Michael Jackson and Prince might fall close to each other in your iTunes library, but in real life, the two kept their distance. Just ask Will.i.am.
Jackson befriended the Black Eyed Peas singer later on in his career and the two reportedly developed "a pretty close connection," according to biographer Steve Knopper, traveling around the world and making music together.
Apparently, Will.i.am paved the way for a meeting of the legends, during Prince's residency in Las Vegas around 2006. Will.i.am was a guest artist in the show at the time and invited Jackson to a performance, seemingly unaware of their contentious history.
In an interview on "The Graham Norton Show" this week, the singer recalled the fated encounter and explained to the host and fellow guests Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy just exactly went down. Will.i.am also recounted the story to Knopper in his comprehensive biography of the Prince of Pop, MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson.
"I told [Michael] I was performing with Prince later on and that he should come along," he said. "It was a magnificent night with me, Chris Tucker and Michael Jackson watching Prince rock on stage."
But when Prince left the stage and came into the audience, he immediately spotted Jackson in the crowd. According to Will.i.am, "Prince steps off the stage and plays the bass in Michael's face."
Witnessing Prince's unparalleled guitar skills in person would be a welcome once-in-a-lifetime experience for most, but Jackson took offense to singer's aggressive guitar-playing.
The next morning Will.i.am met Michael for breakfast, "and the first words he says as he opens the door are, 'Why was Prince playing the bass in my face?'" Will.i.am said. "When I said he was just being nice, Michael said, 'No, he's always been a meanie.'"
Decades earlier, however, the two shared the stage with the great James Brown at Hollywood’s Beverly Theater in 1983. Whatever feud may or may not have existed between them, no one can deny the power of their collective stage presence. Just think of what they could have done together.
Take a look below:
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