I had better start with a confession. I am a Michael Jackson fan - there you are I've said it. He was an incredible talent who put his whole heart and soul into his recordings and performances. Who can resist the opening bars of 'Billie Jean', the yearning cries of 'Earth Song' or the funky rhythms of 'I Want You Back'. Yes I know it's not cool but it's a sure winner on the dance floor guaranteed. Having said that I am not blind to his obvious failings as a human being and in some cases his music, which (especially in later years) became whiny, insecure and paranoid and eventually descended into bland N'Sync style drivel. He was a victim in a lot of ways of his own success, a kind of sacrificial lamb to the slaughter. Opinions on Michael Jackson seem to divide into two camps. You have on one side unabashed shameless idolatry and on the other derision and condemnation. The first camp have been baying for Conrad Murray's blood ever since Jackson died, seeming to think he 'murdered' their hero, whilst overlooking the fact that Jackson was in fact a definitive agent of his own destruction, demanding bigger and bigger doses of drugs to get him through the day and night.

Then there is the other camp who criticise his increasingly bizarre behaviour, his dubious relationship with children and his incredible ego. He was after all the man who named himself 'The King of Pop' and had a giant statue of himself floating down the Thames. I've no doubt they are entirely right in all these things but I think you have to look at the underlying truth. Michael Jackson was a desperately lonely, tragic individual who eventually succumbed to drug addiction and died. On the other hand he was a unique and extremely talented musician and performer. Now that he's gone, why not just focus on that, rather than look for people to demonise over his untimely death.