12           London, UK - O2 Arena - Presale Jan. 30 - Feb. 3

24 - 25           Herding, DK - Jyske Bank Boxen - Presale Feb. 1 - 6

27 - 28           Copenhagen, DK - Parken - Presale Feb. 1 - 6

November

2 - 3             Stockholm, SWE - Ericsson Globe – Presale Jan 30 - Feb. 2

6            Helsinki, FIN - Hartwall Areena - Presale Jan. 30 - Feb. 6

16 - 17           Frankfurt, DE - Festhalle - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

20 - 21           Oberhausen, DE - Koenig-Pilsener – Presale Jan 30 - Feb. 3

24 - 25           Munich, DE - Olympichalle - Presale Jan. 31- Feb. 3

28           Hannover, DE - TUI Arena - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

December

1 -2             Vienna, AT - Stadhalle - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

5 -6             Manheim, DE - SAP Arena - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

8- 9             Leipzig, DE - Leipzig Arena - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

11 - 12             Hamburg, DE - O2 World-Hamburg  Arena - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

15 - 16             Cologne, DE - Lanxess Arena - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

19 - 20             Berlin, DE - O2 World Arena - Presale Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

27 - 30             Madrid, ES - Palacio Deportes - Presale Feb. 1 - Feb. 3

Source:  MJOnline & MJWN

Fans will not be required to sign-up to Cirque Club to access the presale through this particular link. This link will also work for all European shows, and shows the venues and dates as they have been announced. Once tickets go on sale to the general public the link will be here

This once-in-a-lifetime electrifying production, will use Cirque du Soleil creativity to give fans worldwide a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of Michael, the artistic genius, who forever transformed global pop culture. Written and directed by Jamie King, the show includes 64 international dancers, musicians and acrobats.

Source: MJOnline & MJWN

Here’s the lowdown if you haven’t checked the game out on any platforms yet. ‘Michael Jackson: The Experience,’ pays tribute to Michael with an array of his best songs, while a similar figure dances around on the screen, to an interactive background.

In the previous versions of the game, players would try to dance along to match the motions.  The PS Vita, being a handheld system, works a little bit differently. Rather than trying to dance along to the music you have to draw shapes and tap along on the screen to the fifteen included songs in the game.

These include the likes of ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Thriller,’ ‘Beat It,’ and ‘Smooth Criminal,’ among others, and you’ll need to keep your eye out for tap-along cues, while performers dance on the screen along to the music.  Though the actual Michael obviously isn’t included, Ubisoft did go to great lengths to make sure the double fit in with the background for each video performance.

Source: gamerlivetv & MJWN

Murray claims in his legal docs he has a legitimate basis to appeal his manslaughter conviction. Among the grounds for appeal are “improper exclusion of defense evidence and witnesses that resulted in violating the defendant’s State and constitutional rights to due process, to present a defense and to the effective assistance of counsel.”

Murray’s lawyer also says, “He has exhausted virtually all of his available resources.”

Murray is asking to be released on no bail pending the appeal.
If released, Murray says he plans to live with Nicole Alvarez, the mother of his youngest child, and would be willing to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Murray says he would also seek employment to support his children,
though it’s unclear what work that would entail … considering his medical license has been unceremoniously revoked.

To illustrate his dire circumstances behind bars, Murray’s lawyer says the ex-doctor is housed under “maximum security” conditions -  isolated in a solitary cell, and escorted around the jail facility with his hands chained to his waist.

Source: TMZ & MJWN

Source: MJOnline & MJWN

The event was attended by other family members, Michael’s mother Katherine, and stars such as Smokey Robinson, Justin Bieber and Quincy Jones, who each said a few words to commemorate the event. Performers from Cirque Du Soleil were also present.

Streamed live on Twitter.com the ceremony was attended by hundreds of fans, who had begun to arrive at 6 a.m.

