HIStory World Tour
| Tour by Michael Jackson | |
 Promotional image for the tour | |
| Arrangers |
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Associated album | HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (from the show on May 31, 1997) |
| Start date | September 7, 1996 |
| End date | October 15, 1997 |
| Legs | 3 |
| No. of shows | 82 |
| Attendance | 4,500,000[1][2][3] |
| Box office | US $165 million ($317.79 million in 2021 dollars)[4] |
| Michael Jackson concert chronology | |
The HIStory World Tour was the third and final worldwide solo concert tour by American singer and recording artist Michael Jackson, covering Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa and North America. The tour included a total of 82 concerts spanning the globe with stops in 57 cities, 35 countries on 5 continents. The tour promoted Jackson's 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. The second leg also promoted the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. The tour was attended by over 4.5 million fans.[1][2][3]
Overview[edit]
The tour was announced on May 29, 1996, and marked Jackson's first concert tour since his Dangerous World Tour ended in late 1993.[5] Jackson's debut concert for the tour, performed at Letná Park in Prague, was one of the largest single attended concerts in his career, with over 125,000 people.[6] On October 7, 1996, he performed for the first time ever in the Arab world and Africa as a solo artist in Tunis.[7] During the tour's stopover in Sydney, Australia, he married Debbie Rowe in a private and impromptu ceremony. He was interviewed by Molly Meldrum In Brisbane and danced with two women during "You Are Not Alone". From January 3–4, 1997, Jackson performed his only two concerts on this tour in the US, in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the Aloha Stadium, to a crowd of 35,000 each; making him the first artist in history to sell out the stadium.[8]
During the break period, Jackson worked and released his Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album. The second leg started on May 31, 1997, at the Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany.[9] Set list changes included the addition of "Blood on the Dance Floor" and later on the removal of the "Off the Wall" Medley and "The Way You Make Me Feel". "Blood on the Dance Floor" was taken off the set list after the concert in Oslo on August 19, 1997.
Jackson performed at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark on his 39th birthday with 60,000 fans. He was presented with a surprise birthday cake, marching band, and fireworks on stage after "You Are Not Alone". The concert at Hippodrome Wellington of Ostend, Belgium, was originally scheduled for August 31, 1997, but was postponed to September 3 following Diana, Princess of Wales's death.
There were some initial plans to take the tour, in February 1997, to such Brazilian cities as São Paulo, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília; but these plans were suspended due to promotional issues. Jackson tried to visit Brazil again in February 1998, as well as Argentina, but these too were scrapped so that he could work on MJ and Friends.
Recordings[edit]
Throughout the tour, many concerts were professionally filmed by Nocturne Productions, but none were ever officially released on DVD. In South Korea, a VHS recording of his show in Seoul was released, only within the bounds of the country. Although the footage is poor in quality and Michael Jackson was suffering a fever at the time, resulting in his vocals being weakened, it made major success in that country. Jackson planned to release a DVD of his performance in Munich, Germany. The film was never released due to Jackson being unimpressed by his vocals brought on by laryngitis. In 2010, TV channels such as RTL 5, ZDF, WOWOW, and Veronica TV broadcast the Munich concert in HD, and those broadcasts can be found on YouTube. In 2022, a 1080p version of Billie Jean from the Munich concert was leaked, along with live vocals from a soundboard leak for a portion of that concert. It was rumoured that the remaster, in addition to some portions of the soundboard audio, were planned to be released alongside a 25th anniversary edition of the HIStory album, but plans were likely halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Some other full-length concerts have been leaked to YouTube including those in Auckland (November 11, 1996), Basel (July 25, 1997), Copenhagen (August 14, 1997), Gothenburg (August 16, 1997) and Helsinki (August 26, 1997). Many amateur recordings can also be found on YouTube.
Show performance[edit]
Michael Jackson's HIStory tour was one of his most high tech concert shows of the time. The show's opening featured a video segment where Jackson piloted a spacecraft through multiple points in history before emerging from underneath the stage at the end. The stage featured two statues of Jackson on either side of it, and was large enough to use an entire curtain for the opening segment of "Smooth Criminal".
