Lionel Richie on His Memories with Michael
Lionel Richie (Lionel Richie) was a guest on Jonathan Ross’s TV show to promote his new album and tour. During the interview, he talked about his memories from the Commodores and also about working with the Jackson Five:
Ross: You went on tour with the Jackson Five—how long did it last? Of course, at that time you were in the Commodores.
Richie: Honestly, I was still a student back then. We were with these guys (the Jackson Five) for two and a half years. And I have to say, for a long time I thought Michael and his brothers were like little dwarfs—their height had stayed short—because backstage they were like kids, but the moment they stepped onstage, they turned into full-fledged professional showmen. These little kids would spin around backstage like a whirlwind, bump into people, could dance and sing—whatever they did, they’d throw their jackets over their shoulders, they had hats, everything about them was like stars.
Let me tell you a funny story. We were in our hotel room, and they were basically messing with us. Imagine it’s 7 in the morning and you’re lying in bed, sleeping peacefully, when suddenly you hear (Lionel knocks on the table) “Please open the door, it’s me Michael—open the door!”… No, I should say it like this (imitating Michael’s voice, he makes it higher): “Open the door, it’s me Michael!”
Ross: His voice is still like that. (Laughter)
Richie: And Ronald, the bass player, got up from his seat and opened the door. Jermaine was out there waiting with a bucket of ice water and poured it on Ronald, and then we heard a scream that froze the blood in our veins. They always played these kinds of jokes on us. And in the end, it even turned into pillow-throwing.
Ross: To settle the matter?
Richie: That was the only way you could get revenge on some of the kids. Come on—you’re supposed to help me now, I’m in trouble. (Audience laughter). And we couldn’t tell the parents about what was happening, because they kept saying, “You have to take care of the kids, take care of the kids,” while we wanted to get back at the kids and destroy them.
Ross: So you must have put stones and bricks in the pillows?
Richie: And they had a little trick too. Behind the kids—Michael and Marlon—were hiding, so we couldn’t reach them, and then from behind they’d smack us with a jack. So I can say that throughout that period, my job was to throw Michael around this way and that, break a nightlight, and there was one time—he (Michael) launched into the air so high that I honestly thought I’d injured him. He always stood right back up. (Laughter)
Ross: Do you go to watch his live performances? After all, Michael has come back for his farewell tour.
Richie: I’m very excited, and for a long time I’ve been telling him in his ear, “Let go of that house and come back to the stage.” You know, all of us—every one of us—has our own personal issues forever, but what we all know how to do is perform on stage. And if I can just get him onstage one time, everything will be fine.
Ross: Everyone is eager to see him again. He’s coming back to the most extraordinary stage. We wish him success.
Source: eMJey / MJFC
Richie: Honestly, I was still a student back then. We were with these guys (the Jackson Five) for two and a half years. And I have to say, for a long time I thought Michael and his brothers were like little dwarfs—their height had stayed short—because backstage they were like kids, but the moment they stepped onstage, they turned into full-fledged professional showmen. These little kids would spin around backstage like a whirlwind, bump into people, could dance and sing—whatever they did, they’d throw their jackets over their shoulders, they had hats, everything about them was like stars.
Let me tell you a funny story. We were in our hotel room, and they were basically messing with us. Imagine it’s 7 in the morning and you’re lying in bed, sleeping peacefully, when suddenly you hear (Lionel knocks on the table) “Please open the door, it’s me Michael—open the door!”… No, I should say it like this (imitating Michael’s voice, he makes it higher): “Open the door, it’s me Michael!”
Ross: His voice is still like that. (Laughter)
Richie: And Ronald, the bass player, got up from his seat and opened the door. Jermaine was out there waiting with a bucket of ice water and poured it on Ronald, and then we heard a scream that froze the blood in our veins. They always played these kinds of jokes on us. And in the end, it even turned into pillow-throwing.
Ross: To settle the matter?
Richie: That was the only way you could get revenge on some of the kids. Come on—you’re supposed to help me now, I’m in trouble. (Audience laughter). And we couldn’t tell the parents about what was happening, because they kept saying, “You have to take care of the kids, take care of the kids,” while we wanted to get back at the kids and destroy them.
Ross: So you must have put stones and bricks in the pillows?
Richie: And they had a little trick too. Behind the kids—Michael and Marlon—were hiding, so we couldn’t reach them, and then from behind they’d smack us with a jack. So I can say that throughout that period, my job was to throw Michael around this way and that, break a nightlight, and there was one time—he (Michael) launched into the air so high that I honestly thought I’d injured him. He always stood right back up. (Laughter)
Ross: Do you go to watch his live performances? After all, Michael has come back for his farewell tour.
Richie: I’m very excited, and for a long time I’ve been telling him in his ear, “Let go of that house and come back to the stage.” You know, all of us—every one of us—has our own personal issues forever, but what we all know how to do is perform on stage. And if I can just get him onstage one time, everything will be fine.
Ross: Everyone is eager to see him again. He’s coming back to the most extraordinary stage. We wish him success.
Source: eMJey / MJFC