More Reading Between The Lines...

Disclaimer: I have never met Michael nor any of his family, friends or business associates. I have admired Michael’s work for decades, and have come to know him, and love him, albeit from a distance, through watching and reading interviews. I am also not a medical professional, and these are just my personal observations, based on watching Michael since he was 10.

I have thought long and hard about what I’m going to say, because I know many people may not agree with me and be upset that I am painting a negative picture of Michael. Believe me, I don’t like it either, but I can’t pretend not to see it. I love Michael, and from what I’ve read he was bullied and undermined. For years.

So what was the story of Michael and prescription medication? A lot has been printed and said about 25^th June 2009, and the drugs he took that day. I feel that we need to go back about a decade in order to put the events of 2009 into context. I have a feeling that whatever he may have taken in 2009 had its roots in the previous years.

February 1993

It is widely known that Michael went into drug rehab in 1993. There was a deal of speculation in the tabloids at the time that he only went to rehab to ‘escape’ child molestation charges. I think that view is grossly unfair to Michael. However, he did go into rehab and he received some treatment for his problem.



December 1993 after leaving rehab



So when did the problems start again?

I’d never noticed that Michael had any drug problems before 1993. To me it never showed in his face or behaviour, and I was shocked and surprised when he went into rehab. However, I do think it began to show in the late 90’s, around the time of the Blood on the Dance Floor video in 1997. Why do I say that? Look at his eyes. For me, Michael’s eyes were always full of expression. You could see fire and sparkle in those eyes when he talked and sang. In the Blood on the Dance Floor video, that fire and sparkle was starting to fade, and was being replaced by a wide-eyed vacuous look. I am so sorry my darling Michael for saying this, but he started to look drugged. Just a little bit. His eyes started to look big, black and round, even when his face was showing many different emotions. When I compare him in this video and the Stranger In Moscow video from 1996, it looks like two different people.

2001 and Michael releases You Rock my World. The video is full of stunning dancing by Michael, but those eyes are still big, black and round. There is no fire and sparkle. At all. In fact throughout most of the video his eyes are covered by the brim of his trademark fedora. I have even wondered if it was a deliberate attempt by the director to hide the fact that he looked drugged?

2001 and it is the 30^th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Gardens. This is when I start to have serious concerns about Michael’s health. Not only are his eyes big, round and black, but he is slurring his words as he arrives with Elizabeth Taylor to watch the show. Later, I read an account that he collapsed in the dressing room, before going on to do a set with his brothers later in the show. A doctor advised he be sent to hospital, but this advice was ignored, and he was given energy drinks to wake him up enough to go and perform. He does perform, and he gives a sparkling performance, but for me his face shows that something is wrong. He looks down at the floor, away to the side, and covers his mouth with is hand a lot during the performance.

At the 30th Anniversary Concert 2001

2002/2003 was when the now infamous Bashir interview was filmed. Later, in 2007, Michael said in a filmed discussion with a lawyer (with regards to a lawsuit brought by ex-manager Dieter Wiesner) that he was on medication in January 2003. He did not remember signing a contract for Dieter Wiesner at that time, a contract that had his signature. At times in the Bashir interview, that big, black round eyed look was there – at the Neverland fun fair, discussing the beatings from his father, feeding Blanket, his son. At other times, the familiar Michael was seen. Again, it was like two different people. So he was still medicating in 2003. There is a rumour that he nearly overdosed on morphine when his interview on 60 Minutes was aired in December 2003. Clearly, Michael was already struggling and in pain.

