Michael Jackson tribute show confirmed

Several members of Michael Jackson's family last night unveiled plans for a tribute concert in Wales to the late King of Pop.

The show, supported by Jackson family matriarch Katherine Jackson, will be held on October 8 in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium, which holds about 75,000 people.

It will be broadcast live via satellite on pay-per-view television and into movie theaters around the world, some of which will screen it in 3D, according to promoter Global Live Events.

Katherine Jackson told reporters at the unveiling in Beverly Hills, California, that she is proud of the event and the caliber of singers performing, although no names were announced.

Jackson's brother, Jermaine Jackson, tried in vain to mount a tribute concert in Vienna in 2009, but plans were scrapped after he struggled to get big-name acts and the event's organiser went out of business.

Jermaine, Janet, and Michael Jackson's father Joe, were not on hand at Monday's announcement. Instead, Katherine was joined by family members, Tito, Jackie, Marlon and La Toya.

No artists have yet been announced for 'Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert' - which will be held in front of 75,000 fans - but it is expected that performers will be revealed daily until August 4, when tickets will go on sale.

However, Tito promised the concert will feature "all the artists [Michael] admired and respected so much.

"Michael loved doing things on a large, major scale. This is definitely one that he would approve."

Global Live Events, who are staging the concert, promised it will be a fitting tribute to the King of Pop's musical legacy.

Chris Hunt, president of Global Live Events, said: "We wanted to do something decent and worthy of Michael's musical genius yet something fun and authentic that you would envision Michael attending with excitement and joy surrounded by talent that he respected and loved."

It's intended that the concert will raise awareness and funds for Aids Project Los Angeles and two other charities to be announced later.

It was not explained why Michael's siblings Janet, Jermaine and Randy were not in attendance at the press conference, but his brothers later blasted the "inappropriate" timing of the concert, which is scheduled to take place less than three weeks after the start of Dr. Conrad Murray's trial for the involuntary manslaughter of the singer.

Jermaine and Randy said: "While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honours our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael's death.

"There will come a time and place for an amazing and deserving tribute to Michael. But we feel that the most important tribute we can give to our brother at this time is to seek justice in his name.

Read more: Follow Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson Tour Rehearsals Will Not Be Shown In Court

Prosecutors wanted to show some 12 hours of unedited footage from the "This Is It" movie about Jackson in a bid to demonstrate that the "Thriller" singer was healthy and in good form before he died of a drug overdose in June 2009.

Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray, who is charged with being responsible for Jackson's death after giving him a dose of the anesthetic propofol, are expected to argue at trial that "This Is It," which was released after the pop star's death, was not a true picture of his health in his final days.

Sony Pictures, the studio that released the documentary film, argued that showing the never-before-seen footage in a public court might hurt its potential commercial value. The studio said it screened more than 100 hours of raw footage for the attorneys and the judge in the case.

Judge Michael Pastor made the ruling on Monday, concluding that it would not help the defense and that "it was a waste of my time."

The jury will, however, be shown clips that were used in the movie showing Jackson rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts in London.

However, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor says footage - which was taken just days before his tragic death - will not add anything to the case, even though he agrees that Jackson was not in poor health.

He said: "There is absolutely nothing in those materials that could have been of assistance to the defence."

Pastor also agreed with the lawyers for Sony Pictures Entertainment that the clips have significant value and should not be publicly shown without a good reason.

He added: "There are materials which I viewed which I would regard as extremely valuable to Sony."

Murray has been accused of administering the medication and failing to provide proper care leading to Jackson's death, but in recent months, his lawyers have suggested the singer gave himself the lethal dose.

Read more: Follow Michael Jackson