Tributes continue to pour in for the King of Pop as candlelit vigils and spontaneous celebrations of his life take place around the globe.
In Los Angeles, police put up barricades to control the thousands of fans queuing up to file past Michael Jackson’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In New York’s Washington Square, crowds danced along to portable stereos playing his hits. During Thriller, fans formed lines to imitate moves from the song’s ground-breaking video.
In London, where Jackson had been due to play a series of 50 gigs at the O2 beginning on July 13, hundreds of fans turned up for a flash mob outside Liverpool Street station on Friday evening. The singer’s sudden death also brought emotional reactions from across the music world and elsewhere.
US President Barack Obama called Jackson a “spectacular performer” and said some of aspects of the performer’s life were “sad and tragic”.
Dame Elizabeth Taylor, one of Jackson’s close friends, said in a statement: “My heart… my mind… are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can’t imagine life without him. We have so much in common and we had such loving fun together.”
Singing legend Diana Ross said: “I can’t stop crying, this is too sudden and shocking. I am unable to imagine this. My heart is hurting. I am in prayer for his kids and the family.”
Music producer Quincy Jones, who collaborated with Jackson on his most popular albums, said: “I’m absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at this young age, I just don’t have the words.”
Former Beatle Paul McCartney said on his website: “It’s so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. “He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.”
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