Michael Jackson: From his tailor Michael Bush (1)
For more than 25 years, Michael Bush worked as a designer and tailor for Michael Jackson’s luxurious outfits. He and his colleague Dennis Tompkins, who said goodbye to life last year, prepared some of the most famous outfits in music history.
Michael Bush says these outfits were the result of their brainstorming and collaboration with Michael Jackson:
"Michael Jackson was the greatest showman in the world. His ability to create fashion and his ideas in designing clothes took me on an incredible journey for 25 years. Nothing was impossible for us, and Michael was full of ideas and surprising actions. We traveled around the world and designed clothes and fashion that became legendary and iconic. During this journey, Michael and I learned things from each other."
"Michael and I would sit together at a table. We’d take two pencils and an eraser—I'd draw the line and he would erase it. He’d say he didn’t want to wear something like that. He’d draw the line and I’d erase it; I’d say I didn’t want to sew a suit like that. We were like two kids playing with wax crayons. We’d compete to see which one could ruin the other’s drawing more... I drew the left line and the right line was his. We worked well together."
For more than two decades, Bush and Tompkins were constantly at Michael’s service. They started work at 4 a.m. They accompanied Michael on all his tours around the world.
Bush describes his collaboration with Dennis Tompkins as a 50/50 equation—what Bush could do, Tompkins couldn’t; and what Dennis was good at, it was difficult for Bush.
Although Bush has always lived in Michael’s shadow, he says:
"I’m a lucky person. I was with Michael for 25 years—no one else had that kind of luck."
"It’s my duty to keep Michael’s memory and legacy alive after he’s gone, and to share his memories with the rest of the people. I have to tell the next generations how important and special Michael is in every field."
For this reason, Bush has written a book of memories, which has recently been published. Sales of this 224-page book began on November 1 this year on Amazon. You can also check it out on the official Facebook page.
"After working for Michael Jackson for 25 years, it’s hard to work with someone else. I worked with the best person in this industry, and I don’t think I can learn anything more than what Michael taught me from other artists."
What Michael gave Bush is beyond understanding and imagination. Bush says that designing and tailoring was his last choice, because throughout his life he hated sewing and stitching—but Michael changed his life in such a way that he became the creator of some of the best-known outfits, outfits that, like their owner Michael, have the highest number of photos in the world.
"I want Michael’s fans to know that I thank God for the very close relationship I had with Michael. He taught me things about myself that I didn’t know at the time."
"Michael was the most generous person I’ve ever met. His laughter was contagious. The happiness of others was the only thing that mattered to him. He wanted the people around him to always be happy."
Starting a collaboration
Michael and Bush were almost the same age—Bush was only a few months older than Michael. Their first meeting took place on June 1983, on the occasion of Bush’s 25th birthday. Bush immediately felt a deep bond with Michael.
At that time, Michael was the god of pop, and Bush was a shy son from Ohio who stitched the costumes for television and cinema films. He had learned tailoring experimentally from his mother and grandmother, who sewed wedding dresses and evening ceremonies’ outfits. At that time, Michael still hadn’t hired a tailor. Their first collaboration happened on the three-dimensional film Captain EO for Disneyland. The outfits were designed by John Napier, and Bush’s job was to put them on Michael.
One day, Michael stayed for hours in his special filming wagon on the set and didn’t come out. Bush went to Michael—he could hear the sound of a monkey (Bubbles) from inside the wagon. The moment he arrived, Bubbles ran toward him and stuck to his feet. Inside the dark and very warm wagon, Michael was busy eating snacks.
When Bush was preparing Captain EO’s outfit for Michael, he felt something gently hit his head. It was a glass. This happened again, and when the third glass hit him, Bush retaliated and threw a glass toward Michael. This time, Michael caught the glass with his fist... From that day on, for the next 25 years, a close collaboration between Michael Bush and Michael Jackson was established—one that only death ended.
"I think he wanted someone he could play with. He was thinking, ‘Will I have fun standing next to this guy?’ And I spent every single day of my life with laughter until he passed away."
After that, Michael went to New York to film the short movie BAD directed by Martin Scorsese. Bush worked on the outfits for the video Smooth Criminal, and from that time on, their working bonds became deeper and deeper. Bush had convinced Michael that he and Dennis could be capable designers. Michael invited them to the BAD tour, and Bush and Tompkins stepped into his world step by step around the globe. It was the first time Bush had left his hometown, the United States.
"Over time, he became one of my best friends. We were the same age. He wanted someone who could make him laugh. The Three Stooges film was his favorite movie of all time. He loved classic comedy shows. You could work beside him for 36 straight hours and not even realize time was passing, because it was so much fun. I couldn’t wait to get to the location and start working next to him. And when the job was over, I didn’t want to leave that place and go back home."
What most people don’t know—but Bush understands very well—is Michael’s sense of humor and his witty teasing.
"He was into jokes and laughter. He loved laughing, and he often played tricks on people he was friendly with and felt close to—just to mess with them."
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Source: eMJey.com / Reuters & Associated Press