In the fifth grade, I wore a one glove to school for a solid week. In the summer. And I lived in New Orleans. I wanted one of those zipper-laden jackets so bad, but they were expensive. So I rolled up the sleeves on my Members Only jacket, so everyone could see my glove instead. Michael Jackson became a part of me, just like he did with millions of others around the globe.
Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, and produced seven number one hits. The Thriller video turned music videos into an art form and upped the ante for every video production to follow. The moonwalk solidified his status as a world-class performer and turned Michael Jackson into a pop-culture god.
Michael Jackson authored “We are the World,” a humanitarian sensation that set the bar for every music benefit that has ever followed. He expressed his compassion, understanding and frustration of the human condition with “Black or White,” and “Man in the Mirror,” among other titles.
Michael Jackson’s impact was felt deep in the music industry too. He introduced introduced legions of new fans to Motown. He even headed the Recording Industry Association of America at one time.
No matter what anyone thinks about Michael Jackson the man, his impact as an entertainer, a musician and a music icon cannot be denied. His fame spanned the globe and his music reached more people than ever before, or ever after.
The closest I ever came to Michael Jackson was his exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (he came in at #4 on our list). But like many others, I still felt like he was a part of my childhood and my makeup as a music fan.
Twitter exploded with the news of Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday, June 25, 2009. It’s where many fans expressed their thoughts and memories of The King of Pop. Below are some eulogies from fans and colleagues. Leave a comment below to share your own thoughts.
LudaJuice: (rapper Ludacris) If it were not for Micheal Jackson I would not be where or who I am today. His Music and Legacy will live on Forever. Prayers to the fam R.I.P.
SnoopDogg: Rip Mj gotta show you some love…blazzn live on ustream http://bit.ly/6Agaw
Snoop streamed video of himself paying tribute to Michael Jackson, in his own way.
MCHammer: I will be mourning my friend , brother, mentor and inspiration. He gave me and my family hope. I would never have been me without him.
JesseJstreet: Still in shock over MJ, despite all of his troubles, I have been and always will be a big fan of his music. Lots of childhood memories.
ChrisBlake: 1st heard Billie Jean in 5th grade. I had a big portable headphone radio that I shared with a classmate so she could hear too.
SolangeKnowles: I honestly don’t think I can handle this right now. Why does it feel like family? My heart is really hurting.
QtipTheAbstract: (Q-Tip) no one better than brotha mike .. http://bit.ly/icWZI
BritneySpears: He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed. -Britney
SoSoulfull: crying and listening to ‘Gone Too Soon’ by Michael Jackson http://ifly.by/lOt
Amanda8Murphy: In shock! 2 legends gone. Farrah struggled always to be herself. Michael Jackson struggled always to be someone else. Oh wow…
LilyRoseAllen: (Lily Allen) No fucking way
pandora_radio We’re not getting much work done over here. Standing around talking about Michael Jackson and feeling shocked.
RadioMilwaukee: I have to say, I’m truly amazed by all the love for Michael Jackson on twitter. That shows the impact of the man and his music.
On a recent trip to Cleveland to see The Black Keys, I had a chance to stop in at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The trip was short (several hours could be spent there) but I did get to see some pretty amazing stuff. Below is my list of the best they have to offer. It probably doesn’t match yours – leave a comment and tell me, I’d love to hear some opinions. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed.
Without further ado …
10. Slash’s top hat: When Guns ‘N Roses burst on the scene in the mid 80′s the rock world was thrown for a loop. It wasn’t the hair-band style we were used to (even though Slash and Axl Rose both had some major hair) it was dirty, hard rock. And the image that stands out the most is Slash’s top hat. It may have been silly if not for his immense talent – instead it became an icon of a rock legend. It’s also surprisingly small. Must have been all that hair propping it up.
9. Randy Rhoads’ polka-dot guitar: I’ll never forget the first time I saw Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” video. It was also the first time I was introduced to Randy Rhoads and his polka-dot flying V guitar. The riffs Rhoads produced in that song started me down a path of guitar love I’ll never recover from. The exhibit is even more powerful knowing that Rhoads died an early, tragic death before the full scope of his talent could be realized.
8. Jimi Hendrix’s suede boots: Hendrix was not only a guitar god, but a fashion icon of the 60′s and 70′s. The green suede boots stand out as both a signature item and a humanizing element. Around the toes and bottom portions of the boots is dirt – turning the green into a brown/olive color. Seeing that reminds you of how real it all is, and brings you closer to a legend. I imagine Hendrix looking down at the fading brilliance of his boots and thinking it’s time to hang them up and find a new pair.
7. Jim Morrison valentine: “Mother be my Valentine,” reads a home-made card from The Doors’ Jim Morrison to his mother. Not only is it amazing to see a child incarnation of a legendary rocker, but the irony of the situation is overwhelming. Morrison regularly told tales of how miserable his childhood was and how little his parents meant to him – even claiming they were dead.
6. 1978 Rolling Stones set list: There was plenty of Stones paraphernalia, but the set list stands out the most. It’s hand-written and gives you a glimpse into a real rock and roll show. Reading the list, you can hear the songs in your head and follow the progression of one of rock’s greatest bands perfroming to a sold-out crowd. The finale was “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
5. Otis Redding airplane wreckage: One of the most soulful singers the world has ever heard came in the form of Otis Redding. Tragically, his private airplane crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 10, 1967 and Redding, just 26 years old, was killed. Many are unaware that “The Dock of the Bay,” his only #1 single was recorded just three days before his death. The twisted wreckage is in two parts, “Otis” on one and “Redding” on the other, from the plane’s fuselage.
4. Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” socks, glove and loafers, and “Thriller” jacket: The early years of the MTV era saw Michael Jackson performing “Billie Jean” at the Grammy’s, and the world learned of the moonwalk for the first time – complete with glittering socks and lone glove, and black penny loafers (sans pennies.) The “Thriller” jacket is torn and burned, Hollywood-style, and gets you close to one of the most influential music videos ever produced.
3. Hunter S. Thompson’s letter to Rolling Stone: It’s a scenario made famous in 1998′s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – a brilliant but cavalier Hunter S. Thompson explaining himself after missing yet another deadline while out in the desert binging on a cacophony of illicit drugs. At one point in the letter he explains that he’ll need copious amounts of speed for his next story, so the editors should gather up as much as they can and send it ASAP. It’s a first-person look into the twisted mind of one of the great writers for rock’s most important publication.
2. John Lennon’s piano: The Beatles were vital to the development of Rock and Roll. But John Lennon and Yoko Ono taught us about rock’s turbulent relationships, how to break up and how artists follow their instincts no matter the cost. The piano is where Lennon wrote many songs for Double Fantasy. Candle wax from writing sessions remain on the wood and help you envision the man and his muse sitting down, changing music forever.
1. Paul Simonon’s Fender Precision bass: On September 21, 1979, The Clash’s Simonon smashed his bass on the stage of New York’s Palladium concert hall. The moment was captured in a photo and immortalized on the album cover for London Calling. Nothing embodies rock and roll better than that image and nothing makes you feel like a part of rock history than being inches away from the iconic instrument.
