Jackson rehearsal video 'exists'

1 Jul 2009, 4:48 pm   -   Source: AFP
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Footage of Michael Jackson rehearsing for his planned comeback concerts in London exists and could be released to the public at some point, the organisers of the shows said.

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Footage of Michael Jackson rehearsing for his planned comeback concerts in London exists and could be released to the public at some point, the organisers of the shows said.

The president of promoters AEG Live, Randy Phillips, told Sky News television that video of the pop legend preparing for the 50 scheduled shows would disprove rumours that he was incredibly frail before his death.

"We may at some point release some footage of him in rehearsal that would totally refute that," he said.

Photographer Kevin Mazur also described Jackson as being in good form at a rehearsal just hours before his death. "He was like an expectant father pacing up and down the stage.

He was just so focused. Between songs, he burst into laughter and joked around with his dancers and the director.

I have never seen him so happy," Mazur told the Sun in an interview published on Wednesday.

Jackson, who died on Thursday, never released a live album, and any video and accompanying audio recordings of his rehearsal could be worth a fortune.

Phillips also said he hoped to recreate the shows that were due to start on July 13, saying the production was "bigger than anything else could ever have been ... at some point the world needs to see this production."

"I would imagine if we could do it, it would be done as a tribute, with the family, with the brothers performing, and some of the sisters, but also other stars who loved Michael," he said.

Jackson made his final public appearance in London in March to announce the string of shows at the capital's O2 arena.

AEG Live have said they will offer a full refund to all fans who were due to attend. Alternatively, ticket holders can send off for their specially designed tickets to keep as memorabilia.

Phillips also said he would have preferred Jackson to have a doctor in London, but the star insisted on hiring Conrad Murray -- who was with Jackson in the final hours before his death -- as his around-the-clock physician.

Amid speculation that excessive use of powerful prescription pain killers may have played a role in Jackson's death, attention has focused on Murray.

The doctor's lawyers and law enforcement sources have said he is not suspected of wrongdoing and has co-operated with the investigation.

"Michael insisted on hiring Dr Murray because he told us he was his personal physician. He told one of our outside counsel ... that he had been Michael's personal physician for three years," Phillips recalled.

"And then Michael told me, he said: 'You don't understand, my body is the machine that fuels this business and I need personal care and I want a doctor 24-7, like President Obama would have. And this is my doctor."

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