Adelaide musician Orianthi was Michael Jackson's guitarist AdelaideNow... Adelaide musician Orianthi was Michael Jackson's guitarist
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CARLY CRAWFORD IN LOS ANGELES KATE KYRIACOU
July 05, 2009 12:30am
THE blonde guitarist who featured in the final video of Michael Jackson rehearsing before his death has been revealed as an Adelaide girl.
Orianthi Panagaris, of Hawthorn, has told of her devastation over the King of Pop's death late last month.
The South Australian-born musician, who is known professionally as Orianthi, will perform at Jackson's public memorial on Wednesday.
She said she had grown close to the superstar since joining his This Is It comeback tour and features prominently in the video of Jackson's final Los Angeles rehearsal, recorded two days before his death, that has been shown extensively around the world.
"He had this wonderful aura about him, a beautiful spirit," Orianthi said yesterday.
"It's been a surreal time working with him and it's devastating what's happened."
Orianthi, 24, was a key part of the concert marathon, which was to have begun in London on July 13. She had been rehearsing with Jackson six days a week for the past three months.
Jackson can be seen dancing with her during the song They Don't Care About Us as she plays an intricate guitar solo.
"We practised so much and knew the songs so well," she said.
"Because we rehearsed so much . . . we knew the parts like the back of our hands," she said.
For Orianthi, the chance to play with one of the world's greatest-ever entertainers was a major coup. "It was so surreal, I'm a big fan," she said.
Orianthi, who now lives in Los Angeles, has been playing guitar since the age of six.
She got her big break in 2003 when she was invited to perform onstage in Adelaide, at Memorial Drive, with Carlos Santana, and has since played with stars Steve Vai, Prince, ZZ Top and country music sensation Carrie Underwood, at the American Grammy Awards.
Orianthi's mother, Sue Panagaris, told the Sunday Mail her daughter was very upset by Jackson' death.
"She's very sad at the moment," she said.
"It's not that she is disappointed that she won't get to play with him, she's just so sad that he has died.
"She said he was such a wonderful person and she wishes the world had gotten to know the same person she had come to know over the three months they had been working together.
"She said it was the best experience of her life and she's just so very sad that the world didn't see what the band saw every day.
"The world has missed out."
Mrs Panagaris said she flew to the US to visit Orianthi in May and the family had been planning to travel to London to watch her perform with Jackson.
"She's spending time with friends and the band and she has her sister there to support her.
"She's very young but all we can do is be here to support her. She's just a quiet person but she works so incredibly hard.
"I think that's why she has gotten so far. But she has never been one to blow her own trumpet."
Jackson, 50, was said to have been rehearsing up to three hours a day before his death on Friday last week.
His intense rehearsal regime and physical health were called into question immediately after he died.
The pop star had postponed the concert series' start date by four days and had reportedly complained that the tour would comprise 50 shows, not the 10 originally planned.
Promoters AEG had added 40 extra shows to meet popular demand.
They had reaped $A107 million in ticket sales at the time he died.
Los Angeles detectives are interviewing several doctors who have treated the performer, a long-time prescription drug addict.
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Orianthi with Michael Jackson
VIDEO: Michael Jackson's last video
The footage shows glimpses of what would have been an elaborately choreographed show as Jackson is seen performing his song "They Don't Care About Us."
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* Video: Orianthi jams with Jacko
* Extraordinary photos: Inside Neverland Ranch
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