Michael Jackson Tribute: Brothers Disagree With Concert's October Date
Michael Jackson’s mother and some of his siblings have announced that a tribute concert for the late pop start will be held in October, but other family members are opposed to the show’s timing because it overlaps with Jackson’s manslaughter trial.
Katherine Jackson, joined by Tito, Jackie, Marlon, and LaToya, said her son’s tribute concert would be "fit for a king" at a press conference Monday in Beverly Hills.
Promoters of the tribute concert, Global Live Events, joined the Jackson family to announce that the concert will be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on October 8. The timing is to mark the 40th anniversary of the start of Jackson’s solo career, according to Global Live Events’ Chris Hunt.
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Absent from the press conference were other notable Jacksons: Jermaine, Randy, Janet, and family patriarch Joe Jackson.
Just hours after yesterday’s press conference announcing the event, Randy and Jermaine issued a statement slamming the “ill timing” of the event, which will coincide with their late brother’s manslaughter trial set to start September 8. Opening arguments are expected to be late in the month, and the trial will likely go on for weeks.
“While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honors our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael's death,” the Jackson brothers said.
The brothers stressed that they are not against a tribute concert for Michael. The pair attempted to orchestrate a tribute concert of their own for their late brother in 2009, but plans fell apart when sought-out performers were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
“There will come a time and place for an amazing and deserving tribute to Michael,” they said in their statement Monday. “But we feel that the most important tribute we can give to our brother at this time is to seek justice in his name.”
Michael’s mother and siblings had indicated previously that they would attend all the proceedings, according to the Associated Press. However, Katherine Jackson said at Monday’s press conference, “I will be there along with as many members of my family that can make it.”
The concert is entitled “Michael Forever: the Tribute Concert” and will feature “a host of top artists and will not be less than four hours long,” according to Hunt. Concert organizers have not yet publicly revealed who will be among the "host of top artists" at Jackson's tribute concert.
"When I was told some of the names of the artists performing, I knew it would be fit for a king,” said Michael Jackson's mother. “If my son was here today he would feel the same way, and so I'd like to say thank you very much for helping to keep my son's legacy alive.”
Tickets for the concert at the Millennium Stadium, which seats about 75,000 guests, will go on sale online on August 4. Concert proceeds will go to several charities.
Jackson died on June 25, just days before a series of comeback concerts at London’s O2 stadium. The pop star, whose career was marred by accusations of child molestation, was 50. He left behind three children--Prince, Paris, and Blanket.
Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the singer’s death.
Prosecutors say Murray gave the world-renowned king of pop, whom he was treating for insomnia, a deadly dose of the anesthetic propofol in his Los Angeles home days leading up to the concerts.
Meanwhile, Murray’s attorneys are expected to argue that Jackson gave himself a lethal dose of the anesthetic while the doctor was out of his presence.
