artists

Bursting onto the pop scene in 1970 with four brothers and a monsterhit in 'I Want You Back', 12-year-old Michael Jackson was thelittle darling of the globe and far and away the Jackson 5's mainattraction.

Theboys were relentlessly put through their paces by a domineering father,Joe, and the hard graft reaped impressive commercial results - whiletaking a tough psychological toll.

Michael dabbled in solo workduring the '70s - the charming love song to a rat, 'Ben', being themost memorable attempt - but he hit his stride in 1979 with the releaseof disco perennial 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' and its acclaimedparent album, Off The Wall. As sales figures spiked across the world, it was clear that Michael would not be needing his brothers any more.

And how. Thrillerand 'Billie Jean' followed in 1982, and you know the rest. This secondQuincy Jones-produced album sold unimaginable amounts and turned analready hugely famous young man into the biggest star in the world,with all the attendant trouble that caused. Bizarre stories began tosurface about oxygen tanks and hanging out with chimps - even so, theworld was barely prepared for Michael's face when the MartinScorsese-directed video for 1987 single 'Bad' was aired. Extensiveplastic surgery and, apparently, the onset of debilitating skincondition vitiligo had utterly changed his appearance. This pattern wasto continue.

Throughout the '90s, Jacko was generally regardedas something of a freakshow, but still managed to rack up the No.1singles - 'You Are Not Alone', 'Earth Song', 'Blood On The Dancefloor'- and huge albums. He was - and largely still is - dogged by childmolestation rumours and public horror at his appearance, but sinceacquittal in 2005 he has set off on the comeback trail.

A 25th anniversary reissue of Thrillerin 2007 was promoted with a glut of remixes helmed by the likes of Akonand Black Eyed Pea Will.i.am, but rehabilitation in public is likely totake more than a few good contacts for the erstwhile King of Pop. A newalbum is due in 2009, his first since 2001's Invincible.