MJ funeral to be the greatest show on Earth

MICHAEL Jackson will be buried in a $25,000 (15,300) gold casket in a funeral that is set to become the greatest show on Earth.
His coffin, a rare design called the Promethean, is made of solid bronze but is 14-carat gold-plated with a hand-polished mirror finish and lined with velvet.
It was ordered last night from Americas Batesville Casket Company and is identical to the coffin used to bury James Brown in 2006, according to TMZ, which first broke the news of the King of Pops death.
Jacksons send-off on Tuesday will begin at the LA Lakers basketball teams home court, the Staples Centre. He rehearsed there for his planned comeback concerts at The O2 just two days before his death, and 11,000 tickets will be distributed free to the general public.
Up to a million people are expected to gather at the venue which will erect giant screens outside for those who cannot get in for the 10am service. The Center can accomodate 20,000 people.
The memorial will feature performances and tributes from a host of music and acting legends and will open with a parade of circus animals, including tigers and elephants - part of LAs annual Parade Of The Elephants. The parade, devised by The Ringling Bros Barnum And Bailey Circus, in which the animals walk through the streets trunk to tail, was already scheduled for Tuesday morning.
When asked in 2002 what he thought his funeral would be like, Jackson said: 'Its going to be the greatest show on Earth. Thats what I want. Fireworks and everything. In a bizarre twist, the Ringling Bros circus bills itself as 'The Greatest Show on Earth.
Among the guests expected to attend the memorial service are Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor and Sir Paul McCartney.
President Barack Obama has also reportedly been invited and last night he spoke for the first time about the singers death. He said: 'I still have all his stuff on my iPod. I grew up on his music. Daily Mail
He added that he thought Jackson had experienced 'a tragic and in many ways sad personal life.
After the memorial, there will be a private ceremony at Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood which will be attended by family and close friends only.
But Jacksons long-term friend and producer Quincy Jones said that he will not be going. He said: 'No. Im not going to the funeral. I dont wanna go to no funeral. Its not what I want to see.
Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jacksons promoter, confirmed tickets would be free, but could not say how they would be distributed.
Mr Phillips said last night that he was till waiting for Mrs Jacksons final approval over the final plans.
'As we speak, were working on the details, he said.
Jacksons family asked Barnum & Bailey Circus to delay setting up the stadium for its run of shows so the memorial could be held there.
A spokesman for the circus said: 'Its exceptional circumstances.
Im sure Michael will be looking down with a smile and love the insanity of a funeral surrounded by tigers and spectacular circus animals.
The news comes as footage yesterday showed the king of pop rehearsing for his final dress rehearsal ahead of his This is It tour inside the stadium.
But speculation is mounting that Jackson will only be buried at Forest Lawn temporarily and his body will be taken to a final grave at Neverland once his family have won legal consent.
This process could take more than a month and appeared to be backed by Jacksons brother Jermaine in an interview today.
'He created Neverland. Why wouldnt he be here? he said. 'I feel his presence.
Jermaine also told NBC that he wished he had died instead of Jackson and described visiting his brothers body after his death.
'I wanted to see Michael, and I wanted to see my brother, and to see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together, because I know hes very much alive, he said.
'His spirit is, and that was just a shell, but I kissed him on his forehead and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said, Michael, Ill never leave you. Youll never leave me.
Jermaine described how Jacksons children Prince Michael Jr, Prince Michael II and Paris had been to see their father after he had died.
'I know its tough, but I think it was the best thing to do, he said. 'At first I was against it, but what do you say if you dont show them?
Reports suggest Jacksons coffin will be buried in concrete to prevent the grave being robbed. He will be buried with one of his famous diamond-studded gloves.
Pictures of the grave emerged as police sources revealed they had called in drug enforcement officers to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jacksons death.
Specialist agents will probe who prescribed powerful medication to the star, which some have blamed for his fatal heart attack last week.
A number of doctors as well as pharmacies and Jacksons aides have been implicated in the inquiry.
It has been claimed the singer died after being given an injection of the painkiller Demerol.
And the presence of officers from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) strengthens reports that police believe substance abuse could be the key to the Jacksons death.
'DEA agents will be looking at various doctors involved with Jackson, a source said.
Officers have already been seen removing at least two large evidence bags full of medications from Jacksons rented home in Los Angeles. - Daily Mail