Lady Gaga Reflects on Michael Jackson, Death, Collaboration That Could Have Been

Lady Gaga made many memorable remarks on Larry King Live this week, touching on subjects as diverse as testing positive for lupus and her own drug use.

But perhaps the most poignant topic of discussion was that she was set to duet with Michael Jackson on his This Is It tour last summer before Jackson died.

"I was actually asked to open for Michael at The O2 [arena]," she told Larry. "There was some talk about openers doing collaborations with Michael onstage."

"Michael's death was devastating for me regardless of whether or not I was supposed to tour with him. He is an inspiration and remarkable human being."

On a somewhat related note, Gaga declared that she would "rather die onstage" than "under a palm tree" and also went on to explain her fixation on death.

DEATH BECOMES HER: Lady Gaga has always had a fascination with tragic icons, and of morbidly shocking performances on stage. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

It manifests itself as a recurring theme in her shows, and stems from a longtime idolization of such tragic icons as Princess Diana - and now Michael Jackson.

"My fascination with the demise of the celebrity goes along with me watching these hugely iconic and amazing people that I have heralded and admired my whole life become destroyed, whether self-destroyed or destroyed by the media," she said.

But despite her obsession with the issue and envelope-pushing, blood-soaked performances, the outrageous star insisted, "I'm not interested in violence."

Amputated legs? Perpetuating hermaphrodite rumors? Possibly. But violence, no. She'd never simulate her own murder on stage or anything like that.