Michael Forever Tribute Concert - The Plot thickens

Since my last posting much has happened. Firstly the registration opened, allowing fans to 'Register' for the ticket of their choice. The prices though are astronomic, certainly if you want to stand a chance of seeing or hearing the performers (see seating layout & the respective costs below)

Secondly they started announcing the 'lineup' of Artists they had signed so far:-

Christina Aguilera
Leona Lewis

JLS

Diversity

Alexandra Burke

Alien Ant Farm

Ce Lo Green

Craig David

Pixie Lott

Smokey Robinson

3T

The Jackson Brothers

????? Not the high powered, first rate performers we were being let to expect from this Tribute. And although I respect a lot of these guys, what exactly are their connections with Michael? This was more like a selection of winning acts from the 'X' Factor rather than a tribute to Michael! Many on the Fb site were voicing their dissapointment at such and eclectic and strange selection. Many felt this was purely due to the fact that these were the only artists available at such short notice, in spite of the organisers statement that The Tribute had been in planning for quite a while. Apparently more will be announced as and when! Although interestingly enough in the T&C's they have stated that if 50% of the performers do not attend then no refund will be given. This combined with the cost of the tickets has convinced most fans that this is none other than a 'money spinning excercise' and that we are being ripped off.

Then on Monday morning PCT time, CNN broadcast an interview with Chris Hunt CEO of Global Live Events, along with his right hand man, Paul Ring (more about him later) and Mrs Katherine Jackson. In it they announced the next 'big signing'.....the heavy rock band KISS!!!! The horror and outrage this caused on the fansites and the Michael Forever Facebook site had to be seen to be believed!! They could not have chosen a worse and more unfitting group to play in a tribute to Michael. Firstly, again there is absolutely no links with them to Michael and secondly and more importantly, last year Gene Simmons in an interview stated that he had knowledge that Michael was a paedophile!!! See below.

We simply could not fathom out what in hells name was going on behind the scenes to make the Promoter book such an act. It again led us to the fact that Global Live Events obviously had not done their homework on Michael, either that or someone was having a laugh at our expense!

Now as I said many of us armed with the knowledge that this was the first Live Gig that GLE had been involved in could maybe half understand why the made that mistake. However, that all changed when one fan discovered that the good Paul Ring (remember Chris Hunt's right hand man in GLE, & BTW the grinning 'nutty professor' next to Katherine Jackson in that CNN interview). Is in fact the President of a Company, run by no other that LaToya Jackson & Jeffre Phillips(her manager). Called Ja-Tail (an Acronymn for Just Another Timely Adventure in Life) it encompasses Music, Films,Television, Studio, Concerts, Events,Publishing,Management,Branding and (weirdly enough) Beverages. Also involved Teddy Riley & Leonard Rowe. So now we know why the 'Nutty Professor' has been bought on board, he has all the knowledge - or should have. However, when it came to signing Kiss clearly not!  It is a wonder that the howls of outrage and indignation could not be heard in Timbuktoo! The Estate, having clearly stated it position at the outset - that it wasnt supporting this Tribute. Then decided that enough was enough and issued a letter demanding answers from GLE. Details of the letter are contained within the following article:-

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669141/michael-jackson-tribute-concert-legal-action.jhtml

Also joined by one of the main Michael Jackson Fan sites - The MJJC:-

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/michael-jackson-news/mjjcommunity-official-statement-about-michael-forever-tribute

An 'open letter' from the fans to GLE then followed

http://mjandjustice4some.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-letter-on-behalf-of-michael.html

Hardened bloggers immediately took to their laptops and the following links are the best:-

http://mjanwatch.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/fans-call-for-boycott-of-tribute-concert-for-michael-jackson-by-global-live-events/

http://muzikfactorytwo.blogspot.com/2011/08/michael-jackson-fans-michael-forever-is.html


It went without saying that the 'Michael Forever Tribute Concert' Facebook site nearly went into meltdown over this. Thankfully yesterday it appeared that Global Live were actually listening to what we and The Estate were saying. Although at present they have yet to answer any of the questions posed to them by either us or The Estate. However, news reached us that Kiss had been dropped! They should never have been signed in the first place!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/jackson-concert-promoters_n_928496.html

So here were are a week into the registration period and on the day that they were (orignially) due to close it. However, surprise, surprise it has been extended! We also now have friendlier AdminS. The operative word be 'S'since there appear to be several who have also obviously not only been instructed to divlulge there areas of specialisation but also their names!! The organisers obviously feel that if they give the page a more 'human' feel to it, we all might calm down!!! How little they know!!! Also as I write we are still to be availed as to when we can actually 'txt to win'. I would assume they are hoping we might forget about it, since obviously so few are registering!

So it painfully creaks and groans onwards!! GLE are still remaining tight lipped in regards to issuing any answers to either the questions contained within The Estates letter or any of our questions. We are all beginning to get heartily sick of this whole fiasco and just wish the organisers would see sense and 'call it a day'. For everyone's sake!