Michael Jackson began his career with The Jackson 5 as the lead singer in the late 1960s; however, he ventured to seek an independent career in the early 1970s while still in the band. While with The Jackson 5, he had several solo albums but he only made his iconic solo debut after the group left Motown Records in 1975.
The initial album released by Jackson after escaping Motown with his brothers was ‘Off the Wall’ in 1979; it sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and contains songs such as ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,’ and ‘Rock with You. ’ This album was significant as it was making Jackson transform from a child star to a young solo artist. However, he did not go on tour to promote the album as he was still a member of The Jacksons or The Jackson 5 as they were then known, and toured with them in late 1979 to support their album known as “Destiny”.
The answer is: when did Michael Jackson finally go on his first solo concert tour? It got underway at the very least soon after his next major record album.
The Epic “Thriller” Album Prepares Jackson For His First Solo Tour “Thriller,” released in 1982 was Michael Jackson’s sixth solo album and second with Epic Records and remains the biggest-selling album to date, with a record-breaking run of 37 consecutive weeks at the top of charts and seven top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. The king of Pop hit the roof with “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Thriller,” and “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'. ”
Due to the massive hit of the album, the anticipation of Michael Jackson going on a concert tour for the first time was highly expected. At first, there was some doubt whether he would embark on touring or if he could replicate the aesthetic of his high-tech promoted music videos. But Jackson wanted to bring his video ideas to the stage with the funding for it.
The highly expected “Thriller” tour which was Michael Jackson’s first solo concert tour began in Kansas City, Missouri on July 6, 1984, for the promotion of his record-breaking Thriller album. From there, the tour lasted for five and a half months with the band performing in different cities across the United States and in Canada as well.
Noma’s Conceptual Pioneering Production Values as New Paradigm By the time the HIStory tour was conceived, Michael Jackson and his team of designers, choreographers, and engineers aimed at producing a show that would be unheard of in pop music. Jackson’s clothes and hair were also changed severally during the 2-hour show while he danced to his popular songs. Some of the looks incorporated into the costumes included Beat It, Billie Jean, and Thriller music videos that fans were excited to see depicted on the stage.
They included elaborate dance moves choreographed and done with elegance by Jackson and his dancers. The Thriller dance sequence interlude was a mini-movie that was a nightmare /horror theme that was 13 minutes in length and aimed to replicate aspects of his Thriller short film. All meals and drinks were served right on the set, and no holds barred were put in the efforts in creating intricate sets, props, pyrotechnics, and lighting effects specially designed for the show. At some of his live performances, Michael Jackson even arrived on a stage on a hydraulically operated ramp or came out from the floor. At the time, most major concert tours were still quite low-tech in comparison, so Jackson’s Thriller tour is widely credited for setting new standards of what a technically elaborate and intricately designed world-class stage show was capable of.
The success of Smash has led to a trip around the globe. The ‘Thriller’ tour in North America was a sellout because the Jacksons performed to sold-out audiences across various cities. 2. 5 million people watched the initial leg and gross sales were over $20 million, both hefty figures for a concert tour back then. The band had to perform again in North America in the spring of 1985 because of the high demand from their fans.
After that, the Thriller tour continued in Europe and Asia for more record-breaking attendance and sales for Jackson. Including all legs, the Thriller live show did 123 shows across five continents and performed to 4 and a half million fans. It established Jackson as the biggest pop icon in the world and set records for the highest-grossing entertainment tour of its time.
Michael Jackson’s first solo concert tour is still viewed as history in the making, a tour that established new benchmarks for what a global stadium concert could offer. All that he has done throughout his glorious career as a solo artist reduced it all into live performances where millions of fans were over the moon as they watched his rather innovative ideas come to life on stage. The bond that Jackson established during the Thriller tour took him to even greater heights to earn the throne of King of Pop.
