Gigs & Festivals

Michael Jackson fans call for cancellation of tribute concert

By | Published on Wednesday 24 August 2011

Michael Jackson

A coalition of 35 online Michael Jackson fan communities have called for the planned ‘Michael Forever’ tribute concert in October to be scrapped. The group published an open letter to the company organising the tribute show, Global Live Events, on Saturday.

As previously reported, the show is due to take place in Wales on 8 Oct, featuring artists such as Craig David. Earlier this month, there was outrage from fans when it was announced that Kiss had been booked to play. Concerns were raised over an interview Gene Simmons gave last year, in which he said he was certain that Jackson was guilty of child abuse. The band were subsequently dropped from the show. This week it was announced that Beyonce would perform via satellite link-up.

Although the show is endorsed by Jackson’s mother and some of his siblings, other members of the Jackson clan have said that holding the concert at a point when Jackson’s accused killer, Dr Conrad Murray, will likely still be on trial, is misjudged. Something the fans seem to agree with.

In the letter, they say: “From the timing of this tribute, to the ticketing prices, to the obscurity over what charities will be receiving the donation, to the no-guarantee policy of performers, the addition of Gene Simmons and dishonouring, thus tarnishing Michael Jackson’s legacy, was simply the last straw. Please understand that this concert is doomed to fail now. Do the right thing for Michael Jackson and cancel this tribute. There has been one catastrophic mistake after another. We don’t feel like it’s the tribute he deserves”.

You can read the full letter here.



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