Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket
Encyclopedia
Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket refers to the iconic red jacket worn by Michael Jackson
in the Michael Jackson's Thriller video in 1983. On June 27, 2011, the buyer Milton Verret described the jacket as "the greatest piece of rock and roll memorabilia in history".
, who had also designed Indiana Jones
's jacket in Raiders of the Lost Ark
and many others. The candy-apple-red jacket with black strips was noted for its many zips and its "M" logo, with the angular, rigid shoulder work protruding out over the tops of the arms. During the video, Jackson dances in the jacket with the living dead.
Christine Gledhill in her book Stardom: Industry of Desire (1991) discusses Jackson's overall style in Thriller as follows: "In 'Thriller', Michael's outfit and its stylistic features – the wet-look hairstyle, the ankle-cut jeans and the letter 'M' emblazoned on his jacket – reinforce this meta-textual superimposition of role. If Michael, as the male protagonist, is both boyfriend and star, his female counterpart in the equation of 'romance' is both the girlfriend and at this meta-textual level, the fans."
Fashion designer Zaldy was responsible for a redesigned version of the jacket for the planned but cancelled This Is It
concert tour. It had an imitation of blood on its shoulders, and on the inside a stamp resembling the feline beast Jackson turns into in the video.
. It also became one of the most sought after by many people and the epitome of the '80s teen cool. The jacket he wore in the "Thriller" video, along with a copy of the black and white leather jacket he wore in one of the Pepsi
commercials and in the dance rehearsal portions behinds the scenes of The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, are amongst his best-selling jackets. Expensive counterfeits were mass produced and often sold for over $500 to people thinking they were getting the real deal. Because of this mass counterfeiting and the profits its yearned, in 1984 Jackson filed a lawsuit in New York City
to prevent unauthorized copies of the jacket and his other merchandise.
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in the Michael Jackson's Thriller video in 1983. On June 27, 2011, the buyer Milton Verret described the jacket as "the greatest piece of rock and roll memorabilia in history".
Design
The jacket was designed by Deborah Nadoolman LandisDeborah Nadoolman Landis
Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis is an American film and theater costume designer. She worked on such notable films as Animal House, Three Amigos, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Landis recently completed her second term as president of the Costume Designers Guild of which she has been a member for more...
, who had also designed Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
's jacket in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
and many others. The candy-apple-red jacket with black strips was noted for its many zips and its "M" logo, with the angular, rigid shoulder work protruding out over the tops of the arms. During the video, Jackson dances in the jacket with the living dead.
Christine Gledhill in her book Stardom: Industry of Desire (1991) discusses Jackson's overall style in Thriller as follows: "In 'Thriller', Michael's outfit and its stylistic features – the wet-look hairstyle, the ankle-cut jeans and the letter 'M' emblazoned on his jacket – reinforce this meta-textual superimposition of role. If Michael, as the male protagonist, is both boyfriend and star, his female counterpart in the equation of 'romance' is both the girlfriend and at this meta-textual level, the fans."
Fashion designer Zaldy was responsible for a redesigned version of the jacket for the planned but cancelled This Is It
This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)
This Is It was a planned series of fifty concerts by Michael Jackson to be held at The O2 Arena in London. They were scheduled to begin in July 2009 and continue through to March 2010. However, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died less than three weeks before the first concert date...
concert tour. It had an imitation of blood on its shoulders, and on the inside a stamp resembling the feline beast Jackson turns into in the video.
Reception
The candy-apple-red jacket became the "hottest outerwear fad of the mid-1980s" and was widely emulated. It is even emulated by stars today such as Chris Brown and Kanye WestKanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
. It also became one of the most sought after by many people and the epitome of the '80s teen cool. The jacket he wore in the "Thriller" video, along with a copy of the black and white leather jacket he wore in one of the Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
commercials and in the dance rehearsal portions behinds the scenes of The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, are amongst his best-selling jackets. Expensive counterfeits were mass produced and often sold for over $500 to people thinking they were getting the real deal. Because of this mass counterfeiting and the profits its yearned, in 1984 Jackson filed a lawsuit in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to prevent unauthorized copies of the jacket and his other merchandise.