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Today, July 13, was supposed to be the day that the late Michael Jackson was to kick off his comeback tour This Is It at London’s O2 Arena. The original opening night was supposed to be July 8 but that show and the 3 after were pushed back to make the new opening night July 13. What started out as a 10 night stint grew to a 22 night stint and then, eventually, a 50 night stint … and according to Joe Jackson, it was the pressure of 50 dates that added to MJ‘s early demise:

If he were still alive today, his father Joe Jackson says the King of Pop never would have been able to perform at all 50 shows. In a new interview, he tells ABC News his son – who died June 25 at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest – was pressured into too many dates. (The shows were expected to generate $100 million in ticket sales.) “The comeback tour was a good idea, but the wrong idea about it. There were more tours added onto it,” Joe says. “Michael told me himself. That he agreed to 10 shows. But they went and added all these other shows.” Adds Joe, “I was worried about his health because all the shows that I’m seeing — no artist can do those many shows you know, back to back like that,” Joe Jackson said. “And so I knew Michael couldn’t do all those shows.” Longtime friend and sometimes financial advisor Leonard Rowe, no relation to Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe, also had his concerns. “Michael Jackson was not ready. He was not fit,” Rowe says, “[unless] you can call weighting 110, 115 pounds fit.” But the tour’s producers have said that Michael was in top form and would have had lots of rest during the run, which would have extended through March 2010.

Altho the This Is It Tour will, obvs, not be taking place tonight, an organized group of fans will still make their way to the O2 Arena to hold vigil for the late Michael Jackson:

Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans are gathering outside London’s O2 Arena this evening (July 16), to pay tribute to the self-styled king of pop on the evening he was due to kick off his 50-date ‘This Is It’ tour at the venue. Jackson’s death in June came before he had performed any of the shows in public, and Facebook groups have encouraged those who were due to attend the shows to pay tribute to the star tonight. Many fans have brought candles and personal tributes for Jackson along with them, reports BBC News, and some are writing messages for the star on a special memorial wall in the grounds of the venue. Officials working for Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ residency promoters AEG Live have hinted that footage of the star rehearsing for what he dubbed his final tour may be officially broadcast and released in the near future, though no dates have been confirmed yet. Promoter Randy Phillips told Billboard that the recording features “Some of the most compelling footage in the 21st century”.

It’s sad but I’m convinced that Joe Jackson will be talking about the death of his son for years and years to come to whoever is interested in talking to him. Whether or not he has valid points and concerns, nothing that he says can at all be taken seriously because he looks like nothing more than an opportunist whose only concern is keeping his name in the media spotlight. As for the fans convening at the O2 Arena tonight … I think it is very natural for his fans to want to convene at the sight of his proposed comeback tour. It’s a shame that we will never really know what his show would’ve been like because no amount of rehearsal footage can do justice to the real thing. I’m sure the tributes will continue for some time to come … but tonight’s vigil sounds like a very nice way for fans in the UK to say goodbye.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source, Source]