Phillips: MJ Was Not Frail

1-7-2009) The president of promoters AEG Live, Randy Phillips, has confirmed that video of Michael Jackson preparing for the 50 scheduled shows would disprove rumours that he was incredibly frail before his death.

"We may at some point release some footage of him in rehearsal that would totally refute that."

Phillips also said he hoped to recreate the shows, saying the production was "bigger than anything else could ever have been... at some point the world needs to see this production."

"I would imagine if we could do it, it would be done as a tribute, with the family, with the brothers performing, and some of the sisters, but also other stars who loved Michael."

AEG Live have said they will offer a full refund to all fans who were due to attend. Alternatively, ticket holders can send off for their specially designed tickets to keep as memorabilia.

Phillips also said he would have preferred Michael Jackson to have a doctor in London, but the star insisted on hiring Conrad Murray - who was with him in the final hours before his death - as his around-the-clock physician.

"Michael insisted on hiring Dr Murray because he told us he was his personal physician. He told one of our outside counsel... that he had been Michael's personal physician for three years.

And then Michael told me, he said: 'You don't understand, my body is the machine that fuels this business and I need personal care and I want a doctor 24-7, like President Obama would have. And this is my doctor."

Source: MJFC / Sky News / AFP