Bad World Tour

This written piece is for educational & informative purposes, only. Everything written will be based off of facts. I will provide sources of all the material written here. There will be a section where I write my personal opinion on the matter. Keep this in mind before taking anything the wrong way.

How the date locations work: Month, Day, Year | City/State [State/Country] | Number of people attended - The location of performance

Intro

         The Bad World Tour. The second highest grossing musician tour of the 1980's. Michael Jackson embarked on this world tour in promotion of his newly released album at the time: "Bad". This was not only 5 years after his biggest album of all time: "Thriller", but also the first time in 3 years that the world would see Jackson perform live on stage. It is often regarded as Jackson's peak of performance in this era, as he was in complete control of this tour. This tour marked his solidification as a solo artist, & also his very first solo tour ever. Jackson sung, danced, & performed every song live for a good majority of this tour. It was also supposed to be his last tour ever, as he'd transition into making films once the tour was complete. Question is: What made this tour so magical? How did Jackson craft such an amazing experience? What difficulties did he face during this tour? & most importantly, how did this tour impact the world at large? I plan to answer these questions & many more as I explain the history of Michael Jackson's "Bad World Tour".

The Tour

         The year was 1987. It had been 5 years since Michael Jackson had released the best selling album of all time: "Thriller". Fans had been anticipating Jackson's next release; With all that pressure, Jackson was pushing himself in the studio to create an album that would surpass "Thriller". He had high hopes for it to sell over 30 million units within its first couple of weeks on the market. Moreover, it was also 3 years since he'd last been on tour. "On June 29, 1987, Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo held a press conference in Tokyo to announce that the 28-year-old Jackson would embark on his first concert tour as a solo artist. It marked his first concerts since the Victory Tour in 1984 which he performed with his brothers as the Jacksons. DiLeo said the tour would start with a Japanese leg because of the country's loyal fans. In a written statement, Jackson, who was completing Bad in Los Angeles, promised "thrilling and exciting" concerts.The soft drink manufacturer Pepsi, with whom Jackson and his brothers had a deal worth an estimated $5 million per year, sponsored the tour. Sales of the drink in Japan doubled during the summer following the announcement, helped by an advertising campaign that offered free tickets and 30,000 souvenirs. The entire entourage were instructed not to be seen drinking a product from rival Coca-Cola in public. Marlon Brando's son Miko joined the tour as a production assistant." (Bad (Tour), 2022)
         The tour was scheduled to take place on September 12th, 1987. 13 days after the release of the album "Bad". The tour concluded in California on January 27th, 1989. The tour spanned over 15 countries, with each performance being better than the last, as Jackson did his best to perfect the show every time. In total, Jackson performed over 123 shows to over 4.4 million people all over the world. Jackson's manager, DiLeo, called various instrumentalists months prior to the album's release & also the tour dates in order to gather the cast needed to make the tour complete. DiLeo tasked Rory Kaplan, a Keyboardist, to do auditions for the singers, band members, & dancers for Jackson & DiLeo to make the final decision. The final cast of the Bad Tour was decided as follows:

Creative Directors

Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals, Show Director, Dancer and Choreographer)
Peggy Holmes (Assistant Director)
Vince Patterson (Choreographer)
Tom McPhillips (Set Designer)
Allen Branton (Lighting Designer)

Production

Frank Dileo (Personal Management)
Sal Bonafede (Tour Coordinator)
John Draper (Tour Manager)
Benny Collins (Production Manager)
Nelson Hayes (Production Coordinator)
Rob Henry (Production Coordinator)
Gerry Bakalian (Stage Manager)
Tait Towers, Inc. (Set Construction)
Clair Bros. (Sound)
Kevin Elison (house sound engineer)
Rick Coberly (Monitor Engineer)
Ziffren, Brittenham and Branca (Attorneys)
Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman (Business Management)
Solters/Roskin, Friedman Inc.(Public Relations)
Bob Jones (V.P. of Communications, MJJ)
Glen Brunman (Media Relations, Epic Records)
Gretta Walsh Of Revel Travel (Travel Agent)

