Michael Jackson's death: The third anniversary

Artists have taken to Twitter to remember Michael Jackson today, on the third anniversary of his death. Notable remembrances and shout-outs have come from Justin Bieber, Usher,  Wiz Khalifa, Ludacris, Ghostface Killah and many others in the world of music, lamenting the loss of the King of Pop. Bieber, perhaps the clearest heir to Jackson's child-pop-prodigy throne, in particular called him "the best who ever did it." At 10:45 a.m., three of the top trending topics on Twitter were Jackson-related.

The Jackson family was also all over Twitter this morning. Fourteen-year-old Paris Jackson, the singer's oldest child, tweeted: "RIP Michael Jackson .. Dad you will forever be in my heart <3 i love you."

Michael Jackson: An interactive timeline

Jackson died June 25, 2009, in L.A. of an overdose of the painkiller propofol, prompting a years-long investigation into the circumstances of his death and the fate of his complex estate. A public memorial was held at Staples Center on July 9 of that year.

Since then, his doctor Conrad Murray has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the case, and several posthumous albums have been released, including "Immortal," a soundtrack to a Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil show, and "Michael," an album of vault and unreleased recordings that sold poorly and courted controversy.

Below are links to the L.A. Times' coverage of Jackson's death, his legacy and the ongoing news stories surrounding his estate.

Michael Jackson's memorial: Photos of fans

Michael Jackson's death: the trial of Conrad Murray

Michael Jackson's 'Bad' to get 25th anniversary reissue

Michael Jackson's estate files suit against his former manager

Voice on album isn't Michael Jackson's, daughter reportedly says

Times obituary: Michael Jackson's life was infused with fantasy and tragedy

-- August Brown

Photo: Michael Jackson. Credit: Joel Ryan / Associated Press.

Michael Jackson's 'Bad' to get 25th anniversary reissue

In the three years following Michael Jackson's death, his estate has been conservative with posthumous releases from the King of Pop’s archives while focusing on other endeavors such as a hit video game and a Cirque du Soleil production.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of his seminal 1987 disc, “Bad,” his estate, in collaboration with Epic/Legacy Recordings, will reissue the disc with new music and a never-before-released concert video, the label and his estate announced on Monday.

The anniversary edition of “Bad,” the first re-release of an album from Jackson's catalog since his 2009 death, will hit stores Sept. 18.

TIMELINE: Michael Jackson | 1949-2009

To roll out the reissue, the label will re-release the album’s first single, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" -- the first of five of the album's singles to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- as a CD single with the previously unreleased bonus track "Don't Be Messin' 'Round (demo)" on June 5. The single is a Wal-Mart exclusive and won’t be available through digital retailers.

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" will also be made available June 26 as a replica of the 7” vinyl released back in the day and includes the original B-side, "Baby Be Mine," not the unreleased bonus track.

The Jacksons reunite for 'Unity' summer tour ‎

Almost three years after the death of Micheal Jackson, his brothers are set to go back on tour. It will be their first tour together in nearly three decades.

The Jacksons have announced plans for a summer trek, dubbed the Unity Tour 2012, that will mark the first time Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito Jackson have toured together since their Victory Tour in 1984. Kicking off June 18 in Louisville, Ky., the 27-date jaunt will wrap up July 29 in Snoqualmie, Wash.

There is a scheduled stop in L.A. July 22 at the Greek Theatre.

"This is a dream coming true," Jackie Jackson said in a statement. "I can't believe this is finally happening. There's nothing like having all the brothers on stage at the same time. This will be exciting for our fans around the world -- and I know at each concert, MJ's spirit will be in the house with us."

Rumors of a reunion began long before their former lead singer died of a fatal overdose of propofol in June 2009 -– his doctor Conrad Murray is currently behind bars after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The brothers' desire to reunite onstage was the focal point of their A&E docu-series, "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty." The show had initially been filmed as a one-off hourlong special about the Jacksons -- minus Michael and younger brother Randy-- and their desire to release an album and launch a tour in celebration of the band's 40th year in showbiz. Following Michael's death, the show took a more somber tone, but was commissioned as a series.

Jermaine Jackson has been vocal in his resistance to other themed tributes, but he has embraced the idea of honoring the late King of Pop on the new tour. "I am so happy and excited to perform again onstage with my brothers," he said in a statement. "I can't wait to sing all the songs that were so much a part of all of our lives. We are ready and committed to keep the family's legacy alive and perform once again with the highest level of excellence, creativity, and most of all, integrity."

Tickets go on sale for select cities on Friday and more information can be found on their official website.

Tour dates after the jump:

Voice on album isn't Michael Jackson's, daughter reportedly says

A video that allegedly shows Paris Jackson questioning the authenticity of her late father’s vocals on the King of Pop’s posthumous album “Michael” is reportedly being shopped around to various media outlets, according to TMZ.

