Odds & Ends: Cancellations, Postponements and MJ Stuff

Yet another Elton John / Billy Joel postponement while Dio cancels the U.K., and Janet Jackson talks about denial.

We spoke too soon this morning in a posting about Elton John and Billy Joel having to postpone their Salt Lake City date originally scheduled for tomorrow night. While the show is definitely postponed until Feb. 19 at the EnergySolutions Arena, we just couldn’t leave it at that. Instead we had to go out on a limb and mention the tour’s next scheduled play date is this Sunday in Denver.

Photo: AP Photo

Roman amphitheatre, Pula, Croatia

Photo: AP Photo

Foxborough Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Guess what?

That’s right. Denver at the Pepsi Center is postponed until Feb. 22. An announcement on EltonJohn.com says Sunday’s tickets are good for the rescheduled date, but you can get refunds at point of purchase if the new date doesn’t fit into your 2010 calendar.

The first few Face2Face dates were postponed because of John’s bout with flu and an E. coli infection. However, recent postponements have been attributed to Joel suffering from, well, something.

The tour’s next scheduled stop is Oklahoma City at the Ford Center Nov. 25. Yeah, we know. Another step out on that limb.

Dio Ailin’

Illness has canceled Dio’s United Kingdom tour.

From RonnieJamesDio.com:

“Ronnie has been hospitalized and we are waiting for further news,” said Ronnie’s wife/manager, Wendy Dio.

Photo: AP Photo

Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway

Yet Another Janet Jackson Quote

ABC sure is getting a lot of mileage out of its interview with Janet Jackson. Although the interview didn’t air until last night, quotes were leaking as early as Monday, including Ms. Jackson blaming Michael Jackson’s personal physician – Dr. Conrad Murray – for her brother’s sudden death.

Photo: AP Photo

Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J.

The latest JJ quote was in response to questions about the King of Pop’s drug problem, which she answered saying her brother rebuffed attempts from friends trying to help him.

“I wish he could answer this question for you and not me,” Jackson told ABC’s Robin Roberts. “I felt that he was in denial.”

Jackson also said she hasn’t seen the concert flick – “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” – which details the dress rehearsals for her brother’s planned 50 show residency at London’s O2.

“I definitely won’t, not right now,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if I will ever see it.”