Dancers

Randy Allaire
Evaldo Garcia
Dominic Lucero
LaVelle Smith

Band

Greg Phillinganes (Lead keyboards, synthesizers, musical director)
Rory Kaplan (keyboards, synthesizers)
Christopher Currell (Synclavier, digital guitar, sound effects)
Ricky Lawson (Drums)
Jennifer Batten (Rhythm and lead guitar)
Jon Clark (Lead and rhythm guitar)
Don Boyette (bass guitar, synth bass)
John Barnes (lead keyboards, synthesizers) (1989 Los Angeles concerts only)

Background Vocals

Kevin Dorsey (vocal director)
Darryl Phinnessee
Dorian Holley
Sheryl Crow

Stylists and Assistants

Karen Faye (Hair & Make-up)
Tommy Simms (Stylist)
Gianni Versace, Dennis Tompkins & Michael Bush (Costumes Designed)
Jolie Levine (Michael's Personal Assistant)
Meredith Besser (Assistant)

Sponsors

Pepsi
Nippon Television (Japan only)

Kaplan would be the musical director for the band members & singers. He was tasked with making sure that each member knew their parts from selected songs off the albums "Thriller", "Off The Wall", & "Bad" (Prior to Bad's album release date), & even a few Jackson 5 songs. After a few weeks, he would be replaced from his musical director position by Greg Phillinganes. With both their musical prowess, & Jackson's showmanship expertise, they would help to create one of the best selling tours of the 1980's.

Since each leg had different events, I will be breaking down the events that happened during each leg of the very extensive tour. So many magical moments, critical events, & meaningful situations took place in each part of the tour.

Japan | 1987 Part 1

         The tour began in Japan. Jackson landed in Tokyo, Japan on September 10th, 1987. He was greeted by thousands of loyal, eager fans upon his landing. Being the biggest star in the world, Jackson had to walk around with various bodyguards & armed security. Jackson visited various shopping/music stores, historical sites, & signed many autographs that day. The album Bad was flying off the shelves even more following his arrival to Japan. There were many Japanese natives that expressed their love of Jackson once interviewed by the local news center. Local merchandise of Jackson's signature glitter glove & Billie Jean hat started to sell extremely well during his time there. There were even some natives to Japan who were spotted donning his signature Bad outfit at his concerts. A 45 minute documentary was made that showcased Jackson's adventures during the tour in Japan. It was created by DMJDVDesign, & published in 2003. On September 12th, 1987, Jackson & his band members rehearsed for the very first performance earlier that day. Later that night, it kicked off the start of the Bad World Tour. The dates for Japan in 1987 were as follows:

September 12-14, 1987 - Tokyo, Japan
September 19-21, 1987 - Nishinomiya, Japan
September 25-27, October 3 and 4, 1987 - Yokohama, Japan
October 10-12, 1987 - Osaka, Japan

         On September 26, 1987, this particular bad tour concert was recorded by Nippon TV. It was later broadcasted to various other countries all around the world. Throughout his performances across Japan, Michael Jackson visited various villages, neighborhoods, & schools to interact with the Japanese locals. Being that he was very fond of children, he made sure to take pictures with them in his meet & greets. It was a very hospitable moment for Jackson in the start of his world tour. Originally, Jackson & his team were scheduled to only do 9 shows in Japan. However, since the demand was so great, they added another 5 concerts to the list. This resulted in Jackson performing a total of 14 shows in Japan. It should also be noted that Japan, being that it is the first time he's performing live after a long rest period, was the strongest vocals that Jackson had throughout the tour.

Australia 1987

         Following the huge success of the Japan leg of his tour, Jackson migrated to Australia. He perform the dates as follows:

Nov. 13, 1987 Melbourne [Australia] 45,000 - Olympic Park
Nov. 20, 1987 Sydney [Australia] 45,000 - Paramatta Stadium
Nov. 21, 1987 Sydney [Australia] 45,000 - Paramatta Stadium
Nov. 25, 1987 Brisbane [Australia] 67,500 - Entertainment Centre
Nov. 28, 1987 Brisbane [Australia] 67,500 - Entertainment Centre

         During the end of his performance on November 20th in Sydney, Australia, Stevie wonder appeared on stage to surprise Jackson. (https://youtu.be/nO15C_-u5j0?si=4U3kxv1hyVr7UFiP&t=370)

