Jackson 5 ‘could reunite’ in tribute to Michael

Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson

The remaining members of the group, plus sisters Janet and LaToya, may perform five concerts

FIRST POSTED JULY 6, 2009

Rumours of a shorts series of Jackson family tribute concerts at London's O2 Arena have gained ground with reports from the US that (pictured from left to right) Tito, Jackie, Jermaine and Marlon, who were the original members of the Jackson 5 along with Michael (far right), have agreed to reunite. Michael's two sisters, Janet Jackson and La Toya Jackson, who had successful solo careers, might also take part.

The idea of a reunion, to recoup some of the costs of the cancelled Jackson concerts which would have started next week, comes from Michael's father, Joe Jackson, apparently working in tandem with the promoters of the London concerts, AEG Live.

The plan is to use video footage of the rehearsals Jackson was going through at the Staples Center in Los Angeles just before he died as the centrepiece of a tribute concert. A Jackson family member is quoted as saying: "It'll be good and we'll do it right for Michael," adding: "Michael would have wanted the show to go on."

Other developments:

• 'Girlfriend' revealed: Jackson's personal photographer, Ian Barkley, says Ugandan-born Grace Rwaramba, the nanny to Jackson's three children, was also the pop star's girlfriend. Barkley claimed the romance was an open secret among staff.

• Memorial service: Thousands of Jackson fans have arrived in Los Angeles for Tuesday's memorial service at the Staples Center, despite warnings from the city's mayor that anyone without a ticket will be turned away. About 1.6 million fans registered for a chance to get 17,500 free tickets. Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Usher are expected to perform.

• Brain tests: Jackson will be buried on Tuesday without a brain, according to reports. The Los Angeles Coroner's Office is said to have removed it to perform further neurological tests and, rather than postpone, the Jackson family decided to go ahead with the burial.

• Concrete tomb: Jackson's family want his coffin to be entombed in concrete so that no fans can attempt to dig it up, according to US media reports. Jackson is expected to be buried in a private service at the Forest Lawn cemetery on Tuesday. It is possible that, if permission is granted, the coffin will later be moved to Jackson's Neverland ranch.

FIRST POSTED JULY 6, 2009

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Surely the Jackson Four?

Posted by Peter Simmons at 12:27pm on July 9, 2009

I REALLY THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE GREAT; EXPECIALLY WITH JANET JACKSON BEING INVOLVED, CAUSE JANET JACKSON IS THE ONLY ARTIST THAT COMES CLOSE TO MICHAEL JACKSON, WHEN YOU LOOK AT JANET YOU ARE LOOKING AT MICHAEL AND THEIR DANCE MOVES ARE SIMILIAR, NO OTHER MALE OR FEMALE ARTIST CAN HANDLE JANET & MICHAEL WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMING AND ENTERTAINING. I WOULD DEFINATELY GO TO SEE JANET JACKSON SHE IS THE FEMALE VERSION OF MICHAEL JACKSON NO OTHER ARTIST COMES CLOSE. MICHAEL WAS ONCE ASKED WHICH ARTIST COMES CLOSE TO HIS ENTERTAINING AND PERFORMING AND HE SAID HIS SISTER JANET JACKSON.

Posted by jjmjdancegoddess at 3:45am on July 15, 2009