Doubt swirls around the remaining dates of the Supremes tour. Though Diana Ross issued a statement saying that the remainder of the tour has been canceled, concert promoters say that only three dates were axed.

Performances scheduled to take place at Jones Beach in New York on July 7, MCI Center in Washington, D.C., on July 9 and the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh on July 10 were pulled because of poor ticket sales, confirmed a SFX spokesperson. More could be canceled, she added, saying that "things could change at any moment."

Ross' statement, however, makes the situation for the remaining fourteen dates sound more definite. "I am severely disappointed that TNA and SFX have decided to cancel the remainder of the Diana Ross and the Supremes Tour," she says. "I was very much looking forward to performing for our fans . . . We have had fantastic audiences that have been extremely excited about the music and reliving their memories."

The tour hasn't been perceived as a true reunion, since Ross paired herself for this outing -- the Supremes' first with Ross since 1970 -- with Lynda Laurence and Sherrie Payne, who both joined the Supremes after Ross had already left. The more likely contenders, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, reportedly refused to join the tour because of the discrepancy in pay, having been offered $3 million each, while Ross was offered upwards of $15 to $20 million. Ross's asking price may account for the high ticket prices (at some shows, seats went for $250) and the subsequently low turnout. At the June 20 stop at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, for instance, the 22,000-seat venue only sold 3,000 tickets.

Still, Ross says, "I would sing the same if there were ten people in the audience or 10,000. I love the music and the fans, and I will find a way to reconnect with them as soon as possible." So far, the tour's last tour date remains listed as Aug. 5 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand.

JENNIFER VINEYARD
(July 12, 2000)