For 12 magical years I traveled to see Michael Jackson, never thinking what I did was special or amazing, it was just something I did. It didn't start as a journey, it wasn't planned. It just happened.All my life, I've just had this burning need to see Michael Jackson.
I started off going to see Michael Jackson on my own, and just somehow along the way met other fans doing the same thing.One minute you going about your everyday life, shopping or at home and then you check your phone and OOOOMMMMGGGGG!!
For one crazy week about once a year, Michael Jackson would come to Europe for a public appearance, ie an Award Show or similar event. And when he did, we would drop our normal lives and live in this crazy mad bubble world.
Michael Jackson knew how to play the game of publicity very well. He knew how to work the system. He knew that by letting fans know his location , ie the hotel he was staying at, then the event or award show would gain instant free publicity He knew how to get into the papers by not doing very much and by him being in the papers would raise the profile of whatever he was promoting at that time. That's how it worked, and deep inside us we knew we were being used for free PR, but at the time, it didn't matter to us.
It would start by his travel details being leaked to certain fans or by him allowing himself to be papped at an airport. Then by word of mouth, through text and phone calls, the news would circulate around the fan community.Whenever he traveled to Europe, for a public event, he would always stay at the same hotel, for example in London, there were 3 or 4 hotels within a mile which he has stayed out.Once word went around that Michael Jackson was on his way to London, we would head into central London, and go to these hotels.
There was always the same group of fans there, many of us who only ever met each other when Michael Jackson was in town.It was like a small community, year after year, the same faces, the same pattern of events. All of us at one time had been "newbies" who started off with a burning desire to see Michael Jackson. Many of us started off on our own, and learned the unspoken rules about how things were done.Outside the hotel, we learned from those who had done this before. We learned that to get close to Michael Jackson you had to get his attention and stand out, but we also learned that to get close to Michael you also had to gain the trust of his security. We learned that the media were to be shunned and avoided, we learned that keeping Michael safe was the most import thing, even if it meant we might not see or get close to him. We found out what NOT to do when Michael was out and about, ie jumping barriers or banging on the car windows. We found out when Michael wanted us around and when he didn't We found that above all, not to give up and that having patience will in the end make everything worthwhile.
We fiercely protected Michael and his whereabouts from the media and general public, but at the same time, we knew when it was ok to to tell people or the media what he was doing. Many times, to help pass the time we would give PAPS or tv crews wrong information, just to get them away from Michael. For me, those trips were like a lesson in the school of life. I learned to stand up for what I believed in and not to care what people thought. I learned tolerance and understanding of different cultures and races, as being outside the hotels everyone was the same, just there to see Michael. I learned how far to push my body and spirit, I learned not to give up when things seem impossible. I found out more about myself going to see Michael, than in any other aspect of my life.
Now looking back, we thought it would last forever. We always thought there would be a next time, whether that was in a few months or next year. Many people don't understand us or why we went to see Michael. They call us stalkers, they say we were a danger to Michael, they say we didn't respect Michael's privacy. All I can say to those is, what would you have done, if you had been told that Michael is staying at XXXXX Hotel, 5 miles away, and fans have been meeting him , and giving him presents. Look deep in your heart and answer, would you have have said, oh that's nice and not thought anything more, or would you have tried to get to that place and be part of it too?
19 July 1997 Dublin, Ireland History Concert
27 June 1999 Munich, Germany, MJ and Friends Concert
May 2000 Monaco, Monte Carlo, France, World Music Awards
May 2000 Dorchester Hotel, London, Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Concert
14 February 2001 Carnegie Hall, New York, Heal The Kids Speech
March 2001, Lanesborough Hotel, London, Oxford Union Speech, MJ DAY 10 fan party
September 2001 New York, both Madison Square Gardens Concerts
November 2001 Virgin Megastore, New York, Invincible cd signing
June 2002, London , Sony Demo, Killer Thriller fan Party, Exeter Football club speech
November 2002, Berlin Germany, Adalon Hotel, Bambi Awards
January 2004, Santa Maria, Neverland, California
March/April 2005 Santa Maria, Neverland, California
November 2006, Hemple Hotel, London, World Music Awards
March 2007 Carlton Towers Hotel London
May 2007 Royal Garden Hotel, London
March 2009 Lanesborgh Hotel London, This Is It concerts Press Conference
Michael Jackson has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is seeing the videos from the album Thriller on TV. Something about this man drew me, even though I was only about seven years old.
