Jacksons may reunite for tour 2008

Jacksons may reunite for tour
"Michael will be involved," says Jermaine Jackson of long-delayed move that includes new album

Nov 27, 2007 04:30 AM


Everybody else is getting back together, why shouldn't The Jacksons?

In a year that has seen reunion tours by The Police, Van Halen and the Spice Girls, Jermaine Jackson is floating the idea of a 2008 outing with his brothers, who range in age from 46 to 56.

"We feel we have to do it one more time," the singer/guitarist told BBC 6 Music yesterday.

The Gary, Ind.-born group, which began as the Jackson 5, shot to fame in the late '60s with the pop-soul hits "I Want You Back" and "ABC" on the strength of fifth son Michael's infectious vocals.

By the time they hit the road for the 1984 Victory Tour, they had left Motown for Epic Records, been joined by a sixth brother, Randy, and seen Michael score a multi-million-selling sophomore solo smash with Thriller.

They recorded 1989's 2300 Jackson Street before disbanding in 1990.

The key to a successful Jacksons comeback is the participation of King of Pop sibling Michael, who was said to have performed on the Victory Tour reluctantly.

"Michael will be involved," said Jermaine, who indicated that his infamous brother has attended organizational meetings at which concert dates were tabled.

He also told the BBC the long-rumoured reunion was delayed by Michael's 2005 sex abuse trial.

Though evidently the inspiration of young superstars such as Usher and Justin Timberlake, the entertainer's cat-and-mouse games with the public, absence from record charts, implausible plastic surgeries and controversial relationships with young boys have transformed him from music icon to punchline.

Being part of a family tour "could add something positive" to Michael's legacy, said Flow 93.5 program director Wayne Williams.

"It would be good for him and his career. And regardless of Michael's goings-on, there's definitely an appetite to see him along with all his brothers onstage one more time."

Jermaine also told the BBC that the band was "in the studioat the moment," hinting at work on new material.

Michael, who has long been supposed to be working on a new record, says in the current issue of Ebony magazine: "I'm writing a lot of stuff right now. I'm in the studio, like, every day."

However, the 49-year-old entertainer, who is featured on the cover to commemorate Thriller's 25th anniversary, is evasive on the subject of touring, primarily noting "I don't like long tours."

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