Michael Jackson's final rehearsal - on the eve of his death last week - could become his last album. The singer's preparations for his 'This is It' tour, which would have kicked off with 50 shows at London's O2 Arena from July 13, were recorded in high-definition video and multitrack audio. AEG Live, the concert promoters for Jackson's planned shows, told Hollywood website thewrap.com: "We have a live album in the can."
Photos from Wednesday night's rehearsal show Jackson on stage for the last time, looking fragile yet striking familiar poses and smiling. Jackson performed 11 songs at the rehearsal at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
More than 800,000 tickets costing up to £1,000 had been sold for the London concerts, which were rumoured to be "the most expensive and technically advanced" live shows ever. The show was to have featured a hovering orb, flaming bed, mutant spiders, 20ft puppets, 3-D effects and pyrotechnics. Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo said the singer was delighted with it. He said: "He put his arm around me and said, 'Frank, I am so happy, this is really our time'."
In other developments:
• AEG Live has offered Jackson fans the option of keeping the tickets they would have received for the 'This is it' concerts as souvenirs - but they will have to forego a refund in return. "The tickets printed with the special lenticular process, were inspired and designed by Michael Jackson for the fans attending his shows," reads a statement on michaeljacksonlive.com, the website set up to promote the concert series.
• Posthumous sales of Michael Jackson's back catalogue have surpassed the demand for singles and albums by Elvis and John Lennon at the time of their death, music chain HMV has revealed.