North America 1988 | Part 1

         After concluding the Australian leg of the tour, Jackson took a break for December of 1987. The Bad Tour continued in America. From January 22nd to February 18th, 1988, Jackson set up the stage in Pensacola Florida to rehearse an entire new set for the American leg of the tour. He added new songs, took out old ones, and even implemented new choreography to make the shows that more exciting. Mary Hart, a news reporter, was able to participate in the building & presentation of the new setlist. It was filmed & recorded as he rehearsed with his team. "Vincent Paterson, who had worked with Jackson on several videos, was brought in to choreograph and co-direct the tour with Michael. On the last day of preparation, Jackson allowed 420 school pupils to watch him rehearse after the children made him a rap music video in his honor." (Bad World Tour, n.d.) The dates for the American took place as follows:

Feb. 23, 1988 Kansas City [Missouri, USA] 16,960 - Kemper Arena
Feb. 24, 1988 Kansas City [Missouri, USA] 16,960 - Kemper Arena

March 03, 1988 New York City [New York, USA] 19,000 - Madison Square Garden
March 04, 1988 New York City [New York, USA] 19,000 - Madison Square Garden
March 05, 1988 New York City [New York, USA] 19,000 - Madison Square Garden

March 12, 1988 St. Louis [Missouri, USA] 18,000 - The Arena
March 13, 1988 St. Louis [Missouri, USA] 18,000 - The Arena

March 18, 1988 Indianapolis [Indiana, USA] - Market Square Arena
March 19, 1988 Indianapolis [Indiana, USA] - Market Square Arena

March 20, 1988 Louisville [Kentucky, USA] - Freedom Hall

March 23, 1988 Denver [Colorado, USA] 20,125 - McNichols Arena
March 24, 1988 Denver [Colorado, USA] 20,125 - McNichols Arena

March 30, 1988 Hartford [Connecticut, USA] 15,060 - Civic Center
March 31, 1988 Hartford [Connecticut, USA] 15,060 - Civic Center

April 01, 1988 Hartford [Conneticut, USA] 15,060 - Civic Center

April 08, 1988 Houston [Texas, USA] - The Summit
April 09, 1988 Houston [Texas, USA] - The Summit
April 10, 1988 Houston [Texas, USA] - The Summit

April 13, 1988 Atlanta [Georgia, USA] - The Omni
April 14, 1988 Atlanta [Georgia, USA] - The Omni
April 15, 1988 Atlanta [Georgia, USA] - The Omni

April 19, 1988 Chicago [Illinois, USA] - The Rosemont Horizon
April 20, 1988 Chicago [Illinois, USA] - The Rosemont Horizon
April 21, 1988 Chicago [Illinois, USA] - The Rosemont Horizon

April 25, 1988 Dallas [Texas, USA] - The Reunion Arena
April 26, 1988 Dallas [Texas, USA] - The Reunion Arena
April 27, 1988 Dallas [Texas, USA] - The Reunion Arena

May 04, 1988 Minneapolis [Minnesota, USA] 16,890 - Metropolitan Center
May 05, 1988 Minneapolis [Minnesota, USA] 16,890 - Metropolitan Center
May 06, 1988 Minneapolis [Minnesota, USA] 16,890 - Metropolitan Center

         On March 2nd, 1988, Jackson performed "The Way You Make Me Feel" & "Man In The Mirror" at the 30th Grammy Awards at Radio City Hall in New York City. Unfortunately, he didn't win a single award at the Grammy's that year, which visibly made Jackson upset, considering the 7 awards he won back in 1984. The following 3 dates after the Grammy Awards, Jackson performed 3 sold out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The precedes from the March 3rd date, which was noted to be a private date, went to the United Negro College Fund.
         The United Negro College (Fisk University) gave Jackson an honorary doctorate & made a speech. His parents Joe & Katherine Jackson were even there to honor him as he received his doctorates. Although it is not highlighted or talked about in any research I've done, it should be noted that Jackson performed in his home state of Indiana.