2005. The Trial, as the fans have come to call it. The Trial. I don’t think we realised how much The Trial affected Michael, his confidence and self-esteem. Of course he must still know he had the talent, but now the negative opinion of the world was physically impinging on his life. Michael was a fighter, and immediately after The Trial, he started to look at ways of rebuilding his image and resurrecting his career. But it must have taken a further toll on his health. If he was medicating in early 2003, before the Bashir interview was aired, then in my opinion he had to be taking something during The Trial. If not during, then almost certainly afterwards, in order to get up every day and cope with the lies said about him in court. In addition, he had a fall at home and had bruised his lungs, causing a lot of pain. That was the day he turned up at court in pyjama bottoms. He had been at hospital receiving treatment, when the judge ordered him into court within the hour. The tabloids further added to the pressure by abandoning the story the second Michael was acquitted. Up to that point, the tabloids were full of negativity towards Michael. After that, no retraction, no apology, no correction. No savage piece on the travesty that Michael had to face for 5 months, at the hands of vindictive officials. Nothing.

During The Trial

2006 World Music Awards in London. Michael is due to accept an award, and there is a rumour that he will be performing too. Reports say that when the time for him to sing came, he was nowhere to be found. Beyoncé tracked him down in his dressing room, curled into a ball with fear. If you watch the performance of We Are the World on YouTube, he doesn’t sing much at all, and spends most of the time onstage, greeting fans and the singers in the choir. I don’t know if it was planned that way, but the way the performance peters out at the end, I suggest not.

March 2009 Michael flies into London to announce the O2 concerts. The night before the O2 announcement, it’s reported that he called his mother for a pep talk, as he was worried that no one would turn up for the press conference. Hotel staff reported that he was in reception in the early hours one morning, asking for DVDs, and they thought he was drunk.

Most fans agree that Michael was not his usual self during the O2 press conference. So much so, that some fans have speculated that it was not Michael at all, but a double. I however do believe it was Michael. I also believe that he was stressed, worried and anxious that day, and his unusual behaviour was as a result of him putting on a brave front and being a showman to hide his fear. Notice how he wore black sunglasses the whole time – from leaving the hotel, and all through his short speech? I think he was hiding his fear behind those sunglasses.

So already, by March 2009, we have a picture of a man for whom performing possibly had become an ordeal, and no longer seemed a pleasure. Fans have said, that there was no way he could have felt nervous or worried about press conferences or appearing onstage, because he had been doing it for years. Well yes he had. But for years he had also been under attack from the tabloid media, who called him W**** even as far back as 1987. When you are constantly being attacked for over 20 years, it can wear you down. It can make you angry. It can make you fight back. It can make you sick with stress. It can make you need to medicate just to get through some days and carry on as normal. I have seen signs that Michael had experienced all of these things over the 20 years. I suspect that whenever Michael had to deal with situations he found stressful, he medicated. But if he was at home living quietly, he did not need to take anything. The other side effect of so much negativity is that other people, the public, begin to believe the lies, and don’t bother to check out the stories for themselves. The lies are repeated by people who have no idea if what they are saying is true. I’ve spoken to people who really believe that Michael’s nose is detachable.

1st April 2009

I think Michael really wanted to be able to perform again, but I think that physically it was out of the question. I think the stress would make him too ill. There have also been rumours that Michael had back pain during rehearsals for This is It, so to complete hours of rehearsal he would have had to take painkillers. Did this kick-start his addiction?

By June 18^th a picture is emerging that Randy Philips of AEG was using strong-arm tactics to force Michael to turn up to rehearsals. It is said that he told Dr Murray to give Michael whatever it took to get him onto that stage to rehearse.

If you are not shocked by what I have just written, then you should be. There is a rumour that Michael's drug addiction was the worst kept secret in Hollywood. I find it hard to believe that AEG hadn't heard about it.

Once again, Michael’s health and well being was being compromised in favour of making money. It was done at the 30^th anniversary concert, and I’m speculating that Michael had to take something to get him onstage at the 2006 World Music Awards as well. It is against the law to treat a sick animal this way, so why was it OK to treat Michael Jackson like this? And for a doctor to agree to it is insane.

