Lack of stars forces Michael Jackson O2 tributes to be cancelled

Post-mortem report into Michael Jackon's death has been delayed for police investigation
12 April 2012

Two Michael Jackson tribute concerts planned for the O2 Arena at the end of the month have been cancelled after promoters failed to sign up enough performers in time.

AEG, the US entertainment giant that had booked Jackson to play 50 gigs at the east London venue, had intended to hold two star-studded tributes on 29 and 30 August.

Artists including Leona Lewis, Usher and Justin Timberlake, in addition to members of Jackson's family, were among the stars lined up to perform covers of his hits.

But after a number of disputes arose, including members of his family questioning whether the pressure of the gigs was to blame for Jackson's sudden death, AEG has had to pull the plug on the concerts.

A source close to the event said: "If they ever happen, it will not be until next year.

"We didn't want to rush out something that was sub-standard — we would rather wait until we have got the best possible people."

Another promoter announced yesterday that they would be staging their own tribute to Jackson — in Austria.

World Awards Media GmbH said Jackson's family and a "high-profile line-up of international stars" are planning the show to be held later this year at Vienna's Schoenbrunn Palace.

Permission was granted yesterday in the Los Angeles Superior Court for a film based on Jackson's rehearsals for the London shows to be released. Jackson's family approved the deal after Colombia Pictures paid £36 million to AEG for more than 100 hours of footage of the star.

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