Gene Simmons to play Jacko tribute concert despite controversial comments

The American rockers will take to the stage at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in October, along with Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis, Cee Lo Green, and JLS, according to reports.

But during an interview with Classic Rock magazine last February, the 61-year-old bassist said there was “no question” in his mind that Jackson molested children, even though the singer had been cleared of child-abuse charges in 2005.

Simmons, who told the magazine that he had met the music legend a few times, when Jackson was still a member of the Jackson 5, said: “As time moved on, and no matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of paedophilia after another… oh dear.”

Simmons also claimed to have known some of the musicians who Jackson toured with, and alleged that one of them quit his job after seeing “boys coming out of the hotel rooms”.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Simmons told the magazine. “There’s no question in my mind he molested those kids. Not a doubt.”

He added: “There’s never been a single female of any age that I’ve ever known about who has ever made a claim that she has had a physical relationship with Michael, ever.

“The only sexual references ever made about Michael Jackson that were made by anyone, anywhere around the world, have always been made by kids, and specifically males usually 10 to 14 years of age – never females that age or older, and never grown men.”

Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert is due to take place on 8 October.