Photo by Harrison Funk ©1984-2013 - All Rights Reserved
Around six minutes of unreleased footage of Michael Jackson and The Jacksons performing during their legendary Victory Tour has leaked online.
The footage, uploaded to YouTube by a fan, showcases The Jacksons’ performing one of three shows at the Canadian National Exhibition Stadium in Toronto in early October, 1984.
The Victory tour, which consisted of 55 concerts across the U.S and Canada between July and December 1984, is one of the most highly sought-after items in the Jackson fan community. There are several low quality copies of different shows available on YouTube, however to date there has been no official release of the Victory Tour on any format.
The recently leaked footage, seen below, seems to be of a very high quality and is professionally edited.
Do YOU want to see The Jacksons’ Victory Tour released officially? Discuss below…
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Looks…incredible! Beautifully shot as well. Man I hope this leaked footage is indicative of a possible future release. Would LOVE a Victory Tour show in HD on blu-ray! Thanks for sharing, Damien!
Absolutely!! But not if its from the estate.
Thank you Damien
Then, Taaj, you will be waiting awhile since the executors of the Estate, as per Jackson’s will and trust, put them in charge.
According to J. Randy Taraborrelli (who’s info is not always accurate), the Jacksons had an offer to film their show & release it on video. Michael didn’t want this done. According to Taraborrelli, Michael had the show videotaped on his own but never released a copy. This “teaser” looks like it comes from this never-before-released video. I have seen the Jacksons in concert twice. They put on an amazing show. However, never having had the priviledge of seeing Michael perform live with his brothers, I would love for this to be released to the public. Interesting though, how this is suddenly available after Michael’s passing. Curious has to whose hands it’s in.
Pretty rude of that person to only share 6 minutes of footage they shot of the pristine footage on a CRT TV screen.
What do they have to gain by showing everyone what they have but not sharing it? I think they have small dick syndrome, and just seeks the attention of those who will inevitably beg to see the actual footage.
I want
I would LOVE to see this.
Too bad there are some selfish people out there.
They like to show what they have knowing that people will beg to see the whole thing. I think they like the attention and are not real fans.
And they are always the ones with the good stuff.
YES, but estate / $ony FREE please
I go with you!
Incredible!!! I’m sure we all would love to see this released.. So much stuff out there that us as fans deserve to have!
I can’t see the Estate ever releasing this, firstly because they seem intent on primarily marketing Michael post-Thriller, when he was lighter-skinned and therefore more commercially viable, and secondly because it would actually be positive for MJ’s family, who the Estate overtly dispise and sabotage at every possibly opportunity.
despise*
possible*
I should probably have some coffee before attempting to type, rather than waking up and immediately going online.
I agree with you about them probably not releasing this because it will benefit the Jackson brothers.. But your theory of them shunning MJ’s darker complexion is a bit ridiculous.. especially when you consider that John McClain is black, and they used a painting of a dark skinned Michael for their 2010 “album”.
Which doesn’t look like Michael, though …
Apparently, Michael’s Estate did have discussion about releasing Victory but the percentage of sales requested by the J’s was unreasonable. Rather than shades of skin tone or opinions about personal feelings, perhaps there are other reasons for holding back on this.
I agree Lauren. I don’t think it has anything to do with skin complexion. Actually this is Michael at his peak in terms of popularity (though not necessarily in terms of performance) so a Victory tour DVD would sell well IMO and that’s the only thig Sony/the Estate care about.
But since it’s not a solo tour probably the Estate would need the permission of the other brothers to release this. I too heard there were negotiations but the brothers wanted too much money.
And it’s not the Estate who despises the Jacksons but rather the other way around – at least on some Jacksons part.
What a surprise. ‘Rumours’ about Michael’s black relatives being greedy crooks, trying to profit from their brother’s death.
Blatant propaganda with absolutely no reliable factual basis.
The Estate simply has no intention of ever releasing anything which will in any way benefit MJ’s relatives, who the Estate overtly despise, publicly criticise and constantly attempt to sabotage. The Estate has even put out statements mocking MJ’s relatives as conspiracy theorists and making nasty comments about how they were not included in MJ’s (questionable) will. The Estate is overlty antagonistic towards the Jacksons.
The cover art for the Michael album is a disgrace and appears to have been designed with the specific intention of being as offensive as humanly possible. It depicts Joseph and Katherine surrounded by a leather belt, and Michael’s children at his memorial service, smiling upwards as hundred-dollar bills fall from the sky. Two naked children hover either side of MJ’s head and John Branca’s face appears in a mural of MJ’s supposed heroes, alongside James Brown and Martin Luther King.
