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Michael Jackson: Legend: 1958-2009
When the world heard the news on June 25, 2009, that Michael Jackson had died, it was both a shocking end to a cruelly curtailed and extraordinary life, and a not-quite-unexpected finale to a story full of tragedy and darkness since its beginning. From his early success in the Jackson 5 to becoming the self-styled "King of Pop," Jackson lived his whole life in the limelight. Yet he once described himself as "one of the loneliest people in the world," and his personal life was a constant source of controversy, culminating in his very public fall from grace with his trial for sexual abuse and astonishing debts of $300 million. Millions of fans were looking forward to the 50 planned comeback concerts which were to be the triumphant happy ending to his story, but he died just weeks before they were due to take place. In this fascinating and eye-opening biography, Chas Newkey-Burden separates the man from the myth, unflinchingly examining the more contentious areas of his life while also celebrating the undeniable achievements of this undisputed musical genius. Michael Legend will honor the memory of a man who gave so much joy to so many millions around the world.
- GenresBiography
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Chas Newkey-Burden
44 books23 followersChas Newkey-Burden is a British journalist and author. His books include The Reduced History of Britain, Great Email Disasters and Not In My Name: A Compendium Of Modern Hypocrisy (co-written with Julie Burchill). He has also written unauthorised biographies of Simon Cowell, Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse, Alexandra Burke and six official publications for Arsenal football club.
He has written for publications including The Guardian, Four Four Two, Total Football, Time Out, Attitude and The Big Issue; and internet sites including Ynetnews, The First Post and Guardian Blogs. A former Contributing Editor to Loaded magazine and former editor of the football website icons.com, where he was also Dennis Bergkamp's official biographer. Interviewees include David Beckham, Ricky Gervais, Frank Lampard, Rachel Stevens and James Bourne.
Newkey-Burden has discussed his books, football news and the Middle East on TV and radio shows including Sky News, CNN, BBC Breakfast News, The Today Programme on Radio 4, Five Live Breakfast, TalkSport, Capital Gold and BBC Radio London. He was featured on the BBC 2 documentary Cold War Kids, the Sky One show Celebrities On Heat and The Biography Channel and Fuse Television's documentaries on Amy Winehouse.
Newkey-Burden has a blog, entitled OyVaGoy, in which he describes himself as 'philosemitic' and posts opinions firmly in support of the state of Israel, and critical of those he perceives as being against Israel.
In July 2008, the British satirical magazine Private Eye reported that Newkey-Burden had posted positive reviews of his own books on the Amazon.co.uk online bookstore.
He has written for publications including The Guardian, Four Four Two, Total Football, Time Out, Attitude and The Big Issue; and internet sites including Ynetnews, The First Post and Guardian Blogs. A former Contributing Editor to Loaded magazine and former editor of the football website icons.com, where he was also Dennis Bergkamp's official biographer. Interviewees include David Beckham, Ricky Gervais, Frank Lampard, Rachel Stevens and James Bourne.
Newkey-Burden has discussed his books, football news and the Middle East on TV and radio shows including Sky News, CNN, BBC Breakfast News, The Today Programme on Radio 4, Five Live Breakfast, TalkSport, Capital Gold and BBC Radio London. He was featured on the BBC 2 documentary Cold War Kids, the Sky One show Celebrities On Heat and The Biography Channel and Fuse Television's documentaries on Amy Winehouse.
Newkey-Burden has a blog, entitled OyVaGoy, in which he describes himself as 'philosemitic' and posts opinions firmly in support of the state of Israel, and critical of those he perceives as being against Israel.
In July 2008, the British satirical magazine Private Eye reported that Newkey-Burden had posted positive reviews of his own books on the Amazon.co.uk online bookstore.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 17, 2025
In 2009 Michael Jackson's death shocked the world.
That entire year I made my mum help me find and sometimes gift me anything that had his face or likeness on it, this is one of those things.
Like many others I grew up as a MJ fan, as a child I never really understood the allegations against him and as an adult I don't fully know the context to the allegations; I know they exist and I know that the Jackson estate and the victims have different sides of the same story, so I don't have a clear cut opinion on those allegations.
But nonetheless I'm still a Michael Jackson fan and will continue to support anything with his face or likeness slapped on it.
34 pages in and this is just giving me everything I've already researched myself on Michael Jackson, though it does correct rumours about how Joseph treated his sons during the early years and who may/may not have discovered the Jackson 5.
