COCKER: 'JACKSON'S LATER YEARS WERE TRAGIC'

Michael Jackson - © ddp

2009-07-05 15:39:07 -

British rocker JARVIS COCKER insists MICHAEL JACKSON's later years were steeped in tragedy because he never recaptured the magic of his 1980s prime.
The former Pulp frontman made headlines around the world when he invaded the stage during Jackson's performance at the Brit Awards in London in 1996 and pointedly wiggled his backside at the King of Pop.
Cocker later revealed the incident was in protest at Jackson's "Christ-like" poses during a rendition of Earth Song.
The rocker has since admitted he regrets the incident - but is adamant Jackson's later career never reached the heights of his 1980s heyday.
Asked for his thoughts on Jackson's death, he says, "If there's a tragedy about the whole thing, I would say it's that if he'd have kept making great records - like he did in the mid-'80s - up to now that would have been great. But for some reason, for the last 20 years he didn't do that, and for me that's the tragic part of it."