The Victory Tour

The Jacksons’ last tour, the ‘Victory’ Tour began on 6th July 1984 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri (USA) and concluded on 9th December 1984 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California (USA).

At the time, this tour was the then-biggest tour any group had ever done and included 55 concerts with an attendance of over 2 million people.

The “Victory” tour reportedly grossed $75 million and set a new record for the then-largest grossing tour.

Michael donated all his proceeds ($5 million) - to charities (T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer Research, The United Negro College Fund, and the Ronald McDonald Camp for Good Times).

 

On the 5th July after receiving a letter fron an eleven-year-old fan, Ladonna Jones, in which she accuses the Jacksons and the promoters of being 'selfish and just out for money,' Michael Jackson holds a major press conference to announce changes in the tour's organisation and also to announce that the whole of his share of the proceeds from the Victory tour will be donated to charity. Michael's tour profits will be split between three charities: The United Negro Collage Fund, Camp Good Times, and the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukaemia and Cancer Research.

Ladonna Jones, later received VIP treatment to a concert in Dallas.

 

Michael Jackson's speak at a pree conference on 5th July 1984

"We're beginning our tour tomorrow and I wanted to talk to you about something of great concern to me. We've worked a long time to make this show the best it can be. But we know a lot of kids are having trouble getting tickets. The other day I got a letter from a girl in Texas named Ladonna Jones. She'd been saving her money from odd jobs to buy a ticket, but with the current tour system, she'd have to buy four tickets and she couldn't afford that. So, I've asked our promoter to work out a new way of distributing tickets, a way that no longer requires a $120.00 money order. There has also been a lot of talk about the promoter holding money for tickets that didn't sell. I've asked our promoter to end the mail order ticket system as soon as possible so that no one will pay money unless they get a ticket. Finally, and most importantly, there's something else I am going to announce today. I want you to know that when I first agreed to tour, I decided to donate all the money I make from our performances to charity."

 

On the 6th July at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri (USA) the tour begins, this sees Jermaine together with his brothers on stage for the first time in over eight years. This show does not include Michael's hit, 'Thriller' and although it is suggested that it is omitted due to pressures from the Jehovah's Witnesses who complain that it glorifies Satanic worship, the occult and evil in general, aides insist that it is because Michael is not yet satisfied with the live set.

At a press conference following the opening night's concert, Chuck Sullivan announces that local Black promoters will be affiliated with local White stadium managers in each future venue, to assure total racial harmony and promotional saturation in each city's local community.

A Mount Vernon man makes bootleg videos of the opening concert at Arrowhead Stadium by tapping into the transmitted clesed - circuit multicamera signal from the video feed to the gaint screen above the stage. He is later arrested for selling the bootlegs in the State of New York.

 

On the 10th July, KLSI radio station announces that during their less than two hours on stage, The Jacksons make $1 million per hour, and a total of $6 million during their three-day stay in Kansas. It is also estimated that The Jacksons' concerts generated approximately $26 million for the city and local businesses.

 

On July the 13th, 14th and 15th, The Jacksons perform concerts at Texas Stadium in Dallas, Texas. They donate 1,200 tickets to underprivileged children, while their sponsors, Pepsi-Cola, donate an additional 1,300 tickets, valued at $39,000. Security for these shows is three times that usually required for a Dallas Cowboys game, with 340 security officers on duty that night. At this 'Friday, the thirteenth' concert the stadium is full of celebrities, including Dave Lee Roth, Emmanuel Lewis and Prince.

 

On 14th July Eddie Van Halen joined The Jacksons on stage for a performance of 'Beat It'

 

On 22nd July, Tickets sales set an all-time record, with 165,000 tickets selling in less than nine hours, when it is announced that The Jacksons will appear in New York at Giants Stadium on July 29th to 31st, and at Madison Square Grden on August 4th and 5th.

 

On 4th August, Less than a month into the Victory Tour, 700,000 tickets have been sold for Jacksons concerts in five cities, a feat that would normally take a major act some thirty-five concerts to achieve.

 

On September the 7th and 8th, The Jacksons perform in concert at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Calorado. Michael visits witn Elton John, who is giving his own concert at McNichold Arena, Denver.

 

On September the 17th and 18th, The Jacksons play to audiences of more than 116,540 in two sell-out dates at Montreal's Olympic Stadium in Quebec. During the finale, Jackie hobbles on stage to join The Jacksons for 'Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)', which sees all six brothers together and in costume for the first time during the tour.

 

On Demember 7th and 9th, The Jacksons play their last Victory tour concerts at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Over two million people came to see The Jacksons during the fifty-five-concert, five-month tour, which crisscrossed America and Canada with the most ambitious design and execution ever created for the concert stage. During 'Shake You Body,' Michael announces his split from The Jacksons.

