NY (Reuters) - Tickets to both all-star tribute concerts to
Michael Jackson at New York's Madison
Square Garden in
September have sold out in record time, according to event producer
David Gest. A combined total of 40,000 tickets for the
September 7 and 10 Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, the Solo Years concerts--priced $45 to $2,500 per ticket--sold out just five hours after going on sale Tuesday (July 31).
In a press release, Gest said, "Michael Jackson is looking forward to performing for the first time in 11 years in New York City and is thrilled that his fans have shown so much interest in his shows. He is very excited about debuting his first single from his upcoming Epic Records CD, Invincible, at the shows. His reunion with the
Jacksons (Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Randy) will certainly be one of the many highlights of the shows."
Seth Abraham, president of Madison Square Garden/Radio City Entertainment, said of the quick sell out, "Michael Jackson's return to live performance in these milestone concerts is on its way to being the largest grossing sellout in the history of Madison Square Garden."
The event will mark Jackson's first live performance on a main stage in 11 years and the first reunion with his brothers, the Jacksons, in almost 20 years. The two shows will be filmed for a two-hour, prime-time special that will air on CBS sometime during the 2001-2002 season.
Michael Jackson and the Jacksons will perform at both shows and more guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Confirmed special guests slated for each show are as follows (listed alphabetically):
Friday, September 7: Marc Anthony; Ray Charles; Deborah Cox; Destiny's Child; Gloria Estefan; Billy Gilman; Whitney Houston; James Ingram; Quincy Jones & the Legends of Jazz including Al Jarreau, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, David "Fathead" Newman, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry & Cassandra Wilson; Liza Minnelli; Monica; Mya; *NSYNC; Jill Scott; Shaggy featuring Ricardo "Rikrok" Ducent & Rayvon; Britney Spears; Tamia; 3T; Usher; and other surprise guests.
Monday, September 10: Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige, Deborah Cox, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Gloria Gaynor, Al Jarreau, Gladys Knight, Lil' Romeo, Ricky Martin, Liza Minnelli, Monica, Mya, 98 Degrees, Jill Scott, Usher, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, and other surprise guests.
In addition, stars from television, sports, movies, and the recording industry will honor Jackson during the concerts. Confirmed guests include: Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Samuel L. Jackson, Willem Dafoe, William Shatner, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Jane Russell, Chris Tucker, Liam Neeson, Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Esther Williams, Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones, Angie Dickinson, Master P, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, Sir John Mills, Hayley Mills, Janet Leigh, Reggie Miller, Ann Miller, Jane Powell, Macaulay Culkin, Patricia Neal, and other surprise guests.
