Jackson Brothers’ Unity on Stage After Michael

This year, the Jackson 5 has returned—but with four microphones. Microphones lined up side by side in the style and spirit of the old days.

In the absence of their brother, Michael, they kept his memory alive by performing one of the songs from his legendary album, Can't Let Her Get Away.

Three years after the time when their brother was preparing for the This Is It tour, they have taken the path of “unity.” The group’s long-cherished dream of reuniting has finally come true—but without Michael.

Jackie, Tito, Jermain, and Marlon are heading out on a tour that began on June 20 in Ontario, Canada, and will run until July 29. They will circle the summer across the United States, but it won’t be an easy ride.

Jermain says: “Out of sight of my brothers, more than once during rehearsals I fell to the ground from the intensity of my sadness and cried. For all those years, I was used to seeing Michael on my right side on stage. I can never break that habit.”

Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of Michael’s death. His doctor overdosed him, his caretaker didn’t look after him, and the ambulance wasn’t called in time. Michael is gone.

“This day for me, this day.... This day doesn’t feel different from other days.” Marlon continues: “What I mean is that I think about him all year long. This day is like the other days. I live with this pain. Sometimes in the mornings I wake up and, in disbelief, ask myself: has Michael really left us!?”

Jermain considers this tour a kind of therapy for their wounds. He says that even though for years they hadn’t been able to let go of the idea of holding a family tour, after Michael’s death they felt that to cope with this huge grief, they needed unity.

Tito says: “Some songs make us sad, and others bring us excitement and joy—for example, ABC or I Want You Back. I imagine him walking with us, turning around, dancing. I can feel his presence.”

Jackie speaks of a special kind of magic—the magic of their youth, which may have faded, but still exists.

“When we go on stage and sing, that energy comes back to us. Of course, I don’t dance as well as I used to, but still—there are things I’ve got up my sleeve.”

The five-man teenage Jackson family group is now four middle-aged men who have completed the circle of their lives. Their ages range from 55 to 61, and it remains to be seen what their fans think about their summer performances.

Michael Jackson’s Immortal tour has topped sales in the United States. But Gary Bongiovi, editor of PlayStar magazine—which writes about concerts and tours—believes that the success of Immortal won’t be repeated for the Jackson Brothers’ unity tour.

“The Jackson 5 and the Jacksons (two music groups of the brothers) got their success from Michael. Immortal succeeded because it’s a combination of Cirque du Soleil-style performances and Michael’s music. I don’t know whether the Jackson brothers’ efforts to attract an audience will pay off or not.”

But the Jacksons have nothing to fear.

Marlon compares performing on stage to cycling: “Once you learn how to ride a bicycle, it’s impossible for it to leave your memory. You might only need to adjust the air in the tires.”

The Unity tour is the brothers’ first major collaboration after the Victory tour in 1984, but besides Michael, it has another absence.

Randy, the youngest brother, played drums during the group’s final years. When the Jackson 5 changed their name to the Jacksons after leaving Motown (the recording company), Randy took Jermain’s place—Jermain had preferred to remain an artist at Motown—and moved into the front line. But now he is keeping his distance from the Unity tour, although Marlon says: “Whenever he comes, welcome him.”

Source: eMJey.com / AP