Europe 1988

         Jackson continued his tour by flying by overseas to the European countries. This portion of the tour would mark a significant point in the success in Jackson's showmanship numbers as a performing artist. The dates for the tours are as follows:

May 23, 1988 Rome [Italy] 70,000 - Flaminio Stadium
May 24, 1988 Rome [Italy] 70,000 - Flaminio Stadium
May 29, 1988 Turin [Italy] 53,600 - (Location Unknown)

June 02, 1988 Vienna [Austria] 55,000 - Prater Stadium

June 05, 1988 Rotterdam [The Netherlands] 48,400 - Feyenoord Stadium
June 06, 1988 Rotterdam [The Netherlands] 48,400 - Feyenoord Stadium
June 07, 1988 Rotterdam [The Netherlands] 48,400 - Feyenoord Stadium

June 11, 1988 Gothenburg [Sweden] 53,000 - (Location Unknown)
June 12, 1988 Gothenburg [Sweden] 53,000 - (Location Unknown)

June 16, 1988 Basel [Switzerland] 50,000 - Saint Jakobs Stadium

June 19, 1988 Berlin [Germany] 50,000 - Reichstag, Berlin Wall

June 27, 1988 Paris [France] 64,000 - Parc des Prince
June 28, 1988 Paris [France] 64,000 - Parc des Prince

July 01, 1988 Hamburg [Germany] 50,000 - Volkspark Stadium
July 03, 1988 Cologne [Germany] 70,000 - Mungersdorfer Stadium
July 08, 1988 Munich [Germany] 72,000 - Olympic Stadium
July 10, 1988 Cologne [Germany] 70,000 - Mungersdorfer Stadium

July 14, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
July 15, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
July 16, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
July 22, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
July 23, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
July 26, 1988 Cardiff [Wales, U.K.] 55,000 - Cardiff Arms Park

July 30, 1988 Cork [Ireland] 60,000 - Pairc Ui Caoimh
July 31, 1988 Cork [Ireland] 60,000 - Pairc Ui Caoimh

Aug. 05, 1988 Marbella [Spain] 28,000 - (Location Unknown)
Aug. 07, 1988 Madrid [Spain] 60,000 - Vincent Calderon Stadium
Aug. 09, 1988 Barcelona [Spain] - Nou Camp

Aug. 21, 1988 Wurzburg [Germany] 43,000 - Talavera Wiesen

Aug. 23, 1988 Werchter [Belgium] 55,000 - Festival Ground

Aug. 26, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
Aug. 27, 1988 London [England, U.K.] 72,000 - Wembley Stadium
Aug. 29, 1988 Leeds [England, U.K.] 90,000 - Roundhay Park

Sept. 02, 1988 Hannover [Germany] - Niedersachsen Stadium
Sept. 04, 1988 Gelsenkirchen [Germany] 52,000 - Park Stadium

Sept. 06, 1988 Linz [Austria] - Linz Stadium

Sept. 10, 1988 Milton Keynes [England, U.K.] 60,000 - The Bowl
Sept. 11, 1988 Liverpool [England, U.K.] 125,000 - Aintree Racecourse

         "On June 16, 1988 Michael performed a sell-out concert in Basel, Switzerland. Amongst celebrities at this show are Elizabeth Taylor and Bob Dylan. While in Basel, Michael met with Mrs. Oona Chaplin, the widow of one of Michael's all-time heroes, Charlie Chaplin." (Bad Tour, 2022) | On July 16th, 1988, Jackson met with the Prince & Princess of Wales: Prince Charles & Princess Diana. That was also the 3rd of 7 total concerts performed in Wembley stadium. Princess Diana asked Jackson to perform "Dirty Diana", which he took out of the setlist out of respect for her. However, he was able to quickly add it back in prior to the show starting. "On September 8, 1988 Michael received a special award by London's Wembley Stadium management for setting a new record for playing more dates at Wembley Stadium than any other artist!! His 7 sell-out concerts were attended by 504'000 people. A distinction that earned him another entry in The Guinness Book Of World Records." (Bad Tour, 2022) | Overall, Jackson received the most love & praise from his Japan & European fans.

