DVD News

Michael Jackson's last performances to be released on DVD

Jun 29, 2009, 12:02 GMT

DVD to be released: A poster board containing greetings from fans of the late Michael Jackson was on hand during a candlelight vigil in front of Hitsville, the Motown Records Museum in Detroit, Michigan USA Sunday 28 June 2009. The pop star died in his rented Los Angeles home 25 june 2009. EPA/GARY MALERBA

Michael Jackson's final performance will be released on DVD.

Footage of the late singer performing "better than the 20-year-old dancers" and singing his greatest hits during the final rehearsal for his planned London residency will be released as a tribute to the late pop star.

The three-hour clip shows Michael - who died from a suspected cardiac arrest last Thursday (25.06.09) - performing his trademark moonwalk moves and astounding onlookers with his agility.

Randy Philips, from AEG Live, who was promoting the 50 'This Is It' concerts, said: "He danced as well or better than the 20-year-old dancers we surrounded him with. He was riveting. I thought this was going to be his greatest live show ever produced. He was so great, I got goosebumps."

Ed Alonzo - who was organising the large-scale illusions for Michael's planned 50-date London residency - feels "blessed" to have been one of few to watch the 50-year-old star's "amazing" performance.

He said: "It was an amazing show. The thing was just days away from being perfected. It was incredible. Even though it was just a walk-through with the dancers, his moves were dead-on - the same Michael Jackson we saw through the years in music videos.

"He wasn't singing full-out, but he was singing. I feel I was so blessed to see the only performance of this concert."

Executives from London's O2 Arena reportedly secured rights to the footage - which includes a performance of Michael's 1991 hit 'Dangerous' - within hours of his death.

An American source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "These recordings are worth tens of millions of pounds. It's still highly sensitive but there's a feeling the film could be cut to show a complete performance."

Meanwhile, it has been reported Michael has left 200 unheard records behind to ensure his children - Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 10 and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - are financially secure.

A source said: "He has as many as 200 unpublished songs that he is planning to leave behind for his children when he dies. They can't be touched by the creditors, but they could be worth as much as £60million that will ensure his kids a comfortable existence no matter that happens."

Earlier this year it was revealed the legendary pop star was "constantly" working on songs to be released when he dies.

His unofficial biographer Ian Halperin said: "I was astonished by the number of songs which have been held back. I was told that he will not let them come out now but wants to leave them for his kids, a very personal legacy to them."

Meanwhile, some of the world's biggest stars have vowed to join forces with Michael's tour crew and perform a tribute concert in the next couple of weeks.

A tour organiser told MSNBC: "We'd now like to do it as soon as the next couple of weeks. The entire cast and crew has been asked to hold everything and stay in Los Angeles.

"Every major celebrity has been reaching out, saying they want to participate in the show."