At Tribute in Wales, Michael Jackson as CommodityCARDIFF, Wales — At a tribute concert here on Saturday evening, Michael Jackson’s music thumped and cracked as usual, his fans screamed on cue, and conflict and controversy simmered beneath the surface as they have since Jackson found fame as a child.
Blog
Official merchandise stalls did a brisk trade in T-shirts that commemorated his death in 2009 ($31), coffee mugs ($15) and a slim official program ($19). Unofficial hawkers, equally keen to comfort mourning fans, sold stacks of his trademark fedora, in black and white, some adorned with sequins ($10). White gloves, another costume signature, were draped over light-up plastic wands ($7). Touts offered tickets for $50 — a discount on the original prices of $90 to $300.
The concert’s organizers, and much of his family, had been accused of similarly leveraging Jackson’s legend. His estate, which is held separately from his family, said in a letter that it was concerned that the concert was “piggybacking on Michael’s good name and charity.” The event was organized as a commercial affair, though its backers emphasized that an unspecified portion of the proceeds would go to philanthropic causes. Fan groups were also outraged at the idea of a profit-making tribute, with one saying that without the estate’s cooperation, the concert was “nothing more than a money grab.”
Before the show, Jackson’s brothers Tito, Marlon and Jackie were asked to comment on the concerns. A publicist tried to stop them from speaking, saying it was “not an appropriate question.”
But Marlon Jackson, wearing large sunglasses and a loose blazer, spoke up. “Those people have a right to feel whatever they feel,” he said. “But we knew our brother better than anyone else, and we want to remember the positive things about him.” His brothers remained silent, and all three were ushered away.
They reappeared later to sing the Jackson 5’s “Blame It on the Boogie,” bringing the crowd to its feet with a rendition that recalled their brother’s phrasing and tone. Among the other pyrotechnic and elaborately choreographed renditions of Jackson’s hits, Mr. Foxx sang “Rock With You,” Mr. Robinson sang the ballad “She’s Out of My Life,” and Jackson’s sister LaToya, who was instrumental in this event, performed songs from his album “Dangerous.”
Jackson’s three children — Prince, 14; Paris, 13; and Michael Jr., 9; wide-eyed and dressed in outfits reminiscent of his own — could be seen during the concert standing away from the stage outside an executive suite. They were watched over by two bodyguards, observing the machine dedicated to their father (organizers, entourages, publicists, reporters) in full operation, as it had been in his life.
Later they went on the stage and introduced, with brief written statements, a video recorded by Beyoncé, sporting an Afro and singing “I Wanna Be Where You Are.”
The 74,500-capacity stadium appeared to be three-quarters full — its top tier was empty, and there were patches of empty seats among the crowd lower down. Precise attendance figures, and indications of how much money investors, the family and charities would receive, were not immediately available.
There had been speculation that a series of controversies might dent ticket sales. Fan groups, already incensed at the business nature of the concert, had been angered when the band Kiss had initially appeared on the bill. The band’s lead singer, Gene Simmons, had said that he believed Jackson might have molested children despite his acquittal on child abuse charges in 2005. Kiss did not appear on Saturday.
Last week the Black Eyed Peas, perhaps the biggest act on the roster, pulled out. The concert’s organizers cited only “unavoidable circumstances” for the withdrawal. And on Friday, it emerged that plans to stream the concert on Facebook had been quietly abandoned over licensing issues.
Perhaps most strikingly, Janet Jackson and her brothers Jermaine and Randy declined to be involved, saying that a tribute concert was inappropriate while the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson when he died, was under way in Los Angeles.
But at the concert, even the most dedicated fans were resigned to the controversy. A woman, who gave her name only as Simona, said that she and three friends had traveled “from Italy for Michael.” The women had also made a pilgrimage to Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, she said, adding that any turmoil was a family matter.. “It is their private problems,” she said, “not for the fans.”
Debbie Ewart, a hairdresser from Birmingham, England, said she had come to the concert to make up for the fact that she had a ticket to the tour, “This Is It,” that Jackson was scheduled to make when he died. There would always be controversy attached to Jackson, she said.
“People made money off him when he was alive,” said Ms. Ewart, dressed in a sequined black jacket and a black fedora. “So why should they stop now he’s dead?”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] 
Home 
