Michael Jackson's death leaves AEG in the lurch

The death of Michael Jackson came just weeks before he was to start a series of comeback concerts that the onetime King of Pop hoped would relaunch his career and straighten out his finances.

Now concert promoter AEG Live is left in the lurch. The company, which is owned by reclusive media mogul Philip Anschutz, had shelled out more than $20 million on the concerts. "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega had been brought in to oversee the elaborate production of the shows, which were being rehearsed near the Burbank Airport. Just last month, AEG Chief Executive Randy Phillips told the Los Angeles Times that Jackson's concert shows were going to be "the biggest, most technologically advanced arena show -- and the most expensive -- ever mounted."

The 50 shows that Jackson had committed to at London's O2 arena had sold out. Presumably those tickets, which were going for hundreds of dollars, will be refunded. AEG's Phillips had said that Jackson had taken a four-hour physical that revealed no medical problems. AEG had said previously that it had gotten insurance for about half of the Jackson shows and would self-insure the rest.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Michael Jackson. Credit: Markus Schreiber / Associated Press

Comments

[Erik Higa]

We loved you Michael. We're gonna miss you.

[Laurel]

I heard a report on KFWB-AM today that the insurers conducted one physical, but required one more before the concert series, before completing their insurance contract with Michael Jackson.

If that's true, then why isn't it mentioned in this article, and also--wouldn't it have shown there were some doubts after the 1st physical?

[LawGuy]

Yet another reason to always use a credit card when purchasing. The seller doesn't deliver the product, and won't refund your money, simply instruct the credit card company to back charge the seller, end of story from the consumer's point of view.

Does anyone else find it interesting that his doctor was on the scene? The authorities have impounded the doctor's car but he's not a suspect. Yet! Elvis all over again???