I remember being mesmerized by his dancing in BEAT IT and especially BILLIE JEAN which to this day is one of my favorite songs. Then one Saturday morning I was watching a children’s TV program on Irish TV called ANYTHING GOES. It was a typical kids Saturday morning program. It was on for about 3 hours every Saturday. They showed cartoons and played silly game with the children in the studio. They also showed the new music videos each week. This particular week they showed the full length version of THRILLER and I was amazed. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, the mix of music, dancing and a story-line which other music videos at that didn't have. After they played the video they had a discussion in the studio about the video. One of the presenters was totally against showing it to children. I couldn't believe this as; even though I was only seven, I wasn't scared. Normally I can’t stand horror films and even now I still don’t watch films like SCREAM or HALLOWEEN. Over the years I have found out that many children were and still are scared of THRILLER but to me it was just Michael.
After the THRILLER era I was still fascinated by Michael but it wasn't until the BAD era that I really became aware of who he was and how amazing he really is. My parents couldn't believe I was still interested in him. I think they thought that I wouldn't remember the THRILLER era as I was so young. The BAD era is when I like so many others fell in love with Michael. By this stage my parents had bought one of the new video recorders and I was able to spend hours searching the TV channels for anything about Michael. Whenever he was mentioned in the newspapers or magazines I had to have it. Around this time when I was about 10 years old on-wards I began to have a hard time in school. I lost all my self esteem and confidence and had very few friends. For me Michael was my only way out of my lonely world. Watching him dance and listening to his music helped me to get though each day. When I came home from school I would spend hours listening to his music. I filled notebooks with descriptions of his videos, lyrics to his songs and would spend hours reading the inside covers of the albums. Names like SETH RIGGS, KAREN FAYE and MICHAEL BUSH would appear again and again and I would wonder what these people were like, never dreaming that one day I would meet them!
As the years went by Michael continued to be one of the main parts of my life. My parents didn't have the money for me to join a fan club so I was really on my own. I knew no other fans and so Michael became my secret world, where I was free to believe in magic and wonder. I was one of those children who were always alone, not even my parents realized how much Michael meant to me. I come from a rural conservative family even though I was born and lived all my life in the city. Both my parents are from the country and all my life I have spent holidays in the country with my grandparents. My parents come from a generation where being a music fan meant that you bought the albums and books, watched the person on TV and maybe went to the concert, so that is what I did.
In the summer of 1987 Michael was in Europe for the BAD Tour. As soon as I heard about it I really wanted to go. I didn't understand why but something inside me was pulling me to see this man. No matter how much I pleaded with my parents I was told no, that I was too young and concerts were dangerous. They didn't understand and thought that I would grow out of it. My parents have never had an interest in what they call "popular culture" i.e. pop music, dancing or films. They have never been to a major music concert and have no interest in ever going.
The concert was in Cork city and to make matters worse that weekend we were visiting my grandparents in Co Kerry, about 2 hours drive away. No matter how much I asked they wouldn't even bring me to the area to experience the atmosphere. They didn't understand how much I wanted to be a part of that event. Years later I met another fan from Cork whose parents also said she was too young, but her parents unlike mine saw how much it meant to her and brought her to the area so she could still experience the joy and magic that surrounds Michael. All I remember of that day is being totally miserable and watching Michael on the news. The clip they showed was of him jumping from the back of the stage to the front during the song WANNA BE STARTIN SOMETHIN. He was wearing a white costume.
After seeing how upset I was at not being able to go to the concert my parents promised me that the next time Michael came to Ireland I would be allowed to go to the concert. And so I waited and waited. I began to fill notebooks with descriptions of videos and songs. Every time Michael was on TV I taped it. I would spend my pocket money on magazines and books and stated to cover my bedroom walls with posters.
Around the start of 1991 my parents started talking about taking me and my sister to Disneyland in Florida. As long as I could remember my parents had been promising to take us there and now finally we were going. It was decided that we would go in the summer of 1992 just after my first state exams. Christmas 1991 was really exciting as along with the holiday to look forward to Dangerous was released. As I wasn't part of a fan club and there was no internet I relied on magazines and radio for information about Michael.
