In the summer of 1988, Michael Jackson brought his Bad World Tour to Wembley Stadium and created one of the defining concert runs of his career. His July 16 performance alone packed the stadium with 72,000 people, including Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles. Michael would ultimately perform seven sold-out Wembley shows during the tour.
One song from that era captures the atmosphere especially well. “Another Part of Me” became an official live music video built from footage recorded during Michael’s European Bad Tour dates. Wembley features heavily in the finished video, alongside material from other concerts, turning the song into a fast-moving snapshot of Michael commanding enormous crowds at the height of his 1980s fame.
Michael Jackson – Another Part of Me Official Video
The video only gives viewers a few minutes of that extraordinary touring period. Michael moves across the stage with almost nonstop energy while the cameras jump between his performance, the band and thousands of fans reacting around him. It is less like a traditional studio music video and more like being dropped directly into the Bad World Tour.
But Wembley has something even more valuable for fans: one complete concert.
The July 16, 1988 show was officially released years later as part of the Bad 25 project. Unlike the “Another Part of Me” montage, this recording follows one specific night from beginning to end, preserving the same sold-out show attended by Diana and Charles. Michael’s official site also identifies the July 16 performance as the Wembley concert released for Bad 25.
Michael Jackson Live at Wembley July 16, 1988 Full Concert
That full concert changes the experience completely. Instead of seeing one edited song, viewers can watch Michael move through nearly two hours of material including “Smooth Criminal,” “Thriller,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Bad” and the closing “Man in the Mirror.” The set also reaches back into his Jackson 5 years and Off the Wall, showing just how much of his career he was carrying onto one stage by 1988.
The remarkable part is how little downtime there is. Michael sings, dances and controls the crowd while moving from one major song into another. The July 16 recording lets people who were never inside Wembley understand why the Bad Tour became such an important part of his live reputation.
Michael Jackson had already changed pop music with Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, but Wembley shows what happened when those records were placed in front of tens of thousands of people at once.
Watch “Another Part of Me” first for the concentrated rush of the Bad Tour, then watch the complete July 16 Wembley concert and experience the night from beginning to end.