Hopes Still Alive for Tutu Concert

Organizers of the postponed Bishop Tutu World Peace Concert say they plan to confer with the South African human rights activist next week in an effort to salvage the 12-hour charity event that was planned for Sept. 10 at the Coliseum.

Mike Mitchell, the show’s executive producer, blamed the postponement on insufficient funds to stage the estimated $3-million event. Proceeds from the concert were to go to various Bishop Desmond Tutu scholarship and refugee relief funds.

Wendy Armendariz, media coordinator for Mitchell Productions, said “everything was in place” two months ago for the show, which was to have featured such acts as Harry Belafonte, Manhattan Transfer and the Fat Boys, but “some of the (backers) did not live up to their commitments.”

The project also appeared troubled by poor ticket sales. Although Mitchell’s office refused to reveal how many of the potential 70,000-75,000 seats had been sold, Scott Carmichael, director of publicity for the Coliseum, said: “It’s no secret that ticket sales had not gone extremely well.”

According to one published report, ticket sales for the show had reached about 5,000. But an independent source in the concert business in Southern California placed the number of tickets sold at “less than 2,000.”

Armendariz said Mitchell’s L.A.-based firm remains optimistic that the project will eventually be staged.

Mitchell said he is scheduled to talk with Tutu in South Africa next week by phone and to meet in Los Angeles with other principal organizers, including record producer Quincy Jones.

“Large events are very complex and very difficult,” said Mitchell. “With an event like this, you have television contracts, radio contracts and promoters’ contracts.”

Mitchell said his company had committed $250,000 to the project. Another $750,000 was needed this week, however, to proceed with the original date, Mitchell said, and he was unable to raise the money.

Media coordinator Armendariz said most of the supporting organizations will still be involved if the concert is held at some later date, including Showtime/The Movie Channel, the pay-TV outlet that planned a live broadcast of the concert. Other firms still committed to the project, she said, include ABC Radio Network, LBS Communications and Radio Express.

She declined to say whether Miller Genuine Draft Beer, one of the original sponsors, will continue to be involved.

Tickets for the concert will be refunded beginning today at the Coliseum box office and all Ticketron and Ticketmaster outlets.

Mitchell expressed concern over the public reaction the postponement might cause.

“The status of the project has absolutely nothing to do with the support we received (regarding the cause) through public support and all the volunteers.”

In addition to performers previously announced, Armendariz said Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Chaka Khan, Little Richard, James Ingram and Sheena Easton had agreed to perform.

Johnny Clegg, a South African singer-songwriter who had been scheduled for the show, said he was not surprised by the turn of events.

Speaking from his home in Johannesburg, Clegg said: “I wasn’t entirely certain that it was running smoothly. We know it’s taken three years to get off the ground. I know there were consistent problems in raising funds . . . unless a really committed sponsor can be found, (it will continue to have the same problems).”