



Worldwide chart positions and official first week sales counts show the newly released Thriller 25th Anniversary Album is going strong.
In Australia, UK, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, Spain, Austria, Ireland, Italy and Czech Republic, Thriller 25 debuted in the top 3 of each country's album charts. The album reached the number one position in France and Belgium.
In the US, Thriller 25 did not qualify for the Billboard Hot 200, as it is not considered as a new album. However, it debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Pop Catalogue Chart, with sales of over 160,000 copies in the US. It also hit Number 1 on Billboard's European Top 100 Albums.
In addition, Thriller 25 hit the Global Album Chart at Number 1 with estimated worldwide sales of 400,000 worldwide.
June 25th, 2009
Michael Jackson Dies Aged 50
It has been confirmed Michael Jackson is dead, aged 50 years, passing away Thursday 25th June at around 2.26pm. As news sources reported I personally could still not take in the news. Only when seeing Michael's elder brother Jermaine Jackson speaking to the press did it start to sink in that this had really happened..
Michael suffered what is believed to have been a cardiac arrest at his home. They tried to resuscitate him at his home and also when paramedics arrived, as well as at the hospital, trying in vain for 1 hour to revive him.
A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating, it does not mean he had heart attack, or though these can be the cause of a cardiac arrest. The coroners are expected to find out the cause of death within the next 24 -48 hours.
May our prays and thoughts be with Michael Jackson, a single father of 3 children, his family including his mother and father and all extended family and true friends.
In 1984 Michael won a record breaking 8 Grammy awards in one night. The awards were for his work on the 'Thriller' album and his work on the narrative for the 'ET Storybook'.
On December 9th 1984 at the last concert of the Jackson's Victory Tour, Michael announced he was splitting from the group and going solo.
In 1987 Michael released his much awaited third solo album, titled 'Bad', and lauched his record breaking first solo world tour. 1988, Michael wrote his first autobiography talking for the first time on his childhood and his career. At the end of the 1980s Michael was named 'Artist Of The Decade' for his success off of his 'Thriller' and 'Bad' albums.
In 1991 Michael signed with Sony Music the largest ever recording contract and released his fourth solo album, 'Dangerous'. He toured world again in 1992, taking his concerts to countries that had never before been visited by a pop/rock artist. Also Michael founded the 'Heal the World Foundation' to help improve the lives of children across the world.
In 1994 Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock legend Elvis Presley. The marriage only lasted for 19 months, as they divorced in 1996.
1995 saw Michael release a fifth solo album, 'HIStory', which was a double album, first half new material and second half half greatest hits. Michael toured again over a legs covering a 2 year period. In between legs of the tour on November 14th 1996, Michael married for his second time to Debbie Rowe who was a nurse that Michael had met in the treatment of his skin pigment disorder. Together they had their first child Prince Michael Joseph Jackson jr born on February 13 1997 and a daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson born on April 3rd 1998. In 1997 Michael released the remix album 'Blood On The Dance Floor' which also contained 5 new song linked with a 38min film "Ghosts". This film Michael played 5 roles using the latest special effects and make-up artistry, combined with his dance and music.
In September, 2001 Michael celebrated his 30th anniversary as a solo artist with two concerts to be held in New York, USA. Many artists such as Whitney Houston, Usher, Destinys Child, Shaggy and many more performed there own and Michael Jacksons past songs. Michael then reunited with all of his brothers performed there biggest hits. Michael then went onto perform solo some of his biggest hits. In October 2001 Michael released the album 'Invincible' so far releasing only 2 singles including the big hit "You Rock My World". Since the release of this first single the album has been surrounded by rumours of a rift with Sony Music and a clear lack of promotion of the album.