Jackson’s best-selling album is still a Thriller
IT was only his second solo album, but Michael Jackson’s Thriller has stood the test of time.
And today, more than 30 years on from its release, it remains the best-selling album ever.
Thriller’s mix of pop, funk, rock and soul has sold an incredible 65 million copies – more than 15 million more than AC/DC’s Back In Black, which is second on the list.
Michael Jackson towered over the 1980s the way Elvis Presley dominated the 1950s.
First taking to the stage at the age of just 11 as part of his family’s group The Jackson Five, Michael grew quickly into the superstardom which would both reward and plague his life.
Nicknamed the “King of Pop”, he proved an unstoppable creative force, selling a massive 750 million albums worldwide and performing concerts to 12 million fans.
He brought us the Moonwalk, the white glittery glove and Neverland.
But the star’s musical career was plagued by a confused and turbulent private life that was often made appallingly public, thanks to allegations of abuse and court battles.
Jackson’s changing appearance, personal relationships and behaviour constantly generated controversy.
In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, but the civil case
was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought.
In August 1994, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, but the union proved to be short-lived.
Later that same year, he wed nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children – through artificial insemination.
Son Michael Joseph Prince Jackson Jr was born in 1997, and daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson was born in 1998.
Rowe and Jackson divorced in 1999, with Jackson receiving full custody of their two children.
He would go on to have a third child, Prince Michael Blanket Jackson II, with an unknown surrogate.
In 2009, Jackson announced that he would be performing a series of concerts as his “final curtain call”.
Despite all of the allegations and stories of odd behaviour, all of the tickets to his This Is It tour sold out in only four hours.
Sadly, Michael Jackson would never get to experience the anticipated success of his comeback tour.
On June 25, 2009, he suffered cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home. He was rushed to hospital, but attempts to revive him failed, and he died later that morning, aged just 50.
Memorials were erected around the world, including one at the arena where he was set to perform and at his childhood home in Gary, Indiana.
His career was plagued by a confused and turbulent private life