An official update on the Michael Forever Tribute concert was released on the official website today, explaining recent delays:

“The organisers of the Michael Forever Tribute Concert are very mindful of the expectations of the fans, who have waited over two years for an event that will do justice to Michael’s musical legacy. Some of the greatest names in music are already signed, and more are trying to shuffle other commitments to come on board.

Chairman of Global Live Events Chris Hunt said “We will be announcing an incredible line-up very soon. The registration period was put on hold because we want people to know who they are registering to see. Between now and October we will be continuing to add names to the line-up so more announcements will follow. Fans of Michael’s music will get the concert they’ve been waiting for.”

Source: Global Live

The singer Craig David is allegedly one of the first artists that will reportedly be performing at the upcoming tribute concert that will take place in October for Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. As fans are aware, the star’s tribute will take place in Wales, as confirmed at a press conference by members of the Jackson family.

As Digital Spy reports, Craig David has reportedly taken to Facebook to announce the news. “I am honored to announce I will be performing alongside some of the world’s greatest artists at the Michael Jackson tribute concert.”

Michael Jackson remains one of the most popular singers of all-time. His influence is felt all over the world and can be heard in today’s music. The countless Michael Jackson fans around the world have been looking forward to seeing which artists will be taking part in the event. There is no doubt that fans have been hoping that a tribute would take place for the artist that has inspired generations of people and artists in all genres.

While it remains to be seen what artists will in fact be performing at the tribute, there is excitement over the news, and to see how the tribute will be executed… if at all.

Source: The Examiner / Digital Spy

Members of Michael Jackson’s family have called a press conference for Monday in Beverly Hills to announce a concert tribute to the late pop star that will benefit charities in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Jackson’s mother, Katherine, will be joined at the Beverly Hills Hotel by his siblings Marlon, Tito, Jackie and LaToya to reveal details of the tribute, with strong hints in the press release that it will focus on Jackson’s “Thriller” album. The press release issued Thursday referred to the concert as a “thriller of an event,” which is being coordinated by the family members and promoter Global Live Events, not Jackson’s estate.

A spokeswoman for the event said no other information is available until Monday’s press conference. Pop & Hiss will carry more details after the announcement.

Source: LA Times

LOS ANGELES — A hearing in the criminal case of Michael Jackson’s doctor has been postponed because lawyers are bogged down viewing hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage from the singer’s “This Is It” concert.

In a conference with attorneys on Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor accepted the requests to delay a July 12 hearing to July 20. He said he wants to know then when the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray can go forward. It is now set for Sept. 8.

Prosecutors want to show jurors clips from the posthumous feature film “This Is It” to prove Jackson was healthy in the days before his death. The defense wants to show he was ill.

Murray, a Houston cardiologist with an office in Las Vegas, is accused of giving the superstar an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives when he could not sleep. Jackson died on June 15, 2009, in his rented Beverly Hills mansion where Murray had been attending him.

Murray has pleaded not guilty. The transcript of the conference with the judge and attorneys was released on Thursday.

Attorneys indicated it will take weeks for them to view all of the relevant video recordings of Jackson. They said they have been working every day since June 28 and have gotten through only one of 21 boxes of materials.

“So far, we have found a lot of important stuff,” said defense attorney Nareg Gourjian.

Attorneys have been barred from discussing publicly any evidence they find in the videos.

Prosecutor Deborah Brazil said she has been working along with Gourjian, defense attorney Ed Chernoff, Sony lawyer Kevin Vick and a technician going through material on computer hard drives.

Gourjian, who originally estimated there were 100 hours of footage from rehearsals, said he now believes there is much more.

“There are about eight to ten different cameras that were recording the rehearsals and each one has different views and different footage,” he said. “So it is critical that we review the footage from each camera.”

Source: Washington Post

Defense attorneys and prosecutors in the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson’s doctor won permission Friday to view raw footage that didn’t make it into the concert movie “This Is It.”

The lawyers want to show excerpts from the movie to demonstrate Jackson’s physical condition before he died.

