Photos from Michael Jackson’s Final Rehearsal Emerge

Well this does seem to refute the Michael was 115 lbs rumors, unless he lost an crap load or weight in two days….seeing these make me sorta glad that he was at least doing what he loved in his final days. It would have been a helluva show.

Ummm I don’t even want to watch a dead man walking. I guess that’s what I think of these pictures. I actually think that has been my view of him for years. Maybe I never ever saw any outcome I could embrace. I’m truly not surprised at his death…maybe saddened however…I’m not cold and calculating, just realistic I think. Too bad MJ couldn’t be as realistic.

Well this does seem to refute the Michael was 115 lbs rumors, unless he lost an crap load or weight in two days’ ¦.seeing these make me sorta glad that he was at least doing what he loved in his final days. It would have been a helluva show.

ITA. I think he looks pretty good… definitely looks like he’s enjoying himself. You’re right. I would’ve been a helluva show.

He does look pale… and a little skinny IMO…

I’m wondering what that is on the back of his hands, at first I thought it was a shirt, but I dont know, and face, just strange, this is all strange.

He was looking very thin. Too sad we will never find out if he could have pulled this concert off.

Michael was always skinny, so I don’t see much difference in weight imo. The heaviest I remember him was the way he looked during the Remember the Time video, we had a little weight on him, and it suited him. But if rumors were true that he danced for hours on end, no weight is gonna stick….

Gingerly, too never expected a positive outcome for Michael, maybe just for different reasons. Michael never seemed to be the age gracefully kind, was never comfortable in his body, or his skin, so this was inevitable. I am truly sad for anyone who meets an untimely demise though.

Lu, he does look like he’s enjoying himself. That makes me happy.

Can someone explain the significance of the single upper arm band that he wore?

He looks like he was enjoying himself, he does however look frail. His arm holding the microphone, in the picture with the violet coat, looks skeletal.

It would have bee such a tremendous return to the stage, such a gift to all his fans. Alas it was not to be. RIP MJ.

Michael has always been really slim but I don’t see how he looks that much different weight-wise in those pictures. I find it really hard to believe he was under 130lbs.

I think there are some exaggerated rumors and salacious gossip going around, which is not really surprising in this case.

Lu, he does look like he’s enjoying himself. That makes me happy.

Me too, Abby. I actually hoped that he might do some shows in the US and I might actually get to see him…

I don’t know. I’m about 120 lbs and I gotta tell ya – if you put a photo of me beside any one of those recent pics of Jackson, I’d look like a big fat whale next to him. In those photos, to me, he doesn’t look over 110 lbs at the very most (and if I were to make a serious guess, it would be closer to 100). He looks like a skeleton. A plastic skeleton.

He kind of looks like a walking skeleton to me. I think those baggy clothes are covering something up. If you take a look at the top of the left arm (from our view– the one with the blue band on it), it looks like the arm doesn’t even begin to fill the sleeve. I hate to see how many greedy and selfish people surround these stars, not looking out for anyone but themselves. So sad.

Well, he looks skinny, but he’s always been skinny. I’m not sure I see much of a difference between these photos and other recent photos over the past few years.

I would think if he made it through a 3 hour rehearsal of a demanding singing and dancing set, that no one there was really thinking the guy was on the verge of death.

I agree he always was very thin, and that the video of Remember the Time was him at his thickest. I’d have to know his height before I could “guess” at his weight, and even then, I’m sure I’d be wrong.

That said, skinny (and weight loss, which I think would be inevitable to a degree given his increased activity level) has a tendency to look worse the older you get. Loss of muscle mass is inevitable with age, so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt here.

I agree he does look happy in these, and for that, I’m glad and thankful for him. RIP Michael.

He looks the same to me . He’s always been skinny and he definitely doesn’t look bald and close to death. RIP Michael.

Apparently AP has learned that MJ’s finished an elaborate video production two weeks before he died. Currently in post-production. Via twitter’s @BreakingNews.

I don’t know if I could watch that video.

Loss of muscle mass is inevitable with age, so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt here.

Likely but not inevitable.
You can add muscle mass at age 95 if you train and eat properly.
I’m just sayin’.

Not that I could ever imagine MJ slinging weights :wink1_tb:

^^
Wow.

I have 3 nephews, all about 5’10″, all small boned like their mother, weight averages about 135#. Active as all get-out, great athletes, can hit a golf ball a mile, and you should see what they bench press….and those six packs.