Just as I was preparing for my exams I found out that Michael was coming to Dublin for the Dangerous Tour. OMG, I couldn't believe it, he would be back in Ireland. This time I was 16 I was determined to go. I talked one of my friends into going with me and went to my parents to tell them my plans. That was when I realized that the day of the concert was the day before we were due to go to Florida. No matter how hard I pleaded with my parents I wasn't allowed to go. They said that going to Florida was a big experience and that if I went to the concert the night before I would be too exhausted for the flight. Yet again I was heartbroken. How could they do this to me yet again?? To try to cheer me up the night of the concert they arranged a family night out to a nearby restaurant to celebrate our first holiday abroad but I was totally miserable. Michael was staying in a hotel and doing a concert 1 hour away in the same city and I was in a restaurant with my family.
On the flight we made a family pact that if one person wanted to go on a ride then everyone had to go. In Disneyland I got my revenge. I dragged my family to see CAPTAIN EO. That is why there is a Captain EO section on my site. It was the first time I saw Michael on a big screen with an amazing sound system. I had never heard his voice at that sound level before and for the few minutes of the show I was in heaven.
All through the years after the summer of 1992 I started loving Michael even more. I bought any magazines and newspapers he was in, taped his music from the TV and radio and put posters all over my bedroom walls. People at school knew I like Michael, but no one knew how much he really meant to me. I don’t have many memories of the 93 allegations, because my way of dealing with traumatic stuff is to block them out, but I do remember playing his music over and over. When the Bucharest Dangerous concert was on TV I taped it, and every morning before I went to school I had to watch half an hour of it, I would get up early every day to make sure I had time to watch it. I also created scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings, and would spend hours reading the sleeve notes of the albums.
All though school and college, right up to the age of 21, I just continued on loving Michael waiting for him to come back to Ireland.
Finally on 19 July 1997 my dream came true, Michael came back to Ireland with HISTory Tour and my life changed forever....
The "HIStory" tour spanned the globe with stops in 56 cities, 35 countries on 5 continents, and included 82 concerts to about 4.5 million loving fans.
Michael Jackson's "HIStory World Tour" is the biggest world tour any performer had ever done!!!
Michael's gold costume was designed by Gianni Versace who already designed some clothes for Michael for his "Dangerous" tour.
Two "HIStory" concerts in Munich, Germany on July 4 and 6, 1997 at Olympic Stadium were recorded. The concert [containing footage of both shows] was televised by German TV-channel SAT1 and later in many other countries.
Plus concerts in the following countries were recorded and later shown over network television: Bucharest [Romania] - Sept. 14, 1996, Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia] - Oct. 1996, Auckland [New Zealand] - Nov. 1996, Manila [Philippines] - Dec. 1996, Copenhagen [Denmark] - Aug. 1997, Gothenburg [Sweden] - Aug. 16, 1997 and Helsinki [Finland] - Aug. 1997.
One "HIStory" concert in Seoul, South Korea in 1996 at Chamsil Olympic Stadium was recorded and a VHS video cassette [NTSC] of this great concert was commercially released by Sony Music for the Asian market.
At every "HIStory" tour stop, during "You Are Not Alone", one lucky girl was allowed to dance with Michael on stage.
Only hours after kicking off the Australian leg of his "HIStory World Tour" on November 14, 1996 Michael married Debbie Rowe in a civil ceremony in his presidential suite at the Sheraton-on-the-Park Hotel in Sydney.
There were 160 people working on the Michael Jackson "HIStory" World Tour. In every city another 200 professional stage hands and 200 security officers were hired locally.
The logistics for such a huge show require an almost military-style organisation! In any given week, three different stages are either up, going up or coming down. Moving the custom designed steel and scaffolding requires 7 trucks per stage each weighing 200 tons which takes 3 days to build, 24 hour to set up the elements of the show [backline, lights, sound, band gear, pyro, video] and 24 hours to de-rig. Once built, the set weighs 550 tons. A further 22 trucks carry the backline, sound, lights, rigging, video, pyrotechnics and band gear. That's a total of 43 trucks carrying 1'200 tons of equipment!
There are 14 people working the lights who are controlling about 1'000 fixtures and assorted equipment under the direction of Michael Keller, the lighting director. The whole system uses about 35 kilometers of cable and weighs 3'200kg. It takes 5 trucks to transport all the equipment, and load in of the lighting system takes about 8 hours the day before the show, with all fixtures getting individually focused after dark.
The sound system, designed by Clair Bros Audio, consists of 150 S-4 cabinets totaling 400'000 watts of power and weighing 30 tons. There are also 50 sub low cabinets specially designed to create a sensoround effect. The sound engineer, Trip Khalaf has worked with Madonna, Steely Dan and Queen.
