Jacko tickets fiasco

Organiser U-turn over UK fans snub

04 July 2009 - Organisers revealed on Friday (3 July) that tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial to be held in LA on Tuesday would be available by online ballot.

However, a problem with the Staples Centre website, the setting for the event and where Jacko had been rehearsing for his 02 residency, meant that UK fans could not register.

AEG Live's Randy Phillips told the BBC the problem was easily solved: "It was never the intent on the registration at all.

The problem was it was setup for zip codes which obviously doesn't work in the UK which has postal codes. So we corrected that programme."

Traditional service

Phillips went on to say the service, in front of over seventeen thousand fans, will be a sombre one: "Michael was more of a traditionalist in the way he brought up his kids and stuff, so we're gonna give them what will be an important, iconic service.

"It's not going to be showbiz" - Randy Phillips, AEG Live

It's not going to be showbiz, it's only going to be performers and speakers who were close to him in his life." he continued.

Officials have appealed to other fans to watch the memorial service from their own homes, amid fears that thousands of people without tickets could flood the area.

02 refunds

As for fans who bought tickets to the 50 02 dates - Phillips says they can receive their physical tickets as souvenirs if they wish: "People can have a full refund including the service charge or they can keep the ticket, whatever they choose to do."

This week AEG Live released the rehearsal footage from the Staples Centre of Jackson preparing for his 02 dates, he explained why: "That was a one take rehearsal piece with his real vocals.

I put that out to counter all this misinformation where anyone can go on TV and say anything about Michael Jackson, even though they haven't seen him in ten years."


Ruth Barnes