Forget the holograms, Michael Jackson cloned himself before his death...

Michael Jackson cloned his DNA before his death, it has been claimed.

The King of Pop passed away in June 2009 from acute Propofol intoxication, but in the years leading up to his demise he paid millions of dollars to European scientists engaged in cutting edge genetic research to create replicas of himself. Yep, "replicas". Multiple Michaels - just like that film with Michael Keaton.

Michael's wish was that the replicas would be able to carry on his legacy after his passing and he made "safe deposits" of his sperm in three different medical facilities across the world to be used if he died.

And here's where it gets weirder. Director of the New York Center for Extraterrestrial Research Michael C. Luckman has made the claim, revealing the information was given to him by late celebrity fashion designer Andre Van Pier - who designed stage costumes for Michael and his sister Janet Jackson, and was friends with their sibling La Toya Jackson.

Luckman said: "Van Pier first learned of the futuristic cloning experiments and the secret sperm deposits from a close associate at a longevity centre based in Panama. Michael's enthusiasm for cloning began with the successful cloning of Dolly the Sheep and escalated following false claims by the Raelians, a UFO cult group with headquarters in Canada, that they had cloned the first human baby."

The alien expert claims samples of Michael's sperm were recently moved from a Los Angeles fertility clinic to England by the Jackson family for safekeeping.

Luckman - who has just completed his book The Battle for Michael Jackson's Soul, which documents the singer's fascination with human cloning - believes the work could be being carried out now.

He said: "Michael wanted this happen, and spent time and money trying to achieve his goal. We could see many dead stars resurrected with science. Canadian dentist Dr. Michael Zuk purchased one of John Lennon's teeth at auction and has announced plans to use the DNA from the tooth to create a perfect double of the former Beatle."

Paul McCartney would be thrilled...