On October 30, 1972, five brothers from Indiana walked onto the stage of the London Palladium to perform for royalty. That’s 54 years ago this month.
The Jackson 5 were playing the Royal Variety Performance, a famous British show held in front of the royal family. Sitting in the audience that night was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the mother of the Queen herself. For a group of kids from Gary, Indiana, it didn’t get much bigger than this.
Michael was only 14. He never forgot it. Years later he wrote, “I never dreamed we’d get the chance to play for her.”
It was the very start of their first European tour, and the bill that night was stacked with stars. Elton John was on it. So were the piano showman Liberace and the actress Carol Channing. Elton even stopped by backstage to wish the young brothers well.
But when the Jacksons looked around at the other performers, something made them shrink a little.
Here’s the performance from that night.
The Jackson 5 performing at the 1972 Royal Variety show
Watch how young Michael is here, singing his heart out on one of the grandest stages in the world.
So what had the brothers feeling embarrassed?
It was their clothes.
Look at who they were standing next to. Liberace was famous for his over-the-top outfits, and that night he reportedly wore a suit that cost £5,000 and actually lit up on stage. Elton John had his wild glasses and his loud costumes. Next to all that sparkle, the Jacksons’ own stage clothes suddenly felt plain.
Jermaine Jackson put it best. He said their outfits “felt miniscule and dull by comparison.”
You can almost feel it while you watch the clip. Here were five of the most talented performers alive, and for one night they felt like the plainest dressed people in the whole building.
There’s a sweet side to the trip too. The Osmonds, another famous singing family and the Jacksons’ big rivals at the time, happened to be staying at the same London hotel. Fans of both groups packed Heathrow airport hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorites.
For Michael, though, the night was always about one thing. A boy from Gary, Indiana, singing for the Queen Mother, in a room full of legends. That’s a pretty good memory to carry for the rest of your life.