Jermaine Jackson Changes Surname To Jacksun

Jermaine Jackson has changed his surname to Jacksun - but denies it has anything to with a recent rift in his family.

He said he sought the name change for "artistic reasons", not because of a dispute over the care of Michael Jackson’s children and family matriarch Katherine Jackson.

"To him, it's no big deal. It's for artistic reasons. It's changing one letter to put in something bright and positive. Phonetically, it's still the same. I don't think he'll be changing it as often as (Sean) P Diddy (Combs)," friend Steve Dennis previously told the New York Daily News.

A Los Angeles judge approved Jacksun's name change.

The 58-year-old, who shared lead singing duties with his younger brother Michael in The Jackson 5, did not appear in court.

His lawyer, Bret D Lewis, said the singer was performing in Sweden with his brothers and did not know whether he would comment further on the creative reasons for the change.

After briefly going to war with the executors of Michael's estate last summer, Jermaine has been touring with brothers Tito, Marlon and Jackie as well as promoting his book You Are Not Alone.