Jackson tribute concert set for October in Britain

Late pop icon Michael Jackson's family announced Monday a star-studded tribute concert to be staged in Britain in October, saying it would be a show "fit for a king." The show of more than four hours in honor of the self-styled King of Pop will be held on October 8 at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and will be broadcast to 30 countries around the world in 2D and 3D, they said. Names of the artists playing will be announced in London on August 3, said Chris Hunt, chief of Global Live Events, organizer of the concert which will raise money for a number of charities. "We wanted to do something decadent and worthy of Michael's musical genius, yet something fun and authentic that you would envision Michael attending with excitement and joy surrounded by talent that he respected and loved," he said. Jackson's mother, who attended a Beverly Hills press conference announcing the concert along with the late singer's sister La Toya and brothers Tito, Marlon and Jackie, said it would be "a show fit for a king." "I have been approached by many people with a variety of ventures,," she said, adding that Global Live Events was the first "to present me with a vision that will produce an authentic and memorable tribute that my son would love." "This tribute will be something that is spectacular," added La Toya Jackson. Tickets for the concert in the 75,000-seat Cardiff stadium -- the biggest indoor venue in Europe, according to the organizers -- will go on sale online on August 4, they said. Jackson died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50. His personal doctor Conrad Murray, accused of giving the singer an overdose of a powerful sedative, is due to go on trial in September on manslaughter charges. The trial in Los Angeles, which has been delayed a number of times, is expected to last several weeks, but if it starts in September it will likely be still ongoing when the tribute concert is staged.