Happy 50th Wacko

So Michael Jackson turned 50 yesterday. Headlines across the world celebrated the "King Of Pop" reaching this milestone, while those who dared to risk the wrath of his fiercely loyal (and slightly unhinged) fans focused on the controversies that have dogged his personal life in recent years.

One thing that is often overlooked, however, is the fact he simply hasn't released a decent album since 1987. Maybe three great albums (Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad) and, of course, the wonderful music he made with the Jackson 5 is enough, for some people, to warrant his nickname but I can't help feel that the King Of Pop label needs to be prefixed with the word "Former".

And I'm sorry, but the greatest pop music moment involving Michael Jackson of the last 20 years or so is easily the Brit Awards 1996 when "Sir" Jarvis Cocker invaded the stage during that awful performance of that awful "Earth Song" and mooned at him. Pure class...