So this is how the Brits have been covering the death of Michael Jackson, the man who once sent a giant statue of himself down the Thames, bless him. The tabloid editors in particular will be lamenting his death. Who else on Earth could possibly generate so much material for them?



Jackson's particular brand of funk may well last 40, 000 years, such was the extent of his media and cultural saturation. But the next 10 will no doubt be taken up with exploiting his vaults of any unreleased material, a la Tupac. The Guardian went looking for the unreleased album Jackson had been working when he died.



Speaking of Akon… Last week the Guardian’s Paul Lester and Angus Batey attempted to find out who the best act in the world is right now by asking other artists. Impeccably timed, it was published the day of Jacko’s death, so he goes unmentioned, which seems unimaginable after the rolling tributes on TV and radio this weekend. Still, it’s interesting stuff, containing spirited defenses of everything from Chris Martin’s nonsense lyrics, to Akon’s use of Auto-Tune, and even Hugh Jackman.


Back when I posted the news here of Jacko’s too-good-an-idea-to-be-true comeback gigs at the O2 Arena, I was skeptical of him ever making it to the stage. This being Michael Jackson, I should have known he’d still find a way to surprise me. The thought of this mentally and physically frail middle-aged man pulling off a string of consecutive dates without incident was, frankly, unbelievable. Guy Adams in The Indie yesterday focused on how... “Jackson was in no condition to take on a punishing schedule of 50 gigs. But his finances left him with no choice.”
 


Today The Sun put it their own way… "If I don't tour they'll kill me."



I also asked at the time, "Who the hell is insuring this?" The BBC yesterday looked at the potentially Bad financial situation the O2 Arena could now find itself in…

“Reports suggest that AEG, which also owns the complex formerly known as the Millennium Dome, has only insured the first 10 nights of the 50-date concerts.
It had proved difficult to get cover as insurers were unconvinced that Mr Jackson would be fit enough to perform all the dates.”



Things got a little Pulp Fiction in Jackson’s final moments, according to The Mirror today.



At the other end of the spectrum, The Telegraph has a piece by American writer Paul Theroux, about the time he went to Neverland, and a subsequent conversation with Jackson that “touched on fame, childhood and Biblical betrayal.”



The Guardian was inside the walled-off city that is this weekend's Glastonbury festival as disbelieving revellers scrabbled for information when rumours of Jackson's death first started to spread...

"The crazy thing about this happening tonight is that Glastonbury is usually full of strange, wild rumours that never turn out to be true. You'll often hear that a celebrity has passed away, only to discover that it was a case of Chinese whispers. Sadly, this time the rumours are true. The King of Pop has died. And tens of thousands of people here are in shock."



By yesterday, Jackson may as well have been headlining at Glastonbury according to The Sun, as artists and revelers alike absorbed the news and paid tribute.



Ah, the circle of life. The man who invaded Jacko's stage mid-Christ-pose and mooned the audience, Jarvis Cocker, had his own stage invaded last night at Glasto. NME reports that good manners prevailed, this time. But no mention of any begrudging tribute by Cocker. What a cock.



The inevitable cover versions began to litter the setlists on various stages at Glastonbury. The Streets covered “Billie Jean” on Friday.

And Mr. Hudson moonwalked.



Wish you were there yet? Dizzee Rascal “triumphed” yesterday on the Pyramid Stage, attracting a bigger crowd than Neil Young. Read a review here.



Elsewhere at Glastonbury, UK highstreet fashion temple Topshop has designed the stage outfits for Florence & The Machine, reported the Telegraph.



And Topshop "designer" Kate Moss does world a favour and then gets called “fishwife” for her troubles. Allegedly. Like he's some oil painting... the cheeky fuck.



Mixmag's list of MJ tributes:

Snoop Dogg: "Rip MJ gotta show you some love"
Calvin Harris: "I can't believe it, Michael Jackson rest in peace"
Judge Jules: "This week I got sent the best M.Jackson bootleg I've heard in ages. Gutted I didn't have it burned off to play in the club."
Tinchy Stryder: "Wow!!...this still doesn't feel real, I'm stunned"
Diplo: "This day is startin to suck after all the media gloss is tuned down"
QTip: "No one better than brotha mike"
P Diddy: "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!"
Felix da Housecat: "Thx Everyone 4 tuning into MJ tribute..I been in tears all day"
Sander Kleinenberg: "just finished my gig in Tel Aviv with "Rock With You" and an image of MJ on the screens.. too soon.. obviously.. a legend.. an inspiration.."
Steve Angello: "Well. I know he's done bad stuff but he was a music pioneer. So god bless hom and rest in peace !! Michael jackson we'll remember u."



After a lifetime of outrageous stories in the press about him, this was the final story I read about Jackson before he died: Jackson – Crystal Addict. Ok, not meth, Svaroski. And lot’s of it. There would have been more of these tantalising teasers about the show that never was.



The last Jacko-inspired music video I saw before he died, courtesy of Peter, Bjorn and John. Thank God it was great…

Peter, Bjorn and John - It Don't Move Me



Thank you, Waves At Night, for taking me to this Holy Ghost! Remix of Jackson's “Get On The Floor”.



The world record for longest DJ set has been "smashed", according to Mixmag.



Finally, well done, Tasmania! The Independent loved your story of wallabies creating crop circles while stoned. Respect.