Michael Jackson Last Rehearsal Video Released

The release of video footage taken at Michael Jackson's last rehearsal two days before he died has touched off another tsunami of speculation as to the relative health of the pop icon just before his untimely death on Thursday, June 25. Michael Jackson's last rehearsal video comes in the midst of conflicting reports of drug abuse and witnesses stating that the singer was frail just before his death and reports that he was energetic and healthy up until his death. But those who argue that Michael Jackson was in good health up until the day he died are using the last rehearsal video to press their position.

Michael Jackson's last rehearsal video shows the late King of Pop preparing with his dancers, showing off his patented moves in a loose-fitting outfit. He seems to move across the stage at the Staples Center with ease and grace. His voice seems strong. For a 50-year-old man, he seems to be in fairly good health.

And he was, according to many. Jermaine Jackson told Matt Lauer on the "Today Show" that his younger brother was in good physical shape and had passed a physical required by those promoting his upcoming concert series in England. The promoters have told various sources that Michael Jackson had passed a rigorous physical for them. And concert promoter Randy Phillips told CNN that the singer was "healthy" and "vibrant."

Phillips said, "All I know is that the Michael Jackson that hugged me and said 'goodnight' was a healthy, vibrant human being about to undertake the greatest undertaking of his life. And something happened between 12:30 when he left us and the morning when I had to rush to the hospital when I got the first call."

Dorian Holley, Jackson's vocal coach, said that the singer was like "a kid in a candy store." She added, "He was just full of jokes, full of life."

AEG, the production company that was financing Michael Jackson's tour, released a one-and-a-half-minute video of the last rehearsal where footage was taken of the star.

Phillips said that Jackson had undergone a physical that lasted about 5 hours. "We are obviously not privy to the patient-doctor relationship with that information, but the insurance broker told us that he passed with flying colors."

Some believe that the rehearsals may have taken more of a physical toll on the singer than those with a vested interest in the concert series' success are willing to admit. Given that Michael Jackson was known not to eat or drink much, strenuous and dehydrating activity could have been more trying than those outside Jackson's inner circle would know.

And despite protestations of promoters and family, an objective look at the last rehearsal video shoes an exceptionally gaunt Michael Jackson, the fingers of his hands seemingly far too long. The loose clothing does not hide his painfully thin frame, his bones creasing the fabric of his jacket and his pants. And although his movements are mostly precise and well-timed, some of his movements seem to lack crispness, something one is not used to seeing in a Michael Jackson performance.

But one can always argue that the latter argument can be countered with the singer's advancing age and the fact that it was just a rehearsal, not an actual performance, although those that were close to the star spoke of a man pursuing perfection, in both himself and in those that worked with him.

Perhaps, since it was near the end of the rehearsal, the star was growing tired and showing it.

Perhaps.

And the world may never know just how healthy Michael Jackson was before his last rehearsal. The video evidence is ambiguous at best and can be used by either side of the health issue argument.

But autopsy toxicology results will return in a few weeks and more might become known about exactly how the pop icon actually died. Until then, speculation will rage from both sides -- those who thought the singer was in tremendous shape considering his past and his diet, and those who believe he was an ambulatory husk of a man invigorated and animated by a daily coctail of painkillers and prescription medication.

But at least there exists the video. According to AEG, which has had to return what looks to be some $80 million dollars to holders of Michael Jackson concert tickets, hundreds of hours of video was shot of the rehearsal for the concerts, not just the small last rehearsal sample they have released. And if Michael Jackson's music, video, and memorabilia sales are any indication, there will be quite a demand for a nicely packaged "Making of" or "Last Rehearsal" video.

And although the King of Pop's death may have hurt them in the short run, in the long run AEG looks to turn a healthy profit.

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Source:

CNN.com
"Today Show," NBC Television