- Title: The King of Pop's British fans reminisce on Michael Jackson's 60th birthday
- Date: 29th August 2018
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 29, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF MICHAEL JACKSON FANS NEXT TO PROMOTIONAL GIANT CROWN CELEBRATING JACKSON'S 60th BIRTHDAY FAN WEARING MICHAEL JACKSON STYLE BROGUES WRITING ON CROWN READING (English): "MICHAEL JACKSON - THE DIAMOND COLLECTION" PAN FROM LONDON SKYLINE TO CROWN (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, MAYAH THOMAS, 31, SAYING: "The first time I saw him in person, I was 18-years-old, he came to London and it was just manic. There was thousands of fans, the streets were lined all the way up by the Dorchester hotel in Hyde Park. And the following year, he got the diamond award for the Thriller album at the world music awards and myself and some friends got to hang with him in the theatre, yeh he took us to the theatre." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, PEZ JAX, 30, SAYING: "He came to London and he took a group of us to see Mary Poppins at the theatre and in the interval we got to shake his hand and say hello. It was very brief, but it was a life made from that moment." THOMAS AND JAX EMBRACING JAX SPEAKING JAX AND THOMAS LOOKING AT CROWN THOMAS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, MAYAH THOMAS, 31, SAYING: "Michael was just such a sweetheart. Really shy, but also really really personable. He would always, always try and make the fans comfortable. Like he would send them blankets, pizzas, coffees, whatever it might be in really cold conditions and stuff like that. He was, he was a lot of fun to be around. And being a fan of his has taken me all over the world and on every continent. So it's, it's a nice moment to see this erected here in his honour for his 60th birthday." VARIOUS OF CROWN IN FRONT OF LONDON SKYLINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, ILIA MIZANI, 24, SAYING: "I'm from Georgia originally and I flew for seven hours here that night and he passed away. I basically came here on the 25th of June, because of his concert, I had the tickets and he passed away that night." PAN FROM SKYLINE TO CROWN WRITING ON CROWN READING (English): "MICHAEL JACKSON - THE DIAMOND COLLECTION" (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, PEZ JAX, 30, SAYING: "Thinking about him over 60 years, it is hard to believe he would have been 60. I think that his legacy lives on, this is a prime example of that. I couldn't think of a better person to be out here at 7 in the morning, in the rain, supporting." VARIOUS OF MAN MOONWALKING INFRONT OF CROWN VARIOUS OF PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES MAN MOONWALKING IN FRONT OF CROWN
- Embargoed: 12th September 2018 10:32
- Keywords: Michael Jackson King of Pop
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0018V8Q3IL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS A RELEVANT EDIT ON WNE '1132 PEOPLE-MICHAEL JACKSON'
Michael Jackson fans gathered at a temporary monument to pay tribute to the King of Pop, in London, on what would have been his 60th birthday on Wednesday (August 29).
The late 20th century music icon's record label, Sony Music, erected a giant crown on London's south bank by the River Thames to celebrate his legacy.
British fans Mayah Thomas and Pez Jax met Jackson in 2006, where he accompanied a group of fans to a West End theatre.
"He took a group of us to see Mary Poppins at the theatre and in the interval we got to shake his hand and say hello. It was very brief, but it was a life made from that moment," 30 year-old Londoner Jax, told Reuters.
Thomas and Jax have known each other for 15 years, united by their shared love of the American superstar.
"The first time I saw him in person, I was 18-years-old, he came to London and it was just manic. There was thousands of fans, the streets were lined all the way up by the Dorchester hotel in Hyde Park..Michael was just such a sweetheart. Really shy, but really really personable. He would always try and make the fans comfortable," Thomas said.
Despite rain falling fans celebrated Jackson's legacy performing dancemoves and moonwalking infront of the crown.
Michael Jackson was due to play a comeback concert series in London beginning in July 2009. He died at his home in Los Angeles on June 25 that year.
"I flew for seven hours here that night and he passed away. I basically came here on the 25th of June, because of his concert, I had tickets and he passed away that night," said Ilia Mizani, who had traveled from his native Georgia.
The Crown will be on London's southbank for one day only, the King of Pop's birthday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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