The most significant highlight of Julien’s Auctions music memorabilia sale on June 25 and 26 was Michael Jackson’s red Thriller jacket, which achieved $1.8 million, more than twice its high estimate. The iconic jacket was worn by Jackson during the filming of the epic video Thriller, which went on to become the top grossing single and the highest selling album of all time.
The black and red style of the jacket became so identifiable with Jackson’s groundbreaking extended short film video for the single that he continued to use jackets of the same design when performing the song Thriller for the duration of his career.
The jacket was given by Jackson to his longtime costume designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. It is made of black and red calf leather with a “Marc Laurent Paris” label featuring silver buckle, red silk lining, trapunto stitched collar, snap front closure and signature winged shoulders. It is inscribed on the inside lining “To Bush and Dennis, All My Love, Michael Jackson.” The sleeve is also signed “Love Michael Jackson.”
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the jacket will benefit the Shambala Preserve, current home to Jackson’s two Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu.
A complete report of the sale will appear in an upcoming issue.
⁗D