21^st June Fathers’ Day and Cherilyn Lee, a nurse whom Michael knew, receives a call that Michael is unwell. She hears him in the background saying he is hot on one side of his body and cold on the other. She advises the caller to take Michael to hospital. Later, she says that whatever they had given him had hit his central nervous system. To this day I have heard no reports that Michael went to hospital that day. This is shocking. There were fans outside his home on 21st, so it is fair to say they would have noticed if he’d been taken to UCLA. But these very fans had already noticed the alarming change in Michael’s behaviour, and the sudden weight loss over the previous 3 weeks. They had become so concerned that they spoke to members of his entourage, pleading for someone to intervene and help Michael. When nothing was done, they wrote personal letters to Michael, effectively asking him to stop preparations for the concerts, and put his health first.

23^rd and 24^th June Michael is at rehearsals and it is claimed that he is so cold that extra clothing needed to be provided. He can be seen in This Is It wearing a t-shirt, shirt and jacket whilst rehearsing onstage under hot lights. The backing dancers are in vests or t-shirts. Michael also had to be provided with a heater.

Footage from 24^th June gives me the chills. Michael is duly there onstage, rehearsing, marking his steps at time, but to me he looks like a shell of his former self. He looks alarmingly underweight, and as though every movement is uncomfortable or painful and is taking huge effort. When he stops and walks upstage at the end of Thriller, he looks exhausted and as if he can’t wait to get off stage. His eyes are big, black, round and almost entirely void of any expression.

On the 24^th, the fans delivered their letters into Michael’s hands. When he retired that night, he asked his assistant to give him the letters to read. By that time it was the early hours of 25^th June 2009.

Rehearsing on 24 June 2009

Reading Between The Lines

Michael 15 May 2009

In my first post, I listed a timeline of what was happening in Michael Jackson’s life in 2009. I know that I cannot possibly include ALL the details of his life at that time, because I do not have access to that kind of personal data, but I do feel that the timeline is crucial in understanding how events tie in with each other.

In this post I want to speculate on what was going on in the background of this timeline, what was happening that no one working with Michael has yet admitted to, possibly because they have signed a confidentiality agreement. Or maybe no one has said anything because no one was there for the whole story. As you can see from my timeline, Tohme Tohme was Michael’s manager  in 2009 until March 25^th, when Leonard Rowe took over. At some point during April/May, Frank DiLeo also came back into the picture (he had been Michael’s manager for years in the past), and he took over from Rowe when Rowe was fired on May 25^th. (Off topic – the 25^th seems to be a key date in all this!). So maybe none of these people have put all the pieces together, because they were only present for a few months at a time?

 I believe the meeting of 15^th May 2009 was pivotal in the story. Michael had requested the meeting, and Joe Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Leonard Rowe, Randy Philips and Paul Gongaware attended. According to Leonard Rowe, Michael had already wanted to reschedule the This Is It shows back in March, after the O2 press conference. Rowe had tried to renegotiate the schedule, and Philips had said No. At the meeting on 15^th May, Rowe discussed what he believed were the ‘unethical business practices’ of AEG. At this point Joe got very upset, and had to be calmed down, and Joe himself says that Katherine and Michael were laughing at him.

To me it sounds like Michael was not happy with AEG, and was expecting Rowe to sort things out for him. Rowe had failed to do that once back in March, and although he seems to understand the problems, he doesn’t appear to have any solutions. Anyone who has worked with top executives will know that they will listen to problems, as long as you also deliver some alternative solutions. It is telling that Rowe is fired just 5 days after this meeting, and on the 6^th day DiLeo manages to reschedule some of the This Is It shows AND contact John Branca on Michael’s behalf. DiLeo seems to have done more in one day than Rowe achieved in 2 months. But was it enough?

