Concert Promoter wants answers from Jackson’s Doctors
Rachael | July 2, 2009
The concert promoter for Michael Jackson’s concerts has demanded answers from the late star’s doctors.
Randy Phillips, CEO of AEG Live, who were staging his ‘This Is It’ 50-date London residency want to check over the results of the medical checks taken by the ‘Thriller’ star-who died of a suspected cardiac arrest last Thursday (25.06.09)
Michael was passed by medical experts as fit to perform and then died suddenly, amid rumours of a painkiller addiction.
Randy said, ”Maybe they didn’t do a good enough job. We want answers. We have poured millions of cash into Michael’s comeback.
“All the tests pointed to him being in fine physical shape. It is 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?
“We must know the results. I don’t know what our legal rights are.”
The medical test was reported to have included over 50 different checks and tests. With the results stating Michael was fit enough to perform, AEG Live secured insurance cover for the first 22 concerts but were unable to convince insurers to cover the full 50 shows at a cost of £300 million.
The promoters now face multi-million pound payouts to every ticket-holder.
Randy also told of his last conversation with Jackson during rehearsals the night before he died.
He told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper, “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 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.”
There have been claims over the past few days that ABBA will perform 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 are hoping to get them to sign up to take on several of the vacant dates.
David Campbell, chief executive of AEG Europe, said, “There’s a little foursome out in Sweden we keep talking to.”
A source close to the ‘Super Trooper’ hitmakers warned a comeback would be tricky.
The insider said, “There are millions on the table. But there are many hurdles to overcome.”
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