Gigs & Festivals Top Stories

Jackson tribute gig line-up confusion

By | Published on Thursday 10 September 2009

Jermaine Jackson has denied that two of the biggest acts he had announced would play the upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna earlier this week had pulled out of the event, and refuted rumours that he does not have the backing of the rest of the Jackson family. Despite his apparent certainty on these matters, his second round of line-up announcements in London yesterday was less confident.

Following Tuesday’s announcement that Chris Brown, Mary J Blige, Akon, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge, Angela Basset and German boyband US5 would play the event, a spokesperson for Brown said: “Chris is not confirmed to perform or participate in any capacity for this show”, while a rep for Blige said that she would also be unable to attend as she would be at a fashion event in Italy.

However, Jackson told reporters yesterday that Blige planned to fly to Vienna to perform in the latter part of the show, and said that Brown’s only issue was whether or not his parole conditions following his conviction for beating up Rihanna would stop him from leaving the US. He told reporters: “Chris Brown is working out some situations but he definitely expressed to us that he wants to be there. It’s just up to what he’s going through with his court case right now. He’s definitely going to work that out and be there”.

Asked whether he thought Brown’s recent conviction would taint the event somewhat, Jackson said: “Not at all. And I’ll tell you why. He’s asked for forgiveness. People make mistakes and he’s a wonderful performer and during these times people need support”.

Meanwhile, when quizzed on whether the rest of his family had given their support to the concert, he said: “I invited my mother, I invited my brothers and sisters as well. I am not happy with the talk being said in the press that the support isn’t there. My mother from the very start supported this”.

Despite his apparent confidence that everyone on the previously announced line-up would appear at the concert, he would only say that it was “likely” that Stevie Wonder, R Kelly and Maroon 5 would also perform.



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