Michael Jackson’s Last Rehearsals Filmed For Possible CD/DVD

Michael Jackson’s final, tune-up rehearsals for his `This Is It` London comeback concerts might very well be released on CD and DVD, according to reports.

The company producing Michael Jackson’s London shows, AEG Live, reportedly filmed all of Jackson’s rehearsals – including his final practice run the night before he died. The rehearsals took place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, and AEG Live apparently has 100 hours of the Jackson rehearsal footage to sift through.

According to Billboard, ‘there’s enough audio to fill two live albums worth of material, now sitting in the AEG vaults. Since Jackson never released a live album during his career, these recordings could turn out to be a gold mine.’

“We have a live album in the can,” said an AEG official quoted by TheWrap.com’s Sharon Waxman.

It has been claimed that the star performed well at the rehearsal, which included his full backing band and dance group.

Randy Philips, from AEG Live, who was promoting the 50 ‘This Is It’ concerts, said:

“He danced as well or better than the 20-year-old dancers we surrounded him with. He was riveting. I thought this was going to be his greatest live show ever produced. He was so great, I got goosebumps.”

On Monday (June 29), USA Today revealed more info about the rehearsals, describing an extravaganza that was to feature floating orbs, a flaming bed, lots of pyrotechnics, 20-foot-tall puppets and giant spiders.

“He was trying, and succeeding, in structuring the biggest, most spectacular live production ever seen,” says Johnny Caswell, co-owner of CenterStaging in Burbank, Calif., where Jackson polished the show from late March to early June before shifting rehearsals to larger venues.

“By the time he left my facility, he had graduated through several studios and was on a soundstage taking up 10,000 square feet,” Caswell says. “They moved to The Forum, outgrew that and needed the height at Staples. The show was getting so damn big, they couldn’t finish it in time. That’s why they had to delay.”

According to reports, Jackson’s show at London’s O2 Arena would have seen the audience wear special 3D glasses during ‘Thriller’, which would have seen the star perform inside a haunted house.

Jackson died last Thursday following a suspected cardiac arrest. He was 50.

A report on undercover.com.au provides the set-list for what would have been the ‘This Is It’ shows in London:

• Billie Jean (from Thriller, 1982)
• Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (from Thriller, 1982)
• Rock With You (from Off The Wall, 1979)
• The Way You Make Me Feel (from Bad, 1987)
• Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (from Off The Wall, 1979)
• I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (from Bad, 1987)
• Human Nature (from Thriller, 1982)
• Smooth Criminal (from Bad, 1987)
• Girlfriend (from Off The Wall, 1979)
• Man In The Mirror (from Bad, 1987)
• Beat It (from Thriller, 1982)
• One Day In Your Life (Forever Michael, 1975)
• Heal The World (from Dangerous, 1991)
• You Are Not Alone (from HIStory, 1995)
• Remember The Time (from Dangerous, 1991)
• Thriller (from Thriller, 1982)