Today in MJJ HIStory

1986 - A press conference announced the new Pepsi-Cola contract with Michael Jackson. Michael enters The Guinness Book Of World Records and is acknowledged by them as having the largest endorsement agreement in history between an individual and a major corporation [Pepsi-Cola]. A record of US$ 15 million were reported.
Filed under  //   1986  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1984 - Just one month after the accident, Michael had recovered well enough to enjoy his big win at that year’s Grammy Awards on February 28, 1984, taking away a total of eight trophies for the Thriller, including the coveted Record of the Year that had eluded Off The Wall.

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Michael attended the ceremony with two dates: Brooke Shields, a close friend who had also been his date at the American Music Awards a month earlier, and child actor Emmanuel Lewis, star of the sitcom Webster, who was a few weeks shy of thirteen, but looked much younger.

At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards Michael won 8 Grammys in ten categories: Album Of The Year ["Thriller"], Best Pop Male Vocal ["Thriller" LP], Record Of The Year ["Beat It"], Best Rock Male Vocal ["Beat It"], Best R&B Male Vocal ["Billie Jean"], Best New Song Of The Year ["Billie Jean"], Producer Of The Year [with Quincy Jones] and Best Children's Recording ["E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial" with narration by Michael Jackson].

Michael's date for the evening was Brooke Shields.

It is the most ever won in a single year and entered The Guinness Book of World Records.

Michael Jackson wins a total of 8 awards at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.

On receiving the Grammy award for ‘Album Of The Year’ – ‘Thriller’ – Jackson declares:

“This is a great honor, I’m very happy. I’d like to thank Epic Records – it’s the best record company in the world and the best – the best President of any record company, walter Yetnikoff, come up here, Walter, where are ya? Walter Yetnikoff, ladies and gentlemen. […] I – I also would like to say something very important that some people are entertainers, some people are great entertainers, some people are followers and some people make the path and are pioneers. I’d like to say Jackie Wilson was a wonderful entertainer. He’s not with us anymore [voice slightly trailed off], but Jackie, where you are, I’d like to say I love and thank you so much. […] This is one of my best friends in the world, I love Quincy Jones and he’s a wonderful producer and he’s a wonderful person.”
On winning the Producer Of The Year Grammy Award with Quincy Jones, he briefly states: “I don’t wanna take up much time, I just wanna say thank you and I love you all.”On accepting the "Best Recording For Children" Grammy award, he declares:
"Of all the awards I’ve got now, I’m most proud of this one, honestly. Because I think children are a great inspiration and this album is not [only] for children, it’s for everyone. And I’m so happy and I’m so proud..And I’ll just say thank you so much."
He makes the following speech on accepting the award for ‘Best Pop Vocal Performance’ – ‘Thriller’:
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“Thank you. Thank you. When something like – when something like this happens, you want those who are dear to you up here with ya. I’d like to ask for my sisters, La Toya and Janet, please come up. My sister, Janet, as well, come up. First of all, I’d like to thank God, who is – Rebbie, I’d like to have you up here too, you know -, also I’d like to thank my mother and father who is – who are with us all the way. My mother, she’s very shy, she’s like me, she won’t come up. [laughs mildly]. [Here is] my other sister. I have three sisters. Also, I’d like to thank all my brothers who I love very dearly, all of – including Jermaine. I forgot to thank Steven Spielberg on the E.T. album [award], I love him very much, and I also forgot to thank Quincy’s wife – Peggy Jones, she was a great help on the E.T. album. I’ve made a deal with myself - if I win more – one more award, which is this award, which is 7th, which is a record, I would take off my glasses. [smiles] You know, I - I don’t wanna take them off, really, but… [fans screaming] [to his approving sisters:] Should I take them off? Okay. Well, Katherine Hepburn, who is a dear friend of mine, she told me I should and I’m doing it for her, okay? And the girl – and the girls in the balcony. [takes them off, gets embarrassed] Thank you.”
‘Beat It’ wins the ‘Record Of The Year’ award.
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“I love all the girls in the balcony. [smiles] Again, thank you, my mother and father, thank you, Epic Records Promotion Department, Walter Yetnikoff, thanks, the disc-jokeys, for playing the records. Thanks to the public. I love you all. Thank you.”
Producer Quincy Jones reads his speech, after which Jackson adds:
“I’d like to thank Lionel Richie, who is here tonight, and he’s a wonderful person and a wonderful songwriter. I’ve been knowing him ever since I was 10 years old. Also, I’d like to thank again Quincy Jones and the fans in the balcony.” , says the entertainer
That night, he also wins the ‘Best Male Rock Vocal Performance’ award for ‘Beat It’, the ‘Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ‘Billie Jean’ and the ‘Best Video Album’ award for ‘Thriller’.

