Michael Jackson will not be allowed to rest in peace at his beloved Neverland Ranch.

The singer's family, who wanted a funeral at Jackson's former home north of Santa Barbara, was not able to obtain a residential exemption required for a burial on private property.

"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland," says a Jackson family statement. "Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly."

Colony Capital, the investment company that purchased Neverland in May 2008, tried to get an exemption for burial. "They couldn't get it in time," a Colony spokesperson says.

As for reports that Jackson's body is being held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, William Martin, communications director for the funeral home, won't confirm or deny if Jackson will be buried there.

The hardscrabble city of Gary, Ind., which rose to prosperity in its steelmaking heyday and saw its fortunes fall with the industry, sees an opportunity in the death of its most famous native: Michael Jackson.

The mayor is calling Jackson's modest boyhood home the new Graceland, and others hope to use Jackson's name to raise funds for a museum.

But Jackson and his family, like so many others, left the northwest Indiana city behind a long time ago.

Flags flew at half staff outside Gary's City Hall on Friday as Jackson's hits, including "Bad," blared inside the building intercom system. Outside Jackson's childhood home, fans danced to a boombox playing "Thriller" and performed his trademark Moonwalk on the street.

Major Rudy Clay said he would like to transform the downtrodden community into a mecca for the pop singer's fans. He said even he'd like to arrange to have the pop icon, who died Thursday at the age of 50, buried in Gary, though he has not broached that possibility with Jackson's family.

"If they can do it for Elvis Presley in Graceland, we can do it for Michael Jackson in Gary," Clay, 73, told The Associated Press.

But tourism experts said they were skeptical that Gary could really draw Jackson fans.

For one, Jackson only lived in this community about 30 miles southeast of Chicago through the age of 11. Since then, the pop star rarely visited.

America expects its biggest funeral since Elvis. The world is ready for an outpouring of grief to rival the death of Princess Diana. But as fans of Michael Jackson lit candles outside his former homes, or queued to pay tribute at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they were greeted instead with the sight of battle lines being drawn over the singer's disputed legacy.

Friends, family and former business associates unveiled legal teams yesterday as they prepare to duke it out over everything from the shady events that led to the King of Pop's sudden death, to the billion-dollar question of how the estate should be divided and who should gain custody of his three children.

Even Jackson's forthcoming burial is the subject of legal wrangles. His parents and eight siblings, who spent the weekend at their home in Encino, are hoping to co-ordinate a private service and public memorial event that would bring hundreds of thousands of mourners to the streets of Los Angeles.

BY now you’re probably wondering what Michael Jackson’s been up to. Good to see that the news and broadcast media has been given the King of Pop his dues and playing his songs non-stop for hours now.

For years all we’ve heard about Jackson is that he’s nuts and has a face that presents his impersonators with a moving target.

But then we get a text message that say Michael Jackson has died. And who cannot help feel an extra pang that no sooner has the world woken once more to his talent than he is dead.

It’s a cruel irony, but one Jackson with his keen sense of the absurd would have enjoyed.

Of course, with Jackson gone, you can now say what you like about him. You can’t libel the dead, so here’s the Sun to say that Jackson had converted to Islam, or hadn’t:

The King of Pop’s body was taken to a mortuary late last night by his family who have yet to confirm plans for the 50-year-old’s funeral.

Jacko was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but before his death there were reports he had secretly converted to Islam. According to Muslim funeral custom the body is usually buried within days of the death.

Other reports say that Jackson was thinking of converting to Scientology, Kabala, Jedi-ism and, weirdly, Catholicism, on account of the “really awesome hats, guys.”

Also in the Sun, we learn of the “they” who Jackson feared were out to kill him. The Taliban? Maybe:

TORMENTED megastar Michael Jackson was terrified of performing the 50 London gigs that were looming, but told pals: “If I don’t tour they’ll kill me.”

In the Mail, we hear:

All three of the children, Prince, 12, Paris, 11, and youngest son Prince Michael II - known as ‘Blanket’ - are said to want to live with Joe and Katherine Jackson.

And in the Mirror:

He was acquitted of child abuse but those allegations never truly left him in life, and they will not let him go in death. Already there are those saying: “Michael could never harm a child.”

Other people are saying other things. Some people are saying not all that much, while others are just repeating the same things.

Meanwhile, the rest of you can get back to watching Wimbledon and waiting for the roof over Centre Court to close. It being Michael great dream to see that happen…