KISS Removed From Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Lineup
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Tuesday, 16 August 2011 |
Written by Brad Norris
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KISS have had their invitation to perform at the Michael Jackson tribute concert revoked by the events organisers, after widespread critism.
The iconic US rock band were booked by Global Live Events to take to the stage at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert, set to take place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday October 8th, joining Christina Aguilera, JLS, Smokey Robinson amongst others on the lineup.
 Since the announcement of the involvement of KISS bassist Gene Simmons' involvement in the tribute concert, Michael Jackson fans have been outraged - setting up campaigns to boycott the concert and calling for its cancellation.
After the stars untimely death in 2009, Simmons made comments to Classic Rock magazine, refering to Jackson as a child molestor, despite the star being acquitted by a jury of all charges.
"I knew Michael," Simmons said in Febraury 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."
"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."
He also added, "Well, you know, where there's smoke there's fire. There's no question in my mind he molested those kids. Not a doubt."
Global Events Live CEO Chris Hunt accepted blame for the booking, calling it an "oversight".
"We have listened to Michael's fans and are grateful to have been alerted to some unfortunate statements made by Gene Simmons about Michael. Under the circumstances we fully agree that even though Kiss is a band Michael admired its members should not appear in our tribute concert" Global Live Events wrote in a statement this evening.
Tickets for the concert are expected to go on sale later this week.
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