michael-jackson-thrillerMichael Jackson’s comeback is off to a strong start, with the King of Pop’s 50 London concerts selling out hours after tickets became available on Friday.

Billboard reports that tickets were selling at an average rate of 40,000 per hour, with some fans having flown in from around the world to buy tickets in person at the O2 Arena box office. Others had been waiting in line since Wednesday.

A total of 750,000 tickets have now been sold, including 360,000 advance tickets that went on sale earlier this week.

Tickets for the “This Is It Tour” concerts were priced between $89 and $133 for general admission, and up to $1,100 for VIP seats. Jackson initially announced he would do 10 shows, but high demand prompted promoters to add another 40 dates.

All shows will take place at the 20,000-seat O2 Arena in south London between July and next February. Jackson has said they will be his last shows in the British capital, but there is speculation the concert series could be part of a world tour.

Jackson, 50, has won 13 Grammy awards and sold more than 750 million albums but hasn’t had a major tour since 1997 or released a new album since 2001’s “Invincible.”

The singer had mostly stayed out the spotlight since being acquitted of child molestation charges in California in 2005, though he made headlines again last year when financial troubles forced him to give up ownership of his Neverland ranch.






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