NEXT: Part 2: Countdown to Bliss
On June 28, 1987, two months before the release of the "Bad" album, when the airwaves once again were graced with something new and wonderful from Michael Jackson ("I Just Can't Stop Loving You" ~ Finally! Joy!), an announcement was made that would send my life into beautiful new territory. Our local newspaper ran the following article a couple of days later:
Jackson Tour to Start in Japan
Shy superstar Michael Jackson's first concert tour in three years will begin with a series of September concerts in Japan, where the singer feels his fans are among his most loyal, his personal manager said Tuesday in Tokyo. "He feels very comfortable here," said Frank Dileo. Jackson, 28, who has not visited Japan since performing with his brothers as the Jackson Five in 1973, said in a statement that he would give his fans "thrilling and exciting" concerts. Dileo said he will perform in Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama, go on to Australia, and then tour the United States from February to June and Europe from June through August 1988. It will be Jackson's first performances since his 1984 "Victory" tour with his brothers and his first concerts without them.
W...w...... wait.... did I read that right? Did that really say "and then tour the United States"?! I can't begin to explain the kind of excitement that welled up inside! My parents hadn't let me go to the Victory Tour and I had vowed to myself that the next time there was nothing and no one who would stop me from seeing Michael! My heart was pounding, thoughts spiraling into a newfound bliss! Oh please let it be true! Please let it be true!!!!
It was a few more months before anything more was mentioned about the US leg of the Bad Tour, then this came blasting from my radio! Just listen! It's enough to make you blow up!
Text: "Get ready, Denver! The rumors are true! The event of the century is coming to McNichols Arena! Pepsi presents MICHAEL JACKSON! At last... March 24th, the thrill is back! Michael Jackson, in spectacular concert! Tickets go on sale this Monday at 8am at all Ticketmaster locations. Michael Jackson! LIVE! Tickets this Monday at 8am at all Ticketmaster, all Dave Cooks, select Budget Tapes and Records, or charge it 303-623-TIXS. HE'S COMING... March 24th to McNichols Arena. Michael Jackson, presented by Pepsi."
Lord have mercy! How did I survive this announcement?!!!! My dream! Oh my God, I was going to finally see Michael!! And it was just a few days before tickets were to go on sale! I didn't have any MJ fan friends, but a couple friends from high school (I had just turned 16) said they'd go with me. In the end, no one could come up with the cash in time over the weekend, so I realized that I'd be going to my first ever concert alone. No matter. I would crawl on my hands and knees for those 65 miles through snow, sleet, broken glass... whatever. I HAD to see him.
On the morning of February 22nd, I dragged my mom out of bed at 4-something in the morning so I could get to the downtown ticket outlet by 5am. Naturally, I had wanted to camp out all night, but there was no way she'd let me. It was freezing cold (February in Colorado!) and I'd have been "alone". As we pulled up to Budget Tapes and Records my heart sank just a bit. Wow, there were a lot of people in line already. I jumped out of the car and took my place as the 54th person, around the corner against the icy brick wall. Was it really that cold? I hardly noticed. My heart only knew one thing ... I was about to get a ticket to see the love of my life.
At 8am sharp the door opened and people rapidly streamed through, a few at a time. Butterflies filled my stomach as I anxiously pleaded inside for them to HURRY UP! Imagine getting to the front of the line and finding out the show had sold out! There were sure to be many more people in line at Ticketmaster outlets in Denver, and each second counted.
When I was let in, I was shaking already. I got to the counter and said "ONE TICKET, PLEASE." I kept telling myself it wouldn't matter where the seat was, just as long as I could be there. I handed over my $22.50 plus taxes and fee, and received in return a little turquoise paper from the printer. Oh my God, how could I look down to read it? It was in my hand! I HAD A TICKET TO SEE MICHAEL JACKSON... IN MY HAND! Dare I look where my seat is?
FLOOR?????????? Oh my! Oh! Oh!!!!
Yes, but alas, that doesn't mean 9th row from the stage. It's row 9 in the section
behind the other section that's in front of the stage, lol. In the end it's somewhere around row 34 to 40. But still ... that would mean I'd be physically closer to Michael than the vast majority of the arena. I felt so blessed. Just blessed to have that precious ticket in my hand. I'd loved Michael with every heartbeat for almost four years. I laugh a bit at that now (only four years?), but when you're a teenager that's like forever. Not only was he the most incredible performer and entertainer ever, but
he'd saved my life when I'd wanted to die. He'd been with me in my heart through some terrible circumstances. He'd been the doorway to love and hope and a reason to carry on. His pictures covered every inch of my bedroom walls so that I could live in a sort of Michael Sanctuary. And most importantly, I knew he was a beautiful person. From the moment I'd first fallen for him, I'd read every interview I could find, even going through libraries to dig up old magazine articles. I felt something inside him that's hard to explain. And that something was filled with LIGHT and LOVE and all I wanted to do was love him back. I wanted to just BE NEAR to him and LOVE him. And this, as close as I'd likely get for a while, was my chance to do just that. Thank you, God. Thank you, Michael.
A few days after I got my ticket, a third show was added. The second show had been automatically scheduled on that first day of ticket sales. I didn't even know about it, as both shows sold out in a matter of hours. The third show also rapidly sold out. I wish I'd had more money and more know-how so that I could've attended more than one! Aghghgh! (Note: The official Bad Tour info, from the tour program (I think) to Wikipedia is WRONG. Everywhere you'll look it says that Denver was March 23 & 24. No! Maybe that was the original plan, but that's NOT what happened. The band KISS actually performed at McNichols Arena on March 23, 1988. Michael Jackson then did THREE shows ... March 24, March 25 and March 26.)
