Earlier this week it was rumored that Michael Jackson was planning a series of concerts at London’s 02 Arena. However it’s Jacko, and you can never really be sure what’s going on with him. A butterfly could land on his hand and break his arm, preventing him from going to court. Imagine what could get in the way of a concert. But the King of Pop held a massive press conference today (he was an hour and a half late; no word on the excuse) in which he confirmed the rumors, saying that he would play a series of 10 concerts. He called them his “final curtain call.”

Michael Jackson returned to the spotlight Thursday after eight years marked more by scandal than by song and told a crowd of screaming fans that he would play a series of London engagements - his first concerts since 2001.

Wearing his trademark sunglasses and a silver-embroidered black military-style jacket, the King of Pop said his series of shows in July will be his “final curtain call” in the British capital.

“This is it,” Jackson said in a brief statement punctuated by the squeals of fans who gathered inside the massive O2 Arena in southeast London. “And when I say this is it, I mean this is it.”

Although Jackson said the shows would be his last in London, his statement left the door open for further concerts elsewhere. Promoter AEG Live told the BBC the shows might be part of a bigger, final world tour. An hour and a half late, Jackson appeared at the O2 - where the series of 10 concerts are due to be staged this summer - to announce the gigs.

More than 300 journalists had been marshaled to capture the event, even though news of the concerts had leaked out to the media days before. A telegenic army of screaming fans was there to greet their star - although many in the crowd said they were there to catch a live show due to play shortly after the announcement.