Joe Jackson On London Concerts: "I Knew Michael Couldn't Do All Those Shows"
Posted on Tue Jul 14th, 2009 8:35am PDT By X17 Staff
Last night Joe Jackson told ABC News that he believed his son Michael never would have been able to handle this summer's 50-show London concert series at the 02 Arena.
"The comeback tour was a good idea, but the wrong idea about it; there was more tours added onto it." Joe said. "I was worried about his health. No artist can do those many shows back to back like that, and so I knew Michael couldn't do all those shows. Michael told me himself that he agreed to 10 shows. But they went and added all these other shows."
However, producers of the show have countered Joe's claims, saying that Michael himself was responsible for the added tour dates. AEG CEO Randy Phillips said he tried to change the singer's mind about the concerts, but the pop legend wouldn't back down. Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo added that Jackson was not being pushed in preparation for the London shows. "He built up his stamina. There would have been no problems, I don't think, with him doing this tour. Nobody was pushing him into it. Nobody was overworking him."
So why is Joe saying all of this?
Who do you believe? And can we really trust Joe Jackson?
"The comeback tour was a good idea, but the wrong idea about it; there was more tours added onto it." Joe said. "I was worried about his health. No artist can do those many shows back to back like that, and so I knew Michael couldn't do all those shows. Michael told me himself that he agreed to 10 shows. But they went and added all these other shows."
However, producers of the show have countered Joe's claims, saying that Michael himself was responsible for the added tour dates. AEG CEO Randy Phillips said he tried to change the singer's mind about the concerts, but the pop legend wouldn't back down. Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo added that Jackson was not being pushed in preparation for the London shows. "He built up his stamina. There would have been no problems, I don't think, with him doing this tour. Nobody was pushing him into it. Nobody was overworking him."
So why is Joe saying all of this?