Guy Adams: Jackson the anglophile comes out of the closet

You expect things to be bonkers when you step into the realm of Michael Jackson, right. But nothing prepares you for the sheer scale of eccentricity on display at an exhibition of his worldly goods which opened this week in Beverly Hills.

The contents of Neverland, the King of Pop's country pile near Santa Barbara, have been assembled, catalogued, and artfully exhibited at a disused warehouse in LA's poshest neighbourhood, for what was originally billed as an "everything must go" auction to help clear his vast debts.

Following an 11th-hour legal action, that auction was suddenly halted on Tuesday. But all 1,390 lots will for the time being remain on show to punters willing to pay a $20 entrance fee. And quite a sight they turn out to be.

Visitors can see the clothing, memorabilia, and everyday clutter of a man with all the money in the world, but no ability to distinguish between timeless art and vulgar tat. They can touch Jacko's sequinned shirts (surprisingly heavy), play his pinball machines (addictive), and gawp at his dinner service (very, very ugly).

Some items have a distinctly spooky aura, given Jackson's CV. They include contorted dolls, statues of dancing children, and dozens of waxwork models of servants – which were apparently dotted around the house to prevent him feeling lonely.

Interestingly, loads of his other stuff was made in England. There are Household Cavalry uniforms, policemen's helmets, books about the Beatles, clocks from Barnstaple, and plates commemorating the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Both his stretch limos are Rolls-Royces. His favourite toy store was Hamleys.

All of which perhaps explains why Jacko chose London for his comeback concerts this summer. For if you judge a man by the contents of his home, then this most American of celebrity train-wrecks in fact turns out to be a closet anglophile.

Welcome to Whales

Speaking of anglophiles, a press release has landed on my desk announcing next month's British Film Festival in Los Angeles. Its organisers, the Amritsa Group, speak proudly of "countries such as England and Whales". I'm sure the good people of "Whales" will be delighted at the mention.

Is Cohen really Canadian?

Leonard Cohen, was this week cited in evidence against Billy Bob Thornton, who declared Canadian music moribund and its fans like "mashed potato with no gravy". By coincidence, I saw Cohen play in LA on Friday. The man was brilliant. But is it right to declare him Canadian? He's actually spent most of the past 20 years in California, and some of his best songs are about New York.