FANZINE

Wow…rough day for icons, first I learn a first crush Farrah Fawcett finally succumbed to cancer, and now this – Michael Jackson dead from a heart attack at age 50.

I saw Jackson during the Victory tour with his brothers in hand, Tito and the rest, in Tennessee (Atlanta show sold out).  Went with a good friend of mine, James, who himself tragically died last year in an accident involving a tractor.

James could breakdance at age (what …11?) like nobody’s business. After the show we were hanging out in the basement bar (drinking cokes…guess it should have been Pepsi, right?) of the bed and breakfast we were staying at, and James was trying to show the bartender some of his moves.  My mom and her boyfriend, who got the tickets, were upstairs sleeping.

Well the traction was bad for the moonwalk inside, so we went out to the parking lot, way out to the far end were it was slick pavement. We were having a grand old time (I’m trying my best to sound like an old fart) until my mom came out hysterical, having had some premonition in her sleep that we were being abducted and about to be molested.

Well she grabbed me and drug me back upstairs and gave me a nice beating. I told her the guy was totally innocent, and that it was all ridiculous, and then she tried to get the guy fired. I felt awful.

Of course years later we all know the drawn out sordid tales of Jackson’s involvement with children, and everyone’s hysterical attention (see Foucault on this one).  So hell, maybe that was her premonition, just terribly off cue.

All I know is my mind was blown the first time I saw Jackson perform the moonwalk on TV.  I think it was the grammies, (no it was the Motown 25 special) and it came out of nowhere.  The hat, the one sparkly glove, the loose socks, penny loafers and high water trousers.  Half the school was wearing one glove the next day and trying to moonwalk.  Put me on the karoke floor and I might try again. Well…  -Casey McKinney