1992 - Before performing on his second concert at the Wembley Stadium, he financially reacknowledges the "Prince’s Trust" with a 200,000-pound check. The very year, the first "Heal The World European Children’s Congress" is established in England, the occasion of which 84 children, aged between 8 and 16, have gathered to discuss global issues of imminent interest and their possible solutions. In spite of being down with laryngitis, the artist also participates at "Regent’s College" for several hours.

2001 - Tickets went on sale for "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years" - and had virtually sold out the two concert dates set for Friday, September 7, 2001 and Monday, September 10, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in less than five hours, with ticket prices ranging from US$ 45.-- to US$ 2'500.--!!

1985 - Michael sprained his right hand during the filming of a dance sequence on the set of Captain EO, and was taken to Brotman Memorial Hospital in Culver City, the same place he had been rushed to eighteen months earlier when he was burned on the set of the Pepsi commercial.


Accompanying him was young Jonathan Spence, a boy (ten or eleven years old) who had been friends with Michael since about the fall of 1984.

1988 - Michael had his own TV special. Michael Jackson: Around the World was a 90min special featuring concert footage of the Bad tour, with Michael, as usual, having final appoval of the footage to be included. While the concert footage of the Bad tour was impressive, it still only gives a small taste of the excitement of seeing MJ perform live. Clips of Michael with his band, singers & dancers performing "Working Day & Night" gives only a small sense of the song's elaborate production. Footage is shown of Michael's concert performances of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Human Nature", "Beat It", & the Jackson 5ive classics, "I want You Back" & "The Love You Save".

Michael's band members speak of the excitement of playing London's Wembley Stadium. Frank Dileo adds, "Playing Wembley is one of the biggest honors any artist could have. It's a status symbol within artists themselves, whether or not they can sell out Wembley Stadium, and of course Michael set a new record. He sold it out 7 times. You can't get any bigger than that."

The program also featured the premiere of Michael's latest video, for "Another Part of Me". Filmed at London's Wembley Stadium on July 15, 1988, the video is of an actual performance of the song from the Bad tour. Too frequent cuts, however, detract from Michael's fancy footwork performed during the song.

MJ:Around the World was the highest rated summer special ever in its time slot, it aired at 11:30 p.m. It earned a 8.7 rating, which is equal to 27% of the tv audience. The program was later renamed MJ: Fans Around the World & rebroadcast on MTV several times. An edited, hour long, version was shown in April, 1989, on the BET network. BET presented Michael with an award in recognition of the tour's success while he was winding up the tour in LA.

1984 - The Jacksons perform Victory Tour in East Rutherford, New Jersey attending 44,282, including Katherine, Janet, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon & Bob Girladi among others.

1992 - Michael fetches characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse from Euro-Disney, returns from Disneyland Paris with his helicopter and lands on Haggerston park. Together they went to the "Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children" in London, and distributes toys to the ill children there.

1979 - Michael released the first single from the forthcoming album; “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough”. The song was solely written by Michael and featured a spoken intro, a surprising falsetto voice and amazing percussion by Michael and his brother Randy. The song was released with a bright music video that featured Michael dancing in triplicate in the song’s bridge. It was his first “short film” and it was directed by Nick Saxon. The song went to number 1 in the US and Australia and was a top 10 hit in 6 countries.

1989 - Michael became the newest claymation member of the Raisin Family by appearing in their new TV commercial called "Michael Raisin". Michael's speaking voice is used in the ads, but his singing voice on the song "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" couldn't be used because of his exclusive contract with Pepsi. Michael agreed to lend his image to the commercial after working with the claymation creator on "Moonwalker".

1995 - Michael is seen in his newest video You Are Not Alone" with his wife Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson during its premier on ABC-TV.

The music video directed by Wayne Isham, begins with a large number of paparazzi taking photographs of Jackson. The plot then centers around two locations: a temple where Jackson appears in an affectionate semi-naked scene with Lisa Marie and a theater where Jackson performs the song to an empty hall. Jackson also appears alone in other locations such as deserts and mountain tops. The special effects were used to give Jackson white feathery wings.

1998 - Michael Jackson announced the creation of a new company, Michael Jackson Japan Co. Ltd. The company was intended to build theme parks and sell toys throughout the world.

1987 - "I Just Can’t Stop Loving You" Michael's duet with Siedah Garrett was released as the first single from the Bad album.

The balled written & composed by Michael, traveled to #1 on the US, UK & European charts, including Belgium, Denmark, Netherland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain. The song became the 1st of five consecutive #1 Hot 100 singles from the Bad album & it also hit #1 in Hot AC & Hot R&B charts. The song was the highest debuting single of 1987 and the #3 best selling single of 1987 on the States. Michael & Siedah recorded a Spanish version of I Just Can't Stop Loving You, titled To Do Mi Amor Eres Tu.

1991 - Michael invites the Jackson family in Neverland to celebrate the first ever Joe Jackson Day. Katherine, Joe, Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine & Janet and the grandchildren attend the event. Later at Hayvenhurst, Joe receives his present from Janet & Michael : A boat!

