AEG Live has released the first video clip of Michael Jackson’s rehearsal two nights before he died, on June 23. Jackson and his dancers perform “They Don’t Care About Us” and it’s, frankly, thrilling. Michael looks lean and mean, totally coherent, clear-eyed and in control. He doesn’t look frail, fragile or confused. So much for the idiotic comments from sources that “he knew he was going to die” or anything else like that. More clips should be coming soon, and they will continue to show that there was no indication that the pop star wouldn’t be breathing just days later. His death remains a mystery and a tragedy. What a shame if, as so far indicated, it turns out to have been an accidental overdose that did him in.

‘

With all the talk of Michael Jackson this week, I thought it might be nice to remember that brother Jermaine, who appeared on the “Today” show today, has had hit records, too.

Back in 1984, after “Let’s Get Serious” topped the charts, he released a terrific album with Clive Davis on Arista. The album featured’‘”Do What You Do”‘“Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming”‘with Michael on vocals, and a duet with Whitney Houston, who was just starting out. About four years later, Whitney told me she’d had an affair with Jermaine at the time.

Why Jermaine did not go on from there and have a big solo career is anyone’s guess. Bob Jones, Michael’s longtime aide (now deceased) wrote in his self-published book that Michael purposely thwarted the careers of all his siblings so he could be the only star in the family. I don’t know if I believe that. Janet Jackson had a false start with a dud album before her “Control” record broke out like crazy and established her.

Jermaine’s hits shouldn’t be forgotten or written off as ’80s trivia. Frankly, he would do well to get a band together and hit the road playing small clubs.’ I’m sure he still has the chops. As long as the material is strong, he can sing. Don’t forget: it’s his deeper voice that makes and “I’ll Be There” a memorable Jackson 5 record.

It’s a coincidence: the first new book about Michael Jackson is on its way, due from the publisher on July 27. It had been set for October, but the publisher’Hal Leonard Books’has moved up the release date.

“In the Studio with Michael Jackson” is written by Bruce Swedien, Jackson’s premier producer and recording engineer. Swedien, working under Quincy Jones, and then Michael himself, recorded all of Michael’s major solo albums. He’s the man behind “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous,” and “HIStory.” He won four Grammy Awards along the way, and was nominated for 12.

I spoke with Swedien today by phone from his studio. He told me that despite stories on the wire, there is NOT a lot of extra Jackson material from the studio that can be repackaged or released. He said, “There might be one or two songs that didn’t make it from each album. But they’re not finished. There aren’t vocals for everything.”

One song Swedien does think was completed but not used is one of his favorites. “It’s called “Don’t Be Messin’ Around.” Michael plays piano on it, and it’s just beautiful. Oh my god, there’s nothing like it.”

Swedien is still grieving over Jackson’s death although they hadn’t worked together in a while. And, of course, Jackson died owing him money’about a half million dollars. I don’t expect Swedien’s going to come looking for it since he hasn’t already. He told me, “I don’t say anything bad about Michael in my book, it’s nothing but good stuff.”

Little by little we’re able to fill in the blanks from Michael Jackson’s last few weeks.

Now it turns out that back on May 5th he ran into an old friend and not only told her that he felt great, but showed off, too.

Joanne Horowitz manages Kevin Spacey and other actors. But back in the 1970s she worked in the music business and was the publicist for Studio 54. It was then that she met Michael, around the time of “Off the Wall.” They hit it off, became great pals, and for a while she was his guide in New York.

Flash forward to this past May 5th: Horowitz was in Beverly Hills waiting to see her dermatologist. From one of the adjacent examination rooms she heard a lot of noise, thudding on the ground and hitting the walls.

“I asked the doctor what was going on,” Horowitz told me last night. “He said it was Michael Jackson, practicing dance moves.”’Horowitz’told the doctor, Arnold Klein, Michael was her old friend. Klein went next door and told Jackson, who came running in.

“We were so happy to see each other, It had been 25 years,” said’Horowitz. “He was in great shape, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. He showed off his body ‘ flexing his muscles, he also lifted his shirt to show me his new six pack. He said he’d been working out for the new tour. He was very proud. He looked very fit. He wasn’t wearing any makeup, either. And he had no bodyguards with him. He was just on his own.”

Horowitz and Jackson reminisced about the old days, and Michael bragged to her about being a father. He invited her to the London shows, and even signed a CD for her that Klein kept in his office.

“He said everything was going great but he’d just gotten off the phone with someone about that auction, and he wasn’t happy about that. But he seemed like the old Michael.”

Horowitz did tell me she’s been very dismayed about the coverage of Jackson since his death, especially the notion presented by tabloids, tmz.com and other outlets that the performer “wanted to die” and other crazy ideas.

“That couldn’t have been further from the truth,” Horowitz tells me.

Now that there’s a brief lull in the Michael Jackson soap opera, let me make this perfectly clear: Debbie Rowe is the mother of Prince and Paris, Michael’s two eldest children. She gave birth to them. It’s very well documented.

Whether Debbie used donor eggs or her own is irrelevant. Millions of mothers around the world who’ve used donor eggs will tell you that. And I’m fairly certain that since the kids look so much like Debbie, they came from her biology.

Furthermore, Dr. Arnold Klein is not the father. These reports from US Weekly and TMZ are so preposterous they would be laughable if only actual children weren’t involved.

Michael Jackson was the children’s father regardless of his biological participation. He raised them, and loved them, and was totally devoted to them. In the 2005 trial, as I reported then, a slip of the tongue by one of the attorneys indicated that he was not their biological father. I was told by good sources that Rowe was inseminated from a sperm bank. In the long run, it doesn’t matter.

As for Blanket, aka Prince Michael II, I also reported back in 2005 that he was the product of Jackson’s sperm and a hired surrogate. That’s why there is no mother’s name on the birth certificate.

TMZ and US Weekly continue to practice malicious and wreckless reporting. Let them back up their accusations with named sources, or keep it to themselves.