North America 1988 | Part 2

         Jackson found himself back in North America for 3 more months of performing prior to returning to Japan. There is nothing of significance in this portion of his performance dates, except for noticeable vocal fatigue. Songs also were given lowered keys like "Another Part Of Me"; "Dirty Diana" was removed from the set, all together. The dates for North America are as follows:

Sept. 26, 1988 Pittsburg [Pennsylvania, USA] 16,230 - Civic Arena
Sept. 27, 1988 Pittsburg [Pennsylvania, USA] 16,230 - Civic Arena
Sept. 28, 1988 Pittsburg [Pennsylvania, USA] 16,230 - Civic Arena

Oct. 03, 1988 Rutherford [New Jersey, USA] 20,350 - East Meadowland Arena
Oct. 04, 1988 Rutherford [New Jersey, USA] 20,350 - East Meadowland Arena
Oct. 05, 1988 Rutherford [New Jersey, USA] 20,350 - East Meadowland Arena

Oct. 10, 1988 Richfield [Ohio, USA] 19,000 - Coliseum
Oct. 11, 1988 Richfield [Ohio, USA] 19,000 - Coliseum

Oct. 13, 1988 Landover [Maryland, USA] 17,470 - Capitol Center
Oct. 17, 1988 Landover [Maryland, USA] 17,470 - Capitol Center
Oct. 18, 1988 Landover [Maryland, USA] 17,470 - Capitol Center
Oct. 19, 1988 Landover [Maryland, USA] 17,470 - Capitol Center

Oct. 24, 1988 Rochester [Minnesota, USA] 16,670 - Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct. 25, 1988 Rochester [Minnesota, USA] 16,670 - Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct. 26, 1988 Rochester [Minnesota, USA] 16,670 - Palace of Auburn Hills

Nov. 07, 1988 Laguna Hills [California, USA] 15,000 - Irvine Meadows
Nov. 08, 1988 Laguna Hills [California, USA] 15,000 - Irvine Meadows
Nov. 09, 1988 Laguna Hills [California, USA] 15,000 - Irvine Meadows
Nov. 13, 1988 Los Angeles [California, USA] 18,000 - Sports Arena

Japan 1988 Part 2

         Jackson returned to Japan for a last month of performances in December. Due to the rest he had throughout November, he was able to perform these tours at a high capacity of energy to end off the year. The tour dates for Japan are as follows:

Dec. 09, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 10, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 11, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 17, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 18, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 19, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 24, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 25, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome
Dec. 26, 1988 Tokyo [Japan] 45,000 - Tokyo Dome

         There was nothing of significance that is noted for these dates.

North America 1989 | Part 3

         In the first month of the new year, Jackson concluded his Bad World Tour with 5 final concerts. All of them were performed in Los Angeles, California. During the final concert, the founder and owner of Motown Records: Barry Gordy, attended Jackson's final concert that night. Jackson made sure to acknowledge him, & honor him as the person who gave him his first big break in show business. This would mark what would've been Jackson's last tour as an artist, as he wanted to transition into film making. However, this tour would just mark his final time touring in the United States, as his reach overseas was far greater than his reach in North America. The dates for the final concerts are as follows:

Jan. 16, 1989 Los Angeles [California, USA] 18,000 - Sports Arena
Jan. 17, 1989 Los Angeles [California, USA] 18,000 - Sports Arena
Jan. 18, 1989 Los Angeles [California, USA] 18,000 - Sports Arena
Jan. 26, 1989 Los Angeles [California, USA] 18,000 - Sports Arena
Jan. 27, 1989 Los Angeles [California, USA] 18,000 - Sports Arena

         One thing to note, is that due to the amount of high energy & effort that Jackson performed each night during the tour, this tour would give him permanent vocal damage that impacted his ability to sing songs at higher keys. On top of having nodules on his vocals during his tour. He truly gave his all every night.

Difficulties Whilst Touring

         As I mentioned before, the biggest difficulty that Jackson faced, was his vocals declining as time went on in the tour. This meant that certain notes, he couldn't hold or hit at max capacity. Throughout the tour, Jackson also got very sick, which led to dates being postponed, or outright cancelled. The cancelled dates are as follows:

First Leg (1987)

