Yes, he was overdosed by the doctor who apparently lived with him. He'd taken oxycontin and an injection of demorol...a sure recipe to disaster.
In my view he was the greatest entertainer I have ever seen...and a whack-job. On the entertainment, he changed the face of music - being the first African-American ever to play on MTV, unbelievable as that is now. His Thriller video is the
#1 selling album of all time, and the standard by which all others are measured. HIs dancing is what every other dancer copies even today, and He wrote his own songs.
Given he was the primary bread-winner for his entire family from the age of 10, it's no wonder he lost all perspective. Frankly, growing up, he was not allowed any kind of normal life, interacting with people ouside his family. So, he had no clue about how to live a normal life. His home was named Neverland - there's a clue right there, he was afraid of growing up and growing old.
As for being a whack-job, his kids are named Prince Michael, Paris Michael, and Prince Michael II, and if they have any of his dna, it wasn't through the usual way.
True story - I actually met him about 25 years ago, when he was in Memphis for a concert. Three girlfriends and I took a Friday afternoon off to go hear someone speak. Afterward we decided to stop in at the Hilton for a drink. As we entered, on of the bellhops asked us if we were with the "Jackson Party".
We had no clue what he was talking about and just laughed if off. While we we sitting in the bar having a drink, he walks through the lobby with his father. Of course, having a nice buzz going, we all jumped up and ran to him, demanding a picture with him. At that time he did not have an "entourage", etc. He was absolutely frightened!! My friend who was supposed to be taking the pic was so smashed by then, she had the camera backwards, and took a pic of herself!!
At that point, he and his dad got gone!! Come to think of it, we may be why he hired all those people!!
Matter of fact, I didn't even go to his concert, though I had seen him before then and have seen him since as well.
I got the impression from that brief meeting, that he was totally clueless about dealing with people, and was very frightened by the whole experience.
We never touched him, or grabbed him at all. None of us did. We did run up to him though, and ask for a pic wih him, though. He didn't know how to say "NO", or just keep walking or whatever, something a celebrity would normally know how to do.
BTW, VH1C is playing his videos all weekend, as well as Fuse. I'm sure there will be tributes all over the radio as well.
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