KISS to perform at Jackson tribute show

August 16th, 2011

Michelle

Global Live Events, the promotion company for the upcoming Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert, have confirmed that KISS have been added to the lineup of performers.

KISS will join the ranks of artists Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Cee Lo Green, JLS, and more who have yet to be announced.

This is an….interesting move for KISS, considering bassist Gene Simmons’ 2010 assertion of his belief that Jackson was definitely a pedophile.

These statements came even though Jackson was acquitted of any child molestation charges back in 2005. And Simmons, who claims to have “fond memories” of Jackson, has no doubt whatsoever that the King of Pop was guilty.

Simmons stated,

I knew Michael. I ran into him a few times. I met him the first time before he became the superstar, when he was sort of teenagey, when he was still a Jackson Five. This was in the Cher days, when Cher and I lived together. But as time moved on, and no matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of pedophilia after another and another and another…Oh dear.

Regarding some musicians who had toured with Jackson, but then quit, Simmons claims the quitting came after seeing

boys coming out of the hotel rooms…Well, you know, where there’s smoke there’s fire. There’s no question in my mind he molested those kids. Not a doubt.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Simmons stands by his statements, or tries to distance himself from them.