It’s true that John McClain is black, but it’s also true that he is powerless within the context of the Estate; a clear subordinate to John Branca. Let’s not forget, John McClain believed that the Cascio tracks were fake and was opposed to their inclusion on the Michael album. When one of the two executors believes the songs are fake and they get released anyway, that tells you how much Branca values his opinions when it comes to the decision-making process.
Michael Jackson was bigger in America during the Thriller era, but bigger internationally in later years after his skin became lighter. The trial destroyed MJ’s image in America but less so abroad, particularly in Japan and Europe. Which image of MJ is used to sell the Immortal Tour – the Estate’s biggest profit-making venture since MJ’s death? It’s MJ in the early 90s, with lighter skin. The computer game? Same. The ‘One’ show? Same.
Wow, nailed it
Mrs. Jackson and Michael’s children are the sole beneficiaries of Michael’s will (& charities)… no one else…and they are well cared for.
As far as the skin tone discussion, I personally think it’s ridiculous…If agreements can be reached among all parties…great…love to see Victory released…love to see everything that Michael put his hands on throughout his artistic life. All of it. And I don’t care if it was dark, medium or translucent Michael…
Hi Suzy, could you give us the source and the documentation who owns the rights, what exactly was negotiated, what was offerend by the MJE executors and what was asked by the Jacksons or vice versa?.
someone on YT posted this particular comment & this is what they said:
“People keep asking sony to release the video, but sony doesn’t own the rights to victory tour video, Don King does! he was the promoter of the tour at the time, and in doing so gained the rights to all video recordings of the victory tour.”
And if you want to read about it all, I’d suggest you go to the link I’m providing & that just might help you out…♥
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Tour_(The_Jacksons_tour)
Hi Jacklyn . thank you for the link . Wiki is not a very reliable source, but if this is true, from what I read, it is not so cut and clear who owns the rights. It could be anyone from promotors to artists.
There was alot of disagreement between the brothers even about the footage. Michael brought his own filmcrew in after turning down his brothers and they subsequently blocked the release of his film.
So there is Michaels film of which release is subject to his brothers consent . But it does not exclude that there is other footage and does not say who owns the rights of film of the concerts. It could very well be the promotors.
One thing is for sure, a ( professional) film was shot and it was meant to be released, maybe for cinema. That would be great.
Yeaaaah! That’s great!!
I WANT TO SEE IT!!!
It looks pretty well, and with great quality… 😀
I’d Love to see this! I recently contacted an ATL newspaper for footage of this concert and only recieved a low quality newspaper article from microfilm! I’ve been searching for years!
Hey Damien!
Anotther great post as usual. Goodness..I would love to see this released. I was there on October 7th… and would love to have this in my hands
I love it!!! I want it!!!! I need it!!!!! I want to see it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *_* <333
The Victory tour is a must see.
If the quality is good it would be great for cinema release like Led Zeppelins Celebration Day.
If its profitable enough it will eventually be released. Or purposely leaked if its not .
Yes! The Toronto show is by far should be releasable, I mean judging by looking at it, the quality is purely excellent, more excellent than the other shows have been shown and I love the fact that they performed in Toronto which is in Canada is what I wanted to see Michael perform in.
VICTORY TOUR TORONTO 84′ FOR THE WIN!!!
YES!! YES!!! YES!!! I so want to see at least something of a release in regards to the Victory Tour, so that I can get the chance to see it for myself at home, because I did not get that opportunity around the mid 80s, since I wasn’t born until 1987, which was when Michael was just getting ready to start his BAD solo tour! So yes! This would totally be worth it for me 🙂
three shows exist on 35mm film, and the estate has easy access to that footage. they can easily create a full HD blu ray, if they cared that is.
………….but they dont care. A lot of the Bad concerts were filmed on 35mm and we only got a copy of a vhs. Brilliant footage through.
I love this. I was there. This would be awesome to have on DVD or full uploaded to YouTube. Thank u so much to the person who showed us this high quality copy of snippets. I would love this. I was at that show. Please show us the whole show 🙂 please
It is discouraging to witness the interminable backbiting and petty squabbling that prevent or delay valuable, exciting performance footage and music from reaching audiences today and for generations to come. This material adds to the overall knowledge and enjoyment of Michael Jackson’s very long and productive career — both with and without his brothers. Jackson still excites interest, admiration and study — and this is as it should be. I don’t presume to know what Michael did or did not want released at a certain time in his life, or whether he might have reversed his decisions later on. But, I do know that Michael Jackson remains a formidable and prolific talent whose imagination and vision both set the bar excellence and raised it again and again. He was picked on, picked at, picked over and picked apart by those hell bent on a quick buck or a juicy story at any cost. His life was one long autopsy, and his death seems a continuous exhumation. But the same spade used for muckraking can also unearth unexpected treasures and truths that help form and solidify Jackson’s legacy of greatness, and balance the scales too long rigged toward the negative and superficial.