Set list[edit]
- "Great Gates of Kiev" (introduction)
- "Scream" / "They Don't Care About Us" / "In the Closet" (contains excerpts of "HIStory", "Great Gates of Kiev" and "She Drives Me Wild")
- "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
- "Stranger in Moscow"
- "Smooth Criminal" (contains elements of "Childhood")
- "The Wind" (video interlude)
- "You Are Not Alone"
- "The Way You Make Me Feel" (September 7, 1996 – June 15, 1997)
- "I Want You Back" / "The Love You Save" / "I'll Be There"
- "Rock with You" / "Off the Wall" / "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (selected 1996 and 1997 dates)
- "Remember the Time" (video interlude)
- "Billie Jean"
- "Thriller"
- "Beat It"
- "Come Together" / "D.S." (select 1996 dates) / "Blood on the Dance Floor" (select 1997 dates)
- "Black Panther" (video interlude)
- "Dangerous" (contains elements from "James Bond Theme", "Smooth Criminal", "You Want This", "Interlude: Let's Dance" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly")
- "Black or White"
- "Earth Song"
- "We Are the World" (video interlude)
- "Heal the World"
- "They Don't Care About Us" (instrumental) / "HIStory" (contains elements from "Great Gates of Kiev")
- Songs originally considered for the first leg of the tour included "Man in the Mirror", "She's Out of My Life", "Jam", "Childhood", "Will You Be There", "Dirty Diana", "State of Shock" and "2 Bad". "Morphine" was also rehearsed twice for the 1997 leg, but was also removed.
- The medley of "Come Together" and "D.S." was removed after the Adelaide concert on November 26, 1996. "Blood on the Dance Floor" replaced them for most of the 1997 leg before being removed after August 19. Prior to this, it was omitted from the Vienna concert on July 2.
- "Rock with You", "Off the Wall" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" were performed on select dates, before being permanently removed from the set list after June 13, 1997.
- "The Way You Make Me Feel" was performed on select dates until after June 15, 1997.
- Starting on September 3, 1997, the instrumental of "Gates of Kiev" was replaced with "Smile", in memory of Princess Diana.
Tour dates[edit]
.svg)
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe[11][12][13][14][15] | ||||
| September 7, 1996 | Prague | Czech Republic | Letná Park | 125,000 / 125,000 |
| September 10, 1996 | Budapest | Hungary | Népstadion | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| September 14, 1996 | Bucharest | Romania | Stadionul Național | 70,000 / 70,000 |
| September 17, 1996 | Moscow | Russia | Dynamo Stadium | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| September 20, 1996 | Warsaw | Poland | Lotnisko Bemowo | 120,000 / 120,000 |
| September 24, 1996 | Zaragoza | Spain | Estadio La Romareda | 45,000 / 45,000 |
| September 28, 1996 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Amsterdam Arena | 250,000 / 250,000[a] |
| September 30, 1996 | ||||
| October 2, 1996 | ||||
| Africa | ||||
| October 7, 1996 | Tunis | Tunisia | Stade El Menzah | 60,000 / 60,000 |
| Asia[16][17][18][19][20] | ||||
| October 11, 1996 | Seoul | South Korea | Olympic Stadium | 100,000 / 100,000 |
| October 13, 1996 | ||||
| October 18, 1996 | Taipei | Taiwan[21][22] | Zhongshan Soccer Stadium | 80,000 / 80,000[b] |
| October 20, 1996 | Kaohsiung | Chungcheng Stadium | 30,000 / 30,000 | |
| October 22, 1996 | Taipei | Zhongshan Soccer Stadium | —[b] | |
| October 25, 1996 | Singapore | National Stadium | 26,000 / 35,000 | |
| October 27, 1996 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Stadium Merdeka | 80,000 / 80,000 |
| October 29, 1996 | ||||
| November 1, 1996 | Mumbai | India | Andheri Sports Complex | 70,000 / 70,000[23] |
| November 5, 1996 | Bangkok | Thailand | IMPACT Lake Front Concert Grounds | 40,000 / 40,000 |
| Oceania[24] | ||||
| November 9, 1996 | Auckland | New Zealand | Ericsson Stadium | 86,000 / 86,000 |
| November 11, 1996 | ||||
| November 14, 1996 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground | 86,000 / 86,000 |
| November 16, 1996 | ||||
| November 19, 1996 | Brisbane | ANZ Stadium | 40,000 / 40,000 | |
