Fans remember Jackson on 1st death anniversaryRob Woollard
Michael Jackson fans around the world began on Friday marking the first anniversary of the music icon’s death, with events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honour of the tragic superstar.
Jackson, 50, died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as the “King of Pop”.
Flowers began piling up in Tokyo where 50 die-hard fans paid more than $1,000 each to attend a sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer’s belongings.
The participants were chosen from some 10,000 applicants who wanted to spend the night in the Neverland Collection at Tokyo Tower, surrounded by artifacts including Jackson’s music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves.
In Los Angeles, fans began gathering early at the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a star-studded cemetery where the singer’s golden casket was entombed in September 2009. Park authorities have indicated they plan to keep a tight grip on the proceedings, saying visitors will only be allowed to walk past the elaborate neo-classical mausoleum that houses Jackson’s final resting place.
Long Beach college student Dominique Richardson woke up at 2.00 am in order to get to the cemetery at daybreak.
“It’s Michael Jackson,” she told KTLA local television. “Michael Jackson has inspired a lot of people and it’s like the closest we’re ever going to get to Michael so why not come and pay your respects?”
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