Michael Jackson tried to spy on U2 at the height of their pop rivalry.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

The music icon apparently became obsessed with the Irish rock group following the success of their 1988 album 'The Joshua Tree' and so he attempted to send a private film crew to Dublin to tape U2 in the studio in order to uncover their secrets.

But Michael's plan was uncovered by U2's manager Paul McGuinness, who considered it to be a bit "creepy".

Lead singer Bono told The Sun newspaper: "Michael wanted to observe us in our natural habitat."

Meanwhile, Michael's 18-year-old daughter Paris recently revealed she was treated like a "princess" by her late father, who passed away in 2009 aged 50, when she was just 11.

Paris said she was treated like royalty when her father was alive as she was "perfect" in his eyes.

Paris - who has brothers Prince, 20, and Blanket, 15 - said: "When I was a kid, I was with my dad and my two brothers. Growing up, I was treated as the favourite because I was the only girl. I was the princess; I was perfect in my dad's eyes."

Paris also claimed that the 'Thriller' hitmaker was "99 percent" of her inspiration.

She said: "All of my inspiration. I would say 99 percent of my inspiration comes from him, because he has always been my world. He is my roots."

And Paris has admitted to envying her father's strength of character, saying he was the strongest person she has ever encountered in her life.

When asked previously which one of her dad's qualities she'd like to have, Paris said: "Definitely his strength. He was the strongest person I know and tried to do everything with a much love and kindness as possible."

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