Jackson memorial 'will be low-key'

The producer of Michael Jackson’s public memorial has revealed that the event will be a "low-key" affair.

Ken Erlich, who produces the Grammys, said that the memorial will be tasteful and sombre, despite the chance that it could be chaotic with the amount of media coverage and fans expected to attend, the New York Daily News reports.

He said: "It will be a celebration of his life, [but] we’re not approaching it as a TV show. In the future there may be a tribute to Michael Jackson. This is really a memorial service.

"It’s not going to have all of the bells and whistles. We want to keep it low-key."

Talking about the celebrities expected to attend, Erlich said: "People who are watching it, both live and on TV, can expect to see people who have played a role in his life, who will both be reminiscing about him and speaking to the impact that he’s made."

More than 1.6 million people registered for free tickets to the farewell to the pop icon at the Staples Centre and the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.