Perhaps at this point Michael wanted to cancel all the shows? Perhaps he was so unhappy with the way AEG had handled the arrangements, that he just wanted out? The schedule for This Is It was pretty heavy for a 50 year old, even a fit 50 year old. For three months Michael would be performing roughly once every other night, which may have been achievable if Michael was the kind of performer who sat on a stool for 2 hours each show. But Michael had lots of dance routines to perform whilst he was singing, which is even more strenuous. After a break of about 3 months, there would be another stint of shows every other night, for about 2 months. It sounds like AEG were not willing to negotiate any further, so maybe Michael found himself in a tight spot. There have been some reports that Michael wanted to perform only one concert, film it, and sell the rights of the live performance to TV networks worldwide.

Rehearsals continued, and after 30^th May that fans who saw Michael every day noticed a sharp decline in his weight. They also say he looked unwell and unhappy at times, after this date. If my speculations are correct, then the stress must have been unbearable from this point onwards. He worked on the 3D segments for This Is It (to be showed during the concert) from 1^st to 11^th June, and I’m wondering if once those were completed, he lost interest? Or perhaps he went on strike? There are reports that he did not go onstage at 3 rehearsals after 12^th June, but John Branca did visit him at The Forum on 17th, where rehearsals were taking place. Who knows what they discussed? Officially, they were discussing a concert movie, a coffee table book, and merchandising, but I’m speculating that Michael wanted Branca to get him out of the AEG contract. Maybe AEG got wind of this, prompting the visit to Michael’s house the very next day (18^th), where Philips read Michael the riot act, and threatened to pull the plug on the shows altogether, which would mean Michael would have to pay back the advance he’d received and all the other costs incurred by AEG?

So what was Michael to do now? If he cancelled the 50 shows, he would have to pay back AEG. If he continued with the shows, the stress may have caused him to cancel due to ill health. Michael had already gone on record saying that preparation and touring had a detrimental effect on his health. He worked long hours, forgot to eat or drink, and was unable to sleep. At one point on a past tour, he had to walk around with an IV in his arm to replace lost fluids. His health may have been able to take that kind of long-term abuse when he was in his 20s or 30s, but he was now 50 and already underweight (his waist had been a healthy 32” in the 80’s but had shrunk to an alarming 28” in June 2009). How was he going to survive 3 months of strenuous concerts, if he continued in his normal concert mode?

Michael 16 June 2009

I believe that Michael needed a plan of escape from the AEG contract.

He needed a plan that ensured that AEG did not incur any financial losses,

A plan that ensured he himself and his family did not incur any financial losses,

That ensured his fans had access to his recent work, and his legacy work,

That ensured his reputation was restored and his legacy once more celebrated.

Michael never accepted the word ‘impossible’.

If anyone knew how to achieve the impossible, I believe Branca did.

Michael Joe Jackson - 6 months in 2009

I have been working since mid-July 2009 compiling the first 6 months of 2009. I have compiled this information from interviews, articles and lawsuits. I will update it as new information becomes available.

If I am unsure of the date, I have put an event on the first day of the month, and preceded the information with the month name e.g. 01/03/2009 March 09

