Michael Jackson - Pop life and death

My phone lit up with texts around 11.00 last night. Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’ had died they said. I didn’t really get to sleep until gone 3a.m, quite simply because all the thoughts about how Michael’s music had touched my life we’re going round in my mind. I wasn’t a ‘fan[atic]‘ in that sense of the word, but he did have a significant influence in my personal music production direction - the sheer behemoth that was his talent and genius meant that he was an artistic constant for many years.

His personal troubles, trials and tribulations, the media carnage about his ever changing appearance and (excuse the pun) ‘off the wall’ antics, were never my concern. All I have ever focused on is his voice, his song-writing, his performance and the iconic albums he has made in association with such mega-Producers as Quincy Jones etc. My early DJ‘ing days recall the ubiquity of the ‘Off the Wall’ album, especially ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough’; the anticipation and realisation of the ‘Thriller’ video (and the entire album); the gigantic window display inside, and the queues outside London’s Tower Records, all for and waiting to buy ‘Bad’ - and even that didn’t disappoint..

During the ‘megamix’ craze of the late 80’s, I was asked by DMC (the Disco Mix Club) to create a 4 sided double album of Michael’s earlier works both as a young solo artist and together with the ‘Jackson 5′ (using tracks primarily sourced from Motown’s catalogue). Imagine this, a boy from a Yorkshire town with tracks on my mixing desk for a Michael Jackson public release.. Granted, it (and I) wasn’t Quincy sat in an L.A. recording studio, but I was proud to have at least this one association with the ‘King of Pop’.

I reckon next to James Brown, Michael’s grooves, basslines, melodies and microphone dexterities must be amongst the most sampled, bootlegged and remixed DJ targets for the past 30 years. And in my gigs this weekend, I too will join the other [no doubt] thousands of other DJ’s dropping M.J. tributes in their sets. There’ll be flashback memories of that Motown Anniversary ‘Moonwalk’, the Smooth Criminal ‘Lean’ and the awesome crowd leading ‘Thriller’ routine. Let’s not forget how this dude could dance after all!

As for the music, I’d encourage everyone to look further back into Michael’s studio recordings, pre-’Off The Wall’, and post ‘Bad’.. Seek out his album collaborative work that you may have overlooked.. and just listen to ‘His’ voice, the production talent and incredible musicianship that, for most of his tortured, troubled life, has always surrounded him. Rest in Peace Michael xx