KISS Signs On To Michael Jackson Tribute

Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Jackson revealed the latest addition to the Oct. 8 concert in the U.K. while appearing on CNN this morning, saying her son “would be very excited about KISS.” Acts already announced for the mega-show in Wales include Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Leona Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Craig David, The Jackson Brothers, Alien Ant Farm, 3T and Brit boy band JLS.

KISS appearing as part of a tribute to Michael Jackson might seem like an odd choice for the concert’s lineup, but both acts shared a penchant for special effects-laden spectaculars as well as piling on the makeup.

However, not all fans are happy about the choice. CNN reports a comment Gene Simmons made a year after Jackson’s June 2009 death recently resurfaced and it wasn’t pretty.

According to TMZ, Simmons, commenting on the 2005 trial in which Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges, said, “There is no question in my mind he molested those kids. Not a doubt.”

As you can probably guess, Simmons’ 2010 comment didn’t go over too well with the King Of Pop’s fans.

“This is a complete disgrace,” one fan wrote on the concert’s Facebook page, according to CNN. “You can kiss your audience goodbye folks. I doubt whether any self-respecting fan will pay a penny to see that man after the comments he made about Michael. I’m shocked this act was even considered.”

Shortly after the concert was announced, Jackson brothers Jermaine and Randy issued a statement saying they support “the spirit of a tribute” to their deceased brother but found it “impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Micheal’s death.”

Click here for the Michael Forever – The Tribute Concert website and here for KissOnline.com.