White Lies: 'Michael Jackson Comeback Gig Plans Were Exploitation'

Expecting Michael Jackson to perform 50 nights at London’s O2 Arena was “bordering on exploitation”, White Lies singer Harry McVeigh has said.

Jackson, who died on Thursday at the age of 50, was due to begin the residency on July 13.

McVeigh told Gigwise the feat would have been “hard work for any one”.

Bassist Charles Cave added: “He definitely wouldn’t have made it through the 50 shows. I think maybe he would have done four or five, if he was lucky.”

Jackson’s planned shows at the O2 Arena would have marked his first full concert tour since HIStory over a decade ago.


White Lies speak to Gigwise at the Glastonbury festival.

Speaking to Gigwise at the Glastonbury Festival, Cave described Jackson’s death as “a very sad day”.

He added that he hoped people would now remember him for his music “instead of all the other things”.

White Lies wowed crowds yesterday on The Other Stage, during what was the biggest show of their career.

Cave told Gigwise that they were “shit scared” before taking to the stage.

“It’s good now we’ve been told we played well, but we didn’t know how it was going to be received [beforehand],” he said.

Check out pictures of White Lies - and all of the other day one performers - below.

Stay tuned to Gigwise for all the latest news, set reviews, interviews and photos from this year's Glastonbury festival over the course of the weekend.

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