The stage was built by UK based Edwin Shirley Staging, who transmitted by computer graphics back to England any changes and modifications needed for construction of the stages during the rehearsals held in L.A.
Pyrotechnics are an important element of the show, 4 people handle over 500 shots a night, the noise effects are comparable to a TNT explosion bringing down a 3 storey building. For Pyritz, the company who have worked on every Michael Jackson tour, safety is of prime concern, and their safety record proves it. The stage may well look like it's totally destroyed, but no damage actually occurs.
Michael Jackson travels with his own television studio provided by Nocturne Productions. 4 broadcast cameras capture Michael's every move on stage transmitting them to 2 large Jumbotron screens flanking the stage on either side. Directed by Paul Becher, the screens enable the audience to see every detail of what's happening on the stage no matter where they are sitting. The video portion of the show includes a computer generated opening specially made for each city, while certain scenic elements are played back on a moving Jumbotron over the stage.
When asked what satisfies him most, Chris Lamb, the production manager, in charge of every aspect of putting on the biggest show on earth, says it very succinctly: "It's hearing the thunderous applause of the audience on the first night and then hearing it again and again at every show."
1,4 million people went to the Michael Jackson HIStory tour which started in Prague on September 7, 1996. A further 2 million people are expected to come during the second leg of the tour which started in Bremen on 31st May 1997, and sales of tickets in Germany alone have already reached 500,000.
Musicians Dancers First Leg
Dorian Holley [Vocalist] LaVelle Smith
Fred White [Vocalist] Shawnette Heard
Marva Hicks [Vocalist] Courtney Miller
Jennifer Batten [Guitar] Anthony Talauega
David Williams [Guitar] Richmond Talauega
Brad Buxer [Keyboards] Loru Werner
Isaiah Sanders [Keyboards] Jason Yribar
Freddie Washingto [Bass Guitar]
Jonathan Moffett [Drums]
Dancers Second Leg
LaVelle Smith
Christian Judd
Stacy Walker
Anthony Talauega
Richmond Talauega
Faune Chambers
Setlist
Gates Of Kiev
Scream
They Don't Care About Us
She Drives Me Wild / In The Closet
Wanna Be Starting Somethin'
Stranger In Moscow
Smooth Criminal
Interlude: "The Wind"
You Are Not Alone
The Way You Make Me Feel [From September 07, 1996 to June 15, 1997]
Jackson 5 Medley [I Want You Back I The Love You Save I I'll Be There]
Off The Wall Medley [Rock With You I Off The Wall I Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough] [From September 07, 1996 to June 10, 1997]
Interlude: Remember The Time
Billie Jean
Thriller
Beat It
Come Together ** / D.S. [From September 07, 1996 to December 31, 1996]
Blood On The Dance Floor *** [From May 31, 1997 to August 19, 1997]
Interlude: Black Or White Video [2nd Part]
Dangerous ****
Interlude: Black Or White Video [1st Part]
Black Or White
Earth Song
Interlude: We Are The World
Heal The World
HIStory
* The Off The Wall Medley was withdrawn from the show in Tunis [Oct. 7th], Bombay [Nov. 1st], Sydney [Nov. 14th and 16th], Brisbane [Nov. 19th] and Tokyo [Dec. 20th]
* Come Together / D.S. was withdrawn from the show in Bombay [Nov. 1st], Sydney [Nov. 14th and 16th], Brisbane [Nov. 19th] and Tokyo [Dec. 20th]
* Blood On The Dance Floor was withdrawn from the show in Vienna [July 2nd]
**** Dangerous was withdrawn from the show in Tokyo [Dec. 20th]
Show Conceived & Created by: Kenny Ortega and Michael Jackson
Artistic Director: Michael Jackson
HIStory Tour Choreographed by: Michael Jackson and LaVelle Smith
Choreography For "Dangerous" & "They Don't Care About Us": Travis Payne and Michael Jackson
Staged & Directed by: Kenny Ortega and Michael Jackson
Assistant Director: Peggy Holmes
Set Designed by: Michael Cotton and John McGraw
Lighting Designer: Peter Morse
Tour Produced by Quinta Communications S.A.
