Anniversary Celebration

Lore & Background

The first show sold out in two hours, prompting a second show to be added. Ticket prices were among the most expensive ever for an event; a widely verified VIP package cost $2,500 and included dinner with Jackson. The show was choreographed by Glenn Douglas Packard and Brian Thomas, who were nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography. It was presented by David Gest, World Events LLC, and Clear Channel Entertainment.

Jackson reportedly earned a $7.5 million guarantee for the first concert. The concert's official box-office taking was approximately $10 million for both concerts. To some fans, Jackson appeared more disoriented in the first concert, as he only did one short moonwalk and improvised the ending of the 'Billie Jean' performance. In 2011, presenter David Gest claimed that Jackson was on drugs during the concerts, in the documentary Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon; however, despite taking pain medication, Jackson himself explained that he merely had not rehearsed for the first concert and was self-conscious of his performance.

Contradictorily, in his book You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother's Eyes, Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson said that during this time, Michael was taking Demerol, a pain-relieving medicine with reported psychotropic effects. The two concerts were among the rare times Jackson performed songs from his album Invincible live, though he had performed 'You Rock My World' on other occasions. After the concerts, according to some sources, on September 11, 2001, Jackson, along with his personal assistant, Frank Cascio, were scheduled for a meeting at the World Trade Center, to return a 'two million' dollar watch Jackson used for the concert, and a diamond necklace for Elizabeth Taylor, but overslept and did not make it.

In a 2002 Interview, Jackson made no mention of a meeting and said he 'got a call from friends in Saudi Arabia' of the attacks and turned the TV on to see the twin towers falling. The claim that Jackson fled the city with Taylor and Marlon Brando has been disputed; he simply got his children packed for New Jersey. He also arranged to have dozens of stranded fans relocated and taken care of. In the aftermath of the attacks, Jackson sponsored a charity concert titled United We Stand: What More Can I Give. This event also marked Randy Jackson's final concert with his brothers.

Reader's Guide

A real-world concert event, not a Beat Saber in-game event. No gameplay guide is applicable.