[Yudster]

I missed a lot of it - I'm just listening now to the final half hour.

[CassieJackson]

I had to meet someone at 9am so haven't heard the Golden Hour tribute yet, although I plan to listen later on. Just the earlier comments being made by Chris and the team, together with the tracks they played coming out of each news bulletin seemed to strike the right note.

[Ed Pummelon]

First Matt Fincham's birthday and now loads of Michael Jackson stuff on the show, all in all this hasn't been my favourite week of theirs...

[MK Chris]

I think you could be forgiven for moaning about Matt Fincham's birthday, but like it or not Michael Jackson was one of the biggest - if not the biggest - name in the world; it was inconceivable they weren't going to dedicate a large part of today's show to him.

[Yudster]

I'm glad they did. I've just listened to the last half hour and sobbed all the way through Thriller. This is really not like me at all.

[Ed Pummelon]

I think you could be forgiven for moaning about Matt Fincham's birthday, but like it or not Michael Jackson was one of the biggest - if not the biggest - name in the world; it was inconceivable they weren't going to dedicate a large part of today's show to him.

Oh for god's sake stop overreacting. I said it's not been my favourite week on the show. Nowhere do I say that they shouldn't have covered the MJ death.

[Bonanzoid]

Madonna has been "crying all day." Pretentious bullshit.

Also, I heard they were gonna melt him down to make plastic toys so kids can play with him for a change.

[Yudster]

Madonna has been "crying all day." Pretentious bullshit.

I don't know - I've been really emotional about it all day, and I never even knew him! I don't think I'm being pretentious, although I definitely feel like I'm overreacting - can't seem to help it at the moment though. Stupid.

[TIAL]

Why is crying about someone dying in any way 'pretentious'?

[Bonanzoid]

It just seems that way. I don't know if she even knew him well personally. Didn't she call a press conference for that too?

[Ed Pummelon]

I wonder if we're about to have another "national outpouring of grief". I've already read several comments comparing him to Princess Diana. Seems a bit unfair, I'm fairly sure she didn't sleep with other people's children.

[Yudster]

There have definitely been public people who have taken the opportunity to get their names and faces in the media on the back of this. I don't know if Madonna is one of them - I don't think she's the worst so far. Yuri Geller, who hasn't actually spoken to MJ for years apparently, would have that honour.

[Ed Pummelon]

I just saw his interview on BBC News, the guy is shameless.

[Yudster]

I just listened to it - makes me want to vomit. He is such a - I can't think of a word bad enough, I really can't.

[MK Chris]

I didn't know Uri Geller hadn't spoken to him for years when I heard / saw his interviews, but the whole situation with him stank of publicity-hungry scumbag. It wasn't even subtle.

[English Bob]

To be honest, his death hasn't really affected me.

This image from the video game Bioshock springs to mind.



No matter what a human accomplishes, or how people may put them up on pedestals, at the end of the day, they are just a man.

[Bonanzoid]

Anyone have a link to his BBC interview? I've yet to see how 'disgusting' it is.

[Yudster]

No matter what a human accomplishes, or how people may put them up on pedestals, at the end of the day, they are just a man.

Yes - but to deny that some men have more infuence and impact on individuals, culture and the world than others is naive, and to acknowledge that influence is reasonable and just.

[Johnny 1989]

Like him or lot, it's definitely one of those "where were you when you heard..." moments. I think he was probably one of the last - if not the last - musicians where you can say their music will live on for years and years. Chris mentioned John Lennon and my immediate thought when I heard was Freddie Mercury and Elvis - he's definitely in with that group of people who, like him or not, you can't deny that his music has influenced so, so many people.

That said, I did feel sorry for the guy - there's no way I'd want to be that well-known, particularly from the age of five. The guy never really had a childhood, I'm sure that had a massive effect and was one of the reasons he ended up so undeniably strange. I'm undecided whether he actually did molest those kids - though I think probably not - but he did admit to sleeping in the same bed as someone else's children and whichever way you look at it, that's wrong. Whether he knew it was wrong or not, is another thing entirely, but it is.

For the record I was heading to get a kebab.

I have to agree with you here, regarding the whole kid situation, I don't think he did molest them, I just think he genuinely thought he was a kid & probably didn't see any wrong when he slept in the same bed as someone else's children. It is wrong obviously but I think he didn't understand it was wrong as mentally he probably still thought he was a child. His odd upbringing via fame & the fact his father used to tease him (supposedly calling him ugly & said he had a fat nose) probably did some emotional damage.

For the record, I was just copying over one of Chris' Capital FM shows when my brother told me to put on BBC News 24 & they had just changed the Break News strapline from "Michael Jackson has been rushed to hospitall" to "Michael Jackson has died"

[Johnny 1989]

I didn't realise how important he was to me until he was gone. And those of you who speak to me privately will know that is NOT the kind of thing I make a habit of saying. I'm really upset, I feel so stupid but I am.

I understand where you're coming from, at the age of 8 the sudden death of Freddie Mercury left me rather upset, I remember them breaking the news on TVAM. 18 years Freddie Mercury has been dead, I can remember that like it was yesterday.

[jocky85]

I can't remember when Freddie Mercury died, but definately am part of the 'where were you when Diana died' generation.

[Bonanzoid]

The only thing that I can remember where I was when it happened was the 9/11 attacks, and funnily enough I'll remember where I was when I found out MJ died...

[Munki Bhoy]

I can't remember when Freddie Mercury died, but definately am part of the 'where were you when Diana died' generation.

Surely the answer to that for most normal Brits would be "in bed". I know I was on my way to bed at some ridiculously late hour when she had (I'll never forget this) "a concussion, a broken arm and cuts to the thigh". It was only when my dad stuck his head in my bedroom door at about half five in the morning saying "ding dong the witch is dead" was it actually confirmed.

September 11th was at least early afternoon for us Brits so reasonable for us to be almost anywhere. And last night was early enough that not everyone would have been in bed (although that's where I was).

Sadly I don't remember where I was when Freddie Mercury died. But it's frightening to think it's been 18 years now.

[Johnny 1989]

I can't remember when Freddie Mercury died, but definately am part of the 'where were you when Diana died' generation.

Surely the answer to that for most normal Brits would be "in bed". I know I was on my way to bed at some ridiculously late hour when she had (I'll never forget this) "a concussion, a broken arm and cuts to the thigh". It was only when my dad stuck his head in my bedroom door at about half five in the morning saying "ding dong the witch is dead" was it actually confirmed.

September 11th was at least early afternoon for us Brits so reasonable for us to be almost anywhere. And last night was early enough that not everyone would have been in bed (although that's where I was).

Sadly I don't remember where I was when Freddie Mercury died. But it's frightening to think it's been 18 years now.

I know those 18 years have flown by, shame he's no longer with us, the man had a truly superb voice & was excellent on stage.

I can remember his death well, I always used to watch the Queen Live Magic concert that we recorded off Channel 4 in 1986 every few weeks as I loved their music. I remember coming downstairs, dress & ready for school when the news bulletin came on TVAM & the newsreader (whose name escapes me, all I can tell you was that she was Asian) & she announced that Freddie Mercury had died of Aids. It really made me feel sad & can always remember that moment very vividly.

[Bonanzoid]

You should see my cousin's Queen tribute band with that dude who won Stars in Their Eyes as Freddie Mercury, they're great. The guy's voice is very much like good ol' Freddie's.