Michael Jackson is one of the best-selling artists of all time, selling over 500 million records and holds a record of 13 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, tied with Drake for the most for a male solo artist. The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (as a solo artist and as a member of The Jackson 5), Jackson has garnered 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, eight MTV Video Music Awards and more, including three presidential honors.
The King of Pop is well-known for his incredible collaborations. From teaming up with Quincy Jones and Paul McCartney to tapping Eddie Van Halen to perform on his iconic song “Beat It,” MJ always had his finger on the pulse of what was happening. In 1991, when working on his rock-leaning album Dangerous, he collaborated with an unexpected and iconic guitarist, who may not have been a match made in heaven. In hindsight it worked out great for both legends.
Michael Jackson teamed up with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash in 1991
Dangerous is best known for spawning Jackson’s classics “Black or White,” “Remember The Time,” and “Jam,” but its most unorthodox collaboration comes on “Give In To Me,” which features Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. The sexually-driven track is a mid-tempo rocker featuring a fiery solo from Saul Hudson, better known as Slash. The video for the track features Slash with his signature Gibson Les Paul shredding on stage with his Guns N’ Roses bandmate Gilby Clarke, drummer Tony Thompson and former Living Colour bassist Muzz Skillings. Slash also contributed rhythm guitar for other tracks on the album, including “Black or White.”
In a 2021 interview with Kerrang!, Slash told the story behind the collaboration. Jackson reached out to Slash’s manager to see if he’d be interested in joining him in the studio. Slash agreed and explained, “We made a date and I went down to the Record Plant in Hollywood and there he was with Brooke Shields. That was very surreal. These were two people I’d sort of grown up with, in a way. So we hung out for two minutes, and they went off to dinner and left me with this song.” He added, “I did my thing, he really dug it and afterward, he kept asking me if I’d be into doing this, or that. I’d do some shows here and there, and it was fun because he was such a pro… he was so amazingly musically fluid. Such a treat to be around.”
Slash joined Jackson on stage in 1995 and stole the spotlight
At the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, Slash joined Michael Jackson on stage for a special performance. The 15-minute medley of hits includes “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Scream,” “Beat It,” “Black or White,” “Billie Jean,” and more. Slash stole the show with a blistering and raucous guitar solo that seemed to overstay its welcome. The two went on to collaborate quite a few times on stage. At the time, Slash’s notoriously gritty rock-and-roll lifestyle was a stark contrast to Jackson’s squeaky clean image, but the collaboration still stands up over three decades later.
