Michael Jackson, the so-called King of Pop, made a rare public appearance in London on Thursday, to announce that he will hold a series of concerts this summer.
Jackson hasn't toured or released an album since 2001.
He showed up at the World Music Awards in 2006 to sing just a few lines of a single song -- and hasn't performed since.
But it appears he is attempting a comeback with a number of shows at London's 02 arena.
Jackson gave few details at the announcement, beyond repeating several times the name of the concert series, "This Is It," as a chorus of thousands of fans chanted and screamed.
"This is it. This is it," Jackson said. "These will be my final shows, performances in London. This will be it. This is it. And when I say this is it, I mean this is it.
"I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear. This is really it. This is the final curtain call, OK? I will see you in July."
Jackson, 50, gave no details about how many shows he intends to play. Posters which are already going up around London, however, suggest 10 concerts have been booked.
"I love you," Jackson said, smiling and appearing somewhat bashful.
"I really do. You have to know that I love you so much. Really, from the bottom of my heart. This is it. And see you in July."
Jackson began to leave the podium. But then, showing a glimmer of the legendary showman fans have missed in recent years, he quickly stepped back and raised a clenched fist in the air as the crowd went wild.
"The circus is coming to town," said CTV's London Bureau Chief Tom Kennedy.
He said Jackson may have chosen to resume his career in the U.K. because he has less baggage there than in the U.S.
"In the United States he's had these child abuse allegations hanging over his head for many years. There was a court case in 2005 when he was acquitted of child abuse allegations and I think there's a sense that the public is a little bit kinder to him in Europe," Kennedy told Â鶹´«Ã½net.
There have been rumours for several years that the management of the east-end London 02 arena was in talks with the Jackson camp to arrange a concert series, Kennedy said.
An earlier attempt to relaunch Jackson's career collapsed amid reports of his failing health, and court action.