| November 22, 1996 | Melbourne | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 130,000 / 130,000 | |
| November 24, 1996 | ||||
| November 26, 1996 | Adelaide | Adelaide Oval | 30,000 / 30,000 | |
| November 30, 1996 | Perth | Burswood Dome | 60,000 / 60,000 | |
| December 2, 1996 | ||||
| December 4, 1996 | ||||
| Asia[25] | ||||
| December 8, 1996 | Manila | Philippines | Asia World City Concert Grounds | 110,000 / 110,000 |
| December 10, 1996 | ||||
| December 13, 1996 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome | 180,000 / 180,000 |
| December 15, 1996 | ||||
| December 17, 1996 | ||||
| December 20, 1996 | ||||
| December 26, 1996 | Fukuoka | Fukuoka Dome | 80,000 / 80,000 | |
| December 28, 1996 | ||||
| December 31, 1996 | Bandar Seri Begawan | Brunei | Jerudong Park Amphitheater | 4,000 / 4,000 |
| Oceania | ||||
| January 3, 1997 | Honolulu | United States | Aloha Stadium | 70,000 / 70,000 |
| January 4, 1997 | ||||
| Europe | ||||
| May 31, 1997 | Bremen | Germany | Weserstadion | 85,000 / 85,000[c] |
| June 3, 1997 | Cologne | Müngersdorfer Stadion | 60,000 / 60,000 | |
| June 6, 1997 | Bremen | Weserstadion | —[d] | |
| June 8, 1997 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Amsterdam ArenA | —[a] |
| June 10, 1997 | ||||
| June 13, 1997 | Kiel | Germany | Nordmarksportfeld | 55,000 / 55,000 |
| June 15, 1997 | Gelsenkirchen | Parkstadion | 50,000 / 50,000 | |
| June 18, 1997 | Milan | Italy | San Siro | 65,000 / 65,000 |
| June 20, 1997 | Lausanne | Switzerland | Stade olympique de la Pontaise | 35,000 / 35,000 |
| June 22, 1997 | Bettembourg | Luxembourg | Krakelshaff | 45,000 / 45,000 |
| June 25, 1997 | Lyon | France | Stade de Gerland | 25,000 / 25,000 |
| June 27, 1997 | Paris | Parc des Princes | 95,000 / 100,000 | |
| June 29, 1997 | ||||
| July 2, 1997 | Vienna | Austria | Ernst-Happel-Stadion | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| July 4, 1997 | Munich | Germany | Olympiastadion | 150,000 / 150,000 |
| July 6, 1997 | ||||
| July 9, 1997 | Sheffield | England | Don Valley Stadium | 45,000 / 45,000 |
| July 12, 1997 | London | Wembley Stadium | 212,601 / 216,000 | |
| July 15, 1997 | ||||
| July 17, 1997 | ||||
| July 19, 1997 | Dublin | Ireland | RDS Arena | 40,261 / 40,261 |
| July 25, 1997 | Basel | Switzerland | St. Jakob Stadium | 55,000 / 55,000 |
| July 27, 1997 | Nice | France | Stade Charles-Ehrmann | 30,003 / 36,260 |
| August 1, 1997 | Berlin | Germany | Olympiastadion | 77,000 / 77,000 |
| August 3, 1997 | Leipzig | Festwiese | 54,483 / 55,000 | |
| August 10, 1997 | Hockenheim | Hockenheimring | 85,000 / 85,000 | |
| August 14, 1997 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Parken Stadium | 97,563 / 97,563[e] [e] |
| August 16, 1997 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Ullevi | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| August 19, 1997 | Oslo | Norway | Valle Hovin | 45,000 / 50,000 |
| August 22, 1997 | Tallinn | Estonia | Tallinn Song Festival Grounds | 75,000 / 75,000 |
| August 24, 1997 | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki Olympic Stadium | 100,000 / 100,000 |
| August 26, 1997 | ||||
| August 29, 1997 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Parken Stadium | —[e] |
| September 3, 1997 | Ostend | Belgium | Hippodrome Wellington | 55,000 / 60,000 |
| September 6, 1997 | Valladolid | Spain | Estadio José Zorrilla | 20,000 / 26,000 |
| Africa | ||||
| October 4, 1997 | Cape Town | South Africa | Green Point Stadium | 70,000 / 70,000 |
| October 6, 1997 | ||||
| October 10, 1997 | Johannesburg | Johannesburg Stadium | 106,495 / 108,000 | |
| October 12, 1997 | ||||
| October 15, 1997 | Durban | Kings Park Stadium | 50,000 / 50,000 | |
| Total | 4,420,158 / 4,500,000 (98%) | |||
Personnel[edit]
Lead performer[edit]
Dancers[edit]1996 leg[edit]
1997 leg[edit]
Band members[edit]
Vocals[edit]
|
Credits[edit]
Sponsor[edit]
|
See also[edit]
- List of highest-attended concerts
- List of most-attended concert tours
- List of highest-grossing concert tours
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Attendance combined with the attendance from September 28, 30 and October 2, 1996, and June 8 and 10, 1997.