Defense attorneys asked to see outtakes not used in the movie and requested the time frame begin 10 days before Jackson died.

Judge Pastor said both sides can go to Sony studios beginning Tuesday and view 21 boxes of audio-visual materials that have been estimated to capture 100 hours of rehearsal time.

source: AP (Associated Press)

Michael Jackson’s brothers are working on a reunion tour to perform their old Jackson 5 songs, Jermaine Jackson said Monday.

“Michael would want us to continue on,” Jackson said, after he unveiled an exhibit of his brother’s wax statues at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood.

Saturday marks the second anniversary of the pop icon’s sudden death, which the coroner ruled was from an overdose of a surgical anesthetic.

“The brothers now are ready just to keep the legacy going and the music,” Jackson said. “We’re meeting today about putting a tour together just to play the music because it’s such wonderful music. We need to continue to play this music because it’s healing for us.”

Jackson did not say which of his brothers were involved in the talks. Recent attempts to reunite the brothers on stage were met with frustration and division, including the effort documented by an A&E Network reality show in 2009.

Monday’s unveiling was a reunion of sorts for Michael Jackson. It featured wax figures depicting him as a child performing with the Jackson 5, as the “Smooth Criminal” from around 1987 and the “This Is It” Michael Jackson of his last year.

Jermaine Jackson said his favorite was the last statue because of how it captured his brother’s onstage posture.

“Someone was really paying a lot of attention to detail,” he said.
The Michael Jackson exhibit is on a world tour, spending this summer in Hollywood before heading to Las Vegas in September.

Source: CNN

Lloyd’s of London has gone to court… asking a judge to let the company off the financial hook, claiming it doesn’t owe the Michael Jackson Estate $17.5 million on grounds MJ was a fraud.

The company issued the multi-million dollar policy to cover the doomed “This Is It” tour for losses.

But Lloyd’s claims it doesn’t have to honor the policy for 2 primary reasons:

1. Michael Jackson and AEG allegedly lied about Michael’s medical history — specifically, MJ said he had not seen a doctor other than a cosmetic MD since June, 2005.

2. Michael did not disclose he was taking prescription drugs prior to and at the time of his death -including Propofol.

Lloyd’s is asking the court for a declaration that the policy is null and void as a result of the alleged fraud.

Source: TMZ

The surveillance video of Michael Jackson’s home the day he died has been erased — lost forever, because the LAPD never knew MJ’s death would turn into a criminal case.

The LAPD only copied 4 minutes of footage from the surveillance videos trained on Michael’s house the day he died. The video shows Jackson coming home from rehearsal at around 12:30 AM.

Dr. Conrad Murray’s lawyers will ask a judge today to order authorities to turn over the nearly 24 hours of surveillance video surrounding MJ’s death.

But here’s what we found out. The tape recirculates every 24 hours, and when the LAPD pulled the video shortly after MJ’s death, the case was not a homicide investigation so all cops wanted to do was establish a time line — so the only relevance of the video was showing when MJ entered the home.

We’re told cops never looked at the rest of the surveillance video.

The video would have shown who entered the house and when, on the day MJ died. It will now and forever remain a mystery.

Source: TMZ

Tour Expanding to 17 New Cities, Adding Dates As Anticipation Grows

Longtime Michael Jackson Collaborator Greg Phillinganes, Top Musical Designer Kevin Antunes Joining Creative Team

Exclusive Pre-Sale Starts March 9 and General Onsale Begins March 12

Montreal, March 9, 2011 – With anticipation growing for the launch of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour, Cirque du Soleil announced today it is adding 17 new cities to its tour in advance of its World Premiere October 2 in Montreal. In addition, new dates are being added to the existing schedule or extra seats released in more than 25 cities across North America.

Cirque du Soleil also announced that Greg Phillinganes, one of Michael Jackson’s key creative collaborators on some of his most memorable tours and albums, has joined the Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour creative team as music director, providing an unparalleled depth of knowledge of Michael’s music and the live Michael Jackson experience. Phillinganes was music director for Michael’s Bad and Dangerous tours and worked on such iconic albums as Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, Invincible, and the latest release Michael.

