DEA Joins the Michael Jackson Investigation

The Drug Enforcement Administration has become involved in the investigation into Michael Jackson's death. According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Police asked the DEA to aid in investigating Jackson's doctors and possible drug use prior to his death last week.

As the investigation continues rumors have been unraveling about Jackson's use of antidepressants, pain medications, and prescriptive sedatives. Recently, Jackson's former nurse has made statements claiming that Jackson sought for Diprivan a.k.a Propofol, a powerful surgical anesthetic, to use as a sleeping aid. The L.A. Police are helping that with the DEA's help, they will be able to shed some light on drug abuse, illicit drug manufactures, and other unknown substances to the police, says the Associated Press.

Filipino Inmates Pay Tribute to Michael Jackson

Remember the popular YouTube video from 2007 of the Filipino prison inmates dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"? Well, the inmates performed their dance again to pay tribute to Jackson on Saturday at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center . The inmates are huge fans of Michael Jackson and after hearing of his death they began practicing their dance in the exercise yard for nine hours straight, taking breaks only to eat or when it rained.

"I felt sad because we lost our idol," said inmate Wenjiel Resane.

A crowd of 700 came to watch the inmates perform. The show started off with a prayer for the Jackson family. Aside from "Thriller," they also performed "Ben," "I'll Be There" and "We Are the World." After they finished dancing they held up a 5-by-10 foot tarpaulin showing Michael Jackson holding a sword with his name written below it.

The "Thriller" YouTube video has had 24.3 million hits since it was first posted and nearly one million of them took place in the 24 since news of Jackson's death was made known. The inmates "consider Michael Jackson as a god here," Byron Garcia, the Cebu provincial security consultant said. "If not for Michael Jackson, they would not have this international recognition."

Sony Comments on Michael Jackson's Passing

NEW YORK, NY – June 25, 2009 – Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.

Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: “Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him.”

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: “Michael Jackson's unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly.”

Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: “Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences.”

Five of Jackson’s solo albums – “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous” and “HIStory,” all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label – are among the top-sellers of all time. During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and “Thriller” as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award.

Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and the epic “Thriller.” Jackson’s sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.

Are Drugs Involved in Michael Jackson's Death?

Some family and friends close to Michael Jackson have been hinting that drugs may be responsible for his death. Michael received a shot of Demerol before noon on Thursday and even though Jackson family members say he got a shot of Demerol each day, the dosage he was given yesterday may have been too much. Demerol is similar to morphine, and some sources at the hospital where Jackson died are saying that the king of pop stopped breathing shortly after he was given the Demerol shot.

"His staff started mouth-to-mouth and an ambulance was called which got there in eight minutes," a source at UCLA hospital said. "But paramedics found he was in full respiratory arrest, no breathing and no pulse. They started full CPR and rushed him to hospital."

Despite how shocking it was to hear of Jackson's death, a spokesman for the Jackson family, Brian Oxman, said it was not unexpected.

Others say that Micheal Jackson's death could be a result of stress about his upcoming 50+ concert tour. The exact cause of his death will not be known until after the autopsy, but right now it is just said to be a result of cardiac arrest.

R.I.P Michael Jackson

Today June 25. 2009, is a sad day as we say goodbye to the King of Pop Michael Jackson. At 12:26pm today the paramedics received a call that Michael Jackson had collapsed in his Bel Air home. Paramedics say when they arrived at the home, Jackson was unconscious and was brought to the hospital in full cardiac arrest.

Jackson was taken to Ronald Regan UCLA Medical center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:26pm, after a team of emergency physicians and cardiologists were unable to resuscitate him, after trying for nearly an hour. Most of Jackson's family and close friends were spotted rushing to the hospital to say their last goodbyes, however it was already too late. The family requests that the media respect their privacy during this difficult time and to quote "may all love be with you, Michael, always"

Michael Jackson born August 29, 1958, and was a timeless, talented musician respected throughout the world. "Genius" was a word that described his talent Before all of the controversy, in the 1980s and early 1990s Michael was the most beloved celeb all over the world. His music broke the mold and united all genres, he has won 13 Grammy awards and had 13 number one hits in his solo career. PCM's Kristyn said that "The music industry will be mourning a great loss; in spite of his controversy, he is still one of the world's great pop icons."

He is survived by his 3 children Micheal Joseph Jackson, JR, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.