Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's life has all the hallmarks of a Shakespearian tragedy - a man in a position of great influence, whose fatal flaw (either lack of self control, or his God complex) has managed to bring him crashing down to earth in a most dramatic fashion.
Nobody can ever deny Michael Jackson's influence on the music industry. His Music videos were repeatedly groundbreaking, his dance moves are still being imitated today by Craig David, Usher, and Justi-fied, his songs are still classics, and he recorded the biggest-selling album of all time. He was the biggest star in the world throughout most of the eighties.
However, the lack of a positive influence on his life, and someone who will actually say no to him, has turned him into a spoilt child, perhaps beyond help. Not even regarding the accusations of child abuse, I'm referring to his addiction to shopping, his scarily overbearing parenting (covering their faces during all occasions - not just when the cameras are on them, which would be understandable), his extreme vanity, manifested by his repeated plastic surgery, and just his apparent detachment from reality.
When you compare him to the other great pop star of the Eighties, Madonna, it is stark how differently their careers have turned out. While Madonna was always courting controversy like Jackson (which probably contributed to both their successes), her career has blossomed yet further since the late nineties, and she is enjoying more time at the top of the UK charts than she did back in the eighties.
U2 as well. Although they didn't hit superstardom on a world stage until the mid-eighties, they have also hit a new peak in their careers since the turn of the century.
Michael's story surely shows the dangers of being too popular for one's own good, while not having a grounding influence that will help maintain a grip on reality.