R.I.P.

I haven't really been a fan of Michael Jackson for some time. Too much has happened, and he'd just become too damned weird.

But today, I found myself defending him rather robustly to an older friend who was vaguely disgusted by what he saw as the typical over-the-top round the clock media coverage of the death of another celebrity.

Normally, I agree with that assessment of the mindless media. But in covering the sudden and unexpected death of Michael Jackson I think they do justice to his accomplishments and, indeed, to his importance.

Some may roll their eyes at the idea that a pop-culture personality should be called "important", but Mozart was a popular, i.e. "pop" composer in his time, as was Bach and Beethoven, and many others that we admire and honor as especially gifted geniuses today.

Because so much of our "pop"ular culture is so venal, crass and insignificant we forget sometimes that among the lumps of coal crowding our vision there is the occasional diamond.

And surely it can be admitted that Michael Jackson's amazing inventiveness, creativity and raw talent requires us to apply that description to him.

Without question, and without doubt, like it or not, Jackson was an American Icon. He transcended all rivals to the stratospheric heights populated only by Elvis Presley and perhaps the Beatles before him.

Like Elvis, he changed popular music forever. And he inspired countless musicians, singers and songwriters. Indeed, the 2009 American Idol admitted the great influence Jackson had over his own music.

Michael Jackson also had bad demons. And they ruined him. It is a tragedy writ large if only because he was beloved by so many—and his failings so public. His mysterious compulsion to alter his face, his unhealthy refusal to "grow up" his peculiar relations with women, and his, frankly, creepy attraction to children conspired to make a freak out of what had once been an idol.

But in spite of his sad degeneration, if that's what it was, his influence on popular culture is undeniable. He made millions happy for decades, he entertained us, surprised us, delighted us, amused us.

This special one...this child-man...this Michael Jackson, deserves all the attention the unfeeling, ambulance chasing media will give him. Just this once, they are right.

I chose the picture above out of the thousands available, because I think it shows him at his height of popularity (when "Thriller" came out), when he looked his glorious best—in his glory days, yet surrounded by his demons.

It was a prescient image.

Rest In Peace, Michael. We are grateful for all the fun, joy, music and beauty you gave us. You will be missed.

The Gunslinger