Michael Jackson didn’t invent the moonwalk . . . the name, yes, but not the dance move . . . but he perfected and popularized it to such an omnipresent extent no one else could do it in the future.
The night Michael Jackson debuted the moonwalk was also, symbolically, the night he finally and definitively separated himself from the Jackson 5.
The brothers reunited for the Motown 25 event on this day in 1983 to perform together, as Jermaine had left the group and Michael was already the biggest pop star in the world. Despite his meteoric rise, however, Michael still had one foot back in the Jackson 5.
When you watch the performance of the Jackson 5 at the event, you can see Michael having to hold himself back as to only overshadow his brothers by about 10,000% and not 100,000%. He handles pretty much all of the singing and the camera almost never leaves him.
And then, after the Jackson 5 performance is done and Michael gets the solo spotlight to perform Billie Jean, he moonwalks for the first time.
The crowd erupts. The symbolism of him gliding away backwards . . . across the stage and, really, away from his original family band . . . was unmistakable.
This wasn’t the last time the Jackson 5 would ever perform together, but it was clear they were done. They’d have one more album and tour together, mixing their songs and Michael’s solo stuff . . . really, it was a Michael Jackson tour with the Jackson 5 along for the ride.
After that, Michael left the group for good.
