Pressure of 50-concerts killed Jacko, says his old pal

London, June 29 (ANI): Michael Jackson's old friend producer and TV star David Gest believes that the pressure of 50-concert schedule killed the singer.

Gest said he was angry about the influence of mysterious Lebanese doctor Tohme R Tohme, who met the King of Pop when the singer was staying in Bahrain in 2005.

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"We all have weaknesses and Michael's was that he trusted the wrong people most of the time. He thought all people were good, which they are not," the Sun quoted Gest as saying.

Gest said that Tohme had masterminded Michael's mammoth run of 50 comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena, without telling the singer the full facts.

"Michael told me he was excited about getting back on stage. I told him I was proud of him. But I really believe in my heart of hearts that the pressure of those concerts killed Michael.

"He thought there were going to be ten dates as announced. But then all of a sudden Tohme, along with Randy Phillips, president of organisers AEG, had arranged 20, 30 then 50 dates.

"Michael was being told, 'You are going to set the world record for concerts at the O2, you are going to beat Prince's record.'

"They knew how to feed into his ego. But when Michael realised his schedule, he began to panic. It was one show after another, with hardly any days off. He should never have been tied to so many, especially a guy who dances through more than half of his set," he added. (ANI)