Jackson Michael - My life with Michael Jackson: 10 years of Thriller live

Photograph: Michael Wharley

Gary Lloyd has been directing and choreographing for over twenty years and has won many awards in recognition of his work on television and in the theatre.

Born in Leeds, England, he spent his childhood as a dancer, competing in Ballroom and Latin-American dance with his sister Joanne, moving on to the musical theatre stage as a teenager, later establishing a successful performing career internationally and in Londons West End.

The opportunities to direct and choreograph came quite early on around age twenty-one when Gary was working in the United States.

Gary has been the director and choreographer of Thriller Live! since 2008.

Twitter: @garylloyd1

Instagram: @garylloydme

www.garylloyd.me

First published in Great Britain in 2019 by

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Copyright 2019 Gary Lloyd

The right of Gary Lloyd to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Cover photo courtesy of Flying Music Image: Michael Duke

Photo credits

Colin Panter The Press Association Limited Kevin Wilson Adrian Grant

Betty Zapala Bonnie Britain Gary Lloyd Edson Cabrera Junior

Dan Wooller Flying Music Kevin Wilson Gary Lloyd

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The author apologises for any errors or omissions in the above list and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

ISBN 978 1913208 646

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This book is dedicated to my mother Judy,

whose eternal love gave me the gift of freedom

and the wings I needed to fly.

Mum, I miss you

I never got to meet Michael Jackson. In fact, I was just weeks away from meeting him at the O2 as a guest at his This Is It show. This of course, devastatingly, did not happen.

So, it may seem strange that I would endeavour to write a memoir called My Life with Michael , when our paths never crossed in person. Yet seven days of my week, both day and night, is filled with all that Michael Jackson created. The sights, sounds and all he stood for and what he gave his whole life to are part of my daily routine.

When it comes to entertainment, I have been given the gift to inspire and educate young people and their families who come to my show with all the things Michael and the Jackson family gave us.

I cannot claim to know anything about Michaels personal life, nor wish to comment on the media perspective or the constant speculation that continues, sadly even after his death. But I have been immersed in all that he created for almost forty years. I have experienced first-hand the spirit and commitment he put into his work and seen how his music has fascinated and thrilled fans around the world for decades.

Some would rather focus only on the propaganda, the (unproven) allegations, and the bizarre and headline-worthy tabloid junk that follows and haunts anyone with such high profile, none more so than MJ. Working so closely on Thriller Live! keeps that ugly world pushed outside. Perhaps a little protected by the bubble of theatre but with a deep-rooted connection to this work since childhood, I am able to focus on what I believe in and what I do best.

This book focuses on the truth. My truth, the truth surrounding me, and the truth that has kept my heart pounding and my feet moving for over forty years.

And for the last ten years I have had the privilege to call it home.

When starting on the journey to turn these stories into a book, wading through all my notes, emails and transcripts while interviewing my fellow passengers, I made a wonderful discovery. That this group of people I am involved with is more than a band of brothers and sisters, much more than a company of performers or gang of Michael Jackson fans.

We are a large family of ambassadors who, in some beautiful twist of fate have, at one time or other, been called upon to study and perfect (or as close as is humanly possible) Michael Jacksons work.

His work that is becoming more and more timeless and is now, posthumously, considered art. The work that has for decades been considered legendary and to the human eye and non-professional looks easy because it is so globally accessible. Each one of these ambassadors has played a part in moving this show forward, adding to the study of each vocal lick, every step, every precise flick of the finger or throw of the hat.

His work will never truly be recreated, never perfected but can always be celebrated and we are part of a very chosen few who get to do that on a global platform. What an honour.

It is a delicate and dangerous responsibility and a duty of not only an admirer of Michael Jackson, but a devotee of theatre, of magic, of musical genius and a life dedicated to creating and performing.

This book is for the fans of our show and of Michaels work. But it is also for anybody that has an interest in the entertainment industry, wanting to gain a deeper understanding of how this weird and wonderful world of theatre and music works. Fans of dance, who have an aspiration to train, create and become an all-round performer.

Vocalists who wish to be more than just a singer should read on and learn about what it takes to approach Michaels work and survive in this show, performing it eight times a week.

This is my story. The story of how Michael has been in my life, my whole life, particularly the last ten plus years.

As the director and choreographer of Thriller Live! , the live concert musical of Michaels most successful work, I have the obligation and responsibility of presenting this work around the world and in Londons West End. On celebrating the tenth year in the West End with this production, it feels only right I should share some of its amazing stories.

My Life with Michael is a story about a passion for music and the discipline of theatre. It is also, of course, about Michael Jackson and the love that is held for him in abundance around the world.

Thriller Live! has become the West Ends thirteenth longest-running musical. It has now been seen by over five million people in thirty-four countries and played over 7,000 performances worldwide

In this book, you will meet people from all walks of life who have had their lives changed by this show and have changed mine by being involved.