Sellout show and KFC for Jacksons

ANDREW GORRIE/ The Dominion Post

TODAY 36 YEARS AGO: Ty Dallas with a photo taken with Michael Jackson and two of his brothers backstage at their Wellington Town Hall concert on July 4, 1973. Mr Dallas, who then had fashionable shoulder-length hair, is standing beside Jackson and shaking hands with 11-year-old Randy.

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Michael Jackson and his brothers snubbed some of the best chefs Wellington had to offer craving takeaway fried chicken after their 1973 concert in the city.

Real estate agent Ty Dallas, who helped organise and finance the Jackson 5's two-gig tour of New Zealand, said kitchen staff at the Travelodge on Oriental Parade were kept on standby to feed the group after the show.

"Much to our surprise all the Jackson 5 wanted was KFC," recalled Mr Dallas, whose memories were prompted by Michael Jackson's death last week.

Mr Dallas, who worked with promoter Wendall Hynes, says the siblings were a "brilliant" act. "I remember them vividly."

"Michael was 15 at the time. He was rather shy backstage but he just came alive once he was on the stage."

The group's high-energy performances were electric, with hit numbers like ABC and Michael's performance of Ben. "They were just so professional, very disciplined and the father, Joe, was very quiet but very much in control."

However, travel arrangements proved a problem. "The Jackson 5's contract clearly stated that the group must travel by jet plane so when we arrived at Wellington airport to fly out for the Christchurch concert they were not amused at all when they were asked to board a turbo-prop plane."

The Jacksons were expensive and insisted on payment in US dollars. "But we didn't have to do too much marketing they were a complete sellout and we could have sold the shows many times over."

The Evening Post review of the Wellington concert referred to the group's slick stage routines, saying Michael, Jackie and Marlon "moved as one machine-like in their precision". Rose van Wylich of Christchurch, a fan since she was five, is urging Michael Jackson fans meet at Wellington's Civic Square from midday today in a belated attempt to form a New Zealand fan club.

- © Fairfax NZ News