10/08/87: Osaka, Japan, Osaka Stadium; Rescheduled for October 11, 1987 (due to laryngitis)
10/09/87: Osaka, Japan, Osaka Stadium; Rescheduled for October 12, 1987 (due to laryngitis)
10/17/87: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Coliseum; CANCELLED
10/18/87: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Coliseum; CANCELLED
11/03/87: Perth, Australia, WACA Ground; CANCELLED (This concert was discontinued 28 October 1987, because the Cricket Association refused permission for chairs to be placed on the playing fields)
11/08/87: Adelaide, Australia, Thebarton Oval; CANCELLED (This concert was discontinued 28 October 1987, because the Cricket Association refused permission for chairs to be placed on the playing fields)
11/25/87: Brisbane, Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Stadium; moved to Brisbane Entertainment Centre (due to organizational problems)
11/28/87: Brisbane, Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Stadium; moved to Brisbane Entertainment Centre (due to organizational problems)
12/02/87: Wellington , New Zealand, Athletic Park; CANCELLED (For the refusal of the cricket association to grant the use of the facility)
12/06/87: Auckland, New Zealand, Mount Smart Stadium; CANCELLED (For the refusal of the cricket association to grant the use of the facility)

Second Leg (1988)

03/14/88: St. Louis, United States, St. Louis Arena; CANCELLED (due to laryngitis)
June 1988: Milan, Italy, San Siro; moved to Turin, Italy (Jackson wanted to do two concerts in Rome and two in Milan between late May and early June, but the San Siro stadium was unusable due to renovations)
06/23/88: Lyon, France, Stade de Gerland; CANCELLED (Due to the few tickets sold)
08/09/88: Montpellier, France, Stade Richter, Rescheduled for August 12, 1988 (Due to the few tickets sold)
10/31/88: Tacoma, United States, Tacoma Dome; CANCELLED (due to laryngitis)
11/01/88: Tacoma, United States, Tacoma Dome; CANCELLED (due to laryngitis)
11/02/88: Tacoma, United States, Tacoma Dome; CANCELLED (due to laryngitis)
11/14/88: Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena; Rescheduled for January 16, 1989
11/15/88: Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena; Rescheduled for January 17, 1989
11/20/88: Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena; Rescheduled for January 18, 1989
11/21/88: Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena; Rescheduled for January 26, 1989
11/22/88: Los Angeles, United States, Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena          ; Rescheduled for January 27, 1989
August 1989: Seoul, South Korea, Seoul Olympic Stadium; CANCELLED

         One big incident that affected his public image was the kiss on stage with Tatiana Thumbtzen. Whilst she was a love interest for Jackson, his affiliates did not take kindly to her causing tension with Jackson's image with the kiss between them, & removed her from the tour afterwards. Her part for “The Way You Make Me Feel” was replaced by background singer Sheryl Crow.

         Being a public icon at the time since “Thriller”’s massive success, Jackson became the poster boy for negative press in the news. There was multiple stories of him: Ranging from him being a weird reclusive for 3 years after the Victory Tour, to him wanting to buy the bones of the elephant man. Jackson released a letter written whilst in Tokyo, 1987, describing how he’s been bleeding (figuratively) from the false stories written about him in the media.

         This was mentioned years later, but his background singer, Sheryl Crow, was sexually blackmailed by Frank DiLeo to do sexual favors to continue her musical career; if she ever admitted it, he’d have her taken off the tour. She never pressed charges on DiLeo, possibly due to him manipulating public opinion in his favor, the threats of career sabotage, & the elegant fact that it’s very scary for a woman who is being sexually harassed to come forward when she feels unsafe.

Some Hidden Gems About The Bad World Tour

         This was Michael Jackson’s VERY FIRST tour as a solo artist! It was so good & well prepped, as he had been touring with his brothers for over 20 years via Motown Records. He also made this his best tour, as he planned to stop touring & to make films.

         All of the performers & instrumentalists were hand picked by Rory Chaplin, Frank DiLeo, & Michael Jackson.

         Elizabeth Taylor is the reason why Michael Jackson is often called “The King of Pop”, as she referred him as the “The King of Pop, Rock, & Soul” during the Heritage Awards in 1989.

         At the end of the tour, the total grossed amount of money was $125 million dollars.

The World's Opinion of the Bad World Tour

I have gathered a culmination of anonymous comments on how they feel about the Bad Tour.

1. “Bad for me personally. That was the tour where he had the most energy, the setlist was the best, the in-crowd fights were the funniest, and overall the vibes were immaculate. It doesn’t get much better watching the moonwalk silhouette glide across the big screen as the sold out stadium yells in anticipation for the man to appear on stage.”

