July 30, 1988

Here is an excerpt from my 1988 journal. I was living in Dublin, and I went with my friend to the Michael Jackson concert in Cork. Her father worked for Pepsi, so we got VIP treatment.

July 30

Got up early + had a shower and danced around the place to the "Bad" album. Completely excited! Got a lift into town and met Adrienne at the station. We were frightened we wouldn't be let on the Pepsi train because it said "Kevin McDonald + Partner," but we got on OK. A beautiful express train all the way to Cork with white-coated waiters bringing us drinks. Arrived in Cork and got a police-escorted coach to Parc Ui Caoimh. We had our VIP passes clipped on and I felt SOO important. There was a Pepsi tent at the concert with free drinks and food the likes of which I will never see again: salmon, fresh and smoked, turkey, prown cocktail, avocado, + loads of salads, melon etc. It was great. Stuffed our faces.

Then we went into the stadium. We missed Kim Wilde. Everyone let us push to the front because of our passes. So we were really close to the stage and then the lights at the back of the stage animated a pair of legs walking across + hopping up on their tiptoes. the crowd went wild. A huge bank of lights rose in the front of the stage and lowered slowly to reveal HIM and his backing singers standing on the stage. We went crazy, screaming and reaching and pushing as he launched into "Wanna be starting something." The rest of the concert is a daze for me. He danced and leapt his way through most of Thriller and Bad, a little Off the Wall, and some Jackson 5 stuff. His costume changes were the clothes he wore in the videos to the songs, and the dance routines the same as the videos. At one point a silver tube descended over him and seconds later went up. He wasn't there! He appeared at the other side of the stage in another costume - a billowing black cape and blood red shirt. The crane he was on swung out over the audience and we reached and jumped. So tantalizingly close, but so far away. At the end of the concert some kids came on, and his sidekick Jimmy Safechuck - the kid from the Pepsi commercial. he was dressed the same as Michael and danced the same. Then it was over, I found Adrienne outside. We were exhausted and dazed. we walked around the city + had a pizza - still wearing our VIP badges and getting envious looks.

...

What a day.* What a concert! Thank you Michael Jackson, for years of music and inspiration, and for this incredible experience. 

*The rest of the evening involved getting flashed by a drunk guy, an expensive taxi ride to Kinsale, failure to find our countryside B&B, walking around dark roads getting frightened, and our eventual rescue by the local publican who picked us up and let us sleep in a spare bedroom over the pub. We shared a big old bed with several mousetraps underneath.

Comments

[John G]

Good Memories.

[Erik H.]

Great, great stuff!

[margaret]

Great story. I love this, "...with free drinks and food the likes of which I will never see again"

[David Rossiter]

You have a memory that I wish I had.I often say to Liz " I am sorry I never saw this band or that band" but Jackos passing makes me want to see more live shows before the artists I grew up listening to are a thing of the past.

[Annie]

Did you always think "Smooth Criminal" was about you? I know I did.

xx

[Aaron]

michal jackson was awful why is everyone so sad i dont get it

[marie]

i was there in 1988 too. you brought it all back - electric!!!!

[Tan]

I was there too in 1988. MJ was a great singer & performer, fabulous effects and v.energetic. Saw Kim Wilde but who was on before her?