A Michael Jackson look-alike attends a vigil for Michael Jackson on the scheduled first night of his UK tour at the O2 Arena in London on July 13, 2009. [CFP]

Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans gathered outside London's O2 Arena on Monday, the day the late King of Pop was to have opened a run of 50 concerts at the venue.

Jackson died on June 25, just weeks ahead of his eagerly awaited comeback, following years of living as a virtual recluse.

Outside the O2 Arena, some fans sat quietly beneath a large screen with a picture of Jackson and the words "Michael Jackson 1958-2009", while others, including several Jackson impersonators, led sing-a-longs of his greatest hits.

The London concerts were to be Jackson's first slate of shows in 12 years.

Tickets to the concerts sold out in record time after becoming available in March, and some of the 750,000 tickets sold traded hands at hugely inflated prices on the Internet.

(CRI/Agencies July 14, 2009)