1984 - The Jacksons performs at Mile High Stadium, Denver [Colorado, USA] attending 26,840.

1988 - Michael Jackson won the Video Vanguard award at the 5th annual MTV Vidoe Music Awards, which is given to musicians who have made a profound effect on the MTV culture. MTV recognised Michael's influence in the music video field, when he not only collected the MTV Video Vanguard Award, but saw the award re-named the 'Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award' for future recipients as well.
Michael Jackson changed the music video from a mere promotional tool featuring musicians playing instruments and singing, to a piece of art with a storyline, or as MJ likes to put as 'short films'. His video Thriller influenced and changed music videos into what it is like today.

The MTV Video Vanguard Award is presented each year to an artist for career achievements in video. The 1987 recipient of the award, Peter Gabriel, who was honored for his wonderful Sledgehammer promo, presented the award to 1988's recipient, Michael Jackson. After a montage of clips from Michael's videos, the award was presented to Michael live via satellite from London, just before one of Michael's performances there. In presenting the award to Michael, Gabriel joked, "I sincerely hope this award will rescue this artist from obscurity and set him on the road to fame & fortune and it gives me great pleasure to give the Video Vanguard Award to Michael Jackson." In an extremely quite voice, Michael accepted saying only, "Thank you. Thank you very much."

Following this lengthy acceptance speech, a special taped performance of "Bad", filmed at one of Michael's Wembley Stadium dates, was shown. The performance featured Michael's new version of the moonwalk, gliding sideways instead of backwards. He also executed the original moonwalk, just as fascinating as ever, with another new just as impossible step in which he walks forward skidding his foot on the floor as he moves it forward, making his steps look rapid & choppy, like several animated pictures each slightly different than the one before, flipped through quickly making the figure appear to be moving. The review of Michael's career in video, his acceptance of the Vanguard Award and his performance were without a doubt the only highlights of the entire lackluster award show.


Michael had two other nominations. Michael & Vincent Patterson were nominated for Best Choreography for "The Way You Make Me Feel" and Michael, Gregg Burge, and Jeffrey Daniel were nominated in the same category for their wok on "Bad". The award went to Barry Lather for his work on Janet's video for "Pleasure Principle".

Michael Jackson's single "Another Part Of Me" hit #11 in the U.S. and #15 in the U.K.

1993 - Dangerous tour's next stop was Fukoka, Japan. Jackson arrives in Fukoka on September 7 and was greeted wildly by fans. He bowed to his fans then boardered a bus for Huis Ten Bosch park where he spent two nights. Michael performed 2 concerts in Fukoka. The day after his arrival, Michael & his bodyguards boarded boats & traveled along the cost of a reproduction Dutch cana to the Palace, Huis Ten Bosch park's fanciest hotel. Michael also visited a school affiliated to a US naval base in Japan. Elizabeth Taylor tribute special, which is a part of the Arts & Entertainment network's Biography series, filmed in the spring, aired for the first time. Michael was interviewed for the special by A&E's Cathy Griffen who said she planned to give him a Mickey Mouse waffle maker to mark his second interview in two weeks! In the interview, Michael explained one of the things he & Liz have in common, "We shared a quest in search of the next step of acceptance from an adoring public who never really knew our inner turmoil".

1995 - Nominated for a record 11 awards, for Scream, Michael and Janet attended the 12th MTV Music Video Awards held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Michael also opened the proceedings, delighting the audience as he moonwalked and skywalked, spun and twirled, through a stunning medley of some of his greatest hits: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough/The Way You Make Me Feel/Jam/Scream/Beat It/Black Or White/Billie Jean/Dangerous/Smooth Criminal.

Slash joined Michael on stage during Black Or White and, before he launched into an exilarant performance of Dangerous, Michael said:

"Some of us like to play it safe and take each day as it comes. Some of us like to take that crazy walk on the wild side . . . so, for those of us who like living dangerously – this one’s for you!"

As a finale, Michael sang You Are Not Alone. Michael's performance and the standing ovation he received proved unquestionably his continued popularity with the public in general, and his ability to excite and satisfy a live audience. Michael Jackson featured a new look for this public appeareance.

Every other performer at the show praised Michael, from alternative band Weezer to Notorious B.I.G. Chris Connely of MTV said the backstage area was filled with celebs trying to get a spot in the wings to watch Michael.

Then, rather disappointingly, as the show progressed the innovative Scream promo picked up just three awards: Best Dance Video, Best Choreography (Michael, Lavelle Smith, Travis Payne, Tina Landon and Sean Cheeseman) and Best Art Direction (Tom Foden).

Michael and Janet collected the first of these awards personally and, in his brief acceptance speech, Michael said, ‘My favourite thing about doing the Scream video was that it was really an excuse to work with my sister, Janet, because I truly adore her. She’s one of the sweetest people in the world.’
Janet caused a stir by wearing a T-shirt with ‘PERVERT 2’ embroidered on it, her way of showing her support for Michael.
‘I had it made especially,’ she told reporters. ‘People can draw their own conclusions.’
Which is precisely what many people did – wrongly!

1996 - Michael Jackson officially kicked off his "HIStory" world tour with a high-tech spectacle at Letna Park in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, playing to over 125,000 people!!! One of the largest single attended concerts in his career.

The spectacle show hit the news around the world, especially Michael's opening [arrival] in the Spaceship MJ 2040! The sell-out crowd gasped as, to open the show, a mini-spaceship crashed through the 210 foot stage. Spectacular lighting effects and fireworks came next, as the spaceship’s black door blew open to reveal Michael, wearing a dazzling silver and gold futuristic outfit, complete with space helmet.

Fans went crazy as Michael launched into Scream, the first song of an astonishing two hour concert. The amazing show featured 20 songs, special effects in several performances, a bigger light show than ever before, a specially built stage, breathtaking costumes and stunning choreography. His crew consisted of over 200 personnel and each concert was 2.5 hours long.

From September 7, 1996 to October 15, 1997, HIStory tour covered Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Hawaii, as he travelled Europe, Michael set new attendance records in many countries. The tour, which grossed a total of $165 million, included a total of 82 concerts with a record-breaking attendance of 4,500,000 fans. The "HIStory" tour spanned the globe with stops in 58 cities, 35 countries on 5 continents, and included 82 concerts to about 4.5 million fans.

2001 - Michael Jackson performed a special concert to celebrate his 30 years as a solo artist. He played a second show on September 10th.

Read what New York Daily News' Sept. 8th edition had to say about the first show [Sept. 07]:

[By Isaac Guzman and Leo Standora]
His U.S. concert return packs Garden

Michael Jackson took the stage at Madison Square Garden last night to show the world he still counts himself the King of Pop.

Seeking to recapture the magic that put "Thriller" and "Bad" among the best-selling albums ever, he performed with a galaxy of stars in his first U.S. concert in 11 years.

Reuniting with his brothers for a medley of hits recorded when they were the Jackson 5, and heating up the auditorium with a steamy version of "They Way You Make Me Feel" with a miniskirted Britney Spears, Jackson once again rocked his fans' world.

When Jackson donned his trademark sequined jacket, single sequined glove and black fedora, then launched into an electric version of "Billie Jean", the crowd went ballistic.

"He's still to it", announced one fan, as Jackson danced up a storm with his moonwalk, pop and lock, the robot and a series of eye-popping spins.