14 DAY TRIAL // Katherine Jackson personally sent out invitations to the biggest performers of the day to ask them to be in Cardiff for the Michael Jackson tribute concert, “Michael Forever,” in October. Christina Aguilera has officially been added to the lineup.
A few days ago, word got out that plans for tribute were well under way, with Katherine reaching out to Chris Brown, Kanye West, Aguilera and others, asking them to perform at the concert.
Chris Brown turned down the invite, but Kanye and Christina were said to be inclining towards a “yes.”
Judging by the lineup on the official website, she’s definitely a go for the show.
“The world’s greatest performing artists will join Katherine Jackson and the family to celebrate Michael’s life,” reads a post on the website.
These artists are: 3T, Alien Ant Farm, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Craig David, Jackson Brothers (no word yet on which of them will perform), JLS and Leona Lewis.
There’s also a promise of “more acts to follow” immediately underneath the official lineup, which should generate more interest in the event.
The Guardian notes that, even though tickets are not yet available, fans aren’t really that hyped about the tribute, mostly because of the prices they are believed to be sold at.
“Lack of interest could also be attributed to the convoluted and expensive ticket scheme. Although seats begin at £55, for restricted view, they will only be allotted according to the size of each purchaser’s charity ‘donation’,” the publication writes.
Fans are complaining on Facebook that it’s not right to offer better seats for higher bids because “not every Michael fan is rich.”
“Furthermore, if Michael Forever is going to be a four-hour affair, […] organizers are going to have to book artists who are more exciting than Alien Ant Farm, with their decade-old Smooth Criminal cover,” the same media outlet writes.
“Craig David’s last two albums garnered just one hit, and 3T last charted in 1996. The lineup also features ‘the Jacksons,’ a vague catch-all term that may include LaToya, Janet or Tito, but certainly not Randy or Jermaine,” the Guardian says.
That’s because they’re openly against a tribute concert, especially now that the trial against Dr. Conrad Murray is ongoing. Organizing a tribute means distracting the attention from the trial, they believe.