The video was supposedly taken from an online video chat with Paris and several friends in 2010, before the disc was released. Jackson died in June 2009. During the chat, Paris allegedly played one of the songs from the disc, the Akon-produced "Hold My Hand," when one of her friends asked the 13-year-old if it was really her father. 

"It's not him ... the whole album isn't even him!! Go online ... go on YouTube and look up Jason Malachi. That's him," Paris Jackson says, according to TMZ. "I should know if it's him or not because he would sing to me all the time."

Michael Jackson's estate files suit against his former manager

Michael Jackson’s estate filed suit against his former manager Friday, demanding the return of millions of dollars and accusing him of duping the pop star into an extraordinarily generous compensation package in the years before his death.

The suit asked a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to void agreements that gave Tohme R. Tohme a 15% cut of Jackson’s pay as well as a $35,000-a-month salary and a cut of the sale of the Neverland Ranch.

Tohme, who the suit claims had no background in the entertainment industry, helped negotiate the terms of Jackson’s final doomed comeback attempt, a series of London concerts. After Jackson’s 2009 death, he filed a claim against his estate, saying he was owed at least $2.3 million.

Estate lawyers wrote that it was Tohme who owed Jackson money and asked he be ordered to turn over records of his management of the singer’s affairs.

Tohme declined to comment beyond saying that he was filing his own suit against the estate.

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Album Review: Michael Jackson's 'Immortal'

Michael Jackson's kids to impress his hand, footprints at Grauman's

Michael Jackson hits reworked for 'Immortal' album, due in November

—Harriet Ryan

Photo: Michael Jackson. Credit: Joel Ryan / Associated Press.

'Soul Train': 6 performances from Don Cornelius' heyday [Video]

During the 22 years that Don Cornelius hosted "Soul Train," the show put the spotlight on some of the most important musical performers, not just of the day, but of all time. While Cornelius and "Soul Train" struggled to stay relevant to the youth culture as the show entered its third decade (Keenan Ivory Wayans did a parody of the show on "In Living Color" called "Old Train"), during its heyday it was a time capsule of everything important in music.

Ike and Tina Turner appeared on the last episode of the show's first season in 1972, performing their Grammy-winning cover of "Proud Mary."

Michael Jackson and Jermaine Jackson were already working on solo careers by the time the Jackson 5 performed on "Soul Train" early in the show's second season. Jermaine had a top 10 hit with a cover of the song "Daddy's Home" and was being pushed as a star, hence the giant "Jermaine" behind the group during their October 1972 performance.

A very young Stevie Wonder -- he was 22 at the time -- made his first appearance on "Soul Train" in January 1973 performing his No. 1 hit "Superstition."

Though "Soul Train" was often compared to Dick Clark's "American Bandstand," Cornelius' show was a little more sensual than Clark's wholesome "Bandstand." Just check out this 1974 appearance by Marvin Gaye, giving a very relaxed performance of "Let's Get it On," while moving his way through a bevy of very excited young ladies in the crowd.

Though "Soul Train" was known primarily as a showcase for African American performers, it wasn't exclusive. In January 1976, David Bowie made his first apperance on the program, one of the first white artists to do so, performing his first crossover hit in the United States, "Fame."

As the '70s gave way to the '80s, the cutting edge of R&B was moving toward more militant hip hop, as exemplified by this appearance by Public Enemy in 1987, performing "Rebel Without a Pause." Cornelius later admitted he was not as comfortable with this new music as that of the previous decade.  And you can tell from the awkward post-performance interview with Chuck D and the group, which Cornelius described as "frightening."

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'Soul Train' creator dead in apparent suicide

Don Cornelius died of gunshot wound to the head

Remembering Don Cornelius: 'Soul Train' creator defined an era

--Patrick Kevin Day

Photo: Don Cornelius. Credit: Associated Press

Michael Jackson's legacy set in concrete at Grauman's

Michael Jackson's three children led a celebration that immortalized their late father in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday.

Prince, Paris and Prince “Blanket” Michael II capped the hour-plus ceremony, which also featured dance tributes, song medleys and video montages, by imprinting the King of Pop’s hand and footprints in concrete.

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson hand and footprint ceremony

The ceremony was held on a massive stage erected in front of Gruman’s under a promotional backdrop for the new Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil show “Immortal,” which opens at Staples Center on Friday.

Beatles versus the Stones: Who’s better?

Beatles versus the Stones: Who's better? What about MJ versus Prince? These and other pop music debates are settled.

