The ‘NSYNC/Jackson 5 machine has been turned on once again.
A scheduling conflict that caused the younger fivesome to pull out of their performance of “Dancing Machine” with the reunited legends on September 7 at New York’s Madison Square Garden has been resolved, ‘NSYNC announced Thursday (August 30).
‘NSYNC were originally slated to rehearse their MTV Video Music Awards performance on August 29 and 30 – the same days Jackson had hoped they could rehearse for his “Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years” concert. ‘NSYNC rearranged their schedule to make it work.
The group even found time to finish shooting a video for “Gone,” ‘NSYNC’s Joey Fatone said when he called into MTV’s “TRL” on Thursday.
“It took a lot of time to really reschedule, because a lot of stuff is happening before we go on vacation,” Fatone explained. “It was hard to get it all in.
“To actually say ‘no’ to the King of Pop was very grueling,” he continued. “We were trying to figure it out, and we finally have figured it out. So yeah, we’re doing [the Michael Jackson concert].”
This marks the second time an act has backed out of the anniversary show lineup only to return, both times involving the “Dancing Machine” performance.
Show producer David Gest pulled Jermaine Jackson out of the show in July after Jackson criticized the high ticket price and lack of charity involvement, only to welcome him back in August once he signed his contract.
‘NSYNC, meanwhile, finished shooting the video for “Gone” on Wednesday night in Los Angeles with director Herb Ritts (Madonna, Janet Jackson). Fatone described the clip as being largely black and white with a Charlie Chaplin theme.