According to US magazine 'Life & Style', the singer had been popping pills, including anti-anxiety drugs Xanax and Zoloft and painkiller Demerol, for weeks before his death and that an overdose had caused respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile British tabloid Sun quoted a Jackson aide who said, "Shortly after taking the Demerol he started to experience slow shallow breathing. His breathing gradually got slower and slower until it stopped."

Jackson, who was reportedly under huge debt, was hoping a turn of fortune with the success of his 'This Is It' concert series but had expressed his discomfort over the extended dates of the show, which was increased from 10 to 50. I went to bed knowing I sold 10 dates, and woke up to the news I was booked to do 50. I don't know how I'm going to do 50 shows. I'm really angry with them booking me up to do 50 shows. I only wanted to do 10," the star was quoted as saying by newspapers, but the reports were later denied by show organisers AEG Live.

The company had sold tickets worth 85 million for the 50-date concert tour that was to be held in London's famed O2 Arena from July 13.

The Los Angeles based company had already invested USD 20 million in the comeback concert tour which was to be the 50-year-old star's "final curtain call".

It had invested millions to mount a production that was to include up to 22 sets, elaborate light shows and high-wire acts.

... contd.