Quinta Business Affairs: Brigitte Segal
Tour Executive: Paul Gongaware
Tour Finance: Norman Dugdale
Production Manager: Chris Lamb
Tour Manager: Bernie Boyle
Tour Publicist: Mitch Vannoni
Lighting: Light and Sound Design
Computer Lights: The OBIE Company
Moving Lights: Vari*lite
Sound: Clair Bros. and Audio Rent
Video: Nocturne
Generators: Showpower
Stage & Trucking: Edwin Shirley
Cam-Track: Ocean State Rigging
Freighting: Rock-It Cargo
Catering: Eat Your Hearts Out
Travel: Mike Hawksworth
History Tour Dates and Locations
Sept. 07, 1996 Prague [Czech Republic] Letna Parc
Sept. 10, 1996 Budapest [Hungary] Nepstadion Intezmenyei
Sept. 14, 1996 Bucharest [Rumania] National Stadium
Sept. 17, 1996 Moscow [Russia] Dynamo Stadium
Sept. 20, 1996 Warsaw [Poland] Bemowo Airport
Sept. 24, 1996 Zaragoza [Spain] La Romareda
Sept. 28, 1996 Amsterdam [The Netherlands] Amsterdam Arena
Sept. 30, 1996 Amsterdam [The Netherlands] Amsterdam Arena
Oct. 02, 1996 Amsterdam [The Netherlands] Amsterdam Arena
Oct. 07, 1996 Tunis [Tunisia] El Menzah
Oct. 11, 1996 Seoul [South Korea] Chamsil Olympic Stadium
Oct. 13, 1996 Seoul [South Korea] Chamsil Olympic Stadium
Oct. 18, 1996 Taipei [Taiwan] Chungshan Soccer Stadium
Oct. 20, 1996 Kaoshung [Taiwan] Open Air Field
Oct. 22, 1996 Taipei [Taiwan] Chungshan Soccer Stadium
Oct. 25, 1996 Singapore [Singapore] National Stadium
Oct. 27, 1996 Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia] Merdeka Stadium
Oct. 29, 1996 Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia] Merdeka Stadium
Nov. 01, 1996 Bombay [India] Andheri Sports Complex
Nov. 05, 1996 Bangkok [Thailand] Muang Thong Thani City Center
Nov. 09, 1996 Auckland [New Zealand] Ericson Stadium
Nov. 11, 1996 Auckland [New Zealand] Ericson Stadium
Nov. 14, 1996 Sydney [Australia] SCG
Nov. 16, 1996 Sydney [Australia] SCG
Nov. 19, 1996 Brisbane [Australia] ANZ Stadium
Nov. 22, 1996 Melbourne [Australia] MCG
Nov. 24, 1996 Melbourne [Australia] MCG
Nov. 26, 1996 Adelaide [Australia] Adelaide Oval
Nov. 30, 1996 Perth [Australia] Burswood Dome
Dec. 02, 1996 Perth [Australia] Burswood Dome
Dec. 04, 1996 Perth [Australia] Burswood Dome
Dec. 08, 1996 Manila [Philippines] Paranaque City/Asia World
Dec. 10, 1996 Manila [Philippines] Paranaque City/Asia World
Dec. 12, 1996 Tokyo [Japan] Tokyo Dome
Dec. 15, 1996 Tokyo [Japan] Tokyo Dome
Dec. 17, 1996 Tokyo [Japan] Tokyo Dome
Dec. 20, 1996 Tokyo [Japan] Tokyo Dome
Dec. 26, 1996 Fukuoka [Japan] Fukuoka Dome
Dec. 28, 1996 Fukuoka [Japan] Fukuoka Dome
Dec. 31, 1996 Bandar Seri Begawan [Brunei] Jerudong Park
Jan. 03, 1997 Honolulu [Hawaii/USA] Aloha Bowl
Jan. 04, 1997 Honolulu [Hawaii/USA] Aloha Bowl
May 31, 1997 Bremen [Germany] Weserstadion
June 03, 1997 Cologne [Germany] Mungersdorfer Stadium
June 06, 1997 Bremen [Germany] Weserstadion
June 08, 1997 Amsterdam [The Netherlands] Amsterdam Arena
June 10, 1997 Amsterdam [The Netherlands] Amsterdam Arena
June 13, 1997 Kiel [Germany] Nordmarksportfield
June 15, 1997 Gelsenkirchen [Germany] Parkstadion
June 18, 1997 Milan [Italy] San Siro Stadium
June 20, 1997 Lausanne [Switzerland] La Pontaise Stadium
June 22, 1997 Bettembourg [Luxembourg] Krakelschaff
June 25, 1997 Lyon [France] Gerland Stadium
June 27, 1997 Paris [France] Parc des Princes
June 29, 1997 Paris [France] Parc des Princes
July 02, 1997 Vienna [Austria] Ernst-Happel Stadium
July 04, 1997 Munich [Germany] Olympic Stadium
July 06, 1997 Munich [Germany] Olympic Stadium
July 09, 1997 Sheffield [England, U.K.] Don Valley Stadium
July 12, 1997 London [England, U.K.] Wembley Stadium
July 15, 1997 London [England, U.K.] Wembley Stadium
July 17, 1997 London [England, U.K.] Wembley Stadium
July 19, 1997 Dublin [Ireland] RDS
July 25, 1997 Basel [Switzerland] Saint Jakobs Stadium
