Photos: Michael Jackson's rehearsal at Staples Center

Images have just been released showing Michael Jackson at one of his last rehearsals for what was to be his upcoming 'This Is It!' tour at the O2 Arena in London.  The pictures below were taken just days before his death on June 23 by Getty Images photographer Kevin Mazur.

 

Photos: Michael Jackson in pictures

 

L.A. Times reporters Chris Lee and Harriet Ryan wrote an earlier story about Jackson's rehearsal.  Here's an excerpt:

At Staples Center Wednesday night, the performer did a full run-through of his planned comeback concert. He and his company -- dancers, musicians, singers, aerial performers, choreographers and costumers -- planned to fly to England early next week for final dress rehearsals at London's O2 Arena, the site of the pop superstar's 50-night sold-out run.

By lunchtime Thursday, Jackson was in cardiac arrest. But in Staples Center's spotlight, he was in high spirits and totally engaged, according to a number of his collaborators. Energetic, optimistic and focused, Jackson gave no indication of what was to come, they said. The show's director, Kenny Ortega -- a journeyman choreographer and movie director whose career highlights include "High School Musical," the "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" and "Dirty Dancing" -- began work with Jackson on the intricate staging four months ago. On Thursday, Ortega recalled Jackson as bursting with enthusiasm and personally invested in the production's most minute details.

Read the entire article.

-- Jevon Phillips

Photos: Kevin Mazur / AEG via Getty Images

Related: ASCAP's Rhythum and Soul Awards pay tribute to Michael Jackson
Related: Ann Powers: Being a Michael Jackson fan wasn’t easy, but the music was worth it
Related: Michael Jackson's director sees 'We are the World'-type tribute

Comments

[me]

so beautiful!

[LAWRENCE OF America "star health trainer"]

I met MJ, at a event in 2003 Ron Burkles Home in beverly hills where it was puff daddy;'s bday party. I was moved at his laugh and childish humor and innocent character. He was then a man, who loved life as a child does with no worry's what the heck anyone else thought. I liked his honesty. God Bless one of the biggest performers the world will ever see.

MJ, lIVE IN PERFECT PEACE FOR EVER IN HEAVEN.

lAWRENCE oF aMERICA

[Jane Yan]

Michael Jackson is a legend. He never made any performance in the mainland of China, but this is by no means a barrier for his fans to show their love and worship and mourning to him. He had every reason to take pride in what he had achieved, what he had contributed to and what he had left behind, though negative news had been part of his life in the last two decades. Michael is a gifted talent, and thus he is doomed to loneliness. He is beyond us. Only in his musical dreams could he find peace and happiness. May Michael Jackson a happy life in heaven.

[Michael Jackson's right-hand man]

This is what, I think, is one of the biggest and most depressing concepts about Michael's death. Yes, the worst of it is that a man - a pure hearted and innocent man - has lost his amazing life; but what the world has lost is almost equal to that. He could have had it all back to him again. The fame, the love of the world, it should have been "Michael-Mania" once more and he was SO close to achieving that all over again; but sadly, that cannot happen. For one whole year I have been keeping tabs on Michael using the news websites and the whole time I watched him slowly reappear from the shadows. My hope and dream was to see him on top of the world again. I grew tired of seeing and hearing of new musical artists gaining all the glory while the very best of them all, the King of Pop, was ridiculed by almost every TV forum at least once a week. Don't get me wrong there are some amazing talents out there today, but none can compete with Michael Jackson. There is NONE higher than him and that statement will remain true forever more. Without him, there would be no Usher, no Ne-Yo, no Chris Brown, no Beyonce. Pop music as we know it would never had existed without the help of just one human being. In a way, Michael Jackson invented Pop music and that is why he will never be usurped as the true King of Pop. WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL! Rest in peace, brother.

[JM]

These photos make his death even sadder, seeing his energy and enthusiasm for the show that now will never be. Seeing him in front of a sign that says "This is it" is horribly prophetic.

[Jackie]

Although he looks happy and focused, he appears unhealthy. Michael has been thin for a very long time, but he looks anorexic here. Extremely thin. I would not be surprised if his low weight contributed to his death. If this is the case, no doctor should have given him a clear bill of health until he regained enough weight to take on the pressures of such a back-breaking tour. I, myself, have toured. And you go through calories and pile on stress like no one in the general public knows or understands. You have to be in pristine health and be able to maintain that health day after day, otherwise it wrecks havoc on your body and your mind. There is no way a person so thin could withstand a tour of Michael's magnitude. Even a person with a healthy BMI and in excellent shape would struggle physically with the pressures that Michael had. The human body can only take so much.

[Jackie]

Although he looks happy and focused, he appears unhealthy. Michael has been thin for a very long time, but he looks anorexic here. Extremely thin. I would not be surprised if his low weight contributed to his death. If this is the case, no doctor should have given him a clear bill of health until he regained enough weight to take on the pressures of such a back-breaking tour. I, myself, have toured. And you go through calories and pile on stress like no one in the general public knows or understands. You have to be in pristine health and be able to maintain that health day after day, otherwise it wrecks havoc on your body and your mind. There is no way a person so thin could withstand a tour of Michael's magnitude. Even a person with a healthy BMI and in excellent shape would struggle physically with the pressures that Michael had. The human body can only take so much.

[shawn]

Michael is gone he should not have past a physical he should be alive and reseschedule the tour.he should of be under doctors treatment we wil miss him and never foget we lost a great person musican father and humantarian we love you

[Vic Bulaich]

I was rolling with tears all the way thru......The Congresswoman could of went

all day without bringing up the court cases. Nobody was there for that.

Also shouldn't of been in white, it wasn't a wedding ! Smokey looked good, black tie.

[JOCELYNNE]

I WOULD LOVE TO MEET MJ BUT MY WISH DIDNT COME TRUE STILL HE IS IN MY HEART AND WE LOVE U MJ U KNOW U ARE THE BEST AND I LOVE ALL UR MUSIC I LUV U FOREVER!!!! R.I.P. MJ