Michael Jackson rehearses for his This Is It tour at the Staples Centerin Los Angeles in these photos taken just days before his tragic death. The 50 shows at Londons O2 Arena were set to kick off on July 13. The concertssold out in record-breaking time.

It was an amazing show. The thing was just days away from being perfected. It was incredible, said magician Ed Alonzo, who was hired to work on the production. Even though it was just a walk-through with the dancers, his moves were dead-onthe same Michael Jackson we [saw] through the years in music videos.