| World tour byMichael Jackson | |
.png) Promotional image for the tour | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Associated album | Dangerous |
| Start date | June 27, 1992 |
| End date | November 11, 1993 |
| Legs | 2 |
| No. of shows | 69 |
| Attendance | 3,996,000 |
| Box office | US $100 million[1] ($218 million in 2024 dollars)[2] |
| Michael Jackson concert chronology | |
| |
TheDangerous World Tour was the second worldconcert tour by American singerMichael Jackson and was staged to promote his eighth studio albumDangerous. The tour was sponsored byPepsi-Cola. All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's ownHeal the World Foundation. The tour began inMunich on June 27, 1992, and concluded inMexico City on November 11, 1993, playing 69 concerts in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Jackson performed in stadiums across the world with all his concerts being sold out in countries in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The tour grossed over $100 million (equivalent to $220 million in 2024) and was attended by up to 3.9 million people.[3][4][5][6]
The October 1, 1992, concert in Bucharest was filmed for broadcast on theHBO network on October 10. Jackson sold the film rights for the concert for $20 million (equivalent to $45 million in 2024), then the highest amount for a concert performer to appear on television.[7] The special,Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour, earned Jackson the second of twoCableACE Awards of his career, this one for Outstanding Performance Musical Special.[8]
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On January 27, 1989[verification needed], Jackson finished hisBad tour, his first as a solo artist, which had grossed over $125 million. Initially he planned not to tour again and concentrate on making albums and films. Following the release of his eighth studio albumDangerous in November 1991, a press conference was held on February 3, 1992, atRadio City Music Hall inNew York City to announce the Dangerous World Tour.[9][10] The event, attended by 200 people, was organized by Jackson's sponsorPepsi with the artist also present. Jackson explained his sole reason for touring once more was to raise funds for his newly formedHeal the World Foundation to aid children and the environment. He aimed to raise $100 million for the charity byChristmas 1993.[10] It was revealed that Jackson planned to perform acrossEurope,Asia,Latin America, andAustralia, with no dates in theUnited States orCanada.[9] Jackson commented: "I am looking forward to this tour because it will allow me to devote time to visiting children all around the world, as well as spread the message of global love, in the hope that others will be moved to do their share to help heal the world".[11]
In June 1992, a RussianAntonov AN-124 cargo jet, then the world's largest operating airplane, was booked to transport the equipment and stage set from Los Angeles to London for the opening European leg.[12] However, problems regarding its civilian aircraft certification led to Jackson using aFederal ExpressBoeing 747 instead.[13] Upon arrival, the equipment was transported across Europe by 65 lorries.[12] The cargo included 1,000 lights, 10 miles of electrical cable, 9 video screens, and 168 speakers.[14] Around 2 tons of clothing was transported. The outfits were designed by Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins, who worked with Jackson to gain an idea on what he wanted and aimed to "bring his ideas to life".[15] Two outfits were 9 feet tall, 7 feet wide, and weighed 40 lbs. each, with fiber optic lights controlled by a computerized laser. One jacket was fitted with a battery belt generating 3,000 volts to light the 36 strobe lights on it. Another had hidden flaps to conceal explosive effects.[15] 1,000 yards of fabric from Europe was used to make the costumes, including a black and gold outfit for Jackson which included 18-karat gold.[15] The costumes alone cost $2 million.[16]
The show incorporated various stage illusions. Among them was the "toaster" effect where Jackson entered the stage on a rapidly rising catapult from underneath, sending off pyrotechnics at the same time. His sisterJanet said: "That opening was kick-ass. I'm sitting in the sound tower, and all the kids are everywhere. And when he jumped out of whatever the hell that thing was [...] the kids in front of me were looking back and I didn't even know it."[17] Most of the 1992 shows included a stage trick during the transition from "Thriller" to "Billie Jean", whereby Jackson walks into two pillars and is secretly switched with a werewolf-masked backup dancer disguised as himself while he changes outfits for "Billie Jean". The masked "Jackson" is placed into a coffin which disappears when dancers posing as the skeletons and zombies drape a cloth over the coffin and pull it out. Jackson then appears on an upper stage level and sings "Billie Jean". When the full trick was not performed, it featured a sequence with the Jackson impersonator and the backup dancers performing dances from "Thriller". In some concerts, the Jackson impersonator would go backstage after singing the main chorus of the song, instead of doing a reprise of the "Thriller" dance, and the zombie backup dancers would do a reprise of the dance by themselves. Another such illusion was used to transition to "Beat It" from "Working Day and Night".
This was the first tour to have Jackson doing "the lean" during "Smooth Criminal"; the song was part of hisBad tour set list, but its choreography did not match the music video (which only premiered on TV during the second American leg of the tour).
