Thriller Jacket Michael Jackson Auction (video + press release)

Over 600 items representing the biggest names in rock-n-roll, Motown, jazz, country, pop and other genres are represented and include such legendary greats as Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain, Madonna, Frank Sinatra, Garth Brooks, The Grateful Dead, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and more.

The most significant highlight of the sale is the Michael Jackson Red Thriller Jacket (estimate $200,000-$400,000). The iconic jacket was worn by the great Michael Jackson during the filming of the epic video Thriller which went on to become the top grossing single and the highest selling album of all time makes its debut on the auction block. The black and red style of the jacket became so identifiable with Jackson’s groundbreaking extended short film video for the single that he continued to use jackets of the same design when performing the song “Thriller” for the duration of his career. This jacket was given by Michael Jackson to his longtime costume designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. Jackson brought this jacket to Tompkins and Bush to be used as reference for all of the subsequent concerts. The jacket is a black and red calf leather jacket with “Marc Laurent Paris” label featuring silver buckle, red silk lining, trapunto stitched collar, snap front closure and signature winged shoulders. It is inscribed on the inside lining “To Bush and Dennis, All My Love, Michael Jackson.” The sleeve is also signed “Love Michael Jackson.” Among the most recognizable and famous garment of the 20th century, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” jacket sparked a 1980’s fashion craze like none other.

Thriller, the sixth studio album by multi-platinum recording artist Michael Jackson was released in 1982 and cemented Jackson’s status as the most prominent and influential pop artist of the century. Thriller ranked as one of Rolling Stone’s Greatest Albums of All Times and remains the best selling album of all time with sales estimated by various sources of 110 million copies worldwide. Thriller also won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards. In an ironic twist of fate, the announcement of Michael Jackson’s iconic jacket offering on June 6th falls on the same date in which he began his career with the now famous Jackson 5 single, “ABC.” It was on June 6th, 1970 that the Jackson 5 released this first single.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” jacket will benefit The Shambala Preserve current home to Michael Jackson’s two Bengal tigers, “Thriller” and “Sabu”. The two tigers have been living at The Shambala Preserve since 2006 when Jackson left Neverland Ranch. Shambala translates to “a meeting place of peace and harmony for all beings, animal and human.”