Gram! Micheal Jackson’s a latest 2-D Man in a Mirror
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Take A Tour Inside The Sprawling Mansion Where Michael Jackson Died
Zillow/AP
Michael Jackson’s rented home in which he died is now on the market for $23.9 million.
The final home where Michael Jackson was able to stare at “The Man in the Mirror” for the very last time has hit the market—again.
The 18,000-square-foot, French chateau-style Carolwood estate is on sale for $23.9 million.
And for the first time ever, Zillow is taking prospective buyers and voyeuristic fans on a video tour inside the house.
The home boasts seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a screening room, wine cellar, guest house and pool—all on 1.25 acres of land in a secluded Los Angeles neighborhood.
Jackson rented the house for himself and three children right before launching his world tour, until his untimely passing in the home’s master bedroom in 2009.
With the home’s eerie history, it is a tough property to sell, but realtor Mauricio Umansky has stepped up to the challenge.
Umansky also happens to be “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kyle Richards‘ husband, and says he has a special connection to the late king of pop.
I knew him and my wife [Kyle] has been friends with Michael Jackson since she was 8 to10 years old… And I personally think there’s some great energy in the house and I see it as a major positive. I’m excited to be selling it.”
But the home may already have a buyer. Pop star Robbie Williams just toured the mansion and is reportedly interested in purchasing the estate.
So before this historic home is snatched off the market, take a look inside and peep a piece of Hollywood history.
Michael Jackson’s homes goes on sale
The house where Michael Jackson died has gone up for sale.
Michael Jackson
The Beverly Hills mansion – in which the ‘Thriller’ singer passed away from acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009 aged 50 – went on the market on Monday (19.03.12) for $23.9 million and, according to gossip website TMZ, a ‘major celebrity’ will look at it tomorrow (22.03.12).
The realtor – Mauricio Umansky, the CEO and co-founder of The Agency in Beverly Hills – will only show the property to serious buyers who have pre-qualified by proving they have the cash to buy the home.
The property – which Michael rented and lived in with his three children, Prince, 15, Paris, 14, and 10-year-old Blanket – has been on and off the market since the ‘Man in the Mirror’ hitmaker died and is completely empty.
It has 13 bathrooms, a swimming pool, guest house and an elevator.
Last December, a number of items from the mansion went on sale including high-priced paintings by Maurice Utrillo and Henri Rosseau, candles and silverware.
A kitchen chalkboard with a handwritten note which reads ‘I [heart] Daddy. SMILE, it’s for free,’ written in childlike text – which is thought to have been penned by one of his children.
Michael’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the King of Pop’s death last November.
Jackson fans: He won’t stop compartment we get enough
Gavin Hope, centre, performs the King of Pop’s oeuvre with Jeans ‘n Classics.
Gavin Hope, the Canadian singer who pays tribute to Michael Jackson in the pop-meets-symphony concert For Michael, hasn’t mastered the late King of Pop’s signature dance move.
“He doesn’t do the moonwalk,” says Peter Brennan, guitarist, arranger and founder of Jeans ‘n Classics, the Canadian company that creates nostalgic tribute shows to help orchestras attract fresh audiences to pops concerts.
“He does definitely dance all over the place.”
And Hope has the trademark vocals down, Brennan says, from the “boy Michael” of Jackson Five hits like ABC and I Want You Back to the fierce, funky energy of Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller, to the later artistry of Man in the Mirror.
“He sings Ben in Michael’s key, way up there,” Brennan adds about the Calgary-bred vocalist, who has sung baritone in the a cappella group the Nylons and performed in musical theatre, including playing Simba in the original Canadian production of The Lion King.
Jeans ‘n Classics teams with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for three pops performances of For Michael this weekend. In other cities, audience members have shown up dressed as Jackson.
A four-piece rock band and three female backup singers, as well as the orchestra, will accompany Hope. The program of 18 hits ranges from the boppy Rockin’ Robin to the percolating Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough and the gentle Human Nature.
The ever-growing London, Ont.-based Jeans ‘n Classics, founded about 18 years ago, currently has 45 different show offerings — more than any competing outfit.
The company has teamed with the WSO about nine times before, saluting such classic-rock acts as Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Queen, Chicago, Billy Joel, the Eagles, Elton John and the Beatles.
With a team of 30 singers, backup vocalists and musicians, it puts on shows 80 nights per season, works with orchestras throughout the world, and has orchestrated about 1,200 songs in total.
“This weekend when we’re coming to Winnipeg, there’s a whole gang in Anchorage, Alaska, doing Queen, and there’s another group in Jackson, Mississippi, doing Elton John…. We can do three, or if we really push it, four shows on the same night.”
Hope doesn’t only interpret Jackson for the company. He sings in an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute, appears in a Motown ensemble show and does Smokey Robinson numbers in a concert called Higher Ground that also celebrates Stevie Wonder.
He’s not the only multi-tasker. The same singer who does a sweet James Taylor also performs the Jeans ‘n Classics tribute to Sting and the Police.
In case you want to put in a request with the WSO, other available shows include Fleetwood Mac and U2.
The company has a cheesy new Guilty Pleasures ensemble show of “all those songs that you’re terribly embarrassed to admit you love.” In that show, Hope, a product of the ’80s, tackles mortifying favourites such as Take on Me by A-ha and Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears.
Before Jackson’s death in 2009, the company had launched a show called One Night In L.A. that, for some reason, almost no orchestra wanted to book, Brennan says.
The first half was a tribute to Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers. The second was Hope performing most of Jackson’s Thriller album. “We only did it three or four times,” Brennan says.
“Then after Michael died, Gavin phoned me and said, ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ I said I didn’t want to appear tacky or tasteless or jump on some bandwagon….
“It’s heartfelt — that’s why our title is For Michael.”
alison.mayes@freepress.mb.ca
Concert Preview
For Michael — The Music of Michael Jackson
Jeans ‘n Classics with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Centennial Concert Hall
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets $23-$87 at Ticketmaster or WSO, 949-3999