1995 - Michael attends a press conference in New York City to announce the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards nominations at the Bryant Park Grill. He also announces about the special HBO concert planned at the Beacon Theater on December 10.

1997 – Michael Jackson performs HIStory World Tour in Nice, France, at Stade Charles-Ehrmann Stadium.

1988 - Michael held a press conference at the Okura Hotel in Tokyo, Japan to announce his new Japanese Company Wonder World – Land Of Toys. The company will create a new theme park with its own hotel, golf club, restaurant and shops selling his original goods. The theme park is expected to be completed by September 1999.

1968 - The Jackson 5ive were officially signed to Motown Records during a meeting with Joe Seltzer. Michael Jackson was just 9 years old.

After seeing the video tape of J5's performance, Berry Gordy immediately decided to sign the group to his prestigious label. Gordy was especially taken with young Michael. His early mastery of the moves of James Brown is incredible. He duplicates his idol's steps perfectly. This eager, unjaded nine-year-old, only months away from the end of his childhood--a childhood he would pursue for the rest of his life--charmed Gordy with his dancing ability & the emotion with which the 9 year old sang. "This little kid had an incredible knowingness about him that really made me notice. He sang his songs with such feeling, inspiration and pain – like he had experience of everything he was singing about." Gordy recalls. Although he and Joe Jackson signed a contract on July 26, the group’s existing contract with Steeltown had to be dealt with before the new one could be considered legal.

1974 - Jackson 5ive in Concert, Buffalo (New York)

1988 - Michael performs Bad World Tour in Cardiff, Wales, at Cardiff Arms Park.

1991 - Michael & Emmanuel Lewis visit the "Community Youth Sports & Art Foundation" Center in Los Angeles, California, (charity addressing drug abuse problems and approaching relief programs for families with gang members), talks to the children there, offers them financial support and a wide-screen television set.


1997 - "The Best of Michael Jackson And The Jackson 5" hit #5 in the U.K.

1971 – The Jackson 5ive perform at Detroit Olympia Stadium.

1973 – The Jackson 5ive perform at Chicago International Amphteathre.

1992 - Michael perform to a 40,000 fans at a concert in Lansdowne Road sports stadium (Dublin, Ireland), during the first leg of his Dangerous World Tour. While on tour he announces a donation of 400,000 pounds, out of his concert earnings, to various charities there. A delay provoked by a malfunction before his Dangerous Tour concert in Leeds, UK, leads to the singer being fined by a national council with 60,000 pounds, that are paid by Jackson to a music charity fund.

After his hugely successful first solo tour Bad, the star claimed that he would not tour again, and would instead concentrate on making films and records. On February 3, 1992 in a Pepsi press conference, Michael made a announcement stating that he would be touring again:

The only reason I am going on tour is to raise funds for the newly-formed Heal the World Foundation, an international children's charity, that I am spearheading to assist children and the ecology. My goal is to gross $100 million by Christmas 1993. I urge every corporation and individual who cares about this planet and the future of the children to help raise money for the charity. The Heal the World Foundation will contribute funds to paediatric AIDS in honour of my friend, Ryan White. I am looking forward to this tour because it will allow me to devote time to visiting children all around the world, as well as spread the message of global love, in the hope that others will be moved to do their share to help heal the world.

Ultimately, the tour grossed up approximately $125 million and all profits were donated to various charities including the new Heal the World Foundation that was set up by Michael.

1995 - Michael Jackson attends a packed press conference at the Bryant Park Grill in New York City, NY to announce the 1995 MTV Video Music Award Nomination together with Mayor Rudolf Giuliani.

Second fiddle has never been Mayor Giuliani’s favorite role, but he played it like a good sport yesterday when he joined Michael Jackson to welcome the MTV Video Music Awards back to New York.

Jackson, wearing a crisp deep reddish-purple military jacket and dark glasses, spoke for about 10 seconds and later said in response to shouted questions that he arranged to play a Dec. 10 HBO concert in the city because "I love New York."

To other questions, like where the concert would be, he smiled politely the kind of smile that suggested reporters might as well have been asking him to compute the square root of pi.

The MTV awards show will be Sept. 7 at Radio City, with a live MTV telecast. Jackson will perform two numbers, including the opener, and he may spend the rest of the night shuttling to the awards podium, because it was announced that his "Scream" video has a record 11 nominations.

His stage time totaled about 2 minutes, and his professional, smiling demeanor couldn't entirely hide that this was a promotional obligation he wanted to complete quickly. As Jackson and his entourage left the Bryant Park Grill restaurant in midtown, a few fans tried to touch him or, failing that, climb onto his car.

Jackson’s celebrity power lured hundreds of reporters, camera crews and stargazers.

Giuliani sat on the stage for almost 10 minutes, making small talk with MTV CEO Tom Freston, before Jackson came out to say a few sentences and pose for photos shaking the mayor’s hand.

