R.I.P. Michael Jackson

[B2D]

One of my first cognitive memories is of jumping up and down on my mom and dad's couch while listening to the Thriller album when I was four (I was born in '84). Later on when I started playing guitar I listened to it again and Luke and EVH rocked my world with Beat It.

Dangerous was the first album I ever bought with my own money, bought it on cassette when it was new.

I had my reservations about the man and his behavior, but I've always loved the musician and peformer that he is and the songs that he brought to us. I am a big MJ fan... I can't believe he's gone and that it's over for him.

I hope he finds the peace and forgiveness in heaven that he was unable to obtain in his mortal life. R.I.P. Michael. We will miss you.

 

[kbaim]

Count me as another amazed at all his talent from a very young age. As some guy on tv said yesterday...he made a hit out of a song about his rat!
I loved that album too. As well as his early solo stuff and the Jackson 5.

Still his weirdness overshadowed almost everything the past 20 years.

 

[LilSteve]

Did Luke do any work on the ''Off the Wall" sessions? or was that all Ray Parker Jr.?

 

[sickindian]

+1
I dont even blame him for his weirdness he probably went through more than anoyone of us could do, everyone of us got some small or big weirdnes but not everyone has got such a talent.

 

[SCman]

Hey Big Poppa, did Luke play the riff on the song Beat it or did EVH do it all?

OKay I just watched some news coverage and it was full of the last ten years and his struggles and trials. I get to control this.....He was a gifted artist for many years. Lets focus on the art and the loss.

I am not being insensitive to some of the other stuff but he was never convicted of any of it.

The man is gone.

I talked to Luke already and it was very strange as he played on all of the big albums....All of thriller and he played bass and all the guitars except for the solo on Beat it.

 

[sickindian]

Thats a good question.

 

[Jonmo1]

I'm pretty sure Luke did the main Riff, and Eddie did the solo.
Or at the very least I'm sure Eddid Did NOT play the main riff, only the solo.
Every time I've ever read or heard anything about that, It only mentions Eddie doing the Solo. And he did it in one take, kinda just walked in and said OK, let's do this thing..and bam, it was done.

 

[John C]

Hey Big Poppa, did Luke play the riff on the song Beat it or did EVH do it all?

Not Mr. Ball, but here is the post from Luke's website on the session:

stevelukather.net - Sessions

 

[dstockden]

Have you read the 60 other posts on this thread?

yes poppa said it was about the music nothing else.

 

[paranoid70]

I must admit that at the height of his popularity in the early-mid 80s, I was a close-minded metalhead teenager and didn't like his music at all. I did love the Weird Al versions that's for sure. I remember watching the Black and White video on TV, stoned out of my mind, and absolutely cracking up with the whole busting up the car scene during his dance routine.

However, as I grew up, I learned to develop an appreciation for many styles of music and artists. I learned to recognize his talent and knack for writing good pop music. Plus, he was a damn good dancer - you have to give him that!

Let's just hope that as the years go by he is recognized more for his musical contributions and influences than his bizzare antics.

 

[Rokstar]

Not to take away from MJ, but I had no idea everything Steve has been involved in. Interesting what he said about all the heat he took for doing what he did... I see the tie to EVH, I didn't realize Ed and Steve went that far back either...

 

[SCman]

Thanks for the link! Great and historical information there...

Not Mr. Ball, but here is the post from Luke's website on the session:

stevelukather.net - Sessions

 

[fatkatz77]

Very sad news. He was very talented. I loved songs like Beat It, Thriller, and Black or White.

 

[Volt]

Not a fan of most his music except Beat It and Thriller, but he was a very talented guy - who grew up with tremendous amount of pressure on him. I have often wondered what he would have been like if he had never been a star.
RIP. Michael

(RIP Farrah and Ed also). Bad week, this.

 

[Jason2112]

Farah Fawcett died and went straight to Heaven.

When she arrived she was met (appropriately for an Angel!) by God himself who said due to the good life she had led she could have 1 wish.

After some thought, Farah advised God that her wish was "for all children on earth to be safe".




Michael Jackson died a few minutes later.
















Too soon?

Should've asked yourself that question before clicking the reply button

 

[Butch Snyder]

I came up, musically, as someone always looking for the technical challenge. So, when I started playing at 13 (1978), I was into all the heavy stuff of that age. However, I respected most other genres of music. Michael Jackson's was one I had great respect for. I loved "Off The Wall". By the time "Thriller" was released, I was a "Prog-Head". But, as much as I was into Rush, Kansas, Yes, Journey, and Toto (okay, the last two aren't really Prog-Rock unless you count Journey's 1st album) etc., Thriller was fantastic. My favorite part was the song "Human Nature". Without knowing fully about it, it just sounded familiar. The guitar work just oozed Steve Lukather too.

IMHO, Michael Jackson just transcended every Pop artist of the day. It seems he would be quiet and let all the other pop stars do their albums and tours and such; then BAM!!! He would release a new studio album and tour and blow us all away. His music was all him. It wasn't cookie-cutter Pop like we have had for so many years. The only other artist that could do that, IMO, is Prince. Michael was a musical genius. His music was all him and it always showed.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Very sad news. I found out whilst I was at my weekly jam session that I run. All of us were shocked, and did not seem to matter what kind of music you are in to. He was an icon.

And as I have always said, as we loose these icons, there is nobody to replace them.

 

[Butch Snyder]

as we loose these icons, there is nobody to replace them.

I honestly believe there will never be someone else who will influence and affect music, musicians, and listeners like Michael....

 

[hbucker]

At a minimum, I'm afraid that I would be just as eccentric as M.J. if I'd experienced what he had.

He is enmeshed in my history:

Jackson 5: Watching them on t.v. Watching their cartoon on Saturday a.m. in the early 70's.

Michael: Off the Wall - Thriller - Watching him moonwalk for the first time live on the Motown special - then teaching myself to moonwalk because I just had to figure out how he did that.

An amazing talent and a tortured soul. Thanks Michael. I hope you're at peace now.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

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