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During the Europe leg in 1992,MTV was allowed to film backstage and broadcast six 15-minute episodes of the tour. The show was calledThe Dangerous Diaries and was presented by Sonya Saul. MTV released footage of "Billie Jean" and "Black or White" at the first show in Munich. "Billie Jean" was released with two different versions, one by MTV as a special, and the other on theDangerous Diaries documentary. Both versions have placed a snippet of Jackson's original a cappella recording for "Billie Jean" over the live vocals when Jackson throws his fedora.
During theCardiff concert performed on August 5, the show was temporarily halted between "She's Out of My Life" and the "Jackson 5 Medley" due to heavy rain, with a message being sent out over the speakers. Jackson also had to stand on a towel to keep balance during "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". TheToulouse concert performed on September 16, featured a special instrumental performance of the first half of the song "In the Closet" as an interlude between "Heal the World" and "Man in the Mirror".Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, who was the "Mystery Girl" in the actual song, was in attendance at this concert. This concert marked the first and only time that this song was performed during this tour, although it was performed on his next tour.
Between the two legs of the tour, Jackson performed a brief but very widely seen and highly acclaimed concert at theSuper Bowl XXVII halftime show on January 31, 1993. TheNational Football League donated $100,000 to the Heal the World Foundation in lieu of payment to Jackson.[18]
The 1993 leg of the tour started in Bangkok, Thailand on August 24, the same day thata child sexual abuse accusation against Jackson was made public. The September 1st concert inSingapore was scheduled for August 30th but was rescheduled due to Jackson collapsing before the show. During his visit to Moscow in September, Jackson came up with the song "Stranger in Moscow" which would be released on his succeeding albumHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It was during a time when Jackson felt very alone, far away from his family and friends, yet every night, throughout his tours, fans would stay by his hotel and support him.
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All concerts were professionally filmed by Nocturne Productions Inc., which filmed all of Jackson's tours and private affairs. During the 1992 European leg of the tour,MTV was given permission to film backstage reports, interview the cast and film live performance. The mini-show was hosted by Sonya Saul and had six 15-minute mini-episodes of concerts in Munich, Werchter, Dublin, Stockholm, Hamburg, Cardiff, London, Leeds, Berlin, Oviedo, and Madrid. Performances include "Billie Jean", "Black or White", "Jam", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", and "Will You Be There". The concert inBucharest on October 1, was filmed and broadcast on television all across the world, giving HBO the highest rating garnered in cable TV history, with an alternate version airing on the BBC. The concert film titledLive in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour was officially released on DVD on July 25, 2005.[19] Full concerts at Oslo (July 15) and Copenhagen (July 20) were fundraised for online by the fans and purchased from private owners of those respective concerts, and performances at Bremen (August 8), Buenos Aires (October 12, 1993), Mexico City (November 11) and several scattered amateur recordings have been shared online and can be found on YouTube.
The following set list was performed throughout 1992 but is not intended to represent the majority of performances.[22][23][24][25]
The following set list was performed throughout 1993 but is not intended to represent the majority of performances.[22][23]
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1992 | Munich | Germany | Olympiastadion | 72,000 / 72,000 |
| June 30, 1992 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Stadion Feijenoord | 100,000 / 100,000 |
| July 1, 1992 | ||||
| July 4, 1992 | Rome | Italy | Stadio Flaminio | 40,000 / 40,000 |
| July 6, 1992 | Monza | Stadio Brianteo | 46,000 / 46,000 | |
| July 7, 1992 | ||||
| July 11, 1992 | Cologne | Germany | Müngersdorfer Stadion | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| July 15, 1992 | Oslo | Norway | Valle Hovin | 35,000 / 35,000 |
| July 17, 1992 | Stockholm | Sweden | Stockholm Olympic Stadium | 106,000 / 106,000 |
| July 18, 1992 | ||||
| July 20, 1992 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Gentofte Stadion | 30,000 / 30,000 |
| July 22, 1992 | Werchter | Belgium | Werchter Festivalpark | 60,000 / 60,000 |
| July 25, 1992 | Dublin | Ireland | Lansdowne Road | 43,000 / 43,000 |
| July 30, 1992 | London | England | Wembley Stadium | 144,000 / 144,000 |
| July 31, 1992 | ||||
| August 5, 1992 | Cardiff | Wales | Cardiff Arms Park | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| August 8, 1992 | Bremen | Germany | Weserstadion | 42,000 / 42,000 |
| August 10, 1992 | Hamburg | Volksparkstadion | 50,000 / 50,000 | |
