so now he's gone, and people are telling me "I told you so"

I have been thinking that quite possibly I was wrong in disagreeing with everyone who now says "I told you he couldn't do all those shows"

but here is why I thought he could-

I met Michael in '97 in Budapest with this promoter, who I am pretty sure was Don King- ok so I was there for only 5-6 minutes or so which ain't much, but I was close enough to touch him. He was very quiet, only saying a few words.. he asked me if it was ok if one of his aides filmed me... bizarre but fine by me... He paced around for a few minutes waiting for his van. Looking at him just a foot away and watching him move/hearing him talk I thought he was so weak and fragile there was no way he could do a full show in 2 days' time.

So, after meeting him and his promoter, out of curiosity I went and got a ticket for the show, thinking it would be a disaster.

I was very wrong.

I went right to the front and watched. Not my kind of show at all, but how bloody brilliant was he?? Almost seemed like a different person, except it wasn't. How he seemed so weak offstage and so electric onstage I'll never know.

But that's why I thought he might just have been able to pull it off.

oops

the thread title should have been: why everyone thought he couldn't do the shows but I thought he could.

I agree that he was sensational on stage and I saw him was around the same time.

The show was also amazingly choreographed with spectacular fireworks etc, and when analyzed Jackson had brilliant support and probably was 20% of the show.

But I think the pressures must have been mounting..he was 38 then..50 now and probably consuming large amounts of drugs to keep going.

This wasn't like the Stones who could go to till they drop and are doing it because they must loves performing and build a tour with every conceivable comfort and plenty of rest etc.

How bad psychologically must it have been for Jackson who was told he was doing 50 shows and it was to get him out of debt ?

I'm sure we have been watching a man in a sort of slow suicide.

Seems like Jackson had lousy advisors all his life and it was only when he got into trouble that experts came into save him.

I think his last trial was one that would almost destroy any person. He faced similar to what many do in the same circumstances..a built in prejudicial campaign but one of such proportions that it was like no other.

The LA DA consistently gave the view that it was putting on trial the biggest monster of the 20th Century. They repeatedly told the media that the law "finally caught up with him".

And as always in court cases-those who screech the loudest, police, prosecutors etc come out of a court crowing like jackals if they get a conviction as though vindicated but a "not guilty" verdict is because the person "beat the system".