Michael Jackson has re-entered the public eye after eight years discernible more through the prism of scandal than by performances and told a crowd of excited fans that he would hold a series of London engagements, which should mark the singer’s first concerts since 2001.

 

Wearing his trademark black sunglasses and a silver-embellished dark-colored military-style jacket, the King of Pop explained the series of shows, which are scheduled to take place in July, will represent his “final curtain call” in the British capital.

 

“This is it,” Michael Jackson said during a brief statement interrupted by the crowd of admirers who gathered inside the huge O2 Arena in southeast London on Thursday. “And when I say this is it, I mean this is it,” the pop star added in order to highlight the fact that he would not return on the London stage following the announced gigs.

 

In spite of the fact that Michael Jackson said the concerts would mark his last shows in London, his statement left the door open for other gigs elsewhere. In addition, promoter AEG Live informed the BBC that the concerts might be included in a final world tour.

 

The 50-year-old musician subsequently showed up at the O2, where the series of 10 gigs are scheduled to take place this summer, in order to make the concerts public. Hundreds of journalists had been assembled so as to capture the event, although information with regard to the Jacko shows had leaked out to the media days before the official announcement.

 

“Thriller,” Michael Jackson’s 1982 release, still represents the best-selling album of all time, but the singer, who has sold more than 750 million albums and was honored with 13 Grammy awards, has not held a major concert since 2001.

 

The price of tickets ranges between 50 pounds and 75 pounds ($70 and $105), but tickets for the shows are nevertheless expected to sell rapidly, despite reports that the star might not be prepared to return to the spotlight.

 

The King of Pop has been bothered by financial, legal and medical issues for some years now and, thus, a previous attempt to revive Michael Jackson’s career failed in the midst of reports claiming unstable health condition and court action.

 

The singer has shown up in public infrequently since being acquitted of child molestation in California approximately four years ago, and has strived to pay his debts. Last year, the artist was constrained to give up the deed to Neverland, his 2,500-acre (1,000 hectare) property in California, which also comprises a miniature amusement park.

 

Michael Jackson filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against an auction house in order to hinder the programmed sale of over 2,000 personal items from Neverland, including platinum and gold records, a personalized Harley Davidson and a Rolls Royce limousine.