I don’t quite understand why many feel that Michael looks emaciated. He has always been a small framed man….and his energy level was consistent with no body fat when he was younger. I guess when we have a nation where more than a third of us are obese, we have a problem understanding that thin is healthy for some people.

Since I don’t know much about Michael’s physical health I will say that being slight is not a sign of anything horrific.

MJ finished an elaborate video production? I would love to see that. I’m guessing it will be in the vein of the Thriller long form video. Which to this day, imho, is the best video ever made.

Wow. This doesn’t look like a man who was going to keel over the day after.

It’s funny because I had thought Michael didn’t look well in recent things I’d seen him in, but here, he looks healthy, vibrant, and happy.

This almost makes me even more upset that we don’t get to see that awesome finale tour because it really would have been something.

When I say he didn’t look good, a person’s facial expressions and demeanor when they walk are always a give away. I never thought Michael was unhealthy, in terms of weight, I just never thought he looked WELL. He didn’t look sick because he was too thin, he looked sick because of the way he carried himself.

I guess he could still put on a great show, but eventually all the things he may have abused finally caught up to him.

Me too, Abby. I actually hoped that he might do some shows in the US and I might actually get to see him’ ¦

Lu me too. I have stayed away from alot of big name concerts because I don’t believe they are worth the money. I would have paid premium dollars to see Michael…..

He looks the same to me . He’s always been skinny and he definitely doesn’t look bald and close to death. RIP Michael.

I agree, but it’s more ‘sensational’ to say ^^^^^ sadly

Since I don’t know much about Michael’s physical health I will say that being slight is not a sign of anything horrific.

:thumbup_tb:

I don’t know if ya’ll read the script for the second photo, but the rehearsal was shot and the management company that set up the tour is going to package it and make it available for sale- so everyone can have memories of what his last tour concert would have been.

is going to package it and make it available for sale-

And they’ll probably make-up a good portion of their pre-tour expenses…considering the demand for things Michael these days (who knows they might be able to pay Michaels 150,000 dollar per month personal physician…man did I choose the wrong career).

Wow. This doesn’t look like a man who was going to keel over the day after.

Neither did Billy Mays. Heart attacks can be deceptive. Rest in peace, Mr. Jackson.

Likely but not inevitable.

Yes, exactly. I knew that “inevitable” would come back to haunt me! (Though, I did have MJ in mind when I said it, cuz like you said, he didn’t seem like the “Pump You UP!” type. )

I don’t know if ya’ll read the script for the second photo, but the rehearsal was shot and the management company that set up the tour is going to package it and make it available for sale- so everyone can have memories of what his last tour concert would have been.

Well if that’s true, I may have to buy it, invite some of my old friends over, have a party and watch it – just like I did when the Thriller video debuted on MTV! Abby – you come too!

Just because he has always been thin doesn’t mean it was healthy or natural. And eating disorders can really mess with your heart. Isn’t that what killed Karen Carpenter?

I also heard on tv today, which may not be true, that his voice was shot and he was lip synching. But that he still had all the dance moves. Again, I don’t know if it was true but I guess we’ll see when the video comes out.

I wasn’t a fan, especially in the last 15 years or so. But I’m glad they’ll have the video for fans who would like one last (and positive) thing to remember him by.

Isn’t that what killed Karen Carpenter?

Yes. But in this situation, I’d guess that what weakened his heart was the pain killer additiction.

Well if that’s true, I may have to buy it, invite some of my old friends over, have a party and watch it – just like I did when the Thriller video debuted on MTV! Abby – you come too!

Lu, I think you’re from one of my hometowns, it could happen, so leave a light on

Lu, I think you’re from one of my hometowns, it could happen, so leave a light on

Abby, it’s a deal.

Hey, they should put it in the theater and then sell the video. They’d make tons of money, hopefull to pay back the ticket holders and his some of his debts, and it would be really fun to see it on a big screen!

It would be the biggest movie of the year.

Maybe Mj (blogger– not to be confused with the other MJ) has connections and could put a bug in someone’s ear.

Michael has always been really slim but I don’t see how he looks that much different weight-wise in those pictures. I find it really hard to believe he was under 130lbs. I think there are some exaggerated rumors and salacious gossip going around, which is not really surprising in this case.

