Michael Jackson dead at 50

**Ben Morgan** · 06-25-2009, 03:18 PM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...26/2609021.htm

Pop legend Michael Jackson is reported to have died of a heart attack after he was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles.

Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest earlier today, according to CNN and entertainment news website TMZ.com.

TMZ is now reporting he has died.

"We've just learned Michael Jackson has died," TMZ said.

"Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him.

"We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back," the entertainment website said.

There has been no official confirmation of the reported death and spokespersons for Jackson could not be reached for comment.

Earlier, The LA Times reported paramedics went to the singer's home and found him not breathing.

The newspaper said paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene before taking him to the UCLA Medical Centre hospital.

Jackson had been due to start a series of comeback concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010.

He had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months.

The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within hours of going on sale earlier this year.

Jackson started out as a child star in the band The Jackson 5 more than 40 years ago.

He has lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation.

There have been concerns about Jackson's health in recent years but the promoters of the London concerts, AEG Live, said in March that Jackson had passed a four-and-a-half hour physical examination with independent doctors.

**Paul McEnery** · 06-25-2009, 03:20 PM

I imagine that whoever AEG Live's insurance company is is very sad.

Also the legal team that was about to sue him for $40 mill.

**master of read** · 06-25-2009, 03:25 PM

ABC news reports that micheal jackson has passed away at the age of 50.

**darkhanamaru** · 06-25-2009, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Paul McEnery

I imagine that whoever AEG Live's insurance company is is very sad.

Also the legal team that was about to sue him for $40 mill.

or the company who just booked him for 50 sold out shows in London.

**moebius** · 06-25-2009, 03:28 PM

Prompting the age old question...is it better to burn out, or fade away?

Thinking about Michael Jackson, Elvis, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimi, Jim Morrison, Madonna and Kurt Cobain, I'm pretty sure that for musicians it's the former.

**Athena Bast** · 06-25-2009, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by moebius

Prompting the age old question...is it better to burn out, or fade away?

Michael Jackson didn't burn out. He melted.

**DubipR** · 06-25-2009, 03:31 PM

CNN's site is saying he's in a coma after the cardiac arrest

**moonknight11** · 06-25-2009, 03:32 PM

**SUPERECWFAN1** · 06-25-2009, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by moebius

Prompting the age old question...is it better to burn out, or fade away?

Unlike Cobain who took his own life , Jackson will never restore his public image of being that talented man who moonwalked across the stage in the 80's. When you think of Michael Jackson you think of the pedophile who managed to get off buying kids silence for years.

Just sad really. Had Jackson not done that ....odds are we'd see a bigger care for him.

**kmeyers** · 06-25-2009, 03:32 PM

Wow. This is a huge surprise. RIP Michael.

**Mike Pothier** · 06-25-2009, 03:33 PM

I'm going to wait for more confirmation before I agree that he's dead.

**Endless Flight** · 06-25-2009, 03:33 PM

AP reports he's dead.

One of the true super-entertainers, and perhaps the last we'll see.

**Kusanagi** · 06-25-2009, 03:36 PM

LA Times has confirmed. Damn, for all his troubles and controversy he produced some of the greatest music ever. Part of my childhood listening to Thriller, Smooth Criminal.