KISS Added To Michael Jackson Tribute Concert - Causes More Controvery
Monday, 15 August 2011
Written by Elliott Batte
After huge doubts about the line-up for the ‘Michael Forever’ tribute concert, organisers have done their best to improve the bill – by announcing KISS have been added to the lineup, despite bassist Gene Simmons publicly suggesting that Michael Jackson was a paedophile in an interview with Classic Rock Magazine last year.
The iconic rock outfit join JLS, Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis and a number of acts as part of a tribute concert for the late King of Pop, which is to be held in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on the 8th of October. But, while there may be many fans that are happy at the addition of the rockers to the tribute line-up, die-hard Michael Jackson lovers will still remember the harsh comments made by KISS bassist Gene Simmons about the star less than a year after his untimely death.
“I knew Michael,” Simmons said in 2010. "I ran into him a few times. I met him the first time before he became the superstar, when he was sort of teenagey, when he was still a Jackson Five. This was in the Cher days, when Cher and I lived together.
“But as time moved on, and no matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of paedophilia after another and another and another…Oh dear.
“I knew some of the musicians he toured with, and specifically one who quit because of seeing boys coming out of the hotel rooms. And then you factor in that his travel agent was put on the stand and in court said that she was authorised to fly to Brazil and bring boys back to America for him…”
Simmons even went on to mention the fact that he never heard of anyone, be it woman or man, who had claimed to have slept with the singer, and that it was consistently just young boys.
“There’s never been a single female of any age that I’ve ever known about who has ever made a claim that she has had a physical relationship with Michael, ever. In fact, while he was alive, I never heard about mature men ever making that claim either – and believe me, you can’t keep it a secret. If you’re a celebrity, somebody somewhere will say, ‘Oh yeah, I shagged him.
“The only sexual references ever made about Michael Jackson that were made by anyone, anywhere around the world, have always been made by kids, and specifically males usually 10 to 14 years of age; never females, that age or older, and never grown men.”
Global Live Events have come under heavy scrutiny over their extortionate ticket prices, displeasing line-up and the fact that they upset some Jackson family members over the timing of the event. Stereoboard have written a feature article into the tribute concert, investigating the motives behind the promoters and organisers – you can read it here.
Meanwhile, also added to the bill today are Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke and Diversity.
The Michael Jackson estate is said to be outraged by the addition of KISS to the lineup, and will be making an official statement this evening.
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The iconic rock outfit join JLS, Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis and a number of acts as part of a tribute concert for the late King of Pop, which is to be held in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on the 8th of October. But, while there may be many fans that are happy at the addition of the rockers to the tribute line-up, die-hard Michael Jackson lovers will still remember the harsh comments made by KISS bassist Gene Simmons about the star less than a year after his untimely death.
