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Michael Jackson's last show rehearsal - Source: Kevin Mazur/AEG/Getty Images via image.net -
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Michael Jackson was "full of energy" and "having fun" at rehearsals for his planned live shows, according to a photographer who captured the US pop star last week less than 48 hours before he died.
Photographs taken by Kevin Mazur were released this week by AEG Live, the company promoting the 50-date marathon at London's O2 Arena. They show Jackson looking thin but apparently enjoying some of the slick dance moves for which he was so famous.
"A picture tells a story," Mazur said, referring to images he took in Los Angeles on June 23. Jackson died two days later, aged 50, after suffering cardiac arrest.
"He was just the same old Michael and when he hit the stage he was full of energy, happy, very upbeat, having fun. I was so excited to be photographing him, because it was the same old Michael," Mazur added. "I was like 'Yes, he's back'."
Mazur said he saw Jackson rehearse about a dozen songs with only short breaks to "tweak" the music and choreography.
Media reports have focused on why Jackson died Friday when two days earlier he appeared to be in good health.
Speculation about what caused Jackson's heart to stop has centred on his prescription drug use, but results of toxicology tests are expected to take several more weeks.
His family arranged for a second, private autopsy on Jackson's body and his father Joe said he had "a lot of concerns" about what had happened to his son.
Mazur said he saw no signs of drug use or exhaustion during Jackson's time on stage.
"From what I saw on stage there was nothing of that at all ... Exhaustion? No way. Drug use? No way. From what I saw it was the same old Michael. He was back. He seemed to be 100%."
The photographer could not confirm whether AEG Live planned to issue a DVD featuring footage from Jackson's final rehearsals as has been reported in US media.
"I have no idea what the plan is, but I hope that from the footage that they have ... the fans get to see all this."
When AEG Live announced that Jackson's shows in London would be extended to 50 from 10, industry watchers questioned if the singer would be able to cope physically.
The company said in March that Jackson had passed a four and a half hour physical examination with independent doctors.
AEG Live has said it would fully refund fans who bought tickets from authorized dealers. The London shows had been set to start on July 13 and about 800,000 people snapped up tickets.
Insurance experts said the company stood to lose a considerable amount of money on the cancelled shows, although exactly how much would depend on details of AEG Live's contract with Jackson and with insurers.