Source: dailymail.co.uk, channelstv.com, contactmusic.com & MJWN

VISIT TO GARDNER STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Today, was a special day during my visit to the States for me, because today I visited Michael’s school, Gardner Street Elementary in Los Angeles. I was lucky to meet several of the administration staff along with the longstanding Principal of the school, Mr Urbina. Mr Urbina was one of the people that fought hard to have Michael’s name on the school auditorium uncovered after it had been so unfairly covered due to the 2005 trials.

I was shown around the school, including the blackboard where Michael signed his name, the auditorium where the kids were holding an event and Michael’s 6th grade classroom, which is now the music lab. The original piano in the classroom still sits proudly in front of the classroom in the top right hand corner. The Principal also told me that they are planning to open a new classroom in the near future that will be called, ‘The Michael Jackson’ classroom. The kids all know Michael’s connection to the school, it seems to be part of the curriculum and pictures drawn of him by them adorn the hallway walls.

Walking down the corridors and up and down the stairs, I could almost picture a little Michael running up and down the same stairs and as I looked out onto the playground, I could picture him playing with his classmates and brothers there.

I was made to feel very welcome and the Principal and the staff were more than happy to show me around and explain a little about the history of the school and Michael’s attendance there. Mr Urbina informed me that it was Berry Gordy and Diana Ross that bought Michael and the Jackson 5 to the school, due to the fact that when they first came to LA they stayed with both Berry and Diana who lived close by at that time. The Principal also stated that Michael and his brothers attended Gardner School until their fame made it impossible for them to remain at the school and they had to be privately tutored.

It was a truly memorable experience and for a while I felt that I had taken a trip back in history, Michael Jackson’s history.

Paula Katsikas

Source: MJWN

He has been a fan since he was a baby, and was devastated when Michael died. His collection is housed in a room which used to be the family’s garage, and he hopes it will get him into the record books. He is unable to work because of ill health, and spends his time studying Michael’s moves and characteristics for hours on end.

He has covered the walls of his MJ shrine with 1,600 photographs of Michael from various points in his solo career, which have cost him more than £600. He has books, DVDs, CDs, calendars and memorabilia piled up in corners, and he sits and listens to the music and watches the videos daily. He has even filmed his own DVD and has a You Tube channel of his performances.

He said: “I have 10 copies of everything. It has taken me sixteen months to do the DVD because of my health issues. I filmed and edited all of it myself. Sometimes after I’ve really pushed myself I’m in bed for a week afterwards. I have sent it out to all of my friends who are Michael Jackson fans around the world and they love it.”

Brian says it is these friends who have kept him going and he calls them his “family.” They are dotted around the globe from as far away as Australia and America. He said: “They support me. If I’m ever down or depressed they talk to me and make me feel better. We talk to each other about Michael and what he means to us.”

Brian says his favourite Michael song is ‘Billie Jean,’ because it was the first song he watched him perform live, aged seven. He has lost count of the number of Michael’s concerts he went to. His favourite song to perform is ‘Jam.’ Brian will keep adding to the collection. He said, “Next year I am going to start collecting replica costumes and I want to create a museum.”

In order to make it into the record books, Brian has to have five references from people who can vouch for his collection. He already has two.

See Brian in action by clicking on this link

Source: rutlandtimes.co.uk & MJWN, with thanks to Paula

To hear it now, please click here

Source: You Tube & MJWN, with grateful thanks to Paula

UK Top 40 Music Dvds:

3 -     This Is It           (100wks on Chart)
15 -     Life of An Icon  (12 wks on chart)
27 -     Moonwalker      (135wks on chart)

UK Top 40 RnB Singles:

40 -     Man In The Mirror (re-entry)

HMV Top 50 Music dvds:

2 -     This Is It
15 -     Life Of An Icon
21 -     Live In Bucharest -The Dangerous Tour
32 -     Moonwalker

Irish Top 10 Music Dvds:

1 -     This Is It
5 -     Life Of An Icon

Source: BBC Radio One & MJWN, with thanks to Paul