July 27, 1997 Nice [France] Stade de l'Ouest
Aug. 01, 1997 Berlin [Germany] Olympic Stadium
Aug. 03, 1997 Leipzig [Germany] Festwiese
Aug. 10, 1997 Hockenheim [Germany] Hockenheimring
Aug. 14, 1997 Copenhagen [Denmark] Parken
Aug. 16, 1997 Gothenburg [Sweden] Ullevi
Aug. 19, 1997 Oslo [Norway] Valle Hovin
Aug. 22, 1997 Tallinn [Estonia] Song Festival Grounds
Aug. 24, 1997 Helsinki [Finland] Olympic Stadium
Aug. 26, 1997 Helsinki [Finland] Olympic Stadium
Aug. 29, 1997 Copenhagen [Denmark] Parken
Sept. 03, 1997 Ostend [Belgium] Wellington Hypodrome
Sept. 06, 1997 Valladolid [Spain] Nuevo Jose Zorrilla Stadium
Oct. 04, 1997 Cape Town [South Africa] Greenpoint Stadium
Oct. 06, 1997 Cape Town [South Africa] Greenpoint Stadium
Oct. 10, 1997 Johannesburg [South Africa] Johannesburg Stadium
Oct. 12, 1997 Johannesburg [South Africa] Johannesburg Stadium
Oct. 15, 1997 Durban [South Africa] King's Park Stadium
Dublin History Concert 19 July 1997
In my last year at school when I was 18 I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. I always had an interest in catering so I went to catering college. In 1996, I heard the most wonderful news, Michael was on tour again, and he was coming back to Ireland. This time NOTHING would stop me from seeing him. Even though I had no access to the internet or other fans I couldn't wait to find out information and I made sure to listen to the radio for news on when the tickets would be on sale.
In catering collage you have to do summer work experience at a hotel. In 1997 my placement at a hotel for the summer started at the end of March. In the beginning of April I heard that the concerts tickets were going on sale. I made sure to book that day off and went home to my parent’s house. My parents live near a major shopping centre which has a Ticketmaster outlet. I decided I would have a better chance there of getting a ticket then of going to the main HMV shop in Dublin city centre, as back then before HMV sold online, people would queue outside HMV overnight for major concert tickets.
I arrived at the shopping centre at 6 am, as the tickets were going on sale at 9 am. I was right to go there as there were only about 10 people in the queue; I saw on TV later that day that were hundreds of people at the main HMV shop in the city centre. Anyway, I got my ticket, and I was shaking, finally after all these years I would actually see him. I went straight back to my parents house and asked them to put the ticket in their metal filing cabinet, with all their important documents. That ticket meant the world to me, and I wanted to make sure that it was safe, and as horrible as it sounds that if the house went on fire my concert ticket would be safe!!!!
I went back to work at the hotel and straight away asked to head chef for the weekend off in July to go to the concert. I asked for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday off as I wanted to get to the concert arena as early as I could, if not the night before!
That was in April, and I was given permission for the 3 days off. About 3 weeks before the concert, the head chef told me that I could only have 2 days off, the Saturday and the Sunday. OMG what could I do, why did something always happen to try to stop me seeing Michael!!
Well there was nothing I could do. My plans were totally messed up. My original plan was to go to my parent’s house on the Friday; collect my ticket and then very early on Saturday morning go to the arena.
What actually happened was that I had to go my parents house on the Saturday morning, get my ticket and then go to the arena. The journeys seemed to take much longer than usual, but I eventually made it to the arena around 9 am.
