Promoter demands answers
2009-07-02 21:05
London - Michael Jackson's concert promoter has demanded "answers" from the late star's doctors.
Randy Phillips, CEO of AEG Live, who was staging his This Is It 50-date London residency, wants to see the results of medical checks taken by the star - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest last Thursday.
Michael was passed fit to perform and then died suddenly, amid rumours of a painkiller addiction.
"Maybe they didn't do a good enough job. We want answers. We have poured millions of cash into Michael's comeback," said Phillips.
"All the tests pointed to him being in fine physical shape. It's a complete mystery. The insurance company had an independent physician fly out from New York and give him a five-hour exam.
"We were told he passed with flying colours. Now I would like to see the results. If he was taking that amount of prescription drugs, wouldn't that have been picked up in a blood test?"
Jackson super-charged
It is believed that the stringent medical included over 50 different checks and tests. As a result of Michael being passed fit, AEG Live secured insurance cover for the first 22 concerts, but was unable to convince insurers to cover the full 50 shows at a cost of £300m ($579m).
The promoters now face multi-million pound payouts to ticket-holders.
"We must know the results. I don't know what our legal rights are," Phillips added.
He also spoke about his final conversation with the singer, at rehearsals the night before he died.
"He did a three-hour rehearsal and we all finished up at 12.30am on Thursday morning. He was really excited. He was super-charged and did a group hug with the director Kenny Ortega and his manager. He was like a kid in the candy store - he was so up for it.
"I walked him out to the car and he put his arm around me and, speaking softly like he always does, he said to me, 'Do you know what - we are here, we are going to make it. I love you for doing this and now I know I can do it.'"
ABBA set to perform
Meanwhile, it has been claimed ABBA are set to perform at some of Michael's O2 arena concert dates.
The quartet have so far resisted offers to reform following their split in 1983, but AEG Live is hoping to get them to sign up to take on several of the vacant dates.
"There's a little foursome out in Sweden we keep talking to," said David Campbell, chief executive of AEG Europe.
A source close to the Super Trooper hit-makers warned a comeback would be tricky.
"There are millions on the table. But there are many hurdles to overcome," the insider said.