 

Victory Tour - Setlist

(6th July 1984 to 9th December 1984)

 

- Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

- Things I Do For You

- Off The Wall

- Human Nature

- Heartbreak Hotel

- She's Out Of My Life

- Jermaine Jackson Solo: [Let's Get Serious, You Like Me Don't You, Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' with Michael]

- Jackson 5 Medley [I Want You Back, The Love You Save, I'll Be There]

- Rock With You

- Lovely One

- Working Day And Night

- Beat It

- Billie Jean

- Shake Your Body [Down To The Ground]

 

 

* = sold out concerts
1
6th July 1984Kansas City [Missouri, USA]Arrowhead Stadium45,000 *
27th July 1984Kansas City [Missouri, USA]Arrowhead Stadium45,000 *
38th July 1984Kansas City [Missouri, USA]Arrowhead Stadium45,000 *
413th July 1984Dallas [Texas, USA]Texas Stadium40,000 *
514th July 1984Dallas [Texas, USA]Texas Stadium40,000 *
615th July 1984Dallas [Texas, USA]Texas Stadium40,000 *
721st July 1984Jacksonville [Florida, USA]Gator Bowl45,000 *
822nd July 1984Jacksonville [Florida, USA]Gator Bowl45,000 *
923rd July 1984Jacksonville [Florida, USA]Gator Bowl45,000 *
1029th July 1984East Rutherford [New Jersey, USA]Giants Stadium42,000 *
1130th July 1984East Rutherford [New Jersey, USA]Giants Stadium42,000 *
1231st July 1984East Rutherford [New Jersey, USA]Giants Stadium42,000 *
134th August 1984New York City [New York, USA]Madison Square Garden19,000 *
145th August 1984New York City [New York, USA]Madison Square Garden19,000 *
157th August 1984Knoxville [Tennessee, USA]?48,783
168th August 1984Knoxville [Tennessee, USA]?50,239 *
179th August 1984Knoxville [Tennessee, USA]?49,485
1817th August 1984Detroit [Michigan, USA]Pontiac Silverdome47,900
1918th August 1984Detroit [Michigan, USA]Pontiac Silverdome47,900
2019th August 1984Detroit [Michigan, USA]Pontiac Silverdome49,200 *
2125th August 1984Buffalo [New York, USA]Rich Stadium47,000
2226th August 1984Buffalo [New York, USA]Rich Stadium47,000
231st September 1984Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA]JFK Stadium60,000 *
242nd September 1984Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA]JFK Stadium60,000 *
#3rd September 1984Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA](The third Philadelphia concert is rained out, it is rescheduled for 28th September) 
257th September 1984Denver [Colorado, USA]Mile High Stadium26,840 *
268th September 1984Denver [Colorado, USA]Mile High Stadium26,840 *
2717th September 1984Montreal [Canada]Olympic Stadium58,270 *
2818th September 1984Montreal [Canada]Olympic Stadium58,270 *
2921st September 1984Washington [D.C., USA]RFK Stadium45,000 *
3022nd September 1984Washington [D.C., USA]RFK Stadium45,000 *
3128th September 1984Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA]JFK Stadium60,000 *
3229th September 1984Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA]JFK Stadium60,000 *
335th October 1984Toronto [Canada]Canadian National Exhibition Stadium37,000
346th October 1984Toronto [Canada]Canadian National Exhibition Stadium35,000
357th October 1984Toronto [Canada]Canadian National Exhibition Stadium35,000
3612th October 1984Chicago [Illinois, USA]Comiskey Park40,000
3713th October 1984Chicago [Illinois, USA]Comiskey Park39,000
3814th October 1984Chicago [Illinois, USA]Comiskey Park40,000
3919th October 1984Cleveland [Ohio, USA]Municipal Stadium32,000
4020th October 1984Cleveland [Ohio, USA]Municipal Stadium32,000
4126th October 1984Atlanta [Georgia, USA]Fulton County Stadium31,000
4227th October 1984Atlanta [Georgia, USA]Fulton County Stadium30,000
432nd November 1984Miami [Florida, USA]Orange Bowl32,000
443rd November 1984Miami [Florida, USA]Orange Bowl34,000
459th November 1984Houston [Texas, USA]Astrodome40,000
4610th November 1984Houston [Texas, USA]Astrodome40,000
4716th November 1984Vancouver [Canada]Place Stadium42,000
4817th November 1984Vancouver [Canada]Place Stadium40,000
4918th November 1984Vancouver [Canada]Place Stadium40,000
5030th November 1984Los Angeles [California, USA]Dodger Stadium60,000 *
511st December 1984Los Angeles [California, USA]Dodger Stadium60,000 *
522nd December 1984Los Angeles [California, USA]Dodger Stadium60,000 *
537th December 1984Los Angeles [California, USA]Dodger Stadium60,000 *
548th December 1984Los Angeles [California, USA]Dodger Stadium60,000 *
559th December 1984Los Angeles [California, USA]Dodger Stadium60,000 *

 

 

 

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Some Articles are taken from the book 'Michael Jackson The Visual Documentary By Adrian Grant'