

Why is he doing a ''final'' tour?

at age 50 is he just settling in for....i dunno, death?

Surely if he is well enough to tour now he can go on touring for years to come?

I suspect a ploy to inflate prices- a la The Eagles many 'farewell tours''

[D]

Butterflies from his Invincible album is mindblowingly good, definately one of my favorite tracks.

Invincible was a very underrated album. I love the song "Heaven Can Wait"

[norway]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT0qFeftlgM

Press conference

I think he looks great, vigorious and hungry... in the estethical sense of the word.

[AxlsMainMan]

Butterflies from his Invincible album is mindblowingly good, definately one of my favorite tracks.

Invincible was a very underrated album. I love the song "Heaven Can Wait"

Yeah, it definately had some quality tracks.

Heartbreaker is another good one.

[Eazy E]

You guys are talking about Invincible and not mentioning You Rock My World?  That song holds up best in terms of quality to his older albums.

[AxlsMainMan]

You guys are talking about Invincible and not mentioning You Rock My World?  That song holds up best in terms of quality to his older albums.

Yeah, that song is awesome but I could do without the half minute of Chris Tucker at the beginning