Thu 01/01/09 January 09 Cherilynn Lee is asked to treat Michaels children for colds
Fri 09/01/09 Reports that Michael is to move to L.A. for 1 year
Mon 26/01/09 Michael enters into written agreement with AEG (source AEG lawsuit)
Wed 04/02/09 Michael visits doctor in LA
Thu 05/02/09 Michael leaves a Beverly Hills hospital
Sat 07/02/09 Michael is at the Bel Air hotel for a meeting (Thome)
Mon 09/02/09 James R Weller (TRW Advertising) threatens Juliens Auction house to stop sale (NOI)
Tue 10/02/09 Michael visits doctor in Beverley Hills
Mon 23/02/09 Michael fires Peter Lopez w/c 23/02.
Wed 25/02/09 Michael's Neverland auction is announced (Juliens Auction house)
Thu 26/02/09 Michael was scheduled to give press conference at the O2
Fri 27/02/09 Michael is shopping with Christian Audigier on Rodeo Drive
Sun 01/03/09 March 09 Tohme Tohme is fired allegedly after argument with Michael on 5/3
Sun 01/03/09 March 09 Cherilynn Lee starts advising Michael on nutrition, he asks about propofol
Sun 01/03/09 March 09 Michael hires chef Kai Chase (confirmed source Kai Chase Day 3 Conrad Murray trial)
Sun 01/03/09 March 09 Alberto Alvarez meets Conrad Murray for the first time (source Alberto Alvarez Day 3 Conrad Murray trial)
Tue 03/03/09 Michael arrives at Luton Airport
Thu 05/03/09 Michael attends press conference at O2 to announce 10 This Is It shows
Thu 05/03/09 Michael passes a health test for the O2 concerts
Fri 06/03/09 Michael takes his children to see Oliver!
Sun 08/03/09 Michael and Prince Michael I check out of Lanesbrough Hotel
Wed 11/03/09 20 concerts added to This Is It
Thu 12/03/09 Michael visits doctor in Beverley Hills & goes shopping at 'Wacko'
Tue 17/03/09 Michael reported to do US shows after London
Thu 19/03/09 Michael visits doctor in BH
Thu 19/03/09 Fans sit in car with Michael wearing orange pants - he is thin
Sat 21/03/09 Michael is reduced to tears by BBC terrorist comparison
Sat 21/03/09 Michael calls Leonard Rowe and asks him to represent him (source Leonard Rowes book)
Mon 23/03/09 Michael visits clinic in BH
Mon 23/03/09 Leonard Rowe calls Randy Phillips to re-arrange TII schedule - Randy says No (source Leonard Rowes book)
Wed 25/03/09 Rehearsing at Centerstaging
Wed 25/03/09 Approximate date start at Centerstaging
Wed 25/03/09 Michael hires Leonard Rowe to steer his comeback
Thu 26/03/09 Michael leaves a dance studio
Wed 01/04/09 April 09 Cherilyn Lee is still helping Michael with nutrition and insomnia, he is having financial problems
Wed 01/04/09 Five TV has ordered a documentary called 'Michael Jackson:The Second Coming?'
Wed 01/04/09 Michael has meeting at Bel Air hotel (umbrella)
Sat 04/04/09 Michael meets Leonard Rowe at home before flying to Las Vegas (source Leonard Rowe book)
Sat 04/04/09 "Michael goes to Las Vegas where he and Kenny Ortega attend the show ""Le Rêve"" at the Wynn resort"
Mon 06/04/09 Murray orders boxes of propofol (source Walgren Day 1 Conrad Murray trial)
Thu 09/04/09 Michael visits a medical centre & shops at Lladro
Fri 10/04/09 Michael and the children spend Easter with Elizabeth Taylor
Fri 10/04/09 Approximate date Tohme Tohme is fired
Fri 10/04/09 Michael shops for antiques in Beverly Hills & leaves Bel Air hotel
Fri 10/04/09 Michael rents 28 bedroom Foxbury Manor in Kent
Mon 13/04/09 Dancer auditions for This Is It tour
Tue 14/04/09 Michaels Neverland content auction has been cancelled
Wed 15/04/09 Michael sat in for final dancer auditions
Wed 15/04/09 Michael signs fans back so he can get it tattooed
Sun 19/04/09 Michael wears surgical mask at bookshop
Tue 21/04/09 Michael goes shopping in BH
Wed 22/04/09 Michael leaves a medical clinic in BH
Thu 23/04/09 April 09 approximate date that Michael fires accountants Cannon & Co.
Mon 27/04/09 Michael visits a medical centre
Mon 27/04/09 "Michael and children go shopping in West Hollywood (Ed Hardy , Off The Wall)"
Fri 01/05/09 May 09 Michael re hires Karen Faye
Fri 01/05/09 May 09 Michael fires Kai Chase and hires chef Douglas Jones
Fri 01/05/09 May 09 Joe is causing commotion outside house the day chef Jones arrives for first day
