July 6, 2009
One of the more creative Jackson tributes, EternalMoonwalk.com was launched just two weeks after Jackson’s death. The website invites users to upload footage of themselves pulling off Jackson’s signature move, then links the thousands of clips together into one never-ending dance sequence. Those wishing to add to the tribute should feel free to throw in crotch-grabs and twirls as they see fit.
July 7, 2009
A public memorial is held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where MJ had rehearsed just two days before his death. A billion people are believed to have tuned in to watch the service on TV, with Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and more performing musical tributes.
October 28, 2009
Film maker Kenny Ortega releases Michael Jackson’s This is It, a documentary film chronicling rehearsals for Jackson’s run of 50 never-to-be-performed concerts at London’s O2 Arena. Fan reaction was mixed, some calling it an exploitative cash-in, others relishing the chance to witness snippets of their icon’s final moments on stage.
January 31, 2010
The 52nd Grammy Awards conclude with an emotional tribute from two of Jackson’s children, who accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of their father.
March 16, 2010
Sony Music Entertainment signs a deal worth $250 million (Dhs918 million) with Jackson’s estate to retain distribution rights over all of his music until 2017. The deal also includes rights to release seven posthumous albums of Jackson’s recordings by 2019.
November 2, 2010
Jackson’s estate and Cirque du Soleil announce plans to produce a second Michael Jackson stage show (after Thriller Live), entitled Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. Though it’s not scheduled to premiere until October 2 this year, early reports suggest it’ll be a narrative-less tribute much like Thriller Live, with the signature acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil thrown in for good measure.
April 3, 2011
Former owner of London’s Harrods department store Mohamed Al Fayed unveils a crude Michael Jackson statue outside Fulham FC’s ground, which he also owns. Fans reacted negatively, while art critics labelled it ‘creepy and nasty’. Al Fayed told detractors they could ‘go to hell’.
April 15, 2011
Jackson’s image goes digital as Michael Jackson: The Experience is released for XBox 360 and Playstation 3. A music/rhythm game in the vein of SingStar and Guitar Hero, players are tasked with shimmying and pirouetting their way through Jackson’s trademark dance moves (captured and scrutinised by the consoles’ motion-capturing gizmos) while warbling along to everything from Beat It to Thriller. Almost unbelievably, the game received pretty decent reviews.
