[Spann]

Michael Jackson has died in hospital at the age of 50.

The singer was rushed to UCLA Medical Centre earlier tonight after suffering a heart attack.

According to KTLA.com, Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived at his Holby Hills home, while attempts to resuscitate him were "completely unresponsive".

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Fire Department said: "The call came in because a person was not breathing.

"When the team arrived, they saw that CPR was already in progress by someone at the home. The person not breathing was transported to UCLA Medical Center and remains there."

The star's mother and sister LaToya are reportedly inside the hospital, where crowds have started to gather.

He was expected to begin a series of comeback shows at London's O2 arena from July 13.

Jackson has three children, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II.

RIP - One of the greatest entertainers of our time.

1958 - 2009

[Gobbler]

Whu- what?

Oi...

[Vesuvius]

I couldn't believe it when I heard it. He was only 50! (Hey, that's better than Mozart!)

This guy was awesome in his prime, and one of the greatest names to remember the '70's, '80's and early 90's by.

I for one found his child-like attitude toward life refreshing. Although I believe him to be completely innocent of his accusations, I do deem his playful actions inappropriate for his age and for the type of people out to pin something on him.

I can't say much bad about a guy who was friends with Vincent Price, worked with George Lucas and Francis Ford Copolla on the short film Captain E-O, funded charities, and made zombies dance!

He will be missed.

[Spoon Poetic]

Seems like every musician or artist who accomplishes much young dies early.

Except David Bowie. Thank God. :-P

[Gobbler]

Seems like every musician or artist who accomplishes much young dies early.

Ohhh, buuurrnnn, Barry Manilow.

[Spann]

Buuuuuurn, Tom Jones...

[David-kyo]

Er, Keith Richards? Personally, I find it amazing that this guy's still alive.

[Gobbler]

Can we instead try to make a list of people who were cut down in their prime? And no, Michael Jackson's prime was long over, he shouldn't count into that.

So let's see...

Buddy Holly.
Does Elvis still count?
Kurt Cobain (though I didn't really expect much else from him at that point)
Aaliyah
Scatman John

Err... can't think of more right now.

[Spoon Poetic]

Well I didn't mean people that were cut down in their prime, just that they die at a young age.
Van Gogh
Mozart
Kurt Cobain
Janis Joplin
Heath Ledger
Tupac
Marilyn Monroe
Jimmy Hendrix
Bob Marley
John Lennon
Elvis
Andy Warhol

There are many more. I just tried to list a few that are more recognizable. I wasn't trying to insult anyone that didn't die young; it's just that a lot of people that have a very large creative output / creative genius tend to die young.

This post has been edited by Spoon Poetic: 30 June 2009 - 12:21 PM

[civilian_number_two]

Meh. A lot of people die young, period. The reason you didn't hear about my friend who fell asleep with a cigarette in his mouth and burned himself to death at 18 years old is that he wasn't famous.

[barend]

Meh. A lot of people die young, period. The reason you didn't hear about my friend who fell asleep with a cigarette in his mouth and burned himself to death at 18 years old is that he wasn't famous.

Holy shit, I lost a friend the same way. Passed out drunk in his room with still lit cig. He was about 10-15 years older but, still holy shit.

[Vesuvius]

So today they had this big gathering at the Staples center in California for Michael Jackson.

I was not impressed.

Sure, there were a bunch of people there, giving their opinions and such about Michael through the years, and I'd say the best speeches were given by people that didn't have anything scripted. Case in point, Magic Johnson. Brooke Shields wasn't bad either. Both of these stars showed true passion and genuine feeling about not only the entertainer, but the friend that Michael was to them.

Also, the music wasn't that great. I accept that other people simply can't make a Michael Jackson song better than Michael made it. With that said, none of his music sounds any better coming form people that won American Idol four years ago. In fact, his own songs at his funeral were atrocious. Off key singers, missing notes to music scores, continual whining by today's "hottest" R&B stars... the list goes on.

This could have been better, especially with the amount of money people paid for tickets to see this.

[BigStupidDogFacedArse]

MJ, Diana Ross, and Quincy Jones all helped create the King of Pop. Michael Jackson had a bunch of recognizable hits and a few trademark dance moves. He also had signature fashion, which didn't age well. I'm not even sure it was cool for the period, but I'm willing to believe it was. He was miserable and secluded; locking himself inside some fictional world he created. He allowed special admittance to a select number of kids. He dyed his skin and mangled his face all in effort to look lighter and younger. He spent money like a Sultan, often renting out entire Hotels for himself when he went on tour.

Even though he was secluded and weird that didn't stop his messianic/anti-Christ persona to come alive on stage. I'll never forget the Brit Awards where the messiah, dressed in white satin, was floating around like a ball of light whilst a sea of sick children where running up and touching him. He lip-synched the entire performance. It was embarrassing to witness, but that didn't stop people from giving a standing ovation.

His fan are fucking nuts. And he molested boys. Nuff said.

RIP - One of the greatest entertainers of our time.

He was marketed well but he was not one of the greatest entertainer. He lip-synched most of his gigs and was a far cry Frank Sinatra, who by Michael's age probably played 1000 more shows. The guy was all over the place, coke ads, video games, etc... He might be the first singer to become a pez head. So can we drop the sentiment?

This post has been edited by BigStupidDogFacedArse: 08 July 2009 - 12:09 PM

[Gobbler]

I thought it was Vitiligo that caused his skin to become lighter. Always wondered how complete "bleaching" should be done, except for simply pouring the stuff in a bathtub and diving in... and I wouldn't know of any sort of chemical for that purpose... well, at least none that you would willingly choose for one such application.

[Spoon Poetic]

That disease that I can't remember what it's called, that you lose pigment - I know several people with it, and they all tell me - it NEVER takes all your pigment away. It does it in blotches, and it especially attacks the skin around the eyes and the hands, maybe the arms, can be other places but it never turns you all white. Especially in gradual lightening stages like MJ pretty much did (he got lighter and lighter over the years - that's not how it works). Maybe he did have that disease but he also did something else to make himself white. Everyone I know that has it, they use makeup to make the whitey-pink parts match the rest of their skin. I figure, if MJ had that disease, he used makeup to make the brown parts match the white parts. It wouldn't have been hard.