Moby Still Mad at Michael Jackson?

For most music makers and fans, the passing of MJ was a sad occasion to reflect on the talent, influence and life of a troubled, ground-breaking genius. Some artists, however, prefer to vent their grief through the prism of their own success. In August 2006, the usually reserved Moby branded Michael Jackson "the creepiest thing he'd ever seen...He (MJ) looks like Elizabeth Taylor hit by a truck. Does he know how terrifying he is? Does he know that kids have nightmares about him? It's really scary." That hadn't stopped the Connecticut-bred Moby, of course, from remixing MJ's classic "Beat It" track for the Ben Stiller comedy Zoolander in 2001. And it's not stopping Moby from continuing to air his displeasure with the King of Pop, even after MJ's untimely passing. Moby wrote in (via BlackBerry) to music industry guru Bob Lefsetz this week to let the music insiders who devour Lefsetz' daily online musings that he'd be numero uno if not for MJ's pesky death. Moby's tasteful, mild-mannered diss, after the jump.

How’s it going?
The album just came out and it would be #1 euro charts if not for michael jackson re-releases.
So that’s good.
But here’s something funny: the best selling itunes track is ’shot in the back of the head’.
Why is that funny?
Because its the track we’ve been giving away for free for the last 2 months and that we’re still givng away for free.
Odd.
How are you?
Moby

In fairness, Moby did reference MJ’s passing for a split second in his blog last week: “Now someone’s showing me a google news headline and yes, michael jackson is dead at 50 of a heart attack. at 50? so young. what a complete and utter shame.” His next post, two days later, began, “Hi from malta. Wasn’t napoleon exiled here? Its an amazing place. Very rocky and old.”