The Jacksons' Pepsi commercials were aired during the award telecast and are amongst the most successful and most popular ads ever, and the first and only set of advertisements ever to be included in the weekly "TV Guide" listings.

Michael Jackson is on the Blues & Soul Magazine [United Kingdom].

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1986 - Michael telephones and invites 14-year-old Donna Ashlock from California - convalescing after a heart transplant - over to "Hayvenhurst" mansion in Encino, there dining and watching a film with the young patient, the actual visit taking place on March, 8. That same year, he invites 12-year-old Danielle Finmark (attending "Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times", an organization for children with cancer) to the ranch, where she tours the residence, visits his menagerie, has lunch with Jackson and watches movie "Short Circuit" with him, according to Finmark.

1996 - Michael and Janet Jackson take home the “Best Music Video, Short Film” Award for “Scream”, alongside producer Cean Chaffin and director Mark Romanek at the 38th Annual Grammy Award ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Ca.

2003 - Michael Jackson won an early skirmish Friday in his legal fight to ban a British television company screening unseen footage from a controversial behind-the-scenes documentary about him.

The American singer had asked the High Court in London to grant an injunction preventing Granada Media Group showing any more footage from its hugely popular "Living with Michael Jackson" show but lawyers for both parties said they had managed to reach a private agreement.

Granada's lawyer, Geoffrey Hobbs, told the court that his client had agreed not to exploit copies of the program or any out-takes until a full hearing of the case after March 31.

Feb 29

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in Avignon, France.

Filed under  //   1984   1986   1996   2003  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in Bournemouth, UK.

1983 - Jane Fonda presents Michael with a Platinum certification for "Thriller" at the CBS Press conference.

1986 - Songwriters Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie are honored with the "Best Song of the Year" award for "We Are The World", the relief single they wrote for the "USA For Africa" project in 1985, at the 28th Grammy Awards from Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

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The song is also voted as the "Record of the Year ", an award accepted by producer Quincy Jones, joined on stage by Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick.

Michael and Lionel accepted the award for the Song of the Year together. On accepting the award he makes a brief speech
Michael stepped to the podium, dressed in black uniform jacket and red shirt, with several gold pins:

"First, I’d like to thank God, and I’d like to say thank you for choosing Lionel and myself to write "We Are The World". I thank Quincy Jones, who was the greatest producer to me. And I also like to say, when you leave here, remember the children. Thank you."
At an ensuing press conference, he is asked about how he creates songs and to comment a little on ‘We Are The World”.
“That’s one of the hardest questions to answer, because it’s a – it just comes, songs just kinda create themselves, so I don’t wanna dissect it really, just I let it happen. […] I wanted something that the whole world could sing.”
After the speech, Michael Jackson exits the stage happily and tightly holding mentour and friend Stevie Wonder's hand. The other honors for "We Are The World" are the "Best Pop Performance By Duo or Group" and "Best Short Form Video".

1998 - Michael attends the investiture ceremony of then South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung, one of the century’s astute fighters for democracy and 2000 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

He stays in Seoul, South Korea from February 20 to February 27. Kevin Sullivan, reporter of Washington Post, who met with the artist at the event, answers that the latter’s purpose for his being present at the event was because “[Jackson] praised Kim Dae-jung's commitment to children, and he said he was considering a concert to benefit starving children in North Korea and around the world. (Jackson did headline two huge concerts in June 1999, one in Seoul and one in Munich, that raised several million dollars for children's charities.)” A day after the artist’s sudden demise, former South Korean president, Kim Dae-jung, who, less than two months later will also pass on due to a multiple organ dysfunction, says “the world has lost a hero… and Korea also lost a beloved friend, who showed continued interest and supported unification of Korean peninsula. Korean people are sad.”

2002 - It was announced that Michael Jackson's Neverland Entertainment was investing about $20 million into MDP Worldwide Entertainment, Inc. Mark Damon, chief executive of MDP, stated that Jackson would be a producer, actor and director for Neverland Pictures.

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Michael Jackson’s Neverland Entertainment has invested $15 million-$20 million in Mark Damon’s production and distribution company MDP Worldwide, making Jackson and his new producing partner Raju Patel major shareholders in the company.

As part of the deal, MDP will operate a new division, Neverland Pictures, headed by Jackson and Patel along with key executive Lawrence Mortoff.

The company plans to produce a range of projects with a focus on family films and reimaginations of classics, some of which might be directed by and/or star Jackson.

The venture was announced Sunday night during a private dinner reception at Damon’s hillside Benedict Canyon home, attended by 250 guests. Making a rare appearance, Jackson showed up along with longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor and “Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner to tout the deal.

