Well, it was a fitting end I suppose. A surreal life followed by a truly surreal spectacle in death. I can't say I watched much of the Michael Jackson funeral-memorial to be honest, but I was compelled enough to keep channel-hopping back to it. Every time I did I was presented with something I just couldn't quite get my head around. The intense grieving of a family and an extended family, presented live onstage. The coffin, spot-lit in front of the stage was the final unreal cherry on the crazy-cake for me. Jeff Koons himself couldn't have done it better.
I'm wondering if this will mark the start of similar events around future showbiz deaths. Truth is though, that not many people ever get to the level of global celebrity that Jacko did. World politicians don't get send-offs like this one, never mind slebs.
Given that the depressing economics of the recording industry will almost certainly ensure that U2 are the last of the Huge Monster rock acts to roam the Earth, (if they were a new band, they'd have been dropped after the first album) MJ will similarly be the last of the Uber-solo performers. I can't think of anyone bigger right now anyway. No, not even Madonna.