| August 13, 1992 | Hamelin | Weserberglandstadion | 25,000 / 25,000 | |
| August 16, 1992 | Leeds | England | Roundhay Park | 60,000 / 60,000 |
| August 18, 1992 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Green | 65,000 / 65,000 |
| August 20, 1992 | London | England | Wembley Stadium | 216,000 / 216,000 |
| August 22, 1992 | ||||
| August 23, 1992[a] | ||||
| August 26, 1992 | Vienna | Austria | Praterstadion | 50,000 / 50,000 |
| August 28, 1992 | Frankfurt | Germany | Waldstadion | 60,000 / 60,000 |
| August 30, 1992 | Ludwigshafen | Südweststadion | 35,000 / 35,000 | |
| September 2, 1992 | Bayreuth | Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion | 32,000 / 32,000 | |
| September 4, 1992 | Berlin | Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Stadion | 35,000 / 35,000 | |
| September 8, 1992 | Lausanne | Switzerland | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise | 45,000 / 45,000 |
| September 13, 1992 | Paris | France | Hippodrome de Vincennes | 85,000 / 85,000 |
| September 16, 1992 | Toulouse | Stade de Toulouse | 40,000 / 40,000 | |
| September 18, 1992 | Barcelona | Spain | Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc | 60,000 / 60,000 |
| September 21, 1992 | Oviedo | Estadio Carlos Tartiere | 25,000 / 25,000[26] | |
| September 23, 1992 | Madrid | Vicente Calderón Stadium | 40,000 / 40,000[27] | |
| September 26, 1992 | Lisbon | Portugal | Estádio José Alvalade | 55,000 / 55,000 |
| October 1, 1992[b] | Bucharest | Romania | Lia Manoliu National Stadium | 90,000 / 90,000 |
| December 12, 1992 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome | 360,000 / 360,000 |
| December 14, 1992 | ||||
| December 17, 1992 | ||||
| December 19, 1992 | ||||
| December 22, 1992 | ||||
| December 24, 1992 | ||||
| December 30, 1992 | ||||
| December 31, 1992 |
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 24, 1993 | Bangkok | Thailand | Suphachalasai Stadium | 80,000 / 80,000[28] |
| August 27, 1993[c] | ||||
| August 29, 1993 | Singapore | Singapore National Stadium | 94,000 / 94,000 | |
| September 1, 1993[d] | ||||
| September 4, 1993 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Municipal Stadium | 80,000 / 80,000 |
| September 6, 1993 | ||||
| September 10, 1993 | Fukuoka | Japan | Fukuoka Dome | 70,000 / 70,000 |
| September 11, 1993 | ||||
| September 15, 1993 | Moscow | Russia | Luzhniki Stadium | 70,000 / 70,000 |
| September 19, 1993 | Tel Aviv | Israel | Yarkon Park | 170,000 / 170,000 |
| September 21, 1993 | ||||
| September 23, 1993 | Istanbul | Turkey | BJK İnönü Stadium | 56,000 / 56,000 |
| September 26, 1993 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Spain | Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 45,000 / 45,000 |
| October 8, 1993 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Estadio River Plate | 240,000 / 240,000 |
| October 10, 1993 | ||||
| October 12, 1993 | ||||
| October 15, 1993 | São Paulo | Brazil | Estádio do Morumbi | 210,000 / 210,000 |
| October 17, 1993 | ||||
| October 23, 1993 | Santiago | Chile | Estadio Nacional | 85,000 / 85,000 |
| October 29, 1993 | Mexico City | Mexico | Estadio Azteca | 550,000 / 550,000 |
| October 31, 1993 | ||||
| November 7, 1993[e] | ||||
| November 9, 1993[f] | ||||
| November 11, 1993[g] | ||||
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6, 1992 | Gelsenkirchen | Germany | Parkstadion | Health issues |
| September 11, 1992 | Basel | Switzerland | St. Jakob Stadium | |
| October 4, 1992[h] | İzmir | Turkey | İzmir Atatürk Stadium | |
| October 10, 1992[i] | Athens | Greece | Olympic Stadium | |
| August 15, 1993 | Hong Kong | Sha Tin Racecourse | Conflicts with racing season[29][30] | |
| August 16, 1993 | ||||
| September 30, 1993 | Johannesburg | South Africa | Johannesburg Stadium | Political issues[31] |
| October 2, 1993 | ||||
| October 19, 1993 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Maracanã Stadium | Back injury[32][33] |
| October 21, 1993 | Santiago | Chile | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos | |
| October 26, 1993 | Lima | Peru | Estadio Nacional del Perú | |
| November 8, 1993 | Zapopan | Mexico | Estadio Tres de Marzo | |
| November 14, 1993 | Bayamón | Puerto Rico | Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel | Rehabilitation[34] |
| November 16, 1993 | ||||
| November 19, 1993[j] | Caracas | Venezuela | Poliedro de Caracas | |
| November 21, 1993 | Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey | |
| November 24, 1993 | New Delhi | India | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | |
| November 25, 1993 | ||||
| November 27, 1993 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Al Maktoum Stadium | |
| November 28, 1993 | ||||
| November 30, 1993 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Stadium Merdeka | |
| December 1, 1993 | Jakarta | Indonesia | Gelora Senayan Main Stadium | |
| December 2, 1993 | ||||
| December 3, 1993 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground | Rehabilitation[citation needed] |
| December 4, 1993 | ||||
| December 7, 1993 | Mulgrave | Waverley Park | ||
|
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He played 69 concerts to nearly 4 million people
Sources