Until his arrival, it was not clear whether Jackson would show up at the event, but suddenly he appeared from a nearby dining room and entered the dinner tent to a standing ovation, arm in arm with Taylor. After making it to their thronelike chairs onstage, Jackson took to the microphone and explained his decision to invest in MDP and enter the indie film business.

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“I dream great dreams,” Jackson said.

“Everything I’ve achieved started with a dream, and of all the dreams, this is the one I am most passionate about.

The painter paints, the sculptor sculpts, but they just capture a glimpse of life – of the subject.

And film, this medium, you live with the protagonist, you suffer with the protagonist, you laugh with the protagonist, you despair with the protagonist. It’s the most artistic, influential medium of all.

I am very proud of what we’re doing, and I promise you wonderful and fantastical things to come.”

After his onstage appearance, the notoriously shy King of Pop elaborated in an interview about his plans for Neverland Pictures.

He said he will be involved in all aspects of the company, such as reading scripts, plucking talent and directing.

“I have a lot to express in film,” Jackson said, revealing that his favorite movie is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “I’ll be doing the whole thing, behind and in front [of the camera]. I love it.”

Another movie Jackson is fond of is 1994’s “The Jungle Book,” which Patel produced and Damon executive produced, marking the duo’s first collaboration.

After seeing the movie, Jackson called Patel, who also produced “The Adventures of Pinocchio” and “The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo,” to compliment him on his work, and the two became friends.

That brought Jackson and Patel to Damon’s MDP. Patel said he and Jackson chose to invest in MDP and launch Neverland under their banner to gain creative freedom outside the studio system. “Michael wants control, and that’s hard to get at a studio level,” he said. “He wants to be able to go straight from an idea into the marketing.”

Neverland already has a slate of projects, with three of them expected to be announced shortly. Whether any of those include Jackson-directed projects is unclear, but if he’s not willing to hop behind the camera so soon, his close friend Taylor is.

“I wanted to direct for quite a while,” Taylor said in an interview. “I’ve observed and picked up so much from other directors and other actors and learned just by osmosis. I’d like to take the knowledge I’ve learned from them and have a go at it.”

Jackson has had several previous forays into film production, more notable for their ambitious announcements than their actual output: in 1991, he signed a nonexclusive first-look deal with Columbia Pictures through his Nation Films banner.

In 1993, he announced a second feature film company, Michael Jackson Productions Inc., promising to deliver movies with positive and uplifting themes.

Filed under  //   1979   1983   1986   1998   2002  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in Frankfurt, Germany on Destiny tour.

1980 - Michael attends the 12th Annual NAACP Image Awards at the Hollywood Palladium. The Jacksons won the Best Singing Group of the Year award.

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1984 - Filming of the second Pepsi commercial "Concert" concluded at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium.

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Real terror struck during the filming when a spark from the bombs [for pyrotechnical effects] set his hair on fire. Michael suffered second and third degree scalp burns.

At 6:00 PM, director Bob Giraldi called for another take of the scene with Michael dancing down the staircase. This was the last scene to be shot after four days of filming. Michael stood at his spot at the top of the stairs, and was told to stand there until the bombs went off this time, then make his descent. So after the pyrotechnics went off, Michael began to dance down the stairs. Suddenly he cried out in pain. A spark from the lightning effects had set his hair on fire. He pulled his jacket up over his head to try to put out the flames. Mass confusion followed. Fans and extras used in the audience were horrified as were his brothers and the crew. Jermaine initially thought Michael had been shot!

The first to reach Michael to help was his personal secretary, Miko Brando, Marlon Brando's son, who quickly extinguish the flames, possibly saving the singer's life. Miko did smother the flames with his hands and suffered burns on his own fingers trying to put out the flames in Michael's hair. A fan from the audience applied an ice pack on the burn.

Michael was rushed to the emergency room of Cedar Sinai Medical Center and was later moved to Brotman Memorial Hospital for treatment. Having been told a barrage of reporters and photographers awaited his arrival at the hospital, Michael told the ambulance attendants that he wanted to wear his glove when he was wheeled into the hospital.

Somewhat badly burned, television news was on alert as Jackson was hospitalized overnight, footage of him being rushed from the ambulance on a stretcher – head bandaged, faced covered, hand glitter-gloved – played at regular intervals, an image that became as much a part of his legend as any of his staged performances.

Michael had suffered a palm sized second degree burn on the back of his head with a smaller third degree burn the size of a half dollar at the center. It was a serious burn that reportedly could have burned through his scalp and killed him. Michael at first refused any pain killers due to his strong disapproval of any drugs. Later, he did give in to the extreme pain and accepted medication.

1986 - "We Are The World" win the "Song of the Year" award at the 14th American Music Awards ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Ca.

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Michael arrives half-way through the American Music Awards ceremony in company of Elizabeth Taylor, dressed in a green khaki uniform that looked like a cross between a Canadian mountie and a school crossing guard.

American Music Award of Appreciation went to Harry Belafonte, who first conceived the idea to create a project for the relief of famine in Ethiopia. On accepting the award, he called Ken Kragen, Quincey Jones, Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson up on stage to share the award.

At the show's conclusion, most of the celebrities including Diana Ross, Janet & LaToya, reunited with them on stage to sing "We Are The World".

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Following the awards presentation, Michael, with Elizabeth Taylor, joined Lionel Richie and Brenda Richie for dinner. Michael took along his personal chef who prepared him steamed okra.

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1989 - Michael played the 123rd and final show of the "Bad" tour at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Michael Jackson's final performance of the Bad World tour. Los Angelese mayor Tom Bradley declared it "Michael Jackson Day" and presented Michael with the proclamation. Several celebrities showed up to wish him farewell. Among them were Raquel Welch, Michael Landon, Phil Collins, Dionne Warwick, Lola Falona, Tiffany, Diahann Carroll, Ava Gardner, and Sidney Poitier. Many of Michael's closest friends were also there; Suzanne dePasse, Sophia Loren, Jane Fonda, and Smokey Robinson. Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, Janet and his mother, Katherine, were all there for Michael's final concert performance. Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Ross also attended the last show. One other very special friend visited Michael backstage that night, Bubbles.

For this performance, Berry Gordy was again in the audience. Michael dedicated the Motown medley to Gordy, and at the end of the show he told the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen, there is a man here tonight who helped my career. He is Berry Gordy. Stand up Berry!"

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Among the children to join Michael on stage for this final performance was Jimmy Safechuck. Jimmy was dressed as Michael and performed the new sideways moonwalk right along side Michael.

The "Bad" tour broke all existing records and became the biggest tour ever done up to that date. The "Bad" World Tour attendance figures total 4.4 million, making Michael's 16 month tour [September 12, 1987 - January 27, 1989], which played in 15 countries, the largest in history. The tour became also the highest grossing concert tour, grossing over US$ 125 million, more than any other entertainer has ever grossed on a single tour. The BAD tour was the 6th largest tour of the year in the US, playing in only 19 cities, the tour grossed $20.3 million.

Michael will break his "tour records" a couple years later.

During his European leg of the "Bad" tour, Michael was earning UK£ 3'425 a minute. Michael had negotiated a deal worth UK£ 20 million, of which he received 90% of the preceeds from all concerts. After paying his entourage of 140, he was left with profits of around UK£ 400'000 per show.

The Bad World Tour was supposed to end on December 26, 1988, but Michael was forced to postpone five concerts at Memorial Arena in Los Angeles after suffering from swollen vocal chords following his performance there on November 13, 1987. Those final five shows were held between January 16-27, 1989, bringing the massive 16-month odyssey to an end.

Between September 12, 1987 and January 27, 1989, Michael had performed 123 concerts to a total of 4.4 million people, grossing a total of $125 million, a sum that earned him yet another entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. Along the way, he made numerous large charitable donations and frequently invited underprivileged children to see the show for free.

1990 - Michael receives the Entertainer Of The Decade award at the 7th American Cinema Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Ca.

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The American Cinema Foundation awarded special honors to three entertainers. Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck were honored for their career achievements in films. The Entertainer of the Decade honor was awarded to Michael Jackson.

Among Michael's guests at the award presentation were Janet, Tito, and Jermaine. The award ceremony was a little late getting started, as Michael showed up two hours late. When he finally showed up, dressed in a red shirt, and black military jacket, Sophia Loren presented Michael with his award, and he gave an incredible three minute speech. "I'm giving a long speech because I'm not on television." In fact, no cameras were allowed to film him. In his speech, Michael spoke of his deep affection for fellow honoree Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor had had similar praise for Michael in her own speech saying she was happy to be honored with "my beloved Michael, whom I would have loved and admired if I had never seen him dance or heard him sing."

2007 - Michael has dinner with UK producer Simon Fuller, Emmy award winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega who choreographed the HIStory tour and US journalist Robin Leach at "Wing Lei" Chinese Restaurant at Wynn in Las Vegas.

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Both Michael and Ortega have been associated with Steve Wynn. Michael was often a guest of Wynn's at The Mirage and there was talk that Wynn was bringing Michael back to Las Vegas.
Filed under  //   1979   1980   1984   1986   1989   1990   2007  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1971 - Goin' Back to Indiana, a live/soundtrack album by The Jackson 5 for Motown Records, was released.

The album features tracks from J5's September 16, 1971 ABC TV special of the same name. It also featured tracks recorded by the J5 during their May 29 "homecoming" concert in Gary, Indiana (hence, both the show title and name of 1970 song that appeared on Third Album). The album went on to sell 2.6 million copies worldwide and reached #5 in R & B, and #15 overall in Billboard.

The album contains new versions of I Want You Back and Maybe Tomorrow, the second part of the album features a live performance of the Jackson 5, so-called performance recorded during their visit to Gary, May 29, 1971.
*Serious doubts are regularly raised as to the reality of this information. Indeed, May 29, 1971, the J5 were not Gary, but in Indianapolis. It could be that the concert was recorded in Indianapolis, but Motown, to maintain the myth of the great return to Gary, would simply deliberately erroneous information.

1979 - Off The Wall (LP) enters the Top 60 albums chart in UK peaking at #5 and remains on the charts for an astounding one hundred and seventy-three weeks!

1984 - The Jacksons performs Victory tour at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA] attending 60,000 fans.

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Hey magazine[Turkey] featured Michael on their cover.

1986 - A new line of Michael Jackson children's clothes is launched at the Palladium nightclub in New York. Manufactured by Entertainment Properties Inc. all the clothes carry the MJ monogram.

1987 - Rock & Pop magazine[Argentina] featured Michael on their cover.

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1994 - Michael Jackson's album "Thriller" was certified 24 times Platinum, the album "Bad" was certified 8 times Platinum and the album "Dangerous" was certified 6 times Platinum.

2001 - Entertainment Weekly magazine featured MJ on the cover.

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Are You Ready For Jacko?
The King of Pop is Back - And as wacko as ever!
Inside his New York concerts: The music and the madness!
2006 - Michael & Debbie have reached a confidential settlement over their 3 years long dispute regarding Debbie's visitation rights on Prince & Paris & money compensation.

Michael who is still in Ireland with Grace & the kids has recently met with hip hop producer Ron Feemster & his uncle/manager Charles Stanton to discuss possible collaboaration on his his album.

He also asked Teddy Rilley and Will I AM from the Black Eyed Peas to work on new songs for him.

Filed under  //   1971   1979   1984   1986   1987   1994   2001   2006  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1984 - The Jacksons perform Victory tour at Olympic Stadium, Montreal [Canada] attending 58,270.

1986 - Michael Jackson's film Captain EO opened at Disneyland in the Magic Eye theater. The film actually debuted in Disneyland's Journey into Imagination at Epcot Center on September 12.

1989 - A California Raisins commercial that featured a "claymation" version of Michael Jackson debuted on U.S. television.


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The new California Raisin commercial first aired in theaters in July featured a claymation MJ. The claymation MJ dreams of being Michael Raisin, who performs "Heard It Through The Grapevine". Michael's singing voice isn't used in the ad, but his speaking voice is. When clay Mike wakes up, he figures the strange dream he had must been due to, "something I ate".

Even though Michael's own singing voice couldn't be used in the ads, due to his exclusive contract with ; he did contribute to the making of the ads, acting as a model for the claymation figure & contributing to the creation of six other backup raisins. A 30 minute film of Michael performing was made to serve as a model for the figure's movements. Michael received a $25,000 fee for his contribution to the ads, which he donated to charity.

1992 - Michael performs Dangerous tour at Olympic Stadium, Barcelona [Spain] attending 42,000.

1993 - Tele Poche, a French magazine features MJ on its cover with the story L'affaire Michael Jackson.

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2010 - HIStory concert at El Menzah Stadium - Tunis, Tunisia was aired by the Nessma TV channel in Tunisia.

Filed under  //   1984   1986   1989   1992   1993   2010  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1981 - A video of the Jacksons' "The Triumph (Can You Feel It)" was aired on "American Bandstand."

1971 - Filmed on 9/10th July, the Jackson 5’s first TV special Goin Back To Indiana, was aired in the States on – appropriately – ABC-TV.

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The hour long show, with guests comedians Bill Cosby (as roving reporter Scoop Newsworthy) and Tommy Smothers, singers Bobby Darin & Diana Ross, American footballer Roosevelt ‘Rosey’ Grier, Ben Davidson, and pro-basketball stars Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor & Elvin Hayesand, was an enjoyable mix of music and comedy sketches.

It also featured tracks recorded by J5 during their May 29 "homecoming" concert in Gary, Indiana (hence the show title).

Diana Ross made a brief cameo appearance, and footage from the Jackson 5’s triumphant homecoming to Gary, Indiana in January 1971, was screened.

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No longer limited to guest appearances on other people's shows (a regular practice during this point in their career), the brothers were now a big enough name to draw their own audience, who tuned in as enthusiastically to the special as they did to the new Jackson 5ive Saturday morning cartoon that also made its debut in September.

1984 - OK! magazine [France] featured Michael & La Toya on their cover.

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1986 - America's National Enquirer ran a cover story 'Michael Jackson’s Bizarre Plan to Live to 150'. Pictured, Michael apparently sleeping in an oxygen chamber, fanning the already rampant rumors of his eccentric and puzzling lifestyle.

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The photograph showed the singer, then aged 28, in a striped shirt, dark trousers and white socks, lying on his back with his eyes closed in a hyperbaric chamber of the type used to treat victims of serious burns, embolisms and carbon monoxide poisoning. Something, so the story claimed, Michael did every night as he believed it would prolong his life expectancy!

Such a machine typically consists of a steel and glass or Perspex cylinder inside which the patient is sealed while pure oxygen, under considerable pressure, floods damaged flesh, thus preserving circulation and maintaining tissues essential to the healing process.

Here you can read a comment on that topic by Michael himself (Taken from the Interview "MJ Talks To Oprah", 1993):

Oprah: OK, but you are in something there, there's a picture of you, where did that come from? How did it get started?

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MJ: That's... I did a commercial for Pepsi and I was burned very badly and we settled for 1 million dollars and I gave all the money...like, we built this place called the Michael Jackson Burn Centre and that's a piece of technology used for burn victims, right. So I'm looking at the piece of technology and decide to go inside it and just to hammer around, somebody takes the picture, when they process the pictures the person who processes the picture says. "Oh, Michael Jackson". He made a copy and these pictures went all over the world with this lie attached to it. It's a complete lie... It's crazy. Why would I want to sleep in a chamber?

Oprah: The rumour was that you were sleeping in the chamber because you didn't want to grow old.

MJ: That's stupid. It's completely made up. I'm embarassed. I'm willing to forgive the press, or forgive anybody, I was taught to love and forgive, which I do have in my heart, but please don't believe these crazy, horryfying things.

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In Michael's "Leave Me Alone" video he lashes back the publisher as "National Intruder". And one of the many bizzar newspaper headlines reads "Michael Sleeps In Hyperbaric Chamber", with an identical photo shown to the one that was attached to the stories, which showed Michael lying in a glass box.

1987 - CIAO 2001 magazine [Italy] featured Michael on the cover.

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1992 - Michael performs Dangerous tour at Stade Municipal, Toulouse [France] attending 40,000.

1996
- Russian Mayor Meeting: Michael meets Moscow's mayor Yuri Luzhkov - Monday.


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Michael was a presented a Russian folk handcraft plate depicting Moscow's coat of arms; Gzhel depicting a horseman with a spear in his hand slaying a basilisk and is identified with Saint George and the Dragon.
Michael's arrival in Russia is such a success that MJJ Productions issue the following press release:

'Calling it a 'great gift to Moscovites for him to be here' Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov officially welcomed Michael Jackson to the city with a ceremonial reception at the city government's White Hall.

Flanked by other government officials, Luzhkov called Jackson 'a great talent and an outstanding artist' before presenting him with a replica of an official Russian plate from which he said. 'the people's predecessors took their food'. 'Michael Jackson gives himself to all people' said Luzhkov, 'you can sense the warmth. We love classic music and modern music and Michael Jackson is the best as far as modern music is concerned.'

Filed under  //   1971   1986   1987   1992   1996  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1973 - The Jackson 5's next studio album, Get It Together, is released.

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GIT was a strong album that enjoyed moderate success. Musically, their sound had matured from bubblegum pop to hard funk/proto-disco, which may have been over the heads of their young audience.

Michael was now fifteen years old, and although he could no longer rely on the pre-pubescent charm that helped make him a star, he continued to grow as a performer.

The last song on the album, Dancing Machine, became a feature for a new dance routine, “the robot” (first used during the Japan concerts the previous spring), that would become an MJ trademark – at least until the moonwalk (or “back slide”) came along a decade later.

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"Get It Together", the tenth album of Motown Jackson 5, is regarded as album of the revival of the brothers in this team. Their previous album "Skywriter" having been, in fact, a failure, and the group seemed far from triumphant debut.

1973 was also the year when the J5 begin to find a way to compose and produce their own songs. Unfortunately the machine is far from Motown tubes to be flexible and allow full freedom to his singers, confined to their unique role as interpreters. The group is approaching, however, Stevie Wonder. Recording sessions with a number of times will take place. But the only official release will appear in the chorus of the single "You Have not Done Nothing".

"Get It Together" is tinged with the imprint of Hal Davis, the producer behind the new Jackson 5's, and these new dance rhythms.

"The boys asked me something that moves", said Hal Davis. "The clubs discos appeared everywhere, and these kids were real dancers. The disco was in the air, and suddenly, I would have given anything to dance. I had this extraordinary rhythm section: William Salter to bass, Joe Sample on keyboards, and James Gadson on drums. Gadson was particularly giant. "

On "Get It Together," the voice of Michael begins to change: a little more serious, but also more powerful than ever. Behind it, he dreamed of singing songs to disco club. He adored move. "The disco had its detractors," says Michael, "But for us it was a necessary route to enter the adult world.

Among the motivating songs include the title song "Get It Together," written and composed by almost all the flagship Motown: Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, Larson and Marcellino. This title has reached the second list Soul, 1973, as the title "Do not Say Goodbye Again".

The album contains, as often since the inception of the times: The Supremes, Reflections, Gladys Knight & the Pips, "You Need Love Like I Do Do not You", and finally one of the Temptations: "Hum Along And Dance ", a composition of Norman Whitfield.

Jackson 5 But the real surprise of the album Dancing Machine. This title has been broadcast on radio after the sales of this album have ceased. The title has been # 1 in March 1974 and was resumed in a shorter version in 1974 on the next album, "Dancing Machine". The disco track is an opportunity for Michael to sparkle with creativity. The title was inspired dance called the "Robot", mechanical movement, which inspired many dancers (including those who will say later, having learned the moonwalk to Michael ...) and mark the beginnings of dance called "Breakdance .

The recording sessions of "Get It Together" gave birth to several titles of which will be published a few years later Joyful Jukebox Music in 1976: it is Pride and Joy, a cover of Marvin Gaye in a absolutely fresh and innovative approach to this classic Motown.

That autumn, the group’s TV appearances included a Bob Hope special and Soul Train.

1986 - Michael Jackson's "Captain Eo" debuted at Disneyland's Journey into Imagination at Epcot Center.

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More than a year after this first announcement, "Captain EO" ["EO" is Greek for "dawn"], Michael's 17 minute space fantasy 3-D movie, premièred at Epcot Center in Disney World, Florida. The film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola ["Dracula"] and produced by George Lucas ["Star Wars"], becomes [and up to today still is] the most expensive film -"minute-for-minute" - ever made. [Estimated costs for the 17 minute film - US$ 30 million].

Michael stars in the title role alongside Anjelica Huston.
Billed as 'a celebration of triumph over evil', it included two new songs written and performed by Michael, Another Part Of Me (later featured on Michael’s album BAD) and We Are Here To Change The World.

After its première at Disney World Florida, the 3-D movie was shown at all 4 Disney Theme Parks [Florida, California, Japan, France] with tremendous success and became one of the main attractions of the parks. "Working on 'Captain EO' reinforced all the positive feelings I've had about working in film and made me realize more than ever that movies are where my future path probably lies", Michael says later.

After a long delay, Captain EO premiered at the Epcot Center on September 12, 1986. A 3-D special effects extravaganza, the seventeen-minute film cost $30 million to make, making it the most expensive movie ever produced on a per-minute basis at the time.

Designed specifically for screening at the Disneyland and Disney World amusement parks, Captain EO was more than a movie, it was a full-on sensory experience, created to provide a thrill equal to any rollercoaster. Michael starred as the movie’s namesake, a space hero who leads a ragtag assortment of cute creatures in a mission to unlock the despotic Witch Queen’s (played by Angelica Huston) inner beauty, armed only with the power of song and dance.

Captain EO is regarded as the first "4-D" film: the action on the screen extended into the audience, including lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects & starfields that filled the theater.
These in-theater effects resulted in the 17 minute film cost $30 million to produce; At $1.76 million per minute, it is still the most expensive minute-for-minute film ever made!

1987 - The Bad world tour began in Japan. 'Typhoon Michael', as he was nicknamed, swept into Japan to kicks off his first ever solo tour. He plays the first of three sold out concerts at the Korakuen-Stadium to a capacity of 45,000 [meanwhile known as Tokyo Dome] in Tokyo, Japan.

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At each and every concert he played, Michael ensured 400 tickets were reserved for underprivileged children; these were distributed via orphanages, hospitals and children’s charities. However, with precious little time to prepare, Michael necessarily based the Bad World Tour on the Victory Tour.

Here, his parents caught up with him and, following the first show she had seen, Katherine was asked by Michael’s manager Frank Dileo what she thought. Katherine thought it was great.
‘Michael’s always good,’ she replied, ‘but it would have been a better show with the brothers.’ She explained why. ‘They know how to dance and harmonise together. Their voices blend in a special way because they’re brothers.’
So, in her opinion, the show would have been better with Michael’s brothers. Many Jackson fans would readily agree with Katherine, but the Victory Tour left a bitter taste in Michael’s mouth and besides, the aim of this tour was to promote his solo album, BAD.

