Michael’s old albums have been selling like CRAZY since his death last Thursday!!! “Billboard” has released the sales numbers from last week, and Michael has set all kinds of new records!!

Can you believe all this happened in just FOUR days?!? Last week’s numbers include sales from Monday, June 22nd, through this past Sunday. Obviously, most of Michael’s sales occured AFTER his death on Thursday.

Three of his albums, the 1982 classic, “Thriller”, and the greatest hits discs “Number Ones” and “The Essential Michael Jackson”, all sold more than the highest-selling recent release, the BLACK EYED PEAS’ disc, “The E.N.D.”.

Michael’s three albums all sold over 100,000 copies! For comparison, Michael’s ENTIRE catalog sold just 10,000 copies in the week before he died.

“Billboard” magazine says that radio airplay for Michael Jackson’s music jumped 1,735% after his death on Thursday. For the week ending this past Sunday, Michael’s music got 67,383 plays . . . compared with 3,671 plays the week before. HOLY S&^%!!

THE FUNERAL

As we heard yesterday, the circus funeral that was to take place at NEVERLAND RANCH was cancelled yesterday. Check out this video of the carriage that may have carried Michael to his resting place.

The DIRT today on MJ’s funeral plans are that they are going to be at the AEG LIVE owned STAPLES CENTER in L.A.  AEG LIVE is the promoter behind MJ’s “This Is It Tour.”   According to some reports MJ’s funeral will be Tuesday at 10:00 A.M at the Staples Center as well as the Nokia Theatre next door.  YUP!  BOTH venues will be used plus the surrounding plaza. If you can’t get inside, there will be giant screens outside.

The day after Michael’s funeral . . . the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus hits the Staples Center.

The Jackson family has released this statement:

“Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland.  Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly.”

THE DEA

The DEA, Drug Enforcement Agency, is now assisting in the investigation into Michael’s death.  They’re helping to investigate the various doctors who allegedly prescribed various medications for him.  I heard Michael spent at least $47,000 A MONTH on prescriptions!!

The prescriptions that were found at Michael’s home allegedly had many different names.  Some of them include names Omar Arnold and Jack London, as well as names of bodyguards and possibly a name of one of the doc’s managers.

One of the drugs found in Michael’s home, that could be the reason for his death is a sedative called Propofol. It’s normally used as an anesthesia, to knock people out for surgery.   He was supposedly having it administered via IV. WOW!  That’s some heavy stuff!!  Cherilyn Lee, a nutritionist and registered nurse who had been working with Michael, claims he would BEG her for it to treat his insomnia. She did an interview with CNN…

I’ve read that AEG Live is going to release video from Michael’s rehearsals. I guess they’re doing this in order to prove that Michael was at the top of his game, noy frail and in poor health. The footage will show Michael “dancing, singing, and directing his show, [and] interacting with cast members.”

ED HARDY CLOTHING?

TMZ is reporting Ed Hardy clothing founder Christian Audigier says the mansion where Michael died will be the company’s new headquarters starting in December.  Ed Hardy’s CEO Hubert Guez owns the mansion and apparently Audigier and Michael were good friends.

Holmby Hills mansion where Michael died