AEG exec: Michael Jackson tour was in danger of being canceled

LOS ANGELES, June 15 (UPI) -- Michael Jackson's comeback tour in London was in danger of being canceled after the singer appeared frail during rehearsals, an AEG top executive testified.

In the eighth day of his testimony in the wrongful-death case against AEG Live, top executive Randy Phillips said the singer appeared unprepared for the physical rigors of the "This Is It" tour both in terms of physical and mental health, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

When asked by an attorney representing Jackson's mother and three children if the tour was in danger of being canceled, Phillips said, "Yes, I would characterize it that way."

Phillips said tour director Kenny Ortega sent him an email describing Jackson as "trembling, rambling, obsessing" after a day of rehearsal June 19.

Phillips said he met with Jackson, Ortega and the singer's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, the next day and the singer looked remarkably better.

"I was as confused as anybody because the Michael Jackson I saw, the Michael Jackson sitting in that living room ... looked great," Phillips said.

Rehearsals on June 23 and 24 went smoothly and put everyone's fears about the tour to rest, Phillips said.

Jackson died June 25 after Murray administered lethal levels of propofol and sedatives to the singer to help him sleep. Murray is serving a four-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

Jackson's mother and three children are suing AEG for wrongful death, alleging the company was at fault because it failed to hire an appropriate physician for the pop star, and then neglected to supervise the singer properly.

AEG said Jackson hid his sleeping problem and Phillips said Friday it's not the company's policy to provide a doctor for a performer.