My trip to Neverland

The Groovaloos | Jun 28, 2009 | there are 0 comments

Pop 'N' Taco left of Michael Jackson in Smooth Criminal video.

I first met Michael back when I was around 12 years old. The entire Jackson crew spent a few precious minutes with me and my family after a fantastic show in Vegas that is still etched on my mind ("Dancing Machine!", oh-my-goodness!). It was the first time our family saw other people wear full sweat suits like normal clothes. Funny how I remember that, it seemed so weird at the time. (LOL).

l went to Michael's concerts as I grew up. I remember the BAD tour with that ridiculously enormous mind-blowing lighted screen! First you heard thunderous footsteps, then you saw these GIANT feet walk out, do the backslide, spin, and rise up on their toes as lights exploded everywhere! Then, there he was alone, doing his thing. Just awesome. And of course I fondly recall our family and friends gathered around the TV watching The Motown 25th Anniversary Special where, after rocking with his brothers, Michael did the solo performance of a lifetime that launched him into the stratosphere, backsliding himself into history. (Whoa! - just got chills:)

Later, in the 90's, I got to hang around for a couple of days with Michael's band and got a second glimpse of Michael backstage in Germany with my friend and street dance legend Pop'N'Taco. Taco was dancing with Michael and assisting with choreography and, along with the incredible Popin Pete, had been working with Michael on his popping and animation skills. What a performance Michael put on that time. It was the one where at the end of the show he put on a jet pack and flew out over the audience and right out of the stadium! Crazy!

But, aside from those moments, one of my favorite personal memories of Michael was one where he wasn't even around...

Around the year 2000 I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days at Michael Jackson's famous Neverland Ranch. Needless to say it was a truly amazing and surreal experience. It was exciting enough driving there, thinking about what it would be like, but the second those beautiful Neverland gates swung open my wife and I knew we were in for something very special. We had been invited for the birthday party of Michael's nephews, one of whom is a friend of ours. There we were, only about 20 of us with the entire Ranch to ourselves, it was nuts! We did it all: rode the trains, the golf carts (I buzzed around on the spiderman one), feeding the giraffes, the outdoor pool and lagoon jacuzzi (press a button and a rock lifted up to reveal a video screen!), the trampoline built into the ground, a massive arcade room (Janet's music was blaring that day), the amusement park complete with bumper cars, the zipper ride and a yellow brick road, a movie theater where we watched the most INCREDIBLE footage of early Michael performances, the family of deer that casually wandered about his property, the zoo, everything! His property seemed to go on forever. In his house were all these cool thematic rooms, one with only train sets, another with superheroes and almost everywhere you went there were kiosk stands with popcorn, slushies and all the chocolate you could eat, and I'm talking Dove chocolate! He had an immense movie collection, there wasn't a decent movie you could think of that he didn't have in this huge room upstairs. It was like being at BlockBusters or something. I also recall how on the flat screen in his home he had that powerful movie, "The Green Mile" on a continual loop. He must have loved that flick (it is a great movie).

I still remember how stunned we were to be there. While we were playing basketball on his outdoor court complete with bleachers and scoreboard we would all stop playing every so often to declare, "I'm playing basketball at Michael Jackson's house!! Woooh!", and then continue on. We spent the first night in his theater, spread out between the beds he had at the back for sick kids, the big recliner rocker chairs that were the seats for the theater, and on the floor. Later that next day I had to leave for an MTV job, the others stayed another night. I remember how extremely sad we were to leave, my wife was in tears. It wasn't just that we were at his home, he wasn't even there for the party, but I can honestly say there seemed to be such a joyous and peaceful spirit permeating his Ranch. Maybe it was the fact that everywhere you went you heard music (he had speakers in the trees and rocks, kinda like Disneyland), maybe it was the excitement and history, or all the cool things to see and do, but we loved every minute we were there. I think in the end it came down to the fact that Michael was able to create a dream paradise for kids, and all of us became kids while we were there. And then, it was like you started to grow up again the moment you drove out of his front gates.

Amidst all the controversy that is Michael Jackson there is no doubt of one thing. God graced him with some unbelievable gifts. Michael busted his butt to push those gifts to the limit and in the process inspired a whole generation and beyond to want to perform with tenacity, passion, creativity, and excellence. In the countless performances that made my hair stand up and blew so many of us away I believe we were privileged with just a glimpse of how great God can be.

Rest in Peace Michael.
Shooz