On 25th July 2009, news of Michael Jackson's death at the age of 50 shocked the world. In a cruel twist of fate, he had passed away before he got the chance to make his final curtain call in the form of 50 planned sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena. From a very young age, Michael's exceptional music talent was clear.
He stood apart from his four brothers when they performed together as the Jackson 5 and, in 1974, he embarked upon what was to become a monumental solo career. A string of chart-busting albums and singles followed, with the Thriller album selling 47 million copies worldwide and yielding seven top-ten singles. It is believed that, in his lifetime, he sold around 750 million records, making him one of the most successful entertainers ever.
This in-depth and affectionate biography traces the rise of the man, from child prodigy to tortured megastar, and the pop icon whose impact on music continues to be felt.
