New footage of pop star Michael Jackson has emerged showing him dancing energetically on stage just two nights before his sudden death in Los Angeles.
The 50-year-old is shown singing and dancing at the Staples Center arena in preparation for his keenly anticipated concert comeback - billed as "the final curtain" - in London.
Jackson appeared healthy in the footage and sang "They Don't Care About Us," a song from his "HIStory" album, as he danced along with eight male dancers.
Debbie Rowe to fight for custody of childrenMichael Jackson, the king of pop, is dead
Pay tribute to Michael JacksonJackson's associates described him as being in good form at the rehearsal, as well as at a second rehearsal just hours before his death.
Jackson's voice coach Dorian Holley said Jackson was in an upbeat mood in the days before his death.
"My friends call and ask 'Was Michael sick? Was he weak? Was he ill?' It's the absolute opposite of that,'' Holley told CNN.
"He was very energetic, he was happy. He was even more playful than he normally was at rehearsal,'' he said.
He said Jackson did not show his age.
"I'm sure that he was in pain after some rehearsals. But I got to tell you something -- the guys and girls dancing with him were all in their 20s,'' he said.
"When Michael was on stage with them, there was only one person that you could watch and that was Michael Jackson,'' he said.
Kevin Mazur, a photographer who was also at the rehearsal, told Britain's Sun newspaper that Jackson was "like an expectant father pacing up and down the stage".
"He was just so focused. Between songs he burst into laughter and joked around with his dancers and the director. I have never seen him so happy,'' he said.
Jackson collapsed and died on June 25 at the Los Angeles mansion he had been renting for $100,000 a month.
Speculation has focused on whether Jackson was taking painkillers or other medication.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter