TV PERFORMANCES
March 25, 1983 : Michael & The Jacksons tape a performance at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for “Motown 25th: Yesterday, Today & Forever” TV special. For the first time since 1975, all the Jackson brothers including Jermaine & Randy are reunited on stage for a medley of the Jackson 5 hits followed by a solo performance of “Billie Jean” during which Michael showcases his first ever public performance of the Moonwalk. At the end of the show, Michael joins Diana Ross and all the Motown stars on stage to pay tribute to Berry Gordy.
May 16, 1983 : NBC broadcasts the two hour special “Motown 25th: Yesterday, Today & Forever” TV special. The show is watched by 47 millions Americans and Michaels dancing talents are finally recognised when legends such as Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly call him and congratulate his performance.
PRESS (interviews/photoshoots)
July 22, 1982 : During a photoshoot by Dick Zimmerman for the cover of ET Storybook, Michael meets make-up artist Karen Faye. Later Michael requests Karen for the photoshoot of the Thriller cover. Karen becomes his personal make-up artist until the end of his life.
August 20, 1982 : Bob Colacello, Andy Warhol’s collaborator for his magazine Interview, meets Michael Jackson at Hayvenhurst. During the interview, Andy Warhol calls Michael. This intervuew is published in the October 1982 issue of Interview. The cover of this issue was designed by Richard Bernstein, based on a photo of Michael Jackson taken by Matthew Rolston.
September 1982 : Michael gives an interview to Rolling Stone correspondant Gerri Hirshey from his apartment in the San Fernando Valley at 5420 Lindley Avenue in Encino.
October 1982 : Michael is on the cover of Interview magazine.
December 1982 : Michael & ET are on the cover of Ebony Magazine.
Michael gives an interview to UK’s magazine Smash Hits.
February 17, 1983 : Michael is on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine with exclusive photos and an interview by Gerri Hirchey.
March 1983 : Michael is on the cover of Rock & Soul magazine.
April 16, 1983 : Michael & Samir Kamoun don Charlie Chaplin outfits to pay tribute to him on his birthday.
November 1983 : Michael & Quincy return to the Westlake studios to make an interview about Thriller.
April 25, 1983 : Michael is on the cover of Jet magazine.
June 1983 : Michael is on the cover of Creem magazine.
July 9, 1983 : Michael appears on the cover of the teenage magazine Top.
September 1983 : Michael is on the cover of Black Beat magazine.
October 1983: Michael is on the cover of People, Interview, Globe & Rock & Soul magazines
November 1983 : Michael & Diana Ross are on the cover of Ebony.
December 8, 1983 : Michael & Paul MacCartney are on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine (not a photo but a drawing of them).
February 6, 1984 : Michael & Emmanuel Lewis are on the cover of Jet magazine.
February 27, 1984 : Michael & Brooke Schields are on the cover of Jet magazine.
March 1984 : Michael is on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
March 19, 1984 : Michael is o the cover of TIME magazine with a nine page article. The cover was made by Andy Warhol.
March 23, 1984 : Michael appears on the cover of Jet magazine.
May 1984 : Michael is on the cover of Ebony magazine.
May 21, 1984 : The Jacksons are on the cover of Jet magazine.
July 16, 1984 : Michael is on the cover of Newsweek.
September 1984 : Michael is on the cover of Life magazine.
November 1984 : Michael is on the cover of People Extra.
December 1984: Michael is on the cover of Ebony magazine.
TV/RADIO INTERVIEWS
February 25, 1983 : Michael gives an interview to Entertainment Tonight.
March 9, 1983 : Tom Joyner interviews Michael on the “Beat It” set for Ebony/Jet Celebrity Showcase.
November 1983 : Michael & Quincy return to the Westlake studios to make an interview about Thriller.
December 1983 : Michael gives a radio interview to Diane Collins at Hayvenhurst. It’s broadcasted in early 1984 on radio stations around the world.
At Hayvenhurst, Michael and LaToya are filmed talking and singing together. This private home movie is sold a few years later. In the video, we can hear Michael singing the song “Peter Pan” and he mentions working on songs “Buffalo Bill” and “Liberian Girl” for the upcoming Jacksons album.
December 2, 1984 : Michael sits down for a three hour interview recorded on tape for his memoirs.
AWARDS SHOWS/RED CARPETS/PRESS CONFERENCES
July 4, 1982 : Michael, Quincy Jones & his wife Peggy Lipton attend the annual 4th of July picnic & barbecue at the Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’s Estate, located in a secluded, yet open area near Nicasio, California, in Marin County.
July 17, 1982 : Michael attends a gala in honor of Quincy Jones at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
September 15, 1982 : Michael attends the last Queen concert from their Hot Space US Tour at the Forum in Inglewood.
October 10, 1982 : Michael attends the wedding of Courtney Sale & Steve Ross in New York (with Quincy Jones & his wife Peggy).
February 8, 1983 : Michael attends the Brit Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London with Paul & Linda McCartney. He accepts an award on behalf of Barbara Streisand.
February 25, 1983 : Jane Fonda & Michael attend the presentation of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ album certified twice platinum at CBS Records in Century City.
March 20, 1983 : Michael & LaToya attend the “Dreamgirls” opening night after party at the Shubert theater in Century City.
April 6, 1983 : Michael attends a post concert party for Liza Minnelli at the New Universal Amphitheater, Hollywood with Quincy Jones & David Geffen.
June 1983 : At Hayvenhurst, Michael is presented with a Telegatto Award for Artist of the Year from a journalist of Italian weekly magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni. Michael is photographed with the award in the trophy room of his house, a space where he gathered all of his awards.
July 1, 1983 : Latoya and Michael attend the Black Radio Exclusive Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
August 14, 1983 : Michael attends David Bowie’s “Serious Moonlinght” concert at the Forum in LA. Backstage he poses with David Bowie, Bette Midler and Cher.
August 20, 1983 : Michael attends a James Brown’s concert at the Beverly Theatre and James invites him on stage to sing and dance! Later that night Prince also comes on stage.
September 6, 1983 : Michael is presented by CBS with 36 gold and platinum plaques from 19 different countries, all the “Thriller” LP and singles from it, at the San Diego presentation with Quincy Jones, CBS Records Group President Walter Yetnikoff and his staff.
November 14, 1983 : Michael attends the premiere of the Thriller short film with a private audience at the Crest Theater in Los Angeles. In attendance were Diana Ross, Warren Beatty, Prince, Eddie Murphy and many more “A-list” stars. Michael stays in the projection booth so that others such as actress Ola Ray could bask in the attention.
November 30, 1983 : Michael attends a press conference at New York’s Tavern On The Green to announce plans for the Victory Tour. He is accompanied by his parents & sisters (in the audience) plus his brothers and a young boy named Emmanuel Lewis (star of the TV show Webster). During the conference Don King announce The Jacksons’s Victory Tour sponsored by Pepsi.
January 11, 1984 : At the first annual Black Gold Awards, produced by Dick Clark, Michael wins four awards (but does not attend). Janet is presented with the hottest female newcomer of the year award at the Black Gold Awards in Los Angeles (with a video congratulations from Michael).
January 16, 1984 : Michael, Janet & LaToya attend the American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles with Brooke Schields and Emmanuel Lewis. MJ wins an unprecedented eight awards including the special award of Merit presented by Diana Ross. The ceremony is watched by over sixty millions people.
February 7, 1984 : Michael goes to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Natural History to receive awards from CBS & The Guineess Book Of World Records to celebrates Thriller as the largest-selling album of all time (25 millions at the time) Among the many guest are Michael’s date for the evening Brooke Schields, Andy Warhol & the whole Jackson family (including LaToya, Rebbie & Janet).
February 8, 1984 : Michael attends the Tap Dance Kid musical at the Broadhurst Theatre in NYC with Sean Lennon.
February 26, 1984 : Katherine, LaToya, Janet & Michael attend the premiere of Pepsi’s Jacksons commercial at a black-tie event for 1000 bottlers at New York City ’s Lincoln Center. Michael gets on stage with Alfonso Ribeiro who also appeared in the commercials. They dance together for a few seconds.
February 28, 1984 : In the company of Brooke Schields & Emmanuel Lewis, Michael attends the Grammy Awards ceremony broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium of Los Angeles. He wins an unprecedented 8 awards. On stage he shares his triumph with producer Quincy Jones and even invites Janet, LaToya & Rebbie to joins him.
April 9, 1984 : Liza Minnelli accompanies Michael to Swifty Lazar’s Oscar Night Party but after a short stay, they go on to visit Liza’s father director Vincente Minnelli.
April 14, 1984 : Michael attends the “TJ Martell Foundation Annual Gala” which serves to raise funds for research & innovative treatments in the fight against leukemia, cancer and AIDS. Michael presents Tony Martell with a check for $500,000 for the Foundation.
May 4, 1984 : The whole Jackson family gathers to host a surprise party to honour Katherine at the Bistro Garden in Beverly Hills . Michael offers her a Rolls Royce! Michael, accompanied by country star Floyd Cramer sings to Katherine the Kris Kristofferson country song “For the Good Times”.
May 8, 1984 : Michael attends a performance of “Cats” musical at Winter Garden Theatre in Broadway, New York.
May 11, 1984 : Michael attends a Kool and The Gang concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City accompanied by Tatum O’Neal heavily disguised in a beard and afro wig!
May 12, 1984 : Michael visits Shirley MacLaine backstage after her Broadway performance in Playbill “Shirley MacLaine on Broadway” at the George Gershwin Theatre in New York.
May 14, 1984 : President Reagan presents a Special Achievement Award to Michael in a garden ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C. Michael attends the presentation with Frank Dileo, John Branca and publicist Noman Winter.
June 9, 1984 : Michael attends the unveiling of a wax statue of himself at The Guinness Museum of World Records in San Francisco.
July 5, 1984 : On the eve of Victory’s Tour first concert and after a controversy over the selling of tickets, Michael holds a major press conference in Kansas City with his brothers to announce a change in the tour’s organisation. He announces hat the whole of his share of the proceeds from the Victory Tour will be donated to charity.
September 22, 1984 : While in WashingtonDC , Michael visits the Kennedy Center Opera House to see Anthony Quinn and Lila Kedrova in the touring production of Zorba.
November 20, 1984 : 5000 fans turn out to see Michael at the unveiling of his Hollywood Boulevard Star on the Walk Of Fame.
December 6, 1984 : Michael is in Chicago to testify in court that he did write the song “The Girl Is Mine”.
CONCERTS
August 1, 1982 : Michael makes a surprise appearance at the Budweiser SuperFest at Rose Bowl in Pasadena during Quincy Jones’ set, he sings and dances on the song “Stuff Like That”.
August 20, 1983 : Michael attends a James Brown’s concert at the Beverly Theatre and James invites him on stage to sing and dance! Later that night Prince also comes on stage.
Victory Tour dates 1984
Late April : The rehearsals for the Jacksons ’ Victory Tour begins at the Zoetrope Studios in Los Angeles.
June 26 : Michael and his brothers arrive in Birmingham for secret pre-tour rehearsals.
July 1 : The Jackson have a full dress rehearsal of the “Victory” show at BJCC Colisuem in Birmingham.
July 6+7+8 : The Jacksons kick off the Victory Tour at the arrowhead stadium in in Kansas City (Missouri)
July 13+14+15 : Concerts at the Texas Stadium in Irving, (Dallas county) attended by Prince & Emmanuel Lewis among others. During the second concert in Dallas , Eddie Van Halen joins Michael on stage to play his solo guitar on Beat It
July 21+22+23 : Concerts at the Gator Bowl stadium in Jacksonville.
July 29+30+31 : Concerts at the Giants stadium in East Rutherford (New Jersey) attended by Katherine, Janet, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Dominic, Connie, Frank & Eddie Cascio among others.
August 4+5 : Concerts at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
August 7+8+9+10+11+12 : Concerts at the Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
August 17+18+19 : Concert at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac (Michigan).
August 25+26 : Concerts at the Buffalo Rich Stadium in Orchad Park.
September 1+2 : Concerts at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania).
September 7+8 : Concerts at the Mile High Stadium in Denver (Colorado). Michael visits Elton John..
September 16+17+18 : Concerts at the Canada Montreal Olympic Stadium in Montreal (Canada). During the last song, Jackie joins the brothers on stage for the first time during the tour.
September 21+22 : Concerts at the United States RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.
September 28+29 : Concerts at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania).
October 5+6+7 : Concerts at the Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Canada.
October 12+13+14 : Concerts at the Comiskey Park in Chicago.
October 19+20 : Concerts at the Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.
October 29+30 : Concerts at the Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta.
November 2+3 : Concerts at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
November 9+10 : Concerts at the Houston Astrodome in Houston (Texas).
November 16+17+18 : Concerts at the BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
November 30 + December 1+ 2 +7 +8+9 : The Jacksons play their last Victory Tour concerts at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles . During the last song of the last concert, Janet, LaToya & Rebbie join the group on stage with all the nieces and nephews to dance all together.
Michael announces on stage that this concert is the “last curtain call” from The Jacksons.
During 55 concerts attended by over 2 million people, the tour grossed a record $75 million!
The Victory Tour 1984
Start date July 6, 1984
End date December 9, 1984
No. of shows 47 in United States
8 in Canada
55 played
Attendance 2 million
Box office US$75 million ($176.67 million in 2017 dollars)
Set list :
“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”
“Things I Do for You”
“Off the Wall”
“Human Nature”
“This Place Hotel”
“She’s Out of My Life”
Jermaine Jackson Medley: “Let’s Get Serious” / “You Like Me, Don’t You?”/”Dynamite” / “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good to Be True)” (with Michael)
The Jackson 5 Medley: “I Want You Back” / “The Love You Save” / “I’ll Be There”
“Rock with You”
“Lovely One”
“Workin’ Day and Night”
“Beat It”
“Billie Jean”
“Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” (contain excerpts from “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough)”
Band members
Michael Jackson: vocals
Randy Jackson – vocals, percussion, keyboards
Jermaine Jackson: vocals; bass
Tito Jackson: vocals; guitar
Marlon Jackson: vocals; percussion
Jackie Jackson: vocals; percussion (First performance during the Quebec concerts.)
Keyboards: Rory Kaplan, Pat Leonard & Jai Winding
Guitar: David Williams & Gregg Wright
Drums: Jonathan Moffett
LIVE ALBUMS/TV BROADCASTS/COMMERCIAL RELEASE
To this day, no full concert from the Victory Tour 1984 has ever been officially released on video (VHS, DVD, Bluray or YouTube) but a few concerts leaked online :
The Jacksons – Victory Tour Toronto 1984 FULL HQ
The Jacksons – Live Victory Tour in Dallas 1984
The Jacksons Live Victory Tour Kansas
Shake Your Body – The Jackson’s Victory Tour Los Angeles (December 09, 1984)
Thriller 40 is a 2023 documentary film about the 40th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller. The film, directed by Nelson George, was released in the United States on December 2, 2023. It aired on Showtime and was streamed on Paramount+ only for Showtime subscribers. Internationally, it debuted the same day in the U.K., Australia, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Latin America, and South Korea. It features never before seen pro HQ footage from Victory Tour 1984.
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