While big-media news outlets continue to parse Michael Jackson’s successes and scandals, we here at Revolver want to commemorate why we loved the Gloved One through the years: Dude was metal. Sure, Jackson could be pretty off-putting to headbangers—he helped popularize disco music, wore Mickey Mouse T-shirts, and fed starving kids—but let’s look past all that. Here’s Revolver’s 10-horn salute…
10. His first solo No. 1 was about a murderous, telepathic rat
Jackson’s first hit, “Ben,” was the theme song for the 1972 movie of the same name, the sequel to the horror movie Willard. In the movie, a boy befriends one of the evil rats (Ben) trained by the titular character in the original; the rat then starts controlling the boy and Ben’s rat buddies get violent. “Ben, most people would turn you away… They don’t see you as I do.” ’Nuff said.
9. Jackson hung out with Ronald Reagan
It may have been only once, but just palling around with the dude who carried out such malfeasances as quadrupling the United States’ national debt, trading weapons with Iran, and helping launch a war on drugs sounds like the basis of an S.O.D. song.
8. He caught on fire
In 1984, Jackson filmed a Pepsi commercial. At one point, he got too close to the pyrotechnics and ended up suffering second-degree burns to his scalp…in front of a stand-in audience. Only Metallica’s James Hetfield, who himself was burned in a pyro mishap onstage, could relate.
7. Jackson smashed stuff
At the end of Jackson’s “Black or White” video (viewable here), he transforms into a black panther then back into himself, after which he smashes car windows and blows up a building. When this sequence was met with controversy and protests, MJ explained that that’s what a panther would do. MTV removed the part of the clip, and since his death, has restored it to include racist epithets on the windows Jackson smashes. With no blood spilt, we challenge any metal band to replicate the video’s menace on a worldwide scale.
6. He dangled a baby over a balcony
In 2002, Jackson held his 9-month-old son over his hotel balcony in Berlin, Germany, holding a towel over the child’s head. Hell, we can’t defend that one, but check out the video.
5. He hired guitarists Eddie Van Halen, Steve Stevens, and Slash
Jackson’s metal pedigree included his music. “Beat It” is inarguably one of the biggest metal songs of the ’80s (maybe not in the vocals, but definitely in the guitar riff), and it featured a guest solo by Eddie Van Halen. Jackson would go on to record two other metal-tinged hits, including one with Billy Idol and Vince Neil guitarist Steve Stevens (“Dirty Diana,” which went to No. 1) and one with Slash (the highly underrated “Give Into Me,” below). Plus, Jackson was kind enough to share his wind machine in videos with the latter two.
4. Jackson owned a monkey
Remember when the oddest thing about Michael was when he bought a monkey named Bubbles? Then he taught it to moonwalk? Well, it turns out the monkey was even more awesome, as it reportedly threw feces at children, too, not unlike G.G. Allin. Even more metal: Bubbles has officially outlived his master. You can fund the primate’s care here.
3. Jackson had three pod babies
According to recent reports, Jackson supposedly is not the father of his three children, named Michael Joseph Jr. (age 12), Paris Michael Katherine (11), and Prince “Blanket” Michael II (7). They were “conceived in vitro—outside the womb,” if you believe TMZ. Not even the Elephant Man’s skeleton, which Jackson once attempted to buy (according to legend), is as metal an image as that.
2. He became Skeletor
Surgery, schmurgery—Skeletor kicks ass.
1. He died
At age 50, Michael Jackson is dead. Nothing is more metal than death. Horns up!
Kory Grow
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