2. “The BWT was his best, overall convert. First because was still 90% circa sung live (100% in few dates), also MJ was always energetic and he seemed to really enjoy it. Also the set-list was the best IMHO of all his major Tours... that's it.”

3. “His music wasn’t as good after Bad the album maybe he should’ve retired from music in general (okay I like SOME songs off HIStory & invincible but that’s it)”

My Personal Opinion of the Bad World Tour

         This is Michael Jackson in his absolute prime. Over 25 years of singing, songwriting, performing, choreographing, & molding his sound, led Jackson to this moment of excellence that is his biggest & best tour. I truly believe that this tour experience was everything that Jackson wanted it to be. He gave everything: His blood, sweat, tears, hours, his very SOUL, to make every single show a great experience.

         To be completely honest, I really just wished his team did better with the tour dates. 3-4 shows back to back, with only 5-6 days to rest in between? It's a miracle he was able to speak by the end of the tour, let alone sing. That much singing over a period of time literally destroyed his vocal chords. So much so, that while he was recording "Dangerous", his follow up album, he couldn't sing certain songs in their intended keys. It's almost scary, as a singer, myself, to think of the damages that can be done if you don't properly take care of your voice. On the other hand, it's amazing what a performer can do on stage, when you truly hone your craft, & get lost in the music. I loved every moment that I saw when Jackson performed. It was a magical experience that I wish I was old enough to see in person. I don't go to too many concerts, but I will say: Watching Jackson perform, even when it was him & his brothers, is such an amazing thing to be able to see in person. Cameras don't do it justice.

         One thing I have to point out, however, I don't believe that Jackson is "The Best Artist Ever". I feel that it's something that a lot of avid Michael Jackson fans give to him, out of just sheer fandom, alone. Rather than objectively viewing his artistry. I believe that Michael Jackson was an amazing artist; I also believe that Michael Jackson, for the time of the 1980's, was dominating all his contemporaries at heights they could only imagine. However, I believe there are other artists in our current generation have surpassed him. There are so many amazing artists that we know today: Chris Brown, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, The Weeknd, Eminem, Luther Vandross (R.I.P.), Jill Scott, & so on that have done amazing things after Jackson's time. Of course, Jackson paved the way for new artists, but that was the whole point! So that other artists could be handed to torch! This conversation has gotten me into a lot of arguments with a lot of insane Jackson fans, who honestly believe that Jackson is the ONLY person to do what he did. That is just preposterous. One thing I will say: No one will EVER be able to perform LIKE Jackson. That's a one of a kind talent that's only for a single person to maintain. But there are people who CAN outdo Jackson in many aspects. Even Jackson, himself, stated that his brother Marlon Jackson dances way better than him. Keep in mind, this is all my opinion on the matter.

         Going back to the main topic: The Bad World Tour was some of Jackson's BEST live work. One could only imagine what the Thriller World Tour would've been like. Not that he needed to tour for that album, with how well it was doing by 1984. It's a tour that's full of songs that I sing along to, & use as my practice for performing live, myself. “It's a nice place that Jackson comes from. I wish we could all spend some time, in his world." - Steven Spielberg. Me, personally? Spending time in that realm of performing, would be a magical time to experience, first hand. May he rest in peace, knowing his legacy continues on, to this day.

Outro

         In the end, this was one of the highest points of Jackson’s career in the late 1980’s. A magical moment that only those who lived that can truly reminisce in. It gave us all many great memories to look back on. Not only that, but it paved the way for all of us who are musicians to constantly push ourselves to make better, more long lasting music. No matter what the profession is: Hard work truly pays off when you place your all into whatever it is you want to do. Jackson placed his all into this tour, & it shows in every performance, even the “Bad” ones. (Pun intended) May his legacy live on in a positive light.

- Maãlík

Sources & References (APA Format)

- Bad (tour). (2022, May 10). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_(tour)
- Orlovskaya, E. (2017). Michael Jackson - BAD Tour Japan Documentary (1987). In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9y0kPqoupY
- 1987 | Michael Jackson’s Year In Review | the detail. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8HW809KxPo&t=341s
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