The hat “King of Pop” Michael Jackson once wore and threw to the audience will be auctioned, expected to fetch from 64 to 107 thousand USD.
According to Yahoo News , the felt hat will be auctioned at the Drouot Hotel, Paris on September 26. In 1983, Michael Jackson wore a hat when he first performed the moonwalk and the song Billie Jean at a Motown concert.
Jackson performing “Billie Jean” at Motown: 25 (he performed the moonwalk choreography at 3 minutes 38 seconds). Video: YouTube New Michael Jackson
Auction organizer Arthur Perault said audience member Adam Kelly picked up the hat when Jackson threw it down, thinking the singer’s staff would pick it up, but they didn’t. Kelly kept it for several years before passing it on to collectors.
The fedora hat Jackson wore while performing “Billie Jean”. Photo: AFP
According to the auction house, the value of 200 of Jackson’s memorabilia has recently decreased due to the sale of counterfeit items and allegations against him such as child abuse. At the event, other artists’ items also appeared such as T-Bone Walker’s guitar (estimated at 160 thousand USD), Martin Gore’s suit, Madonna’s gold record…
The image of the hat is associated with Jackson’s Billie Jean performance 40 years ago. He also made his mark with the moonwalk – a street dance, characterized by a forward movement but the performer actually walks backwards. Immediately after the Motown Records show aired on NBC, children across America sought to imitate Jackson’s dance. Today, some famous singers learn Jackson’s moonwalk choreography to perform on stage, such as Justin Bieber, Chris Brown or Rihanna.
Michael Jackson at the HIStory World Tour show in 1997. Photo: Reuters
Michael Jackson was born into a family of ten siblings. He began his music career at the age of 11 when he joined the band The Jackson 5 and began working independently in 1987. In November 1982, Jackson released Thriller – an album recognized by Guinness World Records for sales. best runner of all time. Throughout her career, the Heal The World singer won 13 Grammy awards and six Billboard awards. On June 25, 2009, Jackson died at Neverland Ranch in California (USA) due to acute propofol poisoning leading to respiratory failure.