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GRAMMY Museum - "Michael Jackson, HIStyle"
'Cause This Will Thrill Ya
BY PAMELA CHELIN
One of Jackson's flashy coats (Photo Courtesy of The Grammy Museum"
The Grammy Museum is to the music junkie what Disneyland is to children. From the cheerful staff at the box office to the smiling employees inside the venue (where there is a free coat check!) you will be treated like a king. Recently, we headed downtown to check out the "Michael Jackson: HIStyle" exhibit.
Focusing on the flashy fashions that have practically defined Michael Jackson throughout his long and bumpy career, the exhibit features an array of Jackson's clothing, including eight of his bedazzled jackets. No wonder he so often wears sunglasses. The amount of sequins and gems covering these coats could induce retinal damage.
There's the Bill Whitten 10-pound red and gold military-inspired creation Jackson wore at the American Music Awards in 1984 and the black and gold version he wore that same year when receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (an item that would have blended seamless into this jacket given the amount of sequins, gold and blue beads adorning it).
As you stroll from the first to the last jacket, it is very clear that his extravagant taste became increasingly elaborate throughout his career. To Jackson, less is not more which isn't surprising for the king of flamboyance.
By the time you reach the end, the jackets include red arm bands, badges, emblems, pins, gold ropes and even a multi-colored beaded Bald Eagle with an "In God We Trust" banner (worn to the 2001 "United We Stand: What More Can I Give" concert to benefit 9-11 victims.)
There's also one black, silk button down shirt with a white arm band and a pair of gold greaves (gold plates held together with black straps that extend from knee to ankle) which Jackson wore in concert on his nimble legs.
Jackson's outfits, however, aren't the all you'll find on display. On the museum's four floors is garb worn to the Grammys by Gwen Stefani, Carlos Santana and Amy Winehouse.
There are musical instruments on display, including Buddy Holly's 1943 leather encased acoustic Gibson guitar, Louis Armstrong's trumpet Selmer circa 1960s, one of B.B. King's "Lucille" guitars and fragments of a Kurt Cobain smashed Stratocaster. And, that is only the beginning.
A wide array of relics from music history are housed here. Many are interactive--like the earliest version of the phonograph, a dictation device. Wind it up, say something out loud (we went with, "I vant to suck your blood.") and, within seconds, it plays back what you just said.
There is a wonderful presentation whereby a slew of musical genre titles--Dixieland, Surf, Gangsta Rap, Jump Blues, Southern Gospel, Glam Rock--seem to float across a long white table like a film projection. If you reach out and touch any of the categories, a screen opens up to tell you about that category's history. Put on the provided headphones listen to your choice. At the end of your mini musical history lesson, the screen tells you what other style of music is related to the one you chose.
This musical variety is what attracted the museum's curator, Ken Viste (formerly of Seattle's Experience Music Project) to the Grammy Museum where he's been employed for two years.
"The best thing we do, here, is celebrate a variety of music," he says. "Most museums focus on one genre. We have a wide spectrum and that is more in keeping with how people experience music these days, on their iPod where it can all be shuffled."
That is truly the beauty of the Grammy museum. Not only is there something appealing to every kind of musical taste, but also there's a lot to learn for even the most serious of audiophiles.
But what's a trip to the Grammy Museum without seeing an actual Grammy? Never fear, there are plenty of those around belonging to legends like The Beatles and T-Bone Burnett.
Also available to whet your Grammy appetite are live Grammy videos (Coldplay, Tony Bennett), Grammy nominee envelopes, Grammy All Access Passes (worn by Kid Rock and Fergie) and all the Grammy merchandise you can purchase (keychains, $8; Grammy hooded sweatshirts, $55; tote bags, $25, trivia cards, baseball caps, patches, shot glasses (our personal favorite) and pins. Phew!).
Though the Grammy museum is open year round, make sure to check it out by April 12th if you want to see "Michael Jackson: HIStyle."
After all, this is probably the closest you'll ever get to the King of Pop's outfits without getting sued. :mello:
http://www.la.com/celebrity-gossip/ci_12030329
Faux Petty, Jackson and Cooper at Spoof Fest 2009
Can you picture No Doubt, King Crimson, Alanis Morisette, Depeche Mode, Tom Petty, Live, Nickelback, Primus, The Bangles, Motorhead, Britney Spears, Eddie Money, Michael Jackson, ZZ Top, Kid Rock and Alice Cooper all in one place?
Well, get ready for it as Milwaukee's original "Spoof Fest" returns to the stage for the 16th year in a row on May 1 and 2.
This year, Milwaukee musicians will gather at Liquor Sweets, 3000 S. 13 St., for a two day event of impersonation and recreation.
Spoof Fest first emerged in 1993 when local musicians lured the Milwaukee music scene together to recreate the works of legendary performers. The event rules are simple: you cannot spoof a spoof and once a band has been done once, it's done forever.
So, get ready for a show like you've never seen before and head to Liquor Sweets on May 1 and 2.
http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/spooffest2009.html?18659
[/center]Today in
Michael Jackson History[/center]
'Cause This Will Thrill Ya
BY PAMELA CHELIN
One of Jackson's flashy coats (Photo Courtesy of The Grammy Museum"
The Grammy Museum is to the music junkie what Disneyland is to children. From the cheerful staff at the box office to the smiling employees inside the venue (where there is a free coat check!) you will be treated like a king. Recently, we headed downtown to check out the "Michael Jackson: HIStyle" exhibit.
