Michael Jackson struggled to avoid an unexpected rain shower on a rare outing with his children in Los Angeles yesterday.

The singer, who was sporting his curly 90s haircut, took shelter under a black umbrellas as he made his way through a parking lot outside a recording studio.

Jackson's children originally appeared alongside their father without their trademark masks, but later put them on when the singer's entourage spotted paparazzi.

It is not clear what the purpose of Jackson's visit to the Los Angeles studio was.

But his decision to appear once again in public without his surgical mask comes as tabloid reports in the UK maintain the star is battling skin cancer.

As previously reported, The Sun newspaper claims Jackson has gone on hunger strike and now weighs less than 9st.

But the singer appeared in high spirits yesterday, despite the bad weather, waving at photographers.

Jackson is currently rehearsing for his 50-night concert residency in London, which begins on July 13.

(by Jason Gregory)