This biography takes clippings from other sources; interviews, other biographies etc..and put it in its own context.
Michael had vanguard artist of the decade created specifically for him cause he was jealous and annoyed he didn't win any MTV awards in the 80s!?
It's interesting to read that some "wacko jacko" stories came from MJ and his desire to prank the media than he eventually got mad at the press for latching onto it and refusing to destroy the term "wacko jacko"
Reading through this the story doesn't paint Michael in one light or the other, instead making it clear that there's many sides to one story.
When I read the passages about Jackson trying to up himself or to "be the best of the best", my mind went to Taylor Swift, how at times her public persona almost mirrors the competitive side that Michael Jackson had with not just his peers but also himself.
I know this man died with debt but I never truly realised until this biography how much of a big spender he really was. I guess the theory of "if you grew up poor, you never learnt the true cost of money." Because you finally have the finical means to unlimited spending, until you don't.
Overall this biography on Michael Jackson is a glimpse into all the stories already about him but from an outsiders perspective.
That entire year I made my mum help me find and sometimes gift me anything that had his face or likeness on it, this is one of those things.
Like many others I grew up as a MJ fan, as a child I never really understood the allegations against him and as an adult I don't fully know the context to the allegations; I know they exist and I know that the Jackson estate and the victims have different sides of the same story, so I don't have a clear cut opinion on those allegations.
But nonetheless I'm still a Michael Jackson fan and will continue to support anything with his face or likeness slapped on it.
34 pages in and this is just giving me everything I've already researched myself on Michael Jackson, though it does correct rumours about how Joseph treated his sons during the early years and who may/may not have discovered the Jackson 5.
This biography takes clippings from other sources; interviews, other biographies etc..and put it in its own context.
Michael had vanguard artist of the decade created specifically for him cause he was jealous and annoyed he didn't win any MTV awards in the 80s!?
It's interesting to read that some "wacko jacko" stories came from MJ and his desire to prank the media than he eventually got mad at the press for latching onto it and refusing to destroy the term "wacko jacko"
Reading through this the story doesn't paint Michael in one light or the other, instead making it clear that there's many sides to one story.
When I read the passages about Jackson trying to up himself or to "be the best of the best", my mind went to Taylor Swift, how at times her public persona almost mirrors the competitive side that Michael Jackson had with not just his peers but also himself.
I know this man died with debt but I never truly realised until this biography how much of a big spender he really was. I guess the theory of "if you grew up poor, you never learnt the true cost of money." Because you finally have the finical means to unlimited spending, until you don't.
Overall this biography on Michael Jackson is a glimpse into all the stories already about him but from an outsiders perspective.
November 28, 2015
I actually became more interested in Michael Jackson after I read Moonwalk, his memoir, following his death. During the time he produced one sensational video after another, I was a young mother raising small children. When Jackson grabbed his own crotch while performing, my six-year-old son grabbed his too and I turned the channel. That pretty much ended my viewing of Jackson on music videos; after his death so much was said about the records he broke, not only as a Black artist but as an American musician period, that I decided to take another look (thank you YouTube), and my interest was revived.
I recently read and reviewed MJ, the excellent Jackson bio that was published at the end of October. If you want to read an objective, balanced account of this performer's life, that is the one to read.
As for this one, I ran across a copy free--not for reviewing purposes or from a publisher, just a random free book. The book gives various prurient activities, including pedophilic crimes, as if they were absolute fact, and he doesn't footnote anything. No sources are given apart from a list of other people's biographies of Jackson, which shows in a bibliography at the end of the book.
The book is written fluently and is interesting through the fifth chapter, at which point it just turns into trash.
If you want to read one really good biography of this star, read the one by Knopper. As for this one, it's not even going on my blog.
No, no, and no.
I recently read and reviewed MJ, the excellent Jackson bio that was published at the end of October. If you want to read an objective, balanced account of this performer's life, that is the one to read.
As for this one, I ran across a copy free--not for reviewing purposes or from a publisher, just a random free book. The book gives various prurient activities, including pedophilic crimes, as if they were absolute fact, and he doesn't footnote anything. No sources are given apart from a list of other people's biographies of Jackson, which shows in a bibliography at the end of the book.
The book is written fluently and is interesting through the fifth chapter, at which point it just turns into trash.
If you want to read one really good biography of this star, read the one by Knopper. As for this one, it's not even going on my blog.
No, no, and no.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews