Most Chattanooga area residents have seen or heard recently deceased pop star Michael Jackson’s songs and music videos, but a few have actually seen him in person.
For most in the latter group, that time came Aug. 10-12, 1984, when the noted musician performed three evening concerts at the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
A look at some old newspapers on microfilm shows that former Chattanooga Times entertainment writer Randy Arnold covered the entire event and interviewed a number of Chattanoogans who went.
At the time of the Knoxville “Victory” concerts, Jackson was at the peak of his fame and popularity and was several years away from any marital problems or serious legal accusations. His “Thriller” album and videos were still getting plenty of airtime in 1984, and he was a pitchman for the celebrated Pepsi ads.
However, the concerts did reveal what later became obvious - that Michael Jackson could be a complex person with whom to deal.
Primarily, this came about as a result of two death threat letters that had been written beforehand to the Knoxville News Sentinel and to the University of Tennessee.
After Mr. Jackson initially wanted to cancel the concerts, a deal was worked out in which three nearby tall buildings, including the downtown Knoxville Hilton, would be secured.
A temporary fence/wall was also erected around the stadium, and concertgoers were scanned with handheld metal detectors. Although those are accepted measures in the post 9-11 world, they were considered unusual in those days.
Michael Jackson apparently did not stay in Knoxville during the concerts, but flew in daily on a Lear jet. His brothers, who were also performing with him, rented out the sixth floor of the Airport Hilton on Alcoa Highway.
Jermaine Jackson, who has been shown on TV giving interviews since Michael’s death on June 25, flew in two days before the concert on singer and actress Pia Zadora’s private jet.
Tickets were $30 a person, and Chattanoogans could buy tickets at the Millers department stores at Northgate and Eastgate malls.
Nearly 50,000 people could fit into the stadium and still be able to see the front or side of the mammoth stage that was erected, and almost that many tickets were sold each night.
According to Mr. Arnold’s wrap-up story on Monday, after the three weekend concerts, Mr. Jackson did not disappoint.
“What took place here Friday through Sunday was a spectacle for the eyes, a feast for the ears and a celebration of the human spirit,” Mr. Arnold wrote.
“What took place was a circus that P.T. Barnum would envy. In the center ring was Michael Jackson. Even the most cynical observer would walk away admiring the talents of this young superstar.”
The Friday concert began with Mr. Jackson singing his hit, “Startin’ Something.” It was followed a short time later by some of the old Jackon 5 hits.
Then came the most anticipated parts of the concert – Mr. Jackson singing the hits “Beat It” and “Billie Jean.” During “Billie Jean,” Mr. Jackson did his famous moonwalk, and the Neyland Stadium crowd gave a deafening roar usually reserved only for a Volunteer touchdown.
The Friday concert, which took place during rainfall, did have a tragedy, as a Knoxville doctor and his granddaughter from Houston died after being struck by a vehicle while trying to cross the street at Volunteer Boulevard and Circle Park Drive just up the hill from the stadium.
The Saturday and Sunday concerts were held without any other unfortunate events, and the crowd continued to enjoy the music. Noted boxer Sugar Ray Leonard attended Saturday’s show.
Among the Chattanoogans whom Mr. Arnold interviewed was 12-year-old Jennifer White, who was getting ready to enroll at Girls Preparatory School.
“I want to see Michael moonwalk,” she said before one of the concerts.
Her father, Selox executive Robert White Jr., had purchased tickets from someone in Knoxville, and nine of them had flown up and had a tailgate party outside the stadium.
“It’s something the kids wanted to see, and I want to see what all the fuss is about,” Mr. White said. “I’m interested in what may happen.”
Nancy and Scott Griffin from Tunnel Hill also attended, purchasing tickets for less than face value from someone who had won them in a Pepsi contest.
“I like their music so I wanted to see what the concert would be like,” Nancy Griffin said.
Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Mastin, who had been paralyzed from the waist down by a virus and was a patient at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, was able to go to one of the concerts due to the efforts of radio stations WNOO and KZ-106 and others.
An obvious Michael Jackson fan, the youngster was dressed up like the star, with glove and all.
Chattanoogans Robert Hagan and his family, and Peggy Pippin and her 14-year-old son, Danny, were found on the last row of Neyland Stadium’s section PP, which was about as far away from the stage as one could be.
“I like the music, but I don’t like these seats,” Mrs. Pippin said. “I’m afraid of heights.”
Michael Jackson was also reaching great heights as an entertainer at the time of his Knoxville concerts.
And based on Mr. Arnold’s observations, he showed these special gifts and did not disappoint the East Tennessee fans, which included a number of Chattanoogans.
“Whatever you think about Michael Jackson, after watching him in person, you have to admit he is a tremendously talented person,” he wrote.
Jcshearer2@comcast.net