Yes. Michael was always slim. He looks good to me in these pictures. Very energetic and enjoying himself. He always said he was most comfortable on the stage and it always showed. He doesn’t look like he’s anorexic or anything like that. He looks good. Especially for being 50. Wow… this would have been such a good show. Its weird though that the title of the tour was “this is it”. Kind of telling in a creepy way.

Neither did Billy Mays. Heart attacks can be deceptive.

Very true. They just sneak up on you.

Guys. You can’t see the bones in the arms of normal people.

http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/3/9/3/0/28880393-28880394-large.jpg

The man had been a junkie for 20 years. Nobody who knew him expected him to live much longer, let alone show up for 50 shows.

I would think if he made it through a 3 hour rehearsal of a demanding singing and dancing set, that no one there was really thinking the guy was on the verge of death.

Reports are that he only participated in 3 of the 45 rehearsals and needed medical help during one of them. Further reports are that he was planning to lipsynch the show. They had hired look-alike dancers to so some of the prodution numbers. He was performing for 13 minutes out of the show. The man had been a junkie for 20 years. He wasn’t physically capable of functioning.

His arm with the band on shows how skinny he is and those clothes are hiding something. Also on TV or in pictures, you look 10-15 pounds heavier. I bet he wasn’t eating much too and with all that practicing, he probably didn’t have any appetitite except for pills. I have no doubt that he’s also wearing a wig. I have no reason to doubt the preliminary autopsy report saying he was bald with just peach fuzz. People who have Lupus do have bald spots with peach fuzz. If Michael had gone on to do the tour, he probably would have collapsed on tour at some point and probably a lot of shows would have been cancelled. He’s been frail for years as I recall, especially during his trial and he was now 50. He abused his body both inside and out and something has got to give. I also heard rumors that his voice was terrible so I don’t doubt he was going to lipsynch to ensure that he didn’t crack during a song. No doubt he was practicing his dance moves and with all the stuff going on stage with dancers around him he thought he would have gotten away with it but fans know when you lypsynch and they would have been upset. I know I would be.

What was he thinking with a comeback? It would have been pathetic.

The photos look good but I just heard on CNN that Jackson asked Dr. Murray to stay over that night because he was not feeling well.

I think Jackson has become so good at hiding pain, the show must go on ethic was drilled into him, and he has become so good at hiding behind masks, figuratively and literally, that we could never know what was actually going on with him. He has people who do a good job of making him look good in the public eye, that is for sure.

Is it me or is Joe Jackson missing a few, several bricks – I beginning to think he is more than just nasty, but that he is either missing a few screws or he’s got his own issues like with a bottle maybe, clearly living in his own alternate universe, maybe the apple does not fall far from the tree – his news conference with the Rev Al and his record company partner was bizarre. Even more shocking Reverend Al said not one word. I thought Rev Al would at least step in to save Joe there at least once.

How are the kids, do they ask about their dad. The kids are happy, I mean they are happy with the kids they are hanging out with. WTF? Joe do you need a PR coach, I am available. Hint you don’t say the kids are happy even if they were.

And let us not forget reinharv MJ suffered severe burns to his scalp in that Pepsi Incident, I suspect that some of that hair never came back if he had third degree burns, and then when you wear wigs most of the time, probably more comfortable to just shave that hair off or pretty close to the head anyway.

If Michael was that healthy:

why did he need a doctor on call 24-7, a cardiologist no less

why did AEG have to self insure the tour

why was the tour postponed in the first place

why does a healthy man need a wheel chair – a recent picture shows him in a wheelchair, he is with his customary mouth mask and looking quite frail as he’s not in full costume

What was he thinking with a comeback? It would have been pathetic.

Matter of opinion… I’m betting that Michael would have put on a helluva show. Dude knew how to perform.

I was so looking forward to his comeback!
I am sure he would have given an amazing show! Apparently he was dancing and singing just as good as his best times.
He looked so happy performing! I am so sad this happened. What a tragedy.
RIP MJ! Love ya.

My husband was reading an article from someone close to Michael that said he actually couldn’t sing anymore– that he had severe lung problems– that this tour company had some new lip syncing techology that they were using.

It is unfortunate that Jackson did not have a chance to have his comeback/farewell unless of course the whole comeback idea is what ended up killing him, directly or indirectly as the case might be.