Friday night at the Brixton South Bay in Redondo Beach, a score was settled. It’s a question that historians have wrestled with, that drunken pub-goers have come to blows over, that has broken up thousands of otherwise happy couples over the last four decades: Which is the better band, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones? Although the answer to this musical litmus test is obvious to anyone with half a brain (see below for details), two tribute acts, Abbey Road and Jumpin’ Jack Flash, sought to definitively answer this question in a contest of dueling sets made up of formative era-songs of the mid-1960s through their later work. (Considering the stakes, it was surprising that CNN and BBC satellite trucks weren’t stationed outside.)

During the duel on Friday, the four-piece Abbey Road came out as the dark-suited, mop-topped young Beatles and dropped quality renditions of “She Loves You,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “Can’t Buy Me Love,” while Jumpin’ Jack Flash delivered the way raunchier — and darker and smarter, catchier and well, better — “Mother’s Little Helper,” “Paint It Black,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” The next night, No Doubt cover band No Duh was on a bill with the Red Not Chili Peppers and 40 Oz. to Freedom, a Sublime tribute act. Below, a few other yin-and-yang couplings that might work well in the future — the preferences of which may or may not serve as a reliable barometer of a person’s musical tastes.

• Biggie or Tupac

Imagine for a moment if the Beatles versus Stones rivalry had turned ugly, and Beatles manager Brian Epstein had been implicated in a hit on Brian Jones that saw Andrew Loog Oldham retaliating by taking out John Lennon: That’s one mythic scenario that’s grown around the beef between Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace and Tupac Shakur, both of whom were murdered at their respective artistic peaks. Biggie’s flow or Tupac’s urgency?

• Prince or Michael Jackson

Although it may not seem so since the late Michael Jackson was enshrined as the King of Pop, in the 1980s the more obsessive of Prince fans cast dispersions on MJ as being a mere pop star, albeit one with a lineage to die for, a couple classic jams, and one amazing Moonwalk. Meanwhile, Prince remains the visionary funk auteur with a commanding artistic vision. A preference for one over the other is telling.

Michael Jackson's kids to impress his hand, footprints at Grauman's

Michael Jackson never had the chance to have his hands and feet immortalized in the concrete in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (probably because he was never really a movie star), but that hasn't stopped the executors of his estate and the new owners of the Chinese from making the impossible a reality.

On Jan. 26, Jackson will have his hand and footprints marked in concrete to celebrate the debut of the Cirque du Soleil production "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour." The producers have recruited the late singer's children --  14-year-old Prince, 13-year-old Paris and 9-year-old "Blanket" -- to use his sequined glove and shoes to make the impressions.

Album Review: Michael Jackson's "Immortal"

This early into the musical afterlife of Michael Jackson, it’s hard to know how to react to something like “Immortal.” Should we be excited about an officially sanctioned DJ mix/score to the new Cirque du Soleil production of the same name, peppered with odd vocal interludes, weird New Age accents, crazy funk breakdowns and something called “The Mime Segment”? Or should we reserve our enthusiasm for whatever lies in the archive that’s rarer and/or more revealing of our fallen superstar, no doubt waiting in the wings for the next prime-time opportunity?

More precisely: Whose interest is “Immortal” serving? Is the goal to expand Jackson as an artist, an estate, a brand or a visionary?

Big questions out of the way (and unaddressed), “Immortal” is a double-disc mix of Jackson’s hits both as a solo artist and as a member of the Jacksons and the Jackson 5. (It’s also available in a single-disc “highlights” version.) It was compiled and recontextualized by Kevin Antunes in much the same way that George Martin and Giles Martin reworked the Beatles’ catalog for the Cirque production and soundtrack to “Love,” the dance company’s interpretation of the Liverpool band’s oeuvre. “Immortal” is also, at its worst, way cheesier than “Love,” filled with easy-listening strings, spoken-word interludes buried in spooky echo, and curious pacing.

But to call it a mixtape of Jackson’s music isn’t entirely accurate, because the soundtrack is beholden to the Cirque/”Immortal” story line and therefore sequenced not for the dance floor but for a Las Vegas-style production. As a result, a wildly inventive remix, such as what Antunes does for “Dancing Machine,” barely gets going before grinding to a halt a few minutes in and we’re stuck with a young Michael, surrounded by the sounds of wild animals in the jungle, singing a tribal version of “Ben.” And the composition built around Jackson’s vocal hook in Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” serves little purpose as an audio-only experience other than to remind listeners that Michael made some serious artistic missteps in his life.

But aside from a few weird choices, none of this is Antune’s fault. After all, who’d want to fiddle with “Human Nature,” “Beat It” or “Billie Jean,” some of the most popular songs of the last half-century? That he mostly pulls it off is a testament to his abilities as a sound designer, though it’s not rich enough to make this essential listening. For that, there’s “Thriller” and “Off the Wall.”

Michael Jackson

"Immortal"

(Epic Records)

Two and a half stars (Out of four)

--Randall Roberts

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