14 DAY TRIAL // The other day, Jermaine Jackson was telling the British media at a London press conference that, come September 26, he would be performing a duet with his late brother Michael on stage in Vienna, where the Tribute in Memory of Michael Jackson would take place. A few hours ago, Jermaine issued another statement announcing the concert has been postponed to June 2010, BBC News informs.
The A-listers that were supposed to take the stage at the special concert were Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige and the legendary Natalie Cole, among others. As each of them issued press statements denying Jermaine’s words and saying they would not perform (some even said they had not been contacted at all), the star and the organizers were forced to push back the date of the concert. Fans who have already bought tickets will be able to ask for a refund if they don’t want to hold on to them until that date, the BBC report further says.
“Numerous stars were just not able to change their schedules to make a live appearance at the Vienna event possible. Many artists and performers who I have spoken to personally told me that it would be a great honor to be part of this memorial concert for my late brother.” Jermaine says in the latest press statement, hinting that it was these denials that eventually lead to the concert being pushed back. With all this, rumors still persist that the Michael Jackson Estate is fighting the tribute concert and pulling all the stops to cancel it altogether for financial reasons, so this too might have something to do with Jermaine’s decision.
“However, due to the short time frame it was not possible for many of them to change their schedule so that they could be on stage in Vienna on September 26, therefore we decided, after careful consideration, to change the date of the tribute concert to June 2010 – just a few weeks before the first anniversary of his untimely death. Now we have eight months to put this monumental show together and not just eight weeks.” Jermaine Jackson further says.
Ironically enough, the website Jermaine set up for the purpose of announcing and promoting the tribute concert included a clear indication that the A-listers named on the first page would not participate, as TMZ points out. “This website does not intend to convey the impression that the artists and personalities depicted here within have agreed to participate in the said event in any way, shape or form.” a note in small font said on the jump page of the website. The post has been there all along, ever since launch, TMZ says.