I walked into the arena and saw people queuing at the main gate so I went over and joined the queue. At first I was very overwhelmed. For the first time in my life I was surrounded by people who felt the same way as me about Michael. I made myself comfortable against the wall and just tried to take everything in. All around me I could hear bits of conversations about MICHAEL. After a few hours I slowly started talking to people near me. I just couldn't believe the ease and confidence in them as they talked about Michael. I found out that they were UK fans who had seen Michael a few days before at Wembley and and had traveled to Ireland just for this concert. They told me about the UK fan club they were members of, how this fan club was arranging trips to many of the concerts around Europe that summer. It was a whole new world to me. Suddenly I had found people like me, who were actually doing everything I always dreamed about.
As the hours went by, the excitement was building. The queue become longer and longer. As I was on my own, I had brought some food with me, but I didn't really feel hungry.
At about 3 pm, the atmosphere started changing. The queue became more squashed together, people started pushing forward. By 4 pm, it as getting very squashed, security started telling people to stop pushing as people up the front were very squashed.
Finally at 5 pm they opened the gates. It was insane. It didn't seem real, that I was actually going into the arena to see Michael. They let us in one by one, and as soon as everyone was through the ticket check , everyone was running to the stage. I don't really know how, but somehow I manged to propel myself forward. I had no idea where I was going, just following the line of people before me, trying to keep up and not fall or be pushed.
Suddenly I found myself at the stage. Out of breath and not really sure how I got there, I had made it, I was in the most wanted place, the front pit. I wasn't at the front, but about 4 rows from the front but it was good enough for me. To try to keep the crowd calm security told everyone to sit down. I was so glad, as by now I was shaking, in disbelief at where I found myself.
When I had calmed down, I started taking photos. I had been so scared about taking a camera with me, that I just took a cheap disposable camera.
After about an hour, the support act, a group called HUMAN NATURE came on. I don't really remember much about them.
Finally, the atmosphere changed, and Michael was about to come on stage.
It was the most amazing, spell binding few hours I have ever experienced. It was all just too much to take in. The noise, the screams, the lights, the music, the dancing... I just kept thinking, omg, he is here, in my home city after all these years of dreaming about him, I am actually seeing him in front of me on a stage.
Afterwards, I was just in a daze, the noise ringing in my ears. I couldn't believe what I just experienced, it didn't seem real but it was.
That summer of 1997 my life changed forever. Seeing Michael for the first time was a dream come true. I felt I was walking on air and I didn't understand yet that it was because of Michael.
When I went back to work everyone saw the change in me and they couldn't believe it. They knew I liked his music, I was always playing it but they didn't know how much he meant to me. One evening in the staff room after work some of my work colleagues suggested that I should join a fan club. Up until then I had always been wary of fan clubs, as my parents had always thought they were a waste of money.
A few months later when I was at home I was reading one of my favorite books about Michael called THE VISUAL DOCUMENTARY by Adrian Grant.
This is an amazing book, giving a day by day, year by year account of Michael’s life. I had first heard about Adrian a few years before when Smash Hits a British pop music magazine did a feature about him. As a result I knew that he was a genuine fan and was not just another journalist out to make money from a book about Michael. At the back of the book I found the address of the British fan club, MJ News International. I remember that was the fan club the fans I had talked to at the concert were members of. I decided to write to them, asking about membership.
To my surprise I got a very nice letter from a lady called Gloria Haydock who ran the club. The yearly membership wasn't too expensive and I decided to join. When I received the first magazine, I was jumping with joy, omg the magazine was amazing. Every moth I couldn't wait for the next edition. For the first time in my life I was able to see that how I felt about Michael was ok, and that many others felt the same.
In one issue they had a feature called YANA groups. This was an idea based on the song You Are Not Alone, to get fans who lived in the same city or town to meet up. In Ireland, as it is so small there was just an Irish group. I decided to send them a letter via the magazine, to see if there were many fans in Ireland.
To my surprise I found that they were a small group of about 5 or 6 fans who would meet up about once a month in Dublin. It was soo much fun to go to these meetings in the beginning. We would meet up usually on a Saturday and spend the afternoon talking about Michael, and going around the second hand music shops to see what we could find. We would then head to Burger king or MacDonald’s where everyone would show the group the latest item they had bought from the fan club or a rare item from their collection. We used to wear fedoras and Michael t-shirts and even though we got alot of strange reactions that was part of the fun.
