Michael Jackson was one of the biggest stars of his or of any generation. An excellent songwriter (in his chosen genre), an at times mesmerising performer, and a fantastic dancer, it is unsurprising that he should be the subject of the first episode of this documentary series, especially in view of the shocking nature of his death in 2009 aged just fifty.
That being said, one should ask if even megastars are not entitled to some dignity in death; the publication of autopsy documents and even photographs of his dead body are a case of bad taste trumping glasnost. Nevertheless, herein we learn the full tragic story of the man who was once adored by millions, although there is no mention of the sexual abuse allegations - all of them lies - that plagued him from his unwise friendship with a young Jordan Chandler way beyond his trial and acquittal in 2005.
This documentary includes reconstructions as well as archive footage, and the reasons for the drug dependency that killed him are revealed: the 1984 pyrotechnic accident, and fifteen years later when he injured his back in a fall during a concert. The first incident left him bald, something he managed to keep secret until his death. The enduring pain of both, forced him to seek relief through numerous different drugs. Although his heart was in good shape and he was not underweight for his age and height, he had osteoarthritis in his hands, and his lungs had been damaged by one of the drugs.
It was often claimed that Jackson had treated his skin to make him look white; he countered that he suffered from vitiligo. Both claims were true! He was indeed losing pigment from his skin, and was also using special creams. The plastic surgery on his nose was all too real.
The reason Jackson agreed to undertake his final fifty dates venture was purely financial. Although a billionaire on paper, he had managed to run up debts of around $400,000,000, which begs the question how?
We see too the trial of Conrad Murray who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but to be fair, Jackson should have been on trial with him. Sad and tragic, but of course many big names in music have died much younger.
That being said, one should ask if even megastars are not entitled to some dignity in death; the publication of autopsy documents and even photographs of his dead body are a case of bad taste trumping glasnost. Nevertheless, herein we learn the full tragic story of the man who was once adored by millions, although there is no mention of the sexual abuse allegations - all of them lies - that plagued him from his unwise friendship with a young Jordan Chandler way beyond his trial and acquittal in 2005.
This documentary includes reconstructions as well as archive footage, and the reasons for the drug dependency that killed him are revealed: the 1984 pyrotechnic accident, and fifteen years later when he injured his back in a fall during a concert. The first incident left him bald, something he managed to keep secret until his death. The enduring pain of both, forced him to seek relief through numerous different drugs. Although his heart was in good shape and he was not underweight for his age and height, he had osteoarthritis in his hands, and his lungs had been damaged by one of the drugs.
It was often claimed that Jackson had treated his skin to make him look white; he countered that he suffered from vitiligo. Both claims were true! He was indeed losing pigment from his skin, and was also using special creams. The plastic surgery on his nose was all too real.
The reason Jackson agreed to undertake his final fifty dates venture was purely financial. Although a billionaire on paper, he had managed to run up debts of around $400,000,000, which begs the question how?
We see too the trial of Conrad Murray who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but to be fair, Jackson should have been on trial with him. Sad and tragic, but of course many big names in music have died much younger.
