Jackson shelves left empty

Michael Jackson promised in "Rock with You," that "...when the groove is dead and gone, you know that love survives, so we can rock forever."

But it might be hard to find something of his to groove to, given that area stores have been sold out of anything Michael Jackson since just hours after his death announcement.

"We were hit from the minute news was announced," Randy Ham, book manager at Hastings said. "We sold out ... and today it's been phone call after phone call wondering if we have anything. The demand's going to be so great for a long time."

A similar result was found at Endless Horizons.

"We sold our yesterday afternoon, a little before he was pronounced officially dead," Sam Logan, salesman at Endless Horizons said. "One thing I'd like to say-it's messed up that people can make money off someone else's death. I personally didn't want to sell any of his records, but you got to do what you got to do."

Ham said Hastings could receive another shipment of Michael Jackson products by Monday or Tuesday next week, while Logan said Endless Horizons' warehouse was completely out of stock, meaning it could be a number of weeks until another batch of products arrive.

Although the records have disappeared for a while, Jackson's music can still be heard performed-live.

Brian Pena, a guitarist for the local band *69, said he listens to mostly rock from the likes of Audioslave, Guns N' Roses and Sound Garden. But his band splits from their roots to play Jackson staples like Billie Jean and Dirty Diana.

"We were going to play a Halloween party and wanted to play ‘Thriller.' I always liked playing his songs," Pena said. "You get that sad thought (when you play Michael Jackson) like, ‘A song like this won't be written again.' "

Pena said his friends and audience members said they liked his Jackson covers.

"They thought it was cool, not many bands do it," he said. "It brings a change of pace and catches (the audience) by surprise."

Check it out!

>> What? *69 usually plays Audioslave and Sound Garden, but they play Billie Jean and Dirty Diana too.

>> When? Tonight at 9 p.m.

>> Where? Location Lounge, 4950 Golder Avenue

>> Contact: Location Lounge, 366-9494