Things haven't been looking all that great recently for Michael Jackson - his career is in a shambles, he's had to give up his child-beacon Neverland ranch, and his face is starting to ever more resemble that of a Chernobyl fireman with each passing day.

Can things possibly get worse? Well, yes. Back in 2005, Jacko stayed for six months in Bahrain with (deep breath) Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa in order to keep his profile low after being acquitted of child abuse allegations.

 

While he was there, the Sheik reportedly cobbled together a recording studio and paid Jackson a £4.7m advance to create new material. Ironic, really - 4.7 million is the exact number of copies of 'Invincible' that can be found rotting in bargain buckets nationwide. Along with a couple of discarded noses.

 

The Sheik also wanted Jackson to pen an autobiography. Needless to say: not only did the music never arrive, but the book didn't either. Although maybe Jacko was just a bit unhappy with the proposed titles: 'The Little Boy That Could (Become A Freak)' or the more brutally honest 'Jesus Christ, I Really Am A Fucking Laughing Stock, Aren't I?'

 

The Sheik claims that Jacko simply took the money and ran. So he's going to bring a lawsuit before the High Court in London today. Jackson's thoughts on the whole issue? He claims that the money was given to him as a "gift".

 

Still - should Mikey-boy end up in court himself, it'll surely make a nice change to deal with defendants who don't have to rush away at 4 to do their paper-round…

by CJ