The Jacksons Interview

Legendary band The Jacksons announce exclusively to Music-News some new music and a film being released next year.
Enjoying phenomenal global acclaim, The Jacksons have notched up 17 top 10 albums and 18 number one hits, becoming a household name across the world and selling millions of records.

Revealing new music on the horizon, Marlon, Tito and Jackie also told us about plans for an exciting new film documentary about their family history, due to be released next year.

They also spoke about some surprising famous family members, the loss of their brother Michael, memories of early stardom and their quest to make the world a more loving place by sharing their musical talents.

Famous for dance floor fillers including I Want You Back, ABC, Can You Feel It, I’ll Be There and Blame it on the Boogie, The Jacksons spoke to Music News ahead of their headline gig at Rewind Festival South in Henley-on-Thames.

We were excited to see you headlining two of the Rewind Festivals – how has it been for you?
(Marlon) Fantastic
(Tito) It feels fast-forward!

What have the fans been like?
(Tito) Fabulous, the crowd’s been great.
(Jackie) They want to come and hear good music and to dance and enjoy the music that we’ve had over the years. So that’s what they’re here for – to have a great time, and that’s what we plan to do, give them a great show.
What can we expect from your show?
(Marlon) A lot of people reminiscing – all those songs that we did, that they made hits of in the 70s and 80s, so we’re gonna have a Jackson party.That’s what you’re gonna expect.

What’s the rest of your year looking like? Are you touring?
(Marlon) We have a show in Liverpool, at the Pier Head. Then we go home as we have some shows in The States, then we come back over here for more shows.
(Jackie) We have new music that we’ve been working on. There’s gonna be a surprise too - The Jacksons have got new music coming out. And a movie’s coming out next year, I don’t want to give too much away.
(Marlon) And we’re working on a documentary about our history. That will come out next year.

How does it feel to be performing for 55 years?
(Marlon) It feels great. I can’t complain. I thank the Lord for blessing us with this musical gift, to spread love across this globe, that’s what the true meaning of the blessing that he bestowed upon the Jackson family is - to spread love, harmony and peace and unite the world together as one through our music.
(Jackie) With our concerts you can bring all your family, your grandmother, your children to see the concert because it’s their kind of music.

Can we expect some dance routines as you used to do? Who did the choreography for those dance routines you are famous for?
(Tito) They’ll be plenty, we’re not all using canes yet!
(Marlon) Jackie, Michael and myself, we did the choreography, always. We practised at home – we had a rehearsal area and studio at home in our house which is where we did it.
(Tito) I have a single coming out with my three sons – 3T – it’s called Love One Another. It’s coming out at the beginning of the year, the first quarter. We’ll be playing it this evening.

We read that you have some famous people related to you that we didn’t realise. Is Stevie Wonder your cousin?
(Marlon) Yes he sure is. As a matter of fact, Stevie is playing harmonica on Love One Another, Tito’s song, and I’m doing a version of Love One Another as well.

And Samuel L Jackson?
(Marlon) Yes and Tracy Chapman!

We have to talk to you about Michael, he must always be on the stage with you in your heart?
(Marlon) In spirit. He’s on stage with us in spirit.
(Tito) I love everyone, I love our English fan base, we just keep doing it.
(Jackie) All these years, they’ve been so supportive of the whole entire family, and that’s what we cherish and really thank them for. They’ve always been there by our sides, and whenever we come out, they show up and support us on the stage. That’s wonderful. They’ve been great fans over the years.

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up?
(Tito) I liked the Blues when I was growing up so I played BB King.
(Marlon) We listened to Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, Wes Montgomery, I used to like.
(Jackie) A lot of the Motown sounds we grew up on – Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Growing up, we loved The Jackson 5ive cartoon series. Were you involved in the making of it?
(Marlon) Rankin and Bass, who are the producers of the cartoon, came to one of our rehearsals. They studied our moves, they wanted to get to know our personality so that they made sure they captured that in the animation, so that’s what they did. They did a great job.
(Jackie) The cartoon was a big big hit. People loved it. I think The Beatles had the first cartoon as a singer/artist and we were the second group to have a cartoon series syndicated around the world.

What are your memories of performing on Top of the Pops?
(Marlon) We used to love coming to do Top of the Pops. Michael used to say “We’re going to do Top of the Pops!”
(Jackie) When we got there, it was so small!
(Marlon) But it was a lot of magic that took place.
(Tito) Big things come in small packages.

We’re so pleased that you still come over to the UK! What do you like about the UK?
(Tito) It seems more like home than home. The people are very beautiful here and treat us with respect and kindness and joy and they’re supportive.

You’ve had so many amazing moments in your career, is there one that stands out?
(Jackie) Coming to the UK for the very first time! We were on the plane, I think it was about 5.30 in the morning, and the pilot told us, as he was about to land, that we had about 10,000 screaming fans waiting at the airport, sleeping in sleeping bags. And they were out there, I couldn’t believe it. They were everywhere, they were screaming. It was pandemonium. It was a great feeling. Ever since then, the UK has been number one.
(Marlon) Same for me. Also performing for the Queen of England, that was a highlight. And being on the Ed Sullivan show twice was a highlight as well.
(Tito) Hearing my first record on the radio, I Want You Back, was quite exciting. I was at home with these guys. We were jumping, cheering, screaming.