- Title: GERMANY: MICHAEL JACKSON INAUGURATES ADVENTURE RIDE IN PHANTASIALAND THEME PARK
- Date: 9th May 1996
- Summary: BRUEHL, GERMANY (MAY 11, 1996) FANS SCREAMING "MICHAEL JACKSON, KING OF POP" (ENGLISH) JACKSON GETTING OF TRAIN RIDE FANS SCREAMING AND WAVING
- Embargoed: 24th May 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRUEHL, BONN AND HAMBURG, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA8D9F6XICEDWIJIN7U51Y9S13Q
- Story Text: Hundreds of fans flocked to Phantasialand in Bruehl, near Cologne on Saturday (May 11) to catch a brief glimpse of rock star Michael Jackson, on a visit to the theme park to inaugurate an adventure ride.
Jackson recently cancelled planned concert dates in Germany in protest at new tax legislation which taxes entertainers resident abroad on thier income and restricts tax breaks against production costs.
In an effort to off-set the resultant bad publicity German Finance Minister, Theo Waigel, wrote an open letter to the star asking Jackson to reconsider the decision explaining that amendements to the legislation now under consideration would remove any financial risks to entertainers like himself.
"Dear Michael Jackson," Waigel wrote. "You should rethink your decision to cancel your concerts in Germany. You certainly have no reason to cancel them for tax reasons." Concert promoter Michael Bisping explained the new legislation threatened profitablity on large scale shows, such as those staged by artists like Jackson.
" You don't have to be a specialist in German tax law to realise if you tour the country you will lose money", Bisping said.
Their were mixed reactions from Jackson fans at the news of the cancellations. One teenage girl, Violetta said jackson has "enough money" and should come anyway. Another, Julie Tack, said it was a shame, "Michael Jackson is a legend".
Jackson, who has visited the Phantasialand theme park, before, inaugurated the "Colorado Adventure" ride before taking two spins on the run-away train.
The star, whose "Thriller" album is the world's all-time bestseller with the follow-up "Bad" not far behind, is hugely popular in Germany. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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