Goodbye to Icons of the 1970s
This last week has seen the passing of two icons of the 1970s - Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. For those of us of a certain age, they were on posters everywhere, and household names throughout the US and Europe.
She was one of the three most desired women on the planet as one of the faces of Charlie’s Angels. He was one of the most envied men on the planet, as he could sing, dance and was good looking. I recall seeing the album cover from Off the Wall with him dressed in a dinner suit. A small crowd of young ladies all agreed that he was absolutely gorgeous.
The next thirty years, however, led to very different paths. Farrah spent most of that time in a long term relationship with Ryan O’Neal, which lasted until her death and throughout various phases of her battles with cancer.
Michael, of course, had two broken marriages and a succession of scandals involving allegations of paedophilia. These were never proven, but the allegations remained with him until his death. They were not helped by the payment of a large sum of money to one of his alleged victims. It was also widely believed that, despite his insistence that he suffered from a disease which caused his skin to be patchy and discoloured, that he had extensive plastic surgery on his face and treatment to make his skin lighter. His latter years were also characterised by debt, during which he had to sell his fantasy home to appease his creditors.
Jackson was about to embark on a series of fifty concerts at our own O2 Arena in London. There were doubts as to whether he was fit enough to perform and, despite the denials of ill health, it is now clear that those doubts were genuine. What is not in doubt, however, despite all of the allegation and scandal, is that Michael Jackson was a musical genius. His styles ranged from disco to ballads to rock, with many different styles along the way. It is not well known that Van Halen played guitar on Beat It, for example. Even those who were into Genesis, Yes or Led Zep in the 1970s would find it hard not to tap a foot to some of his classics, and to acknowledge that the man was a musical genius. Like Madonna, he reinvented himself many times.
As with so many celebrities, especially those who were denied a real childhood, he suffered a tortured adulthood. Once the media have finished gorging themselves over the post mortem and the inevitable and further allegations, those of us who grew up innocently watching - and quite possibly admiring - these 1970s icons will remember their triumphs and their genius as well as their unhappy ends.
The next thirty years, however, led to very different paths. Farrah spent most of that time in a long term relationship with Ryan O’Neal, which lasted until her death and throughout various phases of her battles with cancer.
Michael, of course, had two broken marriages and a succession of scandals involving allegations of paedophilia. These were never proven, but the allegations remained with him until his death. They were not helped by the payment of a large sum of money to one of his alleged victims. It was also widely believed that, despite his insistence that he suffered from a disease which caused his skin to be patchy and discoloured, that he had extensive plastic surgery on his face and treatment to make his skin lighter. His latter years were also characterised by debt, during which he had to sell his fantasy home to appease his creditors.
Jackson was about to embark on a series of fifty concerts at our own O2 Arena in London. There were doubts as to whether he was fit enough to perform and, despite the denials of ill health, it is now clear that those doubts were genuine. What is not in doubt, however, despite all of the allegation and scandal, is that Michael Jackson was a musical genius. His styles ranged from disco to ballads to rock, with many different styles along the way. It is not well known that Van Halen played guitar on Beat It, for example. Even those who were into Genesis, Yes or Led Zep in the 1970s would find it hard not to tap a foot to some of his classics, and to acknowledge that the man was a musical genius. Like Madonna, he reinvented himself many times.
As with so many celebrities, especially those who were denied a real childhood, he suffered a tortured adulthood. Once the media have finished gorging themselves over the post mortem and the inevitable and further allegations, those of us who grew up innocently watching - and quite possibly admiring - these 1970s icons will remember their triumphs and their genius as well as their unhappy ends.
Here Is The Writer : Peter Haines
Peter Haines has more than 20 years of experience in regulation and compliance, which he now offers through his consultancy firm. Peter has the misfortune to support Tottenham Hotspur, Kent CCC and England or Great Britain in most competitive sports. Fortunately, he enjoys a full and happy family life with his wife and two children in Suffolk, which compensates for the sporting trauma associated with supporting Spurs and England. Anybody who knows Peter well will confirm that he has the ideal physical profile of an armchair supporter.
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