Las Vegas Weekly

June 25, 2010 · 12:23 PM

Fans pay tribute to Michael Jackson on first anniversary of his death

By Robin Leach

Michael Jackson rehearses for his This Is It show at Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 23, 2009.

Photo: Kevin Mazur/AEG/WireImage

To mark the first anniversary of Michael Jackson’s tragic death, fans here have an opportunity to pay their respects, sign a remembrance book and leave floral tributes at his statue at Madame Tussauds at The Venetian. The wax figure will remain outside the museum all weekend with a DJ booth set up to play his hits nonstop. The costume in which the figure, created 10 years ago, is dressed was given to the museum by Michael, an outfit he prized and wore in a 30th anniversary TV special.

Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond talked this morning with deejays Melanie and Michael on Sunny 106.5 FM. Clear Channel’s Amy Burford emailed me: “Donny discussed his friendship with Michael. They grew up in Hollywood at the same time and crossed paths frequently.”

Michael and Donny first met at The Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto when they were about 12 or 13. Donny said, “We just hung out all night and talked about all we had in common. We were both one of nine kids, both the seventh kid, even our moms shared the same birthday. We just hung out all night telling jokes, playing with toys and laughing.”

Donny was asked if there was one thing he could tell us about Michael that nobody knows. Donny said, “He was a horrible driver! One night Michael said let’s go see a movie. We got into his Rolls and almost got in about three accidents. Michael said I want you to listen to something. He popped in a cassette, and it was a rough mix of ‘Thriller.’ It had not been released yet!”

Donny talked about one of his favorite memories of Michael. “After the 1974 American Music Awards, we drove to Jack in the Box in my limo. We drove down Sunset Boulevard hanging out of the sunroof, eating tacos and laughing.”

Another fact that Donny spoke about: The song “Ben” was written for Donny to record for the movie Ben, but Donny was on tour. They had to finish the movie, so they gave it to Michael, and it became a big hit.

Wherever you go in the world today, people will be remembering the sadness of June 25 last year. CBS’ Early Show devoted its 8 a.m. program to a King of Pop tribute with performances by Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony and LL Cool J.

Tonight, 20/20 has a two-hour special titled After Life, while NBC’s Dateline has an exclusive interview with his mother, Katherine Jackson. BET broadcasts King of Pop and MTV airs Influence on Music and a Top 10 Video Countdown show of Michael’s videos. VH1 is replaying the 1992 TV movie The Jacksons: An American Dream with Angela Bassett and Freddy Washington.

Michael was wrapping final dress rehearsals in L.A. for his London This Is It concerts when he died. He was days away from flying to England to set up residence for 50 02 Arena concerts staggered between last July 13 through March. It would’ve been the ultimate comeback story for the King of Pop who since his death has earned nearly $1 billion in royalties, wiping out almost all of the debts.

Autopsy reports have indicated that he used numerous drugs to help fight chronic insomnia, and his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray is to stand trial this year on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the superstar’s death.

Last June 24, he had dinner with his children before driving to Staples Center at 7 p.m. for one of the last rehearsals. Photographer Kevin Mazur was there as Michael worked through the “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal” dance routines. He returned home, and what went on in the rented eight-bedroom mansion will never really be known until Dr. Murray takes the stand to explain what happened before an ambulance was called at noontime June 25.

Michael lived in Las Vegas for about 18 months before he moved to L.A. to start the massive This Is It shows. It was being produced by AEG, which produces the Celine Dion and Cher shows at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace.

Coincidently, simply because they’ve been booked on this date now for five consecutive years, Julien’s Auction is selling 250 lots of Michael Jackson merchandise and memorabilia at Planet Hollywood. Among the items are his crystal-covered Victory Tour gloves and his “Beat It” video T-shirt. There’s also memorabilia from the late Anna Nicole Smith, Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, William Shatner and Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek collectibles.

Actress Farrah Fawcett died the same day last year, and she, too, is remembered fondly one year later.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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