Jackson said he was honored to have so many nominations, and he announced R.E.M. as the winner of this year's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award so named, it is said by insiders at MTV, as a condition for insuring his participation.

Giuliani welcomed the MTV awards back to New York for the second year and promised they will be given "that special New York flair."

1997 – Michael Jackson performs HIStory World Tour in Basel, Switzerland, at Saint Jakob Stadium, attending 40,000.

1998 - Michael attends the Kick Boxing Champion All-Star Match.

During a press conference held in Japan, Michael Jackson announces the creation of 'Michael Jackson Japan Company Ltd.'. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have joined forces with Prosperity Enterprise Corporation to develop a number of global family-oriented entertainment-driven-themed attractions in Japan and around the world...not just Japan, but this is going to be around the world...to develop a billion-dollar business. 'Michael Jackson Japan Company Ltd.' has been formed," the singer declares.

1999 - Michael, Grace and the kids, stop by London where Michael meets Mohamed Al Fayed & Prince Naseem.

2005 - Sony releases the live concert DVD Michael Jackson Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour.
The concert took place during Jackson's first leg on his Dangerous World Tour on October 1, 1992 at the Bucharest National Stadium, with a sold-out attendance of 70,000. This concert is the only concert by Jackson that has been officially released on DVD in the United States.

All the footage in this version is from the Bucharest concert. The version that appears on the DVD was broadcast on HBO in 1992, which became the highest audience in the channel's history for a single broadcast.

The DVD has sold over a million copies worldwide & certified 6x Platinum in US alone.

2010 - Billie Jean and Thriller versions of the official Michael Jackson dolls went on sale. Two more versions, Beat It and Moonwalk, were scheduled to be released around Christmas 2010 (London).

1985 It was announced that Michael Jackson will star in a 3-D science-fiction musical film, "Captain EO", to be shown exclusively at Disneyland and Disney World.

Michael:
"I'Captain EO' came about because the Disney Studios wanted me to come up with a new ride for the parks."
"I flew up to San Francisco a couple of times to visit George at his place, Skywalker Ranch, and gradually we came up with a scenario for a short film that would incorporate every recent advance in 3-D technology. 'Captain EO' would look and feel like the audience was in a space-ship, along for the ride."

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 on September 12, 1986 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, and two new songs by Michael were featured: "Another Part Of Me" 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.
Only 4 months before the première of "Captain EO", Michael made history again. On March 12, 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.

1968 – The Jackson 5 give an audition to Motown at the Hittsville Studio in Detroit.

On July 23, 1968, at around 10 a.m., the band’s audition in Detroit was videotaped. Although the record company’s president, Berry Gordy, was not present, several members of Motown’s creative department were there to witness. After performing an impressive set with James Brown’s then current hit "I Got the Feelin'" and “Who’s Lovin’ You”, the audition tape was sent to Gordy two days later, whereupon he immediately decided to sign the group to his prestigious label. "I canceled the Frost show, Bobby Taylor wanted to take us to Motown to audition, and we decided to go. We’ve all been sleeping on the floor at Bobby’s. The boys have already auditioned -- Motown even filmed it. We haven’t been offered a contract yet, but, judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces, Kate, I know it’s going to happen!" Joe explained excitedly.

1984 – The Jacksons concert their Victory Tour at Jacksonville [Florida, USA] by Gator Bowl, attending 45,000.

1984 – Michael Jackson is on People magazine.

Michael Jackson is on McLean’s magazine.

Michael Jackson is on Sound Magazine.

1988 – Bad World Tour London [England, U.K.] Wembley Stadium, attending 72,000.

Michael Jackson’s single “Dirty Diana” hit #4 in the U.K.

1994 – Michael Jackson is on Derniere Heure Magazine & Le Lundi Magazine.


1998 – Disneyland Paris announced that August 17, 1998 would be the last day that Michael Jackson’s Captain EO will be shown.

1968 - The Jackson 5 opened for Motown acts Gladys Knight & the Pips and Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers at Chicago's Regal Theater, during the summer of 1968. The brothers caught Knight's attention, whereby she tried to get Motown brass to come to Chicago to see the boys. Taylor was also very impressed with the boys, and he decided to make the commitment to bring them to Detroit and Motown. Joseph and The Jackson 5 stayed on the floor of Bobby Taylor's Detroit apartment the night of July 22, while Taylor and Motown executive Suzanne de Passe arranged for the Jackson 5 to audition for the label.
The group is invited to perform on the David Frost Show in New York but Joe cancels their TV debut when Bobby Taylor asks them to come to a Detroit studio to make an audition for Motown executives Suzanne DePasse and Ralph Seltzer, and other company staff.

1972 - Concert in Dallas (Texas)

1973 – Concert at the Madison Square Garden of New York City

1981 – The Jacksons give a special benefit concert for the Atlanta Children's Foundation at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta, Georgia.

