Victory Tour (The Jacksons Tour)

Victory Tour (The Jacksons Tour)

The Victory Tour was a concert tour of the United States and Canada by The Jacksons between July and December of 1984. The group performed 55 concerts to an audience of approximately 2 million. Most came to see Michael Jackson, whose album Thriller was dominating the popular music world at the time. Songs from it and his earlier solo album Off the Wall made up most of the set list. The tour reportedly grossed approximately $75 million and set a new record for the highest grossing tour. It showcased Michael's single decorated glove, black sequined jacket and moonwalk.

Despite its focus on Michael, it was named after the newly released Jacksons' album Victory although none of the album's songs were performed. Marlon confirmed it was because Michael refused to rehearse or perform them. He had, in fact, only joined his brothers, who needed the income while he did not, on the tour reluctantly, and tensions between he and them increased to the point that he announced at the last show that it was the last time they would perform together, ending plans for a European leg.

The Jacksons did make money from the tour, along with promoter Don King. Michael donated his share to several charities as he had promised before it in order to save face over a controversial ticket-lottery system, eventually eliminated, that he had opposed. But the rancor between him and his brothers had a deep and lasting effect on the Jacksons as a family, alienating him from them for most of the rest of his life; it effectively ended the Jacksons as a performing group. The tour was also a financial disaster for promoter Chuck Sullivan, who along with his father Billy was eventually forced to sell the New England Patriots football team they owned, along with Foxboro Stadium, the team's home field, as a result of the losses he incurred.