Kevin Antunes, one of the industry’s top musical designers, will join creative team as musical designer and will also team with Phillinganes to work on the score for this landmark production. Antunes has worked directly for Madonna, Justin Timberlake and *NSYNC, and has performed with artists such as Janet Jackson, Timbaland, Britney Spears, Aerosmith, Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg and Christina Aguilera, among others.

For tour cities and ticket information, please go to www.cirquedusoleil.com/MichaelJackson

About the Show
A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson’s artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael’s creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations.

THE IMMORTAL World Tour takes place in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael’s inspirational Giving Tree—a wellspring of creativity that illuminates for the audience Michael’s thoughtful inner world, offering new paths to express his love for music, dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature.

The underpinnings of THE IMMORTAL World Tour are Michael Jackson’s powerful, inspirational music and lyrics—the driving force behind the show—brought to life with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour underscores Michael’s global messages of love, peace and unity.

Creative Team – Click on “Meet the Creators” for bio information.
Guy Laliberté – Creative Guide
Chantal Tremblay – Director of Creation
Jamie King – Writer and Director
Kevin Antunes – Musical Designer
Greg Phillinganes – Music Director
Mark Fisher – Set Designer
Michael Curry – Props and Scenic Designer
Zaldy Goco – Costume Designer
Germain Guillemot – Acrobatic Performance Designer
Scott Osgood – Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer
Olivier Goulet – Projection Designer
Martin Labrecque – Lighting Designer

Source: The Official Online Team of the Michael Jackson Estate®

Cirque du Soleil, the surreal circus company currently playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London, is expecting record profits of $250m (£156m) on revenue of $1bn this year, according to its founder, Guy Laliberté.

The 51-year-old is in talks about hosting a permanent performance at the O2 arena in the east of the city, but has to juggle Cirque’s rarity value with the huge demand for its shows.

Mr Laliberté said: “We are working hard trying to find a place in London. We have been looking all over for 10 years. Eventually, we will be at the right place at the right moment with the right real-estate developer. We have looked at the O2. It has been part of the discussion.” David Campbell, the chief executive of AEG Europe, which owns the O2, confirmed the talks: “We have looked at it and it’s just a question of getting the right business model. It’s not imminent but it’s not been dismissed.”

Cirque is to launch a new tour mixing acrobatics with the music of Michael Jackson; Mr Laliberté hopes for $40m in advance sales, saying: “This has the potential to be one of the biggest deals we have done.”

Source: Indpendent

Katherine is challenging AEG’s motion to dismiss the wrongful death lawsuit against the company.

In her docs, Katherine says AEG retained Dr. Conrad Murray for an “exorbitant salary of $150,000 monthly,” and in return Murray agreed to “get Jackson to attend rehearsals and perform.”

Katherine’s lawyers claim it should have been obvious to AEG when Murray requested CPR equipment at MJ’s home that “the medical treatments being administered risked stopping Jackson’s heart and breathing.”

Katherine’s lawyer continues, “This is hardly the type of risk expected in an ordinary house visit from a family doctor.”

The lawyers claim, “AEG should have known that the course of treatment being administered by Dr. Murray was unorthodox and unsafe.”

Source: TMZ

Michael Jackson threatened to cancel his London comeback concerts unless he was given drugs to help him sleep on the day of his death, a court has heard.

Detective Orlando Martinez took the stand at a Los Angeles court on Monday (10Jan11) to testify at a preliminary hearing to decide whether Jackson’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray should stand trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge.

Murray is accused of administering a fatal dose of anaesthetic Propofol which killed the singer on 25 June, 2009.

Martinez, who interviewed Murray two days after the star’s death, claimed the medic told him he had been giving Jackson the anaesthetic six nights a week for two months leading up to his death, but was trying to wean him off the drug, according to the Associated Press. The cop claims Murray told police that on the day of Jackson’s death, he gave him sedatives lorazepam and midazolam intravenously and supplied a valium pill, but the star complained he still couldn’t sleep.