They raise 100,000 dollars for the charity, subsequently to lengthy episodes of Black youth disappearances and murders in the mentioned city. Speaking on behalf of himself and his brothers, Michael Jackson reveals, "We Are doing this because we care". LeBaron Taylor, vise president and general manager of Divisional Affairs for CBS Records, distributor of Epic Efforts for whom the Jacksons record, and coordinator of the special event comments, "We are pleased that The Jacksons have scheduled this special performance for such a worthy cause".

1988 – Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck present Michael with a pair of specially engraved ice skates backstage before his fourth concert in Wembley (London, UK).

Michael soldout Wembley Stadium on the 14th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd July, 26th & 27th August – a stadium record 504,000 people!
Michael's band members speak of the excitement of playing London's Wembley Stadium. Frank Dileo adds,

"Playing Wembley is one of the biggest honors any artist could have. It's a status symbol within artists themselves, whether or not they can sell out Wembley Stadium, and of course Michael set a new record. He sold it out 7 times. You can't get any bigger than that."

1989 – Michael Jackson’s Liberian Girl hit #13 in the U.K, eventually the single went to number one in the UK. and become his 9th Top 30 hit from album–yet another record!

Liberian Girl was released in July 1989, prior to shutting down the Bad album campaign as the 9th and final single. The song was dedicated to Michael’s good friend, Elizabeth Taylor. The promo directed by Jim Yukich was a real star-studded affair, starring thirty-five of Michael’s celebrity friends: Bubbles, Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, Weird Al Yankovic, Billy Dee Williams, Dan Aykroyd, Jackie Collins, Don King, Paula Abdul, Lou ‘The Incredible Hulk’ Ferrigno, Debbie Gibson & David Copperfield; who wait on the set for Michael to film the music video, only to discover he is behind the camera, filming them all along.

1992 - Michael Jackson performs Dangerous World Tour in Werchter, Belgium, at Festival Ground Stadium, attending 40,000.

1969 – Following day for recording Session: Who’s Lovin’ You.

The most famous cover of “Who’s Lovin’ You”, and the one most future covers were based upon, was recorded on 1969 by The Jackson 5. Michael Jackson was the lead singer on this recording, with his brothers Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, and Jackie on background vocals; Bobby Taylor of The Vancouvers served as producer. The Jackson 5 version of “Who’s Lovin’ You” was one of a number of early recordings the group made at the Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit, Michigan, with the Funk Brothers on instrumentation. Just after recording this song, Berry Gordy moved the entire Jackson family to Los Angeles, California to record the hit pop songs he would co-write for the group with The Corporation.

The song was issued as the b-side to The Jackson 5′s first single, “I Want You Back”, with a full version included on the first Jackson 5 LP, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5. The single went to #1 on both the pop and R&B charts. An alternate take featuring fewer backing vocals was released on Michael’s Love Songs compilation release in 2002.

1971 – Jackson 5ive in Concert, Toledo (Ohio)

1972 – Jackson 5ive in Concert, Tulsa (Oklahoma)

1973 – Jackson 5ive in Concert, Long Pond (Pennsylvania)

1974 - Jackson 5ive in Concert, Richmond (Virginia)

1984 – The Jacksons brought their Victory Tour to the Gator Bowl stadium in Jacksonville, FL on three nights from July 21-23, 1984 to perform in front of over 135,000 fans.

The show has a simple story line, based on the tale of the sword in the stone. Huge creatures called Kreetons appear on the stage. They’re followed by several warriors who attempt to pull a sword from a stone. One warrior, Randy Jackson, does just that. He slays a Kreeton and thereby paves the way for the kingdom of the Jacksons. Moments later, Randy, Michael, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine appear majestically on stage, pump the entrance for all its worth, and delight the fans. Fantasyland? You bet. Two spiderlike creatures attempt to gobble up Michael. Michael writhes on the stage like a snake in the heat of battle before he is saved by magic and levitated out of danger. He reappears moments later on an elevated spot on stage wearing the red jacket he wore in the Beat It video and launches into that song.

The Jacksons’ show was written and designed by Michael, whose instrumental in moving the rock video into new territory with master-pieces like Thriller. Now the Jacksons become the first group to transform a concert into a video & to use robotics in a musical stage performance.
High-tech stage antics are one thing, but Michael Jackson is another. He out dazzles the electronics!
The Jacksons have somehow struck the perfect balance between theatrics and musicality.

Part Walt Disney World and part Music Television, it’s an escapist pop show for those in love with fantasy; entertainment for those who hanker for movies like Star Wars, E.T. and Peter Pan; a musical for those who enjoy exquisite dancing and singing.

Surely the Jacksons have realized that a larget percentage of their fans are of the MTV generation, roughly ages 10 to 30. Such audiences understand video-styled theatrics in live shows, and crave the heightened pleasure that stems from sensastional effects created with lasers, lights, and booming sound. This is the same age group that made Star Wars such a hit.

And the Jacksons play to this audience. Even so, the Jacksons have made an unprecedented move with their stage production, and this isn’t lost on the fans.
Source: Concert Rewind: Jacksons’ Victory Tour show by Kevin Bezner

2001 – Michael Jackson’s Speechless is released.

Michael Jackson wrote “Speechless” after a water balloon fight with children in Germany. In an interview with Vibe magazine, the musician commented, “I was so happy after the fight that I ran upstairs in their house and wrote ‘Speechless’. Fun inspires me. I hate to say that, because it’s such a romantic song.” He added, “But it was the fight that did it. I was happy, and I wrote it in its entirety right there. I felt it would be good enough for the album. Out of the bliss comes magic, wonderment, and creativity.”

“Speechless” was one of only two song from Invincible to be written solely by Jackson.

Vaughn Watson of The Providence Journal hailed “Speechless” as Invincible’s “best song, and one of Jackson’s finest of any album”. He added that with the song, the musician acknowledged the pain that accompanies isolation.

2003 – Michael Jackson said that he believed that the U.S. Congress should make no laws that would put people in jail for illegally downloading songs over the Internet.

I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music. It is wrong to illegally download, but the answer cannot be jail. Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws, and we should look to new technologies like Apple’s new Music Store for solutions. This way, innovation continues to be the hallmark of America. It is the fans that drive the success of the music business.

~ Press statement (21 July 2003), quoted in “Jackson attacks music piracy bill” in BBC News (22 July 2003)

1971 – The Jackson 5ive began a U.S. tour at the Coliseum in Charlotte, NC.

1973 – The Jackson 5ive Concert in Pittsburg ( Pennsylvania )

1974 - Jackson 5ive Concert in Trenton ( New Jersey )

1984 – Publicity of the Michael Jackson doll begins.

Thriller era saw the arrival of novelties like the Michael Jackson barbie doll: Thriller breaking all previous sales records & with the Victory tour playing to unprecedented crowds, a flood of MJ merchandise hit the market. Back in July of 1984, four MJ dolls authorized by Michael were marketed by LJN Toys inc. The 12″ vinyl Michael Jackson Superstar Doll appeared in stores in at a price of $12. The poseable doll had a molded jherri curl & came in 4 different, supposedly “authentic stage outfits”, from the videos of “Beat It” and “Thriller”, and red jacket from the AMA and the 3-musketeer’s inspired purple & gold sequin jacket from Grammys. The barbie sized dolls each came with a stand, a microphone, his famous glittering ‘Magic’ glove, glitter socks, and a tiny pair of mirror sunglasses.

1988 – Micheal visits sick children again at the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He visits critically ill children and their parents at the “Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital”, where he spends longer time with the less critical patients, reserving words of comfort to them, reading them stories and delivering presents, including albums, signed photos and T-shirts. He associates himself with the “Wishing Well Fund” for sponsoring the contruction of a novel unit, as part of the “Hospital for Sick Children” in Great Ormond Street, London, England.

Notably, 9-year old Neil Clark, having undergone live-saving surgery to remove a brain tumour – and originally not scheduled to see the popstar – is visited by the singer, the boy’s father declaring with gratitude that the visit “cheered my son up”. 4-year-old Joanne Doeffer, having undergone a throat operation and breathing through a special tube, was visited by the star, the meet-and-greet prompting her to struggle and say “Thriller” to a delighted Jackson.

During his Bad Tour (as well as other tours of his), he was reported to be joined backstage prior to his concerts by children with illnesses from the respective local areas of his performances, with whom the entertainer would pose for pictures and sign autographs to, often, the singer spending time purchasing and assembling playthings he would personally deliver to them the following day, according to Seth Riggs, Jackson’s vocal coach.

1988 – Michael was presented with a Sword to commemorate the Bad Tour at the Guildhall party.

In the evening, a banquet is held to commemorate the imminent Bad shows at Wembley Stadium. King of Pop became the first ever commoner to enter the London’s historic Guildhall’s Royal Entrance, a unique privilege that required the Queen’s personal approval.

His arrival was heralded by the red-jacketed trumpeters of the Life Guard cavalry, usually seen marching along the Mall. There followed a pounds 75,000 banquet, during which the roast beef was paraded through the room by the Corps of Drums of the Honourable Artillery Company.

Dancers in Olde English costume scattered rose petals at Michael’s feet. Then he watched wide-eyed as first Henry VIII, then Elizabeth I, Lord Nelson, Nell Gwynn, Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Dick Whittington paid their respects.

Ballet dancers burst from a box.

Fire-eaters, jugglers, jesters and Elizabethan musicians visited his table. Then Michael was stunned as Merlin appeared in a puff of smoke, and glittering knights in armour bowed before him.

Michael took the salute as the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers beat the retreat, walking up and down a line of liveried Life Guard troops as if he were a general inspecting them.

He bopped lightly on his heels as the band played and grinned wildly when they launched into a version of Billie Jean.

Then a knight in shining armour galloped across the courtyard, leapt from his saddle, pulled a sword from a stone and went down on one knee before handing the sword to Michael.

He was blissfully unaware of the historical significance, and handed the sword – the sword King Arthur pulled from the stone before he recruited the knights of the Round Table Knights of the Round Table – to a 7ft minder wearing a top hat, and made him the King of England.

1996 – Michael Jackson visited Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa. He also announced that he was working on a film about Mandela.

2004 – Michael Jackson’s publicist denied a report in US Weekly that Jackson was about to become a father to quadruplets via a surrogate mother. A spokesperson for US Weekly told Reuters that is stands by its story and cite unnamed sources close to Jackson as confirming the story.

1997 - "HIStory/Ghosts" second released from Michael's remix album "Blood On The Dancefloor", debuted at #5 in the UK, giving Michael his 8th consecutive Top 5 single.

The music video for "Ghosts" was a 5 minute clip taken from a film entitled Ghosts. Michael unveiled the film at the Cannes Film Festival, as part of the album promotion. The film was written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston – the multi-award winner behind the spectacular special effects. Ghosts was produced over an 8 week period, and cost Michael an est. $7-9 million. He played several roles, including a maestro, a fat, grey-haired town Mayor, and some monsters. The story was based loosely on the events and isolation Jackson felt after the false accusations. It features many special effects and dance moves choreographed to original music, which Jackson himself authored. The film includes several songs and music videos from the albums HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix.

Ghosts ~ Are You Scared Yet?

A scary Maestro with supernatural powers, is targeted by angry parents & towns mayor determined to drive him from his haunted Normal Valley home cause they believe him to be a "freak".
"You’re weird," the Mayor sneers, "You’re strange, you’re scaring these kids." [Brave words to commit to film, considering the media's warped portrayal of Michael!]
Maestro challenges the Mayor: first one to get scared leaves town.
So begins a wonderfully ghoulish display of singing and dancing, with breath-taking special effects.
"Is this scary?" one of Michael’s characters asks, and the answer is yes – Ghosts is delightfully scary!

FILM FACTS
The film was written by Michael and Stephen King and directed by Oscar-winner Stan Winston – the world’s foremost creator of creatures in Jurassic Park, Aliens & Terminator 2.
The movie includes a series of dance routines performed by Michael and the “family” of ghouls, choreographed to original music, which Michael himself authored. Every song from the film was taken from Michael’s Blood on the Dance Floor album.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MAESTRO: Michael Jackson
MAYOR: Michael Jackson
GHOUL MAYOR: Michael Jackson
SUPER GHOUL: Michael Jackson
SKELETON: Michael Jackson
PAT: Pat Dade
AMY: Amy Smallman
EDWINA: Edwina Moore
DANTE: Dante Beze
SETH: Seth Smith
KENDALL: Kendall Cunningham
LOREN: Loren Randolph
HEATHER: Heather Ehlers

Accolades

• The video for Ghosts is over 38 minutes long and holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s longest music video.
• The music video won the Bob Fosse Award for Best Choreography in a Music Video.
• Ghosts was issued as a standard home video in the UK in early February 1998 & made its debut at #1.

The original version of "HIStory" was the title track on his 1995 studio album HIStory, but was never released as a single; used the opening from "Great Gate of Kiev" as its introduction, followed by numerous historical quotes, including quotes from an interview with a young Michael Jackson from 1970. Musical compositions sampled include "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" and "Pictures at an Exhibition". Audio quotes sampled were the "Charles Lindbergh Report" by Lowell Thomas, a report on Hank Aaron, "Robert Kennedy Eulogy" by Edward Kennedy, "Farewell to Baseball" by Lou Gehrig, "Greetings to the Children of England" by Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, a quote from Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream".

The music video that accompanied the remix opens with the scene of a woman, relaxing on a futuristic sofa, watching the music video through metallic virtual reality goggles. The video is set in a nightclub, inside the club, televisions, monitors and walls display the history of Michael's filmography

The remix album become Michael’s 5th consecutive chart topping album (his 6th in total)

1998 - Michael Jackson attended Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday at the Gallagher Estate outside of Johannesburg.

2005 - Sony releases a new double CD Greatest Hits titled The Essential.

The Essential Michael Jackson is a 2005 greatest hits 2-disc compilation features 38 hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World".

As of 2009 the album was certified 2x platinum in the US, it's estimated that over 7 million copies have been sold worldwide, making it the highest selling edition in Sony's Essential line.

1971 - The Jackson 5ive began a U.S. tour at the Coliseum in Charlotte, NC.

1972 – The Jackson 5ive Concert in Chicago (Illinois)

1988 – Michael Jackson & Jimmy Jam visit Elstree Studios where Steven Spielberg is directing Indiana Jones and they both meet Harrison Ford.

1992 – Concerts his Dangerous World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden at the Olympic Stadium, attending 53,000.

1996 – Michael visits South Africa for a few days, arrives in Johannesburg, where he attends a private birthday for President Nelson Mandela. Mandela invited about 2000 children to the party.

Nelson Mandela poses with Michael Jackson before cutting a birthday cake for his 78th birthday at Hilton College in Kwazulu-Natal.

Michael took time off from touring, to visit South Africa where not only did he attend a private birthday party for the country’s President Nelson Mandela, he revealed he was writing a song about him. "I was working on it last night (19th July)," he said. "This is a wonderful, lovely man. I love Nelson Mandela very much."
Mandela, stepping out on to a patio to greet the media, turned to Michael and said,
"I can see who is the world leader. I have never seen so many journalists!"

During the press conference in Sun City, Michael announces that his upcoming HIStory World Tour would reach South Africa.

While in South Africa, Michael also took time to visits the black township of Soweto, where he laid a wreath of flowers at the memorial to honor the youngsters who were shot dead by South Africa’s security forces during the 1976 Apartheid riots; and renders a bouquet of white roses, carnations and lilies in remembrance of 11-year-old leukemia victim, Jaymee Bowen.

Michael Jackson with Mandela and other African leaders & Sheela Lee Jackson

Meanwhile, the highest bid for a Neverland visit on behalf of the star is obtained at the Cities in School celebrity auction and, with the aid of radio KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, 115,000 dollars are delivered to school pupils.

1998 – Michael Jackson and Don Barden go to Joannesburg.

The city of Warsaw, Poland, presented Michael Jackson with four potential locations for a planned theme park.

1999 – Michael Jackson attends Nelson Mandela’s birthday.



2004 - Michael Jackson's publicist denied a report in US Weekly that Jackson was about to become a father to quadruplets via a surrogate mother. A spokesperson for US Weekly told Reuters that is stands by its story and cite unnamed sources close to Jackson as confirming the story.

2007 – Michael Jackson takes Prince, Paris & Blanket to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space and American Indian museums in Washington, D. C.

Michael Jackson toured the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space and American Indian museums, arriving with his children before the buildings opened to the public. "He wanted to show them the sights," Raymone Bain, a publicist for the 48-year-old pop star, told The Washington Post. At the air and space museum, Jackson lingered over the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft to make a sustained flight with a pilot aboard, during his visit Wednesday. His children enjoyed robots R2-D2 and C-3PO from the "Star Wars" movies. Jackson will be in the Washington region for a few days. Bain said the singer has been looking for a vacation home.

Jackson’s fondness to stars wars films is evident with his life-sized replicas of Darth Vader, Yoga, D2 R2, C-3PO and a Han Solo model frozen in carbonite. During the HIStory World Tour, Michael opens each show, wearing a dazzling silver & gold futuristic outfit, complete with space helmet. Reminiscing the Star Wars, he comes in a mini spaceship, crashing black door blew open to reveal himself.Great Gate of Kiev was used as the anthem Life-size replica of Star Wars robot R2-D2 : The great panoramic of Michael Jackson’s game room/collection gallery includes several Star Wars pieces. A life-size replica of Star Wars robot R2-D2 from Lucasfilm Ltd., 1999. An electric light inside the figure illuminates it.

See more Star Wars pieces from the great panoramic of Michael Jackson’s game room collection gallery.

MJ Star Wars Collection

1971 – The Jackson 5ive Concert in Hampton (Virginia)

1972 – The Jackson 5ive Concert in Chicago (Illinois)

1988 - Michael Jackson & Jimmy Jam visit Elstree Studios where Steven Spielberg is directing Indiana Jones and they both meet Harrison Ford.

1992 - Concerts his Dangerous World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden at the Olympic Stadium, attending 53,000.

1996 - Michael visits South Africa for a few days, arrives in Johannesburg, where he attends a private birthday for President Nelson Mandela. Mandela invited about 2000 children to the party.

Michael took time off from touring, to visit South Africa where not only did he attend a private birthday party for the country’s President Nelson Mandela, he revealed he was writing a song about him. "I was working on it last night (19th July)," he said. "This is a wonderful, lovely man. I love Nelson Mandela very much."
Mandela, stepping out on to a patio to greet the media, turned to Michael and said,
"I can see who is the world leader. I have never seen so many journalists!"
During the press conference in Sun City, Michael announces that his upcoming HIStory World Tour would reach South Africa.

Nelson Mandela poses with Michael Jackson before cutting a birthday cake for his 78th birthday at Hilton College in Kwazulu-Natal.

While in South Africa, Michael also took time to visits the black township of Soweto, where he laid a wreath of flowers at the memorial to honor the youngsters who were shot dead by South Africa’s security forces during the 1976 Apartheid riots; and renders a bouquet of white roses, carnations and lilies in remembrance of 11-year-old leukemia victim, Jaymee Bowen.

Meanwhile, the highest bid for a Neverland visit on behalf of the star is obtained at the "Cities in School" celebrity auction and, with the aid of radio "KIIS-FM" in Los Angeles, 115,000 dollars are delivered to school pupils.

1998 – Michael Jackson and Don Barden go to Joannesburg.

The city of Warsaw, Poland, presented Michael Jackson with four potential locations for a planned theme park.

1999 - Michael Jackson attends Nelson Mandela's birthday.


2007 - Michael Jackson takes Prince, Paris & Blanket to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space and American Indian museums in Washington, D. C.

Michael Jackson toured the Smithsonian's National Air and Space and American Indian museums, arriving with his children before the buildings opened to the public.
"He wanted to show them the sights," Raymone Bain, a publicist for the 48-year-old pop star, told The Washington Post.

At the air and space museum, Jackson lingered over the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft to make a sustained flight with a pilot aboard, during his visit Wednesday. His children enjoyed robots R2-D2 and C-3PO from the "Star Wars" movies.

Jackson will be in the Washington region for a few days. Bain said the singer has been looking for a vacation home.

Jackson’s fondness to stars wars films is evident with his life-sized replicas of Darth Vader, Yoga, D2 R2, C-3PO and a Han Solo model frozen in carbonite.

During the HIStory World Tour, Michael opens each show, wearing a dazzling silver & gold futuristic outfit, complete with space helmet. Reminiscing the Star Wars, he comes in a mini spaceship, crashing black door blew open to reveal himself.Great Gate of Kiev was used as the anthem.



Life-size replica of Star Wars robot R2-D2 : The great panoramic of Michael Jackson’s game room/collection gallery includes several Star Wars pieces. A life-size replica of Star Wars robot R2-D2 from Lucasfilm Ltd., 1999. An electric light inside the figure illuminates it.

See more Star Wars pieces from the great panoramic of Michael Jackson’s game room collection gallery.
MJ Star Wars Collection

1980 - Michael films a special at Disneyland for Disney's 25th anniversary. Disneyland celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary with a 25 hour party starting at midnight and ending at 1 AM on the 20th.

1982 - Michael attends a gala in honor of Quincy Jones at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.


1985 - The charity single We Are The World by the super group USA for Africa, quickly became an anthem for the 80s, and along with the Band-Aid single, inspired a wave of musical charity events, from Live Aid on July 17, 1985 (which, ironically, Michael did not participate in, due to being tied up in filming Captain EO) to Hands Across America on May 25, 1986.
The music-charity movement grew to become far greater than the sum of its parts, but Michael’s crucial contribution guaranteed him a special place in a mass movement that came to define the 1980s pop culture almost as much as Thriller had two years earlier.

1990 - Michael attends the wedding of Grace Eaton to Berry Gordy in Santa Barbara. Among the other wedding guests were Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross.



1993 - Michael Jackson's single "Will You Be There" hit #9 in the U.K.

1997 - Michael Jackson's "Blood On The Dance Floor: History in the Mix" was certified gold by the RIAA.

1977 - The album "The Jacksons" hit #54 in the U.K.

1983 - Michael Jackson's single "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" hit #5 in the U.S.

1988 - Princess Diana of Wales attended Michael's third sold-out concert at Wembley Stadium, along with Prince Charles.

Prior to taking the stage, Michael met with royal couple & presented a $450,000 cheque for the Princes' Trust, a charity for disadvantaged children; from the proceeds of the seven-sold-out Wembley concerts. He also gave Princess two custom made Bad World Tour jackets; one each for her young sons, Prince William & Prince Harry, and a framed set of cassettes & compact discs of Off The wall, Thriller & Bad. MJ is said to be Princess Diana's favorite pop star! Michael was equally happy to meet her. "I was so excited at meeting the royal couple. I'm very very happy that they came to watch me perform. I thought the Princess was just wonderful"

MJ & Di:

• In 1997 Michael postponed his world tour concert in Belgium due to the emotional shock of Diana's death, attended an L.A. memorial service dedicated to her.
  
• From September 3 concert onward, Michael's cover of Charlie Chaplin's song Smile was played back before each concert after Princess Diana's death showing pictures of the princess on the jumbotron for some parts of the concert.
  
• In 1997 Michael granted his Gone Too Soon song to the Tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales album.
  
• On September 12, 1997, Michael gave his memories his personal recollections on being friends with the Princess to Barbara Walters in an internationally televised interview.
  "Up until 13 days ago perhaps the two most photographed people in the world were Princess Diana, and Michael Jackson. Now only one remains to talk about what it means to live under that kind of scrutiny.
  When it comes to the paparazzi, Michael Jackson says he feels a bond with Princess Diana. Paparazzi have been a part of his life since he was a small child." Source: MJFC
  
• In 2007, in pre-concert interview Prince William listed Michael Jackson as one of Diana's most favourite music acts.

Michael also made a donation of ₤100,000 to the Wishing Well Fund, established to help finance the construction of a new building for London's Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital for Sick Children. Michael toured the hospital & visited with some of the patients.

1996 - Michael Jackson performed in Brunei to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Sultan of Brunei - Sir Hassanai Bokiah - the world’s richest man.

Michael warmed up for his History World Tour with the one-off concert concert staged inside the Sultan’s Jerudong Park Garden, a Disney-style theme park where admission and all the rides are free. Admission to Michael’s concert was free, too, and around 60,000 fans packed into the park to attend his two hour show. Michael performed 18 songs, mostly from his previous Dangerous Tour set list. Apart from the black lace jacket he wore in the promo for You Are Not Alone, Michael re-used the stage outfits he had worn during the Dangerous World Tour.