Chinese singer Cheng Lin (L), guitar legend Jimmy Page (M), Michael Jackson's guitarist Orianthi at the press conference in Beijing. [China Daily]

The ambitious celebrity-filled International "Show of Peace" scheduled for April 17 at the Bird's Nest is having a few problems delivering on its promises.

The show - billed as one of Beijing's most spectacular music events - will go on, its organizer has said.

There has been speculation the "International Show of Peace," a globally televised and star-studded concert set to take place at the Bird's Nest stadium before an audience of between 50,000 and 100,000, will not take place.

But the show's promoter, television and music producer Rick Garson, insisted the curtain will rise, as scheduled on April 17.

He dismissed skeptics, saying his team has the expertise, experience and, most importantly, government approval, to make it happen.

"I have the trust and understanding of the Chinese government. It's going to happen, despite all the negativity," Garson said.

Garson unveiled his plans for the show at a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Beijing, on Jan 19, flanked by guitar legend Jimmy Page, Michael Jackson's guitarist Orianthi, UN Pathways to Peace representative Michael Johnson, and representatives from the Ministry of Culture and CCTV.

He also announced Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and Aerosmith's Joe Perry would perform at the event.

But last week China Music Radar, an English-language blog focused on the music industry in China, brought to light the fact that Lady Gaga was already booked to perform in Yokohama, Japan - the same day as the Beijing concert.

As news spread of the double booking, Garson, who is president of ZZYX Entertainment in Las Vegas, United States, was forced to issue an apology over the mix-up.

"It was anticipated that Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas' involvement in the Show of Peace Concert would be confirmed," he said in a statement. "Unfortunately, as often happens with music tours, schedules change, and currently Black Eyed Peas is not available to play live at the Show of Peace Concert."

Garson said he is still working to determine if Lady Gaga could somehow take part.

While the "Show of Peace" website also claims Aerosmith's Joe Perry "will be there taking part in the event," the guitarist's publicist, Paul Freundlich, at PSA Media in New York, told China Daily by e-mail: "The scope of his involvement is being determined."

Currently, the Show of Peace website lists several dozen "invited" superstars including Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Placido Domingo, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake and Prince.

In addition to these international artists, a number of domestic musicians have also been invited to perform.

Garson equated the situation to having a party at your house, where you invite 1,000 guests and only 100 show up.

"Any time you do an event like this people fall in, people fall out, and then they fall back in again," he said.

But with Lady Gaga unlikely to drop the paid Yokohama gig and the Black Eyed Peas officially out, the local music community remains skeptical.

"Garson is working to land the best of the best from the Chinese music community, but he needs to show he can land some big-name foreign artists first," said one Chinese artist who refused to be named due to the sensitivity of ongoing talks. "He appears to have put the chicken before the egg."

Despite the bad press, Garson may be one of the few people with the experience to pull it off. His US credits include the Billboard Music Awards, the Blockbuster Awards, America's Party Live from Las Vegas New Year's Eve TV Special.

Responding to questions concerning unconfirmed acts, Garson said his Divas in Beijing Global TV Special at the National Center for the Performing Arts, was one of the "premier cultural events" at the Beijing Olympics. The three-day event featured renowned sopranos Renee Fleming, Sumi Jo, and Angela Gheorghiu.

"People told me, 'Rick you can't get these opera stars, they plan 3 to 5 years in advance', and yet we put this together in 8 weeks. It's not that we like to do it this way, but it happened," he said.

The success of that event won Garson "the trust and understanding of the Chinese government, and CCTV, and related government divisions," he said.

Industry insiders said he may have the green light for the initial artist list, but final approvals are still pending.

The Ministry of Culture's final approval is usually obtained a few weeks before the actual event, said one industry insider, who also requested anonymity.

In addition to musical acts, Garson said his team is finalizing talks with major financial sponsors. So far, ZZYX Entertainment is picking up the tab for the free concert.

He expects to eventually fund the event by selling the rights to global TV and other multi-media outlets.

"I'm about Internet, mobile, ring tones, all new media, downloads - all this other stuff we are going to do to raise money for this cause."

According to the website the show is intended to promote: "Peace = Green + No War + Water + Food + Health + Education" and has "unprecedented" support from the United Nations. It is set to be staged on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Garson said preparations are moving full steam ahead. He vowed to release an updated list of confirmed musicians late this week.

In related news, Garson's group has announced a Green Ball VIP party, to be held at the Forbidden City's Imperial Ancestral Temple, on April 16, the day before the peace concert. This VIP-only event will feature local and foreign talents.

"We will have an extra satellite stage in the Forbidden City that will be linked through our (international) TV coverage to the rest of the concert at the Bird's Nest," Garson said in the statement.

An official from the China Arts Foundation vowed full support for the event.

"As a co-host of the Show of Peace concert, we want to offer our support for peace and green development around the world," said Shang Hua, director of the Foreign Affairs Department of China Arts Foundation.