Kiss, Cee Lo and more sign upfor Michael Forever: TheTribute Concert

Tue 16th Aug, 2011 in International News

Kiss have signed up to perform at a tribute concert for Michael Jackson organized by Jackson’s mother, Katherine, despite comments bassist Gene Simmons made last year which suggested the King of Pop was a paedophile.

Simmons told Classic Rock Magazine last year: “I knew Michael I ran into him a few times. I met him the first time before he became the superstar, when he was sort of teenagey, when he was still a Jackson Five. This was in the Cher days, when Cher and I lived together. But as time moved on, and no matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of pedophilia after another and another and another…Oh dear…”

Simmons alleged that he knew some of the musicians Jackson toured with and claimed that one quit after seeing boys coming out of the hotel rooms. “Well, you know, where there’s smoke there’s fire,” Simmons explained, “There’s no question in my mind he molested those kids. Not a doubt.”

Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert is due to take place on 8 October in Cardiff, Wales, with Kiss joined on the bill by Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Leona Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Craig David, boy band JLS, and the three sons of Tito Jackson who perform as 3T. Alien Ant Farm will also be on hand play their version of Smooth Criminal.