I say: Bring on Victory, bring on Triumph, bring on Destiny, and anything else that adds to our knowledge, appreciation, and understanding of Michael Jackson’s big, complex, panoramic and accomplished life — as artist and man.
And those in favor, say Aye! Done! The Ayes have it! As always, beautifully scripted, Judith!
They might be teasing us. The video is being played in a Sony DVD player. So, I think they might be officially releasing it.
The statements about the skin color issue is an unproven and ridiculous theory. What I have found irritating is media’s tendency to promote the idea that only Michael’s Thriller work is worthy and their denigration of his work after Thriller (when his color was darker). Their extreme criticism of Michael’s post Thriller work ( when he was lighter) irritates me when I feel his work, although different, was just as good. I prefer the later work and I want others to like it too. The media focused too much on Michael’s skin color and private life and forgot the art. They wanted him to be 25 and controllable forever without allowing him to evolve as an artist. I doubt those Asian fans care one but about his color just as I don’t. Accusations like that about the estate are ridiculous and unfounded. At this point it really doesn’t matter what the estate does, some people will criticize them no matter what. And, to describe what the estate says about the family without putting it into context of what the family says about the estate is unfair but I expect that from fans. MJ left the estate executors in charge for reason.
Well said. Couldn’t agree with you more — as well as with J Mason’s comment. Just give me Michael! Period!! Skin color theories be damned. From what we know of some of the brothers I don’t doubt that they may have put a high price on their right to the footage. However, I think it’s just as likely that the Estate has taken so many hits – for Michael, for Bad 25, for the Immortal CD – that they are being extremely cautious about what they release. In the end, all the Estate bashing has done nothing but hurt us, the fans…and Michael.
I
I would love to have this dvd in my collection along with any other MJ DVDS that they have not released.
I would love to see this released, as most here would, but I think the likelihood that we’ll get what we want is greatly diminished by the actions and rash statements of naysayers. The theory someone created out of thin air in an above comment about the cover art on the Michael album is yet another example. We get a cockamamie summation of supposed “travesties” in the picture that conveniently overlook that this artist was chosen by MJ for precisely such a project, the elements of which artist and subject discussed in some detail. (McClain is the one who brought the abandoned project to life for the album.)
Then we have those who actually believe the Estate should somehow make everything available for free! With nonsense like this from what might be called the small but loud Anti-Estate Faction, we can hardly expect to get much, and MJ’s legacy will be effectively squelched for a new generation of listeners.
As usual, a sane, intelligent voice of reason. Thank you.
I don’t care how and what. I want this on a disc. DVD, blu ray, I. WANT. IT. BAD.
It’s ironic that this was leaked out on 9/1/13. 29 years ago on this day, I say The Jacksons’ The Victory Tour at Veteren’s Stadium in my hometown of Philadelphia. I was 16 & Michael was 26. It was AMAZING. HE WAS AMAZING. Sadly, this was the last time Michael performed in Philly. So many times I wished he’d come back. RIP, Michael. {{{{v_v}}}}
Hi. I saw it in Philly too but it wasn’t The Vet. It was JFK Stadium at that time. I saw it twice. The first concert was cut short due to a t-storm then we (My mom and I) came back later for the 2nd one. I was about 10 yrs old then and screamed in my mom’s ear a lot! lol! 🙂
I want this videos…. amazing
OMG! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! I’m in love with this man for the millionth time!!
Billie Jean Live Toronto : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnSJJeK3CoM
If this is a viral video by Sony to promote a release of the Victory Tour Film, or by the MJ Estate, they better hurry up and release it already, and make a HD blu ray version.
If this is just an individual showing off a personal copy, they better either release the entire film online or release it under a licensing deal so us MJ and Jacksons fans can enjoy it FFS!
I worked all three nights of this tour in Toronto as local lighting tech. I watched from the lighting deck of the control tower out in front of the stage every night, and it was fantastic. I had all area access along with my tower pass, and a stage pass which allowed me to watch the “mole crew” under the stage, and all the players getting into position just before they were lifted through trapdoors onto the stage to appear magically before the 65,000+ freaking-out fans. This video must have been taken from the footage their own video crew shot; they had around 18 cameras IIRC, and a live video editor calling the shots in real time. I watched on the colour monitors that were hung in the tower to enjoy those close up moments. I swear when Michael sang his solo a cappella portion, he was channeling Diana Ross. The whole elaborate opening scene with costumes and special effects was epic, and when the Jacksons made their entrance, it was like the second coming. Truly a masterful, monumental production and a show that should be enjoyed again and again on DVD. Since they probably shot to Beta tapes, the digital transfers should be pretty good despite the 4:3 aspect ratio. But images burned into my memory from those nights will always stay with me.
http://fab-4.com/Images/jackson84.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy59w8QaNII