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I absolutely planned on NOT posting any Michael Jackson news today but considering that Q magazine is about to release their August issue with MJ on the cover, presumably his last magazine photoshoot ever, well … I felt it was worth posting on the blog. Unfortch, the photo is not a flattering one … and I understand that the coverstory article deals with the (last) four years leading up to his This Is It Tour that was to kickoff in London, England on Monday July 13. Here is Michael Jackson on the cover of Q magazine and some info about the coverstory:

On the eve of what could have been one of the greatest comebacks in music history, this month Q delves inside the mad, bad world of Michael Jackson. Charting the story of the last four years of his life, we journey through the personal, emotional and financial turmoil of the great icon. Q salutes the Thriller album as tribute to the King of Pop. A remarkable work by a truly remarkable pop star.

Because this issue went to press before MJ‘s untimely death two weeks ago today, the magazine posted this disclaimer on their website:

Please note that this issue went to print prior to the sad news of Michael Jackson’s death. We hope that no offence is caused by its content in light of the tragic passing

After the jump, if you are so inclined, check out one more photo of MJ from this photoshoot with Q magazine. As unflattering as these photos are, they are among the last photos that MJ posed for before his death …

From the blog Boy Culture: A devastating portrait of the late Michael Jackson appears on the cover of Q Magazine (August 2009), possibly the last coverstory he posed for in advance of his This Is It comeback shows at London’s O2 Arena. John Wright shot the pulls-no-punches photo, in which the performer’s face appears remarkably gaunt, he has salt-and-pepper stubble on his chin, his lips are bright red, his tortured nose looks ready to be brushed away and—above a surprisingly hairy brow—the netting holding his wig in place is clearly visible under a pound of makeup. Wright reported that Jackson’s demeanor at his 90-second (!) photo shoot (he seems to have wrung only two shots out of it) was that of an unfailingly polite person whose parents would “be proud of how you’d brought him up.” Ironic. The feature, “Michael Jackson Unmasked,” was written by Cole Moreton. It is a warts-and-all story of how Jackson was lured back to the stage that begins: “Will he turn up? Will he sing more than a few lines? Can Michael Jackson really survive 50 shows or will his body or mind, both seemingly so fragile, disintegrate under the pressure of it all?” The hard-hitting report is prefaced online with an apology considering it went to press before Jackson answered the latter question. The mag also includes a truly fascinating read on “The Making of Thriller” … It’s unfortunate timing, but the article rings true, especially in light of the probably understandable and predictable deification process that’s been happening in the wake of his shocking death.

Wow. It remains to be seen if Q magazine would’ve chosen to publish the article anyway if there was time to stop the mag from going to press but, in all honesty, I doubt they would’ve. There were so many questions as to whether or not MJ was up to the task of performing his 50 shows … and I suppose those questions were answered by his death. But I know that Michael Jackson really had a strong chance at pulling off one of the biggest comebacks in entertainment history. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to give the shows a shot … based on what we’ve seen from rehearsal footage, the This Is It Tour would’ve most likely been a stunning spectacle.

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