The offered black sequin jacket was created by the legendary costume designer Bill Whitten for Michael Jackson to wear during the 1984 Jackson's "Victory" Tour of the United States and Canada. Michael wore this jacket during one of the tour's nightly highlights, the singing of his mega-hit "Billy Jean." He would don the signature red jacket during "Beat It" and then reemerge to sing "Billy Jean" and finish the show's final numbers wearing this jacket.
Though the Jackson's had released their album Victory just prior to the tour which ran from July to December that year, and it was marketed as a tour for the family group, everyone knew this was the de facto Thriller tour. It is hard to explain to someone who didn't live through it just how big Thriller was. Released in late 1982, the album went on to be the biggest selling album of all time and the only album to become the best-selling album in the U.S. two years in a row, which it did in 1983 and 1984. It redefined pop music, and the convergence of MTV and Michael Jackson's album that produced 7 Billboard Top 10 hits cemented him as the "King of POP."
The offered Bill Whitten jacket created one of the defining looks of the phenomena of Thriller-era Michael Jackson. Whitten is a bit of an unsung hero in the fashion world, though his resume of major acts for whom he designed iconic clothing includes not only Jackson, but Elton John, Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Neil Diamond, Edgar Winter, Steppenwolf, as well as stars like Doc Severinsen, Jim Brown, Red Foxx, Richard Pryor and Hugh Hefner. But it was Michael that finally put him in some semblance of the spotlight, when the entire world became entranced with that one...white...glove. The singular, sequined glove was Whitten's most iconic creation, and somewhat ironically he thought it was a bit of a no-brainer. He had a genius performer whose fans were missing half of his lightning fast moves. Whitten thought the glove would create a focal point for Jackson's dancing. And it worked. Nearly as iconic are the black sequin jackets Whitten designed for him. Michael first wore one with the glove in 1983 during appearances like the "Motown 25" anniversary TV special, and then wore during that 1984 "Victory" tour. Worn open, the jackets swung and floated around as if they were orbiting a star as Michael spun and floated back and forth across the stage to the delight and amazement of the capacity crowds. The glove, certainly, and this black sequin jacket defined Michael Jackson's iconic look from this legendary era and tour.
Accompanying the jacket is a signed "Letter of Provenance," dated December 15, 2013, from Assistant Sound Technician Liam O'Brien who worked on the 1984 "Victory" Tour and 1987-88 Bad tour. The letter reads "This document will serve as a Letter of Provenance for the black sequined jacket that was worn by Michael Jackson during the Victory tour. The jacket was made by the King of Pop's long-time costume designer Bill Whitten and was used specifically for the stage performance of the song Billie Jean. I was lucky enough to work together with Mr. Jackson's team around the Victory and Bad Tours, and on a few other Michael Jackson shows in the early '90s as an assistant sound technician. Michael Jackson personally gave the jacket to me."
On the interior collar area is sewn the "Bill Whitten" red and black label. The jacket presents with signs of wear, with two small patches of adhesive residue on the inside back of the jacket. These could be from being displayed on a mannequin at some point. The jacket's series of 20 hook and clasp enclosures remain intact, as they were probably never used because Jackson always wore the jacket open during the concerts. Near Mint condition.