Three dates at Osaka’s Nishinomya Stadium were followed by five at the Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, after which Michael rounded off the Japanese leg of the tour by returning to Osaka for another three concerts.

Prior to the tour, his life as an entertainer frequently bringing him into conflict with his religion, Michael withdrew from the Jehovah’s Witnesses (he later re-joined). A representative from Woodlands Hill Kingdom Hall, to which Michael had belonged, issued a terse statement confirming Michael had ‘disassociated himself from the congregation’.
A few days later William Van De Wall, a Jehovah’s Witness spokesman, told reporters, ‘He (Michael) took the initiative. We didn’t take any action. We were informed of his wishes.’
No longer shackled by his religious beliefs, Michael added Thriller to the tour line-up, plus two songs from his new album, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You and Bad.

Michael had invited the magicians Siegfried and Roy to create illusions for his "Bad" tour and, in return, wrote a special number, "Mind Is The Magic", to open their show at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.

Siegfried and Roy are Las Vegas' number one entertainment attraction and since its opening in 1981, their spectacular illusion show has never played to a single empty seat!

Michael’s touring band included backup singer Sheryl Crow, who sang in a duet with Michael on I Can’t Stop Loving You at every performance. Crow, who would eventually become a star in her own right seven years later, became the subject of tabloid scrutiny as Michael’s rumored love interest, a fallacy Michael’s spin machine did little to discourage.

Michael Jackson's album "Bad" debuted at #1 in the U.K.

1992 - Le Figaro, French magazine features MJ on its cover with the story Appariton a Paris Le Mystere Jackson.

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1993 - Over the weekend of Sep 11 & 12, fans marched in support of MJ in Hollywood. Flowers & cards were left at his freshly polished star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Michael arrived at the next tour stop, Moscow, and was greeted by hundreds of fans waving their gloved hands in the air and shouting to him. A banner was held up saying "Siberia Loves You Michael!". The next day Michael left his hotel to do some shopping. He picked up a 19th century statue, several paintings & books, and a Russian army officers coat. He also toured the Kremlin museum & armory.
The following day, Michael had video shot of himself marching with Russian army soldiers.

1995 - Michael Jackson's maxi single "The Remixes" was released.

Michael Jackson's "Video Greatest Hits - History" was certified 2 times Platinum.

1997 - Michael interview with Barbara Walter on 20/20'1 at George V Hotel in Paris, France.

The show aired on ABC, Michael discusses the paparazzi; battered men; children roam casinos while parents gamble.

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Michael: You should not say, "He's Jacko." I'm not a 'Jacko'. I'm Jackson.
Barbara: How do you feel when they call you...
Michael: Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It's not nice. Don't do it. I'm not a "wacko".

Michael also talked about the recent death of Britain's Princess Diana:

In my heart I was saying, "I love you Diana. Shine. And shine on forever, because you are the true Princess of the people." And in words I did not say it, but I said it for three minutes in showing a big picture on the jumbotron screens...Sony, big huge screens...and her picture was there shining...and the crowd went bananas. And I played the song "Smile" and "Gone Too Soon".

and being a daddy:
Barbara: You have said, "I grew up in a fishbowl. I will not allow that to happen to my son." Yet, when your son was born, you sold pictures to the National Enquirer and to other European papers, tabloids. Why did you do that?
Michael: Because there was a race. There were some illegal pictures out. Illegally, somebody had taken pictures of a baby...millions of dollars...said, "Here's Michael's son."
And it wasn't. So, I took pictures of the baby. I said, "They're forcing me to get his pictures." There's helocopters flying above us...flying over my house...flying over the hospital, um, machines and satellites all over. Even the hospital said, "Michael, we've had every kind of celebrity here...but we've never had it like this. This is unbelievable." And so I said, "Here, take it." And I gave the money to charity
Barbara: So, rather than...what you're saying is...what you did was to get them off your back.
Michael: Yeah...and may be I don't want to show him to the world like that. I want him to have some space...where he can go to school. I don't want him to be called "Wacko Jacko" that's not nice. They call the father that. That isn't nice...right?

The interview was conducted without letting know the press, nor the Paris hotel. But when Michael tried to sneak out through a back door, there was a huge crowd... already waiting!
Filed under  //   1973   1986   1987   1992   1993   1995   1997  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1986 - Michael Jackson poses with 14-year-old fan Donna Ashlock and his pet chimpanzee Bubbles at the Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California. Donna was recently the recipient of a heart transplant from high school friend Felipe Garza, who died of a brain haemorrhage.

Filed under  //   1986  

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