All I can say is, even though Michael Jackson ended his life as a complete freak, when he was normal and at his peak, the King of Pop ruled the earth.

With the possible exception of Kiss, Michael Jackson was the first music star I truly knew, followed and idolized. And his stuff from Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad still hold up -- "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," "Billie Jean," "Man In The Mirror" -- all badass to this day.

What a fucking past 72 hours. What they say is true: Deaths do come in threes. RIP Ed McMahon. RIP Farrah Fawcett. And RIP Michael Jackson.