Focusing on the flashy fashions that have practically defined Michael Jackson throughout his long and bumpy career, the exhibit features an array of Jackson's clothing, including eight of his bedazzled jackets. No wonder he so often wears sunglasses. The amount of sequins and gems covering these coats could induce retinal damage.
There's the Bill Whitten 10-pound red and gold military-inspired creation Jackson wore at the American Music Awards in 1984 and the black and gold version he wore that same year when receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (an item that would have blended seamless into this jacket given the amount of sequins, gold and blue beads adorning it).
As you stroll from the first to the last jacket, it is very clear that his extravagant taste became increasingly elaborate throughout his career. To Jackson, less is not more which isn't surprising for the king of flamboyance.
By the time you reach the end, the jackets include red arm bands, badges, emblems, pins, gold ropes and even a multi-colored beaded Bald Eagle with an "In God We Trust" banner (worn to the 2001 "United We Stand: What More Can I Give" concert to benefit 9-11 victims.)
There's also one black, silk button down shirt with a white arm band and a pair of gold greaves (gold plates held together with black straps that extend from knee to ankle) which Jackson wore in concert on his nimble legs.
Jackson's outfits, however, aren't the all you'll find on display. On the museum's four floors is garb worn to the Grammys by Gwen Stefani, Carlos Santana and Amy Winehouse.
There are musical instruments on display, including Buddy Holly's 1943 leather encased acoustic Gibson guitar, Louis Armstrong's trumpet Selmer circa 1960s, one of B.B. King's "Lucille" guitars and fragments of a Kurt Cobain smashed Stratocaster. And, that is only the beginning.
A wide array of relics from music history are housed here. Many are interactive--like the earliest version of the phonograph, a dictation device. Wind it up, say something out loud (we went with, "I vant to suck your blood.") and, within seconds, it plays back what you just said.
There is a wonderful presentation whereby a slew of musical genre titles--Dixieland, Surf, Gangsta Rap, Jump Blues, Southern Gospel, Glam Rock--seem to float across a long white table like a film projection. If you reach out and touch any of the categories, a screen opens up to tell you about that category's history. Put on the provided headphones listen to your choice. At the end of your mini musical history lesson, the screen tells you what other style of music is related to the one you chose.
This musical variety is what attracted the museum's curator, Ken Viste (formerly of Seattle's Experience Music Project) to the Grammy Museum where he's been employed for two years.
"The best thing we do, here, is celebrate a variety of music," he says. "Most museums focus on one genre. We have a wide spectrum and that is more in keeping with how people experience music these days, on their iPod where it can all be shuffled."
That is truly the beauty of the Grammy museum. Not only is there something appealing to every kind of musical taste, but also there's a lot to learn for even the most serious of audiophiles.
But what's a trip to the Grammy Museum without seeing an actual Grammy? Never fear, there are plenty of those around belonging to legends like The Beatles and T-Bone Burnett.
Also available to whet your Grammy appetite are live Grammy videos (Coldplay, Tony Bennett), Grammy nominee envelopes, Grammy All Access Passes (worn by Kid Rock and Fergie) and all the Grammy merchandise you can purchase (keychains, $8; Grammy hooded sweatshirts, $55; tote bags, $25, trivia cards, baseball caps, patches, shot glasses (our personal favorite) and pins. Phew!).
Though the Grammy museum is open year round, make sure to check it out by April 12th if you want to see "Michael Jackson: HIStyle."
After all, this is probably the closest you'll ever get to the King of Pop's outfits without getting sued. :mello:
http://www.la.com/celebrity-gossip/ci_12030329
Faux Petty, Jackson and Cooper at Spoof Fest 2009
Can you picture No Doubt, King Crimson, Alanis Morisette, Depeche Mode, Tom Petty, Live, Nickelback, Primus, The Bangles, Motorhead, Britney Spears, Eddie Money, Michael Jackson, ZZ Top, Kid Rock and Alice Cooper all in one place?
Well, get ready for it as Milwaukee's original "Spoof Fest" returns to the stage for the 16th year in a row on May 1 and 2.
This year, Milwaukee musicians will gather at Liquor Sweets, 3000 S. 13 St., for a two day event of impersonation and recreation.
Spoof Fest first emerged in 1993 when local musicians lured the Milwaukee music scene together to recreate the works of legendary performers. The event rules are simple: you cannot spoof a spoof and once a band has been done once, it's done forever.
So, get ready for a show like you've never seen before and head to Liquor Sweets on May 1 and 2.
http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/spooffest2009.html?18659
[/center]Today in
Michael Jackson History[/center]
1983 - Michael Jackson's "Beat It" short film premiered on MTV.
1994 - Smith-Hemion Productions filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Jackson 5 for misrepresenting their ability to draw a crowd and therefore breached their contract.
2004 - It was announced that Michael Jackson was promoting the idea of staging a concert tour in Africa to help raise money to fight AIDS. At the time a California court still had possession of his passport due to child molestation charges against him in that state. Jackson met with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and was present at a new conference announcing his potential involvement in a tour of Africa.