I did see what Joe Jackson was trying to say but not very eloquently which was that Michael could have used that outpouring of love before he died, though Joe come on, selling out 50 concerts like he did, what more do you want? But clearly MJ’s reason for doing this besides getting out of debt was one last chance to repair his reputation, redeem himself as it were.

Matter of opinion’ ¦ I’m betting that Michael would have put on a helluva show. Dude knew how to perform.

Agreed!

Well this does seem to refute the Michael was 115 lbs rumors, unless he lost an crap load or weight in two days’ ¦.seeing these make me sorta glad that he was at least doing what he loved in his final days. It would have been a helluva show.

I believe the 115 lb. rumor, as on his mug shot in 2003, he was only 120 lbs.

I think he looks pretty thin in these pictures.

Neither did Billy Mays. Heart attacks can be deceptive. Rest in peace, Mr. Jackson.

I thought Billy Mays died from a head injury. Or am I mistaken?

He looks skinny and ghostly to me. The lighting doesn’t help I suppose.

Cookcricket there was speculation that it has something to do with the fact he said on TV he was hit on the head by luggage on a bumpy flight landing, however the medical examiner said there was no sign of head trauma but that the conditon of his heart, as discovered during the autotopsy, clearly indicated a massive heart attack.

Reports are that he only participated in 3 of the 45 rehearsals and needed medical help during one of them. Further reports are that he was planning to lipsynch the show. They had hired look-alike dancers to so some of the prodution numbers. He was performing for 13 minutes out of the show. The man had been a junkie for 20 years. He wasn’t physically capable of functioning.

95% or more of reports about Michael Jackson have been and continue to be wrong. Unless it comes from a doctor, attorney, judge, or coronor, I don’t listen or believe any of these so-called “reports”.

95% or more of reports about Michael Jackson have been and continue to be wrong. Unless it comes from a doctor, attorney, judge, or coronor, I don’t listen or believe any of these so-called ‘reports’ .

OK. If we simply stick to the facts, we know that he had been a junkie since at least 1993, that his concert run in London had been postponed because the show wasn’t ready, and that he had received an injection of narcotic drugs immediately prior to his death.

Fans wanted to believe that an otherwise healthy Elvis died of a heart attack, too. The only difference is that Elvis’ people tried to cover up the junkie decline and death. Jackson’s closest friends and relatives aren’t even trying to do that. Many of them have come forward to say they knew he was in very bad shape with his drug addiction.

There are so many rumors and contradictory reports about his health that I’m not sure what to believe anymore. Some reports suggest he was more than ready for the tour and that he’d have given the younger dancers a run for their money. Other reports say he was looking frail, had lost his voice etc. I tend to believe he still had it. We all know him as a perfectionist. I can’t imagine him risking taking centre stage again and not being 100% prepared for every single nuance of the tour (dancing, singing, showmanship). I don’t doubt that the comeback tour would have challenged the success of his previous tour. The guy never did anything half assed.

I’m really curious to know now who Michael really was. David Gest said in a recent interview that Michael didn’t speak in the child-like voice we’ve all come to know – that he had a strong, deep voice among family and friends. This man had so many layers. I’m sure the private Michael was so different fom the public persona. He’s a complete mystery to me and so many. It makes me want to know more….which is exactly what he intended.

I want him to have peace now. He never had it in life. I hope he gets it in death.

I tend to believe he still had it. We all know him as a perfectionist. I can’t imagine him risking taking centre stage again and not being 100% prepared for every single nuance of the tour (dancing, singing, showmanship). I don’t doubt that the comeback tour would have challenged the success of his previous tour. The guy never did anything half assed.

I agree 100%.

I think Jackson had been lipsyching some of his performances for years. Even someone in prime physical condition can sing through an hour and a half of dance routines.

In a way, he had painted himself into a corner on his stage shows, with a style of performing that was simply not suitable for an older man in his state of declining health.

Guys. You can’t see the bones in the arms of normal people.

Not necessarily. I can see the bones in Michael’s hand and his wrist in another picture. But I can see the bones in my own hand and wrist, and I’m by no means emaciated. Some people just have boney wrists, I guess. *shrug*

Having said that, I think Michael looks terrible – physically. I looks like he’s wearing clothes that carefully camoflage his very thin frame. His face in the pic above looks like it’s melting or pitted or something. I think he looks frail.

On the other hand, he also looks to be in good spirits in some of the pics, and obviously whatever his physical state, he seemed happy to be performing.