Michael Jackson rehearses at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on 23 June. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/APFans have flooded the website of an upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert, crashing the site's servers before the lineup has even been announced. Though the site is now working, more than a million fans allegedly tried to log in yesterday, as tickets became available.
Organised by Michael's older brother Jermaine, the concert is called simply The Tribute. It takes place at the Schönbrunn palace in Vienna, Austria on 26 September. Fans are already snapping up the 80,000-plus tickets – which sell for up to £430 – though not a single performer has been confirmed.
"The concept of The Tribute is that some of the world's leading artists will perform Michael Jackson's greatest hits live onstage in an imperial setting, befitting the King of Pop," reads a statement on the concert website. Then again, "there is no right or legal claim whatsoever that certain artists will perform at The Tribute," the website states. "All ticket sales are final. Any refund or discount due to the performance or non-performance of a specific artist is hereby explicitly excluded."
Earlier this month, Madonna and Whitney Houston were floated as possible performers, though their reps denied any deals. Barack Obama was also alleged to appear as a celebrity speaker – until the White House repudiated the idea. So far, the only star whose involvement can be counted on is Jermaine himself. The website promises a full lineup "at the end of August".
Tickets for the concert cost about as much as Michael Jackson's doomed O2 arena gigs, from about £50 for a limited view, standing-room spot on the palace grounds, to more than £400 for a VIP "gold seat". Organisers do say that the 85,000 tickets will be rolled out gradually – raising the possibility of cheaper passes at a later time. They also guarantee that a "substantial portion" of the concert's proceeds will go to charities such as Feed the Children, the Larry King Cardiac Foundation and the Earth Care Foundation.
The Schönbrunn palace site was chosen, Jermaine Jackson said, because his late brother "loved castles".
British fans seeking a different tribute to the King of Pop may wish to buy tickets to Gladys Knight's upcoming UK tour. The soul singer will be joined by Tito Jackson, who promised this week to pay tribute to his younger brother, singing tunes by Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.
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