People News

Beverley Knight fears for Jacko

May 23, 2009, 4:01 GMT

She told BANG Showbiz: "The thing with people like Smokey Robinson, he started in an age where it was about great songs sung brilliantly, there was a pureness and a realness and he\'s maintained that. Whereas Michael Jackson embraced that in the beginning and now he\'s become like a Frankenstein\'s monster, huge and crazy and now he\'s almost catching up with his own musical persona and I don\'t know if he\'s going to get there." EPA/STR

Michael Jackson has turned into a "Frankenstein's monster" says Beverley Knight.

The soul singer insists the 'Thriller' hitmaker's cosmetic surgery and his outrageous behaviour have left him struggling to cope with the expectations people have of him because of his phenomenal music.

She told BANG Showbiz: "The thing with people like Smokey Robinson, he started in an age where it was about great songs sung brilliantly, there was a pureness and a realness and he's maintained that. Whereas Michael Jackson embraced that in the beginning and now he's become like a Frankenstein's monster, huge and crazy and now he's almost catching up with his own musical persona and I don't know if he's going to get there."

It was announced this week that Michael has postponed the first four shows of his 50-date 'This Is It' residency at London's O2 arena and Beverly admits she is sceptical as to whether he will make it on stage, because he doesn't look like "a well cookie".

She added: "I saw it on the news and thought, 'Hmmm'. He doesn't look a well cookie to me.' A friend of mine has tickets for the opening night and he is gutted.

"Time will tell if it happens, however, I also hear he isn't doing much rehearsing, he's nearly 51! If you're going to do a massive tour then you need to put the work in."