Family man Michael Jackson

Nov 9, 2007, 7:30 GMT

Michael Jackson - New York, NY © Wild1 / Photorazzi

Michael Jackson believes his greatest achievement is having children.

The eccentric pop superstar is extremely proud of the phenomenal success he has achieved throughout his music career, but insists nothing has given him as much satisfaction as fatherhood.

Jackson - who has three children, 10-year-old son Prince Michael Jackson II, nine-year-old daughter Paris, and five-year-old son Prince Michael Jackson III, nicknamed 'Blanket' - said: "I wanted to get certain things accomplished first. But I always had this tug in the back of my head, the things I wanted to do, to raise children, have children. I'm enjoying it very much."

The 'Billie Jean' singer spoke about his family in an exclusive interview with Ebony magazine to mark the 25th anniversary of his worldwide hit album 'Thriller'.

In the publication, Jackson also dampened the hopes of fans who want him to tour again, insisting he has no intention of working himself to death like his late idol James Brown.

When asked if he plans to record and perform into old age, the 49-year-old star said: "Not the way James Brown did or Jackie Wilson did. They just kept going, running, killing themselves. I wish James Brown could have slowed down and relaxed and enjoyed his hard work. I don't care about long tours."

Jackson has also promised fans his new album will be as good as his classic LPs 'Off The Wall', 'Thriller' and 'Bad'.

And the singer - who is working with Kanye West and will.i.am on the record, his first studio release since 2001's 'Invincible' - is confident the material he has been working on will eclipse the lacklustre efforts of many artists currently riding high in the charts.

He explained: "The Michael from the past is probably the same Michael here. I'm writing a lot of stuff right now. I'm in the studio every day. I think the rap thing is happening now.

"I don't think people are being as experimental and innovative enough. I know people can easily say, 'Well, we don't have the Michael Jackson budget.' But that's wrong. You can be so creative with almost nothing. And that's usually the best stuff, when you strip it down to the bare minimum and go inside yourself and invent."

(C) BANG Media International