How Do You Forget Michael Jackson?

Two days ago, the music world lost an icon. “The World’s Oldest Teenager”, and American Bandstand host, Dick Clark passed away of a heart attack. He was 82 years old.

The last couple of days, I’ve been watching different tributes and listening to different celebrities chatting about him. Most of which had been nice.

So this morning, before I’ve even shoved breakfast in my mouth, I was looking at one program--one of those moldy, 30 minute gossip rags--and they were mentioning Dick. They were talking about American Bandstand and about it’s last decade. The show ended in 1989, if I’m right.

What really, REALLY got on my nerves was that they mentioned how stars Prince and Madonna both appeared on that show.

It really, REALLY, REALLY pissed me off that they glossed over and missed Michael Jackson.



If they really were capturing the ten year span of the last decade of the show, it would have included everyone that performed in 1979.

In 1979 THE JACKSONS performed on American Bandstand. I know this because I have video of them performing two songs and being interviewed by Dick Clark in the middle of it. Prince performed in 1980, Madonna, I think in 82, Morris Day and The Time in 1983 and Apollonia in 1988. Everyone I like I know when they played.

But really, how in the hell could you forget Michael Jackson. I’ve seen every performance Michael did on the show, spanning from 1972 when he was a little skinny thing with an afro until ‘79 when he was a tall skinny thing with an afro and cute smile.

Quite literally, if it wasn’t for Michael Jackson, I wouldn’t know who Dick Clark was. I was familiar with the Black version of Bandstand, which is Soul Train and Don Cornelius--who committed suicide earlier this year--but not really who Dick Clark was.

It wasn’t until I saw a documentary on Michael Jackson, that I learned who Dick was and started to like him because he seemed so fond of Michael Jackson. The first time I saw him he was talking of how big Michael’s Thriller album had been back in the 1980s. And then through different venues I learned different things about Dick and really did like him as a host and such. I started watching his New Years program “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” until a stroke caused him to retire.

I mean I even lived through the AB 50^th Anniversary show where Michael appeared and was a little chubby. (I know so MANY MJ fans are gonna kill me for that, but Michael Jackson for one brief patch of time, was a little chubby, Bless His Heart.) He slimmed down after the performance, all was good.

That’s beside the point. My chief complaint is why of all people, forget Michael?

I mean why? Cause I guarantee you, when Dick strolled through the gates of Heaven, Michael was the first one there, with open arms to greet him.

It just seems wrong to overlook one legend when referring to the other.

Damn.

And I mean, I really do miss Dick Clark. He’s a part of my childhood. I have some happy memories attached to him. Hell my favorite show is “American Dreams” based around “American Bandstand” in the 1960s. I mean Dick Clark has always been a part of my life. And I miss him dearly.

I hate that all the good ones seem to keep getting called on Home.



Rest in Peace, Dick Clark. And Rock On.