- ^ a b Attendance combined with the attendance from October 18 and 22.
- ^ Attendance and box office combined with the attendance from May 31 and June 6.
- ^ Bremen
- ^ a b c Attendance and box office combined with the attendance from August 14 and 29.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Grant, p. 188
- ^ a b Brooks, p. 81
- ^ a b Grant, p. 202
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Will Jackson's tour make HIStory?". The Boston Globe. 30 May 1996. p. 82. Retrieved 6 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Statue Plans Draw Protests by Czechs - CBS News". CBS News.
- ^ "Lundi 7 Octobre, Michael Jackson en terre tunisienne | Tekiano :: TeK'n'Kult" (in French). 7 October 2013. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
- ^ "Jackson was king at two Aloha Stadium concerts in 1997 | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper". the.honoluluadvertiser.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Setlist at Weserstadion, Bremen". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
- ^ "Why isn't there a HIStory 25 release? Or a HIStory concert film?". Michael Jackson Official Site. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Billboard". 23 August 1997.
- ^ "Billboard". 13 September 1997.
- ^ "Billboard". 30 August 1997.
- ^ "Billboard". November 1997.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Statue Plans Draw Protests by Czechs". Cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "ASIANOW - Asiaweek". Edition.cnn.com.
- ^ "7 of the biggest concerts held in Singapore". Bandwagon.asia. 4 October 2017.
- ^ "A Michael Jackson concert in India that's now tax-free". BBC News. 8 January 2021.
- ^ "India Today Archive: Cashing in on Jackson". Indiatoday.in.
- ^ "Thai sales sluggish for Jackson concert - UPI Archives". Upi.com. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ O'Toole 2015.
- ^ "Entertainment". Jet. 90 (25). Johnson Publishing Company: 62. November 4, 1996. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
The three concerts performed in Taiwan are part of his HIStory world tour.
- ^ "Michael Jackson's music had impact around the globe". Reuters. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Mcg.org.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Jackson V AEG Live. Transcripts of John Meglen (CEO Concert West Division of AEG Live) July 22nd 2013". Pdfcoffee.com.
- Bibliography
- Brooks, Darren (2002). Michael Jackson: An Exceptional Journey. Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1-84240-178-5.
- "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 37. New York City. 1997-09-13. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
- "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 34. New York City. 1997-08-23. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
- "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 35. New York City. 1997-08-30. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
- O'Toole, Kit (2015). Michael Jackson FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the King of Pop. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4950-4598-1.
- Michael Jackson concert tours
- 1996 concert tours
- 1997 concert tours
- Concert tours of Australia
- Concert tours of Austria
- Concert tours of Belgium
- Concert tours of Brunei
- Concert tours of the Czech Republic
- Concert tours of Denmark
- Concert tours of Estonia
- Concert tours of Finland
- Concert tours of France
- Concert tours of Germany
- Concert tours of Hungary
- Concert tours of India
- Concert tours of Ireland
- Concert tours of Italy
- Concert tours of Japan
- Concert tours of Luxembourg
- Concert tours of Malaysia
- Concert tours of the Netherlands
- Concert tours of New Zealand
- Concert tours of Norway
- Concert tours of the Philippines
- Concert tours of Poland
- Concert tours of Romania
- Concert tours of Russia
- Concert tours of Singapore
- Concert tours of South Africa
- Concert tours of South Korea
- Concert tours of Spain
- Concert tours of Sweden
- Concert tours of Switzerland
- Concert tours of Taiwan
- Concert tours of Thailand
- Concert tours of Tunisia
- Concert tours of the United Kingdom
- Concert tours of the United States
- All-stadium concert tours