Triumph Tour

Triumph Tour

Tour by The Jacksons
Location	North America
Associated album	Triumph and Off the Wall
Start date	July 8, 1981
End date	September 26, 1981
Number of shows	41 in United States 1 in Canada 42 played
Box office	US $5.5 million ($14.32 in 2024 dollars)
The Jacksons concert chronology

The Triumph Tour was a concert tour by the Jacksons, covering the United States from July 8 to September 26, 1981. The tour grossed a total of $5.5 million, setting a record breaking 4 sold out concerts in Los Angeles.

Overview

History

By 1981, the Jacksons had regained success as a platinum-selling recording group with two albums, Destiny and Triumph and lead singer Michael Jackson was in the final stages of promoting his multi-platinum album, Off the Wall. Embarking on this tour provided Michael to bring in new ideas as to how the group can produce a show to his liking. Inspired by the live shows by Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael created the costumes and designed the stage and alongside his brothers collaborating, created an intro that signaled similarities to their "Can You Feel It" music video. As since the early days the choreography was done by Michael, Jackie and Marlon Jackson. The shows included magical elements designed by Doug Henning, for example Michael disappearing in smoke during Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough.

Touring tenure

The Triumph Tour began in Memphis, Tennessee and ended with a sold-out week of shows in Los Angeles. The tour was given great reviews upon every show in part due to Michael's leadership and showmanship. The brothers also came in for praise, particularly Randy and Tito's musicality and Marlon's dance ability. The tour also marked the last truly integrated group effort as Michael's solo career would soon eclipse his success with his brothers. The tour was so well received and popular that Epic had the brothers record one of the shows (though it's not entirely clear where the recording took place, at one show or at a variety of other shows that were then compiled for the recording. However, it was rumored that the tracks were recorded during stops in Memphis, New York City, Buffalo and Providence.) The live album, The Jacksons Live!, came out in the winter of 1981 and went gold in its initial run, current sales are two million. After the tour ended, Michael went back to record his follow-up to Off the Wall. It would be three years before the Jacksons would go back on the road again. Rolling Stone later named the Triumph Tour one of the best 25 tours of 1967–1987. To showcase the success of the Triumph Tour, Michael Jackson commented that it was their first show without any marginal material. Michael patterned the Victory Tour and his Bad World Tour after the Triumph Tour.

Stage

The stage was dark and had three groups of strobe lights, all of them containing different colors of lights, facing the stage diagonally. The stage also had a spotlight that followed the main performers. In addition to the lighting, the musicians played their instruments on fixtures (the horn section to the left of the stage, the drums to the center, and keyboards to the right; with the exception of the guitarists and Randy Jackson who played the piano, keyboards, and assorted percussion).

Set list

1. "Can You Feel It"
2. "Things I Do for You"
3. "Off the Wall"
4. "Ben"
5. " touchdown (song)"
6. "This Place Hotel"
7. "She's Out of My Life"
8. Movie Rap (Video monologue featuring excerpts of "I Want You Back" "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Got to Be There")
9. Jackson 5 Medley: "I Want You Back" / "ABC" / "The Love You Save"
10. "I'll Be There"
11. "Rock with You"
12. "Lovely One"
13. "Workin' Day and Night"
14. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"
15. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
North America
July 8, 1981	Memphis	United States	Mid-South Coliseum
July 10, 1981	Oklahoma City		The Myriad
July 11, 1981	Dallas		Reunion Arena
July 12, 1981	Albuquerque		Tingley Coliseum
July 15, 1981	San Antonio		HemisFair Arena
July 17, 1981	Baton Rouge		Riverside Centroplex
July 18, 1981	Mobile		Municipal Auditorium
July 22, 1981	Atlanta		The Omni
July 24, 1981	Greensboro		Greensboro Coliseum
July 25, 1981	Charlotte		Charlotte Coliseum
July 26, 1981	Hampton		Hampton Coliseum
July 28, 1981	Lakeland		Lakeland Civic Center
July 31, 1981	Landover		Capital Centre
August 1, 1981
August 2, 1981	Buffalo		Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
August 4, 1981	Montreal		Montreal Forum
August 5, 1981	Toronto	Canada	Maple Leaf Gardens
August 7, 1981	Uniondale	United States	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
August 8, 1981	Cincinnati		Riverfront Coliseum
August 10, 1981	Columbus		Veterans Memorial Auditorium
August 12, 1981	Atlanta		The Omni Coliseum
August 13, 1981	Pittsburgh		Pittsburgh Civic Arena
August 15, 1981	Philadelphia		The Spectrum
August 16, 1981	Providence		Providence Civic Center
August 18, 1981	New York City		Madison Square Garden
August 19, 1981
August 22, 1981	Chicago		Chicago Stadium
August 23, 1981	Trotwood		Hara Arena
August 26, 1981	Milwaukee		Milwaukee Arena
August 28, 1981	Indianapolis		Market Square Arena
August 29, 1981	Detroit		Joe Louis Arena
September 2, 1981	St. Louis		The Checkerdome
September 3, 1981	Denver		McNichols Arena
September 5, 1981	Chicago		Chicago Stadium
September 7, 1981	Paradise		Las Vegas Convention Center
September 8, 1981	Kansas City		Kemper Arena
September 16, 1981	San Diego		San Diego Sports Arena
September 17, 1981	Daly City		Cow Palace
September 18, 1981	Inglewood		The Forum
September 19, 1981
September 25, 1981
September 26, 1981

Lead performers

• Michael Jackson: vocals
• Jackie Jackson: vocals, percussion
• Tito Jackson: guitar, vocals
• Marlon Jackson: vocals
• Randy Jackson: vocals, congas, piano, keyboards

Band members

• Drums: Jonathan Moffett
• Bass: Mike McKinney
• Guitar: David Williams
• Synthesizer: Bill Wolfer
• Horns: (East Coast Horns): Wesley Phillips, Cloris Grimes, Alan (Funt) Prater, Roderick (Mac) McMorris