Fri 01/05/09 Early May 09 AEG complained Michael was missing rehearsals because of prescriptions & Dr Murray is retained (source AEG lawsuit)
Fri 01/05/09 Michael not coming to UK to view properties because of swine flu
Tue 05/05/09 Michael shows Joanne Horowitz his six-pack in Arnold Klein's office.
Tue 05/05/09 Michael ends his business relationship with Dr Tohme in a letter and hires Frank DiLeo
Wed 06/05/09 Michael meets his dancers at Centerstaging
Thu 07/05/09 Michael is sued by Raymone Bain for $44 million - he stopped calling her late 2007
Thu 07/05/09 Michael visits doctor
Thu 07/05/09 Michael and Joe meet Allgood Entertainment re contract for 3 July 2010 in Texas
Fri 08/05/09 AEG confirm Murray's contract in writing and Murray accepted (source AEG lawsuit)
Sun 10/05/09 Michael leaves voicemail for Conrad Murray - speech is slow and slurred (source Day 1 Conrad Murray trial)
Mon 11/05/09 This Is It concerts threatened by a proposed lawsuit alleging Michael is banned from performing before a Jackson reunion gig in July 2010 (Frank DiLeo is MJs manager)
Tue 12/05/09 Michael arrives for rehearsals
Tue 12/05/09 Murray makes first purchase of Propofol (source AEG lawsuit)
Wed 13/05/09 Michael is reported to be working with Kenny Ortega on TII
Wed 13/05/09 Michael hires magician Ed Alonzo to work on the This Is It show.
Thu 14/05/09 Date of Jackson family meal at Chakra restaurant BH
Fri 15/05/09 Michael visits a medical centre
Fri 15/05/09 Michael and children are shopping in Beverly Hills (Toms Toys)
Fri 15/05/09 "Michael meets with Joe, Katherine, Leonard Rowe, Randy Phillips and Paul Gongaware in a Beverly Hills hotel (wears black and gold Balmain jacket)"
Fri 15/05/09 Murray confirmed to AEG that he has started his services (source AEG lawsuit)
Mon 18/05/09 Dr Tohme denies Michael has skin cancer
Tue 19/05/09 Michael visits American Idol's rehearsals at to the Nokia Theatre.
Wed 20/05/09 Michael visits a medical center (wearing Balmain tux) - media reports he has skin cancer
Wed 20/05/09 Frank DiLeo send a letter to Leonard Rowe firing him
Thu 21/05/09 Approximate date DiLeo calls Branca to meet with Michael re. new deals
Thu 21/05/09 The first week of This Is It shows are moved to 2010
Thu 21/05/09 Michael visits a clinic
Thu 21/05/09 Approximate date DiLeo calls Branca to meet with Michael re. new deals
Sat 30/05/09 Start rehearsing at The Forum
Sat 30/05/09 "Michael speaks to fans, unhappy about 50 shows - is photographed with curls at The Forum"
Mon 01/06/09 Michael visits a medical centre
Mon 01/06/09 Michael is in Culver City to shoot the Dome Project
Tue 02/06/09 Michael hires chef Kai Chase
Wed 03/06/09 Michael and children are seen without their masks outside a LA recording studio
Thu 04/06/09 Michael meets Tom Bennell of Bravado re. tour merchandise (Frank Dileo & Randy Phillips)
Mon 08/06/09 "Reports that Michael wants to turn Foxbury Manor, Kent, into temporary Neverland"
Mon 08/06/09 Approximate date that fans see Michael incoherent
Tue 09/06/09 Michael visits a medical centre
Wed 10/06/09 Approximate date Michael told Kathy Smith he was cancelling the concerts
Thu 11/06/09 Fans visit Michael on set of Dome project and give him red jacket - he is like a skeleton
Thu 11/06/09 Michael did not go onstage
Fri 12/06/09 "Michael did not want to go to rehearsals - security started taking extreme measures, and said 'he's tired'"
Mon 15/06/09 Dr Conrad Murray announces he is leaving his practice
Tue 16/06/09 "Michael visits a medical centre in shades, fedora, mask and leopard print trousers (wearing Balmain studded jacket)"
Tue 16/06/09 "Michael did not go onstage - fans report he was groggy after he left the house, after visiting Klein and after rehearsal"
tue 16/06/09 Michael rehearses (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 17/06/09 Michael meets John Branca at the Forum to discuss new deals
Wed 17/06/09 Michael hires John Branca as his lawyer
Wed 17/06/09 Louis Farrakhan receives call from lawyer saying Michael is in trouble and needs help
Wed 17/06/09 Michael rehearses (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Thu 18/06/09 Michael does not turns up for rehearsals (source AEG lawsuit)
