Joe Jackson is stoking controversy again. The father of late pop icon Michael Jackson, who died of undetermined causes June 25 at age 50, told ABC News today that his son was not physically capable of performing the 50 shows slated for his This Is It comeback concerts in London. "I was worried about his health because all the shows that I'm seeing—no artist can do those many shows you know, back to back like that," said he elder Jackson, who's been criticized for comments he's made in the wake of his son's shocking death. "I knew Michael couldn't do all those shows." Joe Jackson asserts that the singer initially agreed to do only 10 shows, but that concert promoter AEG Live added dates when the concert series proved enormously popular. In a statement released today AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips acknowledged that tour dates were added, but put the initial figure closer to 31. (AEG previously released video footage of Jackson rehearsing for the concerts just days before his death, moving a bit slower than he had in the past but seeming ready to perform.) Phillips also maintained that with the concerts spread out until February of next year the pace would have been manageable for Jackson. "If [50] was too many, then one would have been too many," he said. The King of Pop's This Is It tour was slated to begin today.
Jul 13
2009
10:56 PM ET
Michael Jackson's father: Singer couldn't have done 50 concerts
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Helen Keller could tell he couldn’t have done all those shows. The video that was released of the rehearsal proved that Jackson was not up to this at all.
BALONEY. ONE EVERY THIRD DAY FOR 6 MONTHS. IF HE GOT A COLD, THEY GET A RAIN CHECK FOR ANOTHER CONCERT.
PIECE OF CAKE.
THIS IS NOT THE BEIJING OLYMPICS HERE.
I WAS A MANAGER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN THE 70S YEARS AGO.
TOURING WILL NOT KILL YOU, BUT CAN CERTAINLY WEAR YOU DOWN, PEOPLE DO IT ALL THE TIME, AND THIS WAS NOT EVEN A TOUR, BUT A VEGAS STYLE SHOW.
AFTER THE FIRST 2-3 PERFORMANCES, HE’SD HAVE IT DOWN LIKE A PICECE OF CAKE.
THIS IS JUST GREEDY JOE PUTTING PRESSURE ON AEG FOR HUSH MONEY.
How is “Joe Jackson is stoking controversy again”? This “news” that Jackson could not have made it through 50 gigs is about 3 weeks old, if not longer.
The old man is just desperate for self-promotion, which is ironic and pathetic, considering MJ’s claims that his dad beat and ridiculed him.
Joe Jackson has got to be one of the most cold-hearted fathers I’ve ever seen. It seems like he doesn’t give a damn about his son Michaels death, to him its just another chance for him to make more money and promote his businesses. I heard yesterday he also wants to manage Michael’s kids and take them on tour as the Jackson 3. Joe Jackson is a heartless, selfish, greedy man and can not be trusted. Rest in peace Michael, free at last.
Joe must be on Drugs!
Joe is the one on drugs
mj was the king.he could have done the shows easily,afterall he was the best entertainer around.period.his dad should be ashamed of himself speaking like that.shut your mouth joe.it gets you in trouble.mj lives forever in my heart………ken
I agree with Kelly, how is he stoking controversy again by stating his opinion that MJ couldn’t do 50 shows? This isn’t the first time I have heard this and by others besides Joe Jackson. I think people are looking for more reasons to hate Joe Jackson.
I think you fans of MJ are on drugs. It’s clouding your common sense. Here’s his father saying he couldn’t do 50 shows and he’s the cold hearted one trying to make money? Morons.
I’ve been saying this all along – there is no way he would have gone through with all of the concerts. AEG would have been lucky to get 10 to 15 shows out of him at best and it would have turned into law suit central like the rest of MJ’s life.
Chuck, I must disagree. Michael wasn’t simply going to stand and sing. The plan was to stage an elaborate show where he would dance during most of the performance. If you factor in Michael’s age, and the fact that he hadn’t performed/toured in years, there is no way he could have done 50 shows in 6 months.
People say stupid things in their grief. It’s so obvious that MJ knew he was circling the drain and probably felt that if he didn’t put himself up to the rigor of a tour, that he would die. He knew the state of his addiction and his desperation. He thought the tour would save his life.
Luvbug, you must really be grieving then because that is a pretty stupid statement.
He was desperate to sober up, he knew he was a goner. Very well informed statement actually.
Yeah, good way to get off narcotics, go on tour and put your body through physical exhaustion every night. Of course he wouldn’t pop any pills to relax. Naive statement on your part.