Martinez quoted Murray as saying, “Mr. Jackson began to complain that he couldn’t sleep and that he would have to cancel his rehearsal and cancel his shows if he couldn’t get any sleep since he couldn’t perform.”

Martinez claims Murray then gave Jackson a dose of Propofol, telling the court, “It was an injection to get him to sleep and a slow drip to keep him sleeping.”

After Jackson fell asleep Murray left the room to go to the bathroom but returned shortly afterwards and “was stunned to see Mr. Jackson not breathing”, according to Martinez.

The singer had suffered a cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead by medics. Murray has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Source: Contact Music

TMZ has learned Michael Jackson’s weakened state During various concert tours throughout HIS life – as well as preparations for the London concerts that never took place – Could Become Powerful evidence in the defense of Dr. Conrad Murray.

Sources connected with the criminal case tell TMZ … there’s “compelling evidence” that MJ was in weakened health whenever he went on tour. there’s “compelling evidence” that MJ was weakened health Whenever he went on tour. Specifically, people who went on various tours — including the “Bad” and “Dangerous” concerts — say Jackson was frequently “dehydrated, medicated, and sleep-deprived.” Specifically, people who went on various tours – including the “Bad” and “Dangerous” concerts – say Jackson was frequently “Dehydrated, medicated, and sleep-deprived.”

Just like with Dr. Just like with Dr. Murray, Jackson had a doctor who accompanied him during rehearsals and tours, attending to his needs. Murray, Jackson had a doctor who accompanied him During Rehearsals and tours, attending to HIS needs.

The point … The point … the grueling concert schedules reduced MJ to a physical mess, prone to relying on and demanding drugs to sleep. The grueling concert schedules MJ Reduced to a physical mess, prone to relying on drugs and demanding to sleep.

The “This Is It” London tour was especially grueling, because AEG added dozens of concert dates for Michael, who was already in an extremely weakened state and terrified he would fail. The “This Is It” London tour was met name grueling, Because AEG added dozens of concert dates for Michael, who was already in an Extremely weakened state and terrified Would he fail.

All of this dovetails into a defense theory … All of this dovetails into a defense theory … that Jackson felt enormous pressure to rehearse for the “This Is It” tour, and when he couldn’t sleep he relied on Propofol to do the trick. that Jackson felt enormous pressure to rehearse for the “This Is It” tour, and he could not sleep When he relied on Propofol to do the trick. The defense believes when Murray walked out of the room and Jackson woke up, he accidentally infused himself with a fatal dose of the drug out of frustration and fear. The defense convinced When Murray Walked out of the room and woke Jackson up, he accidentally infused himself with a fatal dose of the drug out of Frustration and fear.

Source: TMZ

Michael Jackson has earned a posthumous Grammy nomination for the song “This Is It.”

Michael is nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and is up against Michael Bublé, Adam Lambert, Bruno Mars and John Mayer.

If Jackson wins it will be his 14th Grammy award.

Source: TMZ

Michael Jackson’s upcoming Cirque Du Soleil spectacular will be directed by the choreographer/dancer who doubled for the King of Pop on his Dangerous tour.

Jamie King will spend the next year working with over 60 performers before staging The Immortal World Tour, which has been personally endorsed by Jackson’s Mother and members of the famous family, late next year (11).

King will also write and direct the production, which links Jackson’s most famous songs and eye-popping acrobatics.

The $57 million (GBP 38 million) show, which was announced on Wednesday (03Nov10), will travel across North America, beginning next October (11).

King, who has directed live shows for Madonna, Britney Spears and Rihanna, among others, tells The Reporter he was thrilled to be asked to take charge of the Jackson spectacular.

He says, “I jumped at the opportunity. I’m a huge fan. In my work directing big rock and pop tours, I have been so influenced by the Cirque shows and the magic they create.”

Source: Contact Music
King was hired as a dancer – and Jackson’s body double – on the Dangerous tour, and he spent two years travelling the world with the King of Pop.