Thu 18/06/09 Michael has showdown with Randy Philips & is told to turn up for all rehearsals or AEG will cancel and take assets (source AEG lawsuit)
Thu 18/06/09 Michael arrives at rehearsal 9:30 visibly shaken (source AEG lawsuit)
Thu 18/06/09 Michael  sits in a chair next to  Kenny Ortega observing (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Thu 18/06/09 Murrays administers Propofol withput resucitation equipment (source AEG lawsuit)
Fri 19/06/09 Date rehearsals end at The Forum
Fri 19/06/09 "Michael is rehearsing, witnesses say he was drugged and incoherent (source AEG lawsuit)
Fri 19/06/09 Kenny Ortega says Michael unwell at rehearsal and is sent home (source Murrays prelim)
Fri 19/06/09 Michael is shivering, shaking and incoherent - lost (source Kenny Ortega Day 1 Conrad Murray trial)
Fri 19/06/09 Michael is at rehearsal seated at table wearing hat (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Fri 19/06/09 Michael attends costume fitting for Zaldy - is photographed. Karen Faye attends (source Karen Faye Twitter)
Sat 20/06/09 Kenny Ortega says he, Murray, DiLeo, Phillips visit Michael at home - denies 'riot act' took place (source Murrays prelim)
Sun 21/06/09 Fans report that Michael didn't wave or speak to them - he was not himself
Sun 21/06/09 Fans write to Michael's entourage expressing concern over his health
Sun 21/06/09 "Michael rang Cherilyn Lee feeling hot one side of his body, cold the other"
Mon 22/06/09 Michael visits Klein for the last time - no rehearsal
Tue 23/06/09 Michael's rehearsal is recorded by AEG
Tue 23/06/09 Michael is freezing and needs extra shirts and coat (source AEG lawsuit)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Starting Something' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Jam' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'They Don't Care About Us' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Human Nature' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Smooth Criminal' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Black or White' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses on the cherry picker in long trench coat (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Beat It' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael provides notes (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'The Way You Make Me Feel' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'I Want you Back' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Stop The Love' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'I'll Be There' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Rock With You' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Can't Stop Loving You' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Tue 23/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Dangerous' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Michael has lunch at home with his children before leaving for rehearsals
Wed 24/06/09 Michael is shivering and disoriented at rehearsal (source AEG lawsuit)
Wed 24/06/09 Michael sits backstage with Kenny Ortega watching special effects on a TV (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Dangerous' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Kenny Ortega demonstrates spider to Michael (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Michael rehearses emerging from spider and 'Thriller' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Michael rehearses 'Earth Song' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Michael rehearses 'We Are The World' (source Sony status report 20 July 2011)
Wed 24/06/09 Fans hand letters of concern to Michael after rehearsals
Wed 24/06/09 Michael leaves Staples Center 12:08 am (source Faheem Mohammed Day 2 Conrad Murray trial)
Thu 25/06/09 Fans see Michael leave Staples Center 01:00 to 01:30am
Thu 25/06/09 Michael arrives home 1am, Murray's car already there (source Murrays prelim)
Thu 25/06/09 Kai Chase says Michael and Murray did not eat Tuscan bean soup she left in fridge (source Murrays prelim)

Last updated 03 October 2011