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Gregg Wright joins Jamon Bull and Shawn Shackelford for a fascinating interview about Gregg’s time working with the King of Pop, as guitarist on the Victory Tour.
Gregg has been called “one of the most innovative guitarists of our time”. He began his professional career on the U.S. Southern circuit in the mid-1970s, and honed his craft with years of playing one-nighters across the Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, often opening shows for the big national touring acts of the day. An ’80s move from Louisiana to Los Angeles saw Wright become a session man and “hired gun” touring guitarist. His reputation grew over the next decade doing albums and tours with Mick Fleetwood, Michael Jackson, and the Gap Band.
In this interview, the guys chat with Gregg about his incredible career, how he came to be hired for the iconic Victory tour, and what it was like being a live music collaborator with Michael Jackson.
This episode was edited by Jamon Bull.
Additional Links
• Gregg Wright’s Instagram and website.
• Brice Najar’s interview with Gregg.
• The Jacksons’ Victory Tour live in Toronto (1984).
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There are several accounts, even video ones in which anyone can find out the fact that The Bad tour was dubbed the Farewell tour, his first and last solo tour. Even Jeniffer Baten was always saying ,,he had something to prove in this tour,,. I wouldn’t consider the second leg of the tour lesser than the first, only bc for those 2 encore songs he used also pre recorded vocals. And here and there, a mix of live and pre-recorded ones. Vocally what he did in the second leg, actually starting already in the first leg Australia, he really got out there vocally, it’s more obvious than in the first leg, adapting his vocal character to each song’s genre.
There are also several infos reg how he finished this tour, reg his vocal cords. If I’m not mistaken Kevin Dorsey here suggested somth like this, we know the problem with recording Keep the faith from Bruce Swedien, and its public knowledge that he had vocal cords problems in the early 90’s..We know that when he finally accepted to sign with Sony he signed with the promise that he will do studio albums and movies, and maybe a concert here and there.
He was singing professionally already when he started this tour, Bad, for 20 yrs. Listen his voice at 9 yrs old Big Boy.
Anyone will tell you that it was a little bit too much, too early, for a voice to remain perfect for a lifetime, and im not adding the years before that first recording. After all the vocal cords are muscles..
Unfortunately for him he had to adjust to entertainment mode. If Dangerous tour had a purpose, to gatter money for HTW, History was a must.
If you check the amazing website partofhistory.de, perhaps we can understand more abt him. History teaser is in fact, and this is my interpretation of everything reading as much as I can, not a propaganda mini movie, but in there MJ shows clearly the behind the courtains of show business, how an image is manufactured. It’s all prepared in a factory ( imaginary used also on his Dangerous cover). The man was smarter than we see.
He didn’t even bother to use pre recorded vocals, but he used straight vocals from albums in History. Why? Add to this the fact that at some point in one of History concerts when he was talking with the crowd he said his thanks to all involved in the tour making, adding ,,this CIRCUS,, which is not a coincidence.
I’m enjoying live vocals on these 2 last tours also, don’t get me wrong. Still with that pressure on his voice he was a nightingale. But he knew that ppl expect of him ,,We are the world,, clarity.
I’m enjoying his tours pre-Dangerous era immensely, and every time I can see and hear the top notch quality of Bad tour, how his voice was on point, super control and with way more expressivity than ever (even if I know when his voice is weak or cracking), and the songs until the latest dates were on crazy speed ( Victory tour at 5th speed).
I saw enough concerts in my life, mainly rock ones, but MJ is really unbelievable. I hope some day more ppl will understand and see this. Take any performer, anyone, and listen let’s say only 5 songs in a concert. They sing the same. The vocal approach is the same, no matter the song’s dynamic.
Listen the first 5 songs MJ is performing in Bad. Hear what he did.
This is sheer artistry and vocal Olympus. Let’s give him his flowers and appreciation. And understanding.
Thank you so much for all these interviews, all my best and a better New Year to all of you!