Spike & Pepsi New Generation costumes in Auction

Michael Jackson’s “Spike” costume from “Moonwalker” and Michael Jackson’s Jacket from the Pepsi commercial “New Generation” are to be auctioned via Propstore on November 10, 2023.

The “Spike” costume was already auctioned few years back by the same auction house which mostly sell movie and TV memorabilia.

Michael Jackson’s original photo-matched black-and-white “Pepsi Commercial” leather jacket from the production of Pepsi’s New Generation “Street” music video that was released in the United States on March 27, 1984. The Pepsi commercial was filmed soon after the release of Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video and featured the other members of the Jackson 5 as well as a young Alfonso Ribiero. In the commercial, Jackson wore a black-and-white leather zippered jacket that had a similar design aesthetic to the red leather jacket made popular through the Thriller video. This zippered jacket photo-matches to an image of Jackson wearing it with the consignor shortly after the filming of the Pepsi ad.

Although it became most associated with the Pepsi Commercial, Jackson was seen wearing his black-and-white zippered leather jacket on multiple occasions prior to the Pepsi video. In John Landis’ “The Making of Thriller” video, shot in October 1983, Michael is shown wearing his jacket during the dance rehearsals and on set. Photographs were also taken of Michael wearing his jacket at a private screening of the Thriller video in Westwood (Los Angeles) on November 21, 1983.

This jacket was gifted by Jackson to the consignor, Wendell Thompson, who became friends with Jackson after meeting him at Thompson’s father’s cosmetology salon in December 1980. At the time, Jackson’s “Off the Wall” album was on the charts. Jackson continued to visit Orlando on a regular basis to get his hair styled in the evenings and visited with Thompson and his family during his trips, frequenting amusement parks and going to dinner together.

On a visit in early 1984, Jackson visited Walt Disney World and went to dinner with Thompson and others including one of the hair stylists from Thompson’s father’s shop. After dinner, when they all returned to his father’s shop, Thompson tried on Jackson’s black-and-white zippered jacket. When Thompson took the jacket off to hand it back to Jackson, Jackson told him to keep the jacket and explained he had just worn it in a soon to be released Pepsi commercial.

The jacket photo-matches to an image of Jackson wearing it with the consignor at the time it was gifted. Images and screen captures available from the Pepsi commercial and “Making of Thriller” video are not of high enough quality to allow for screen-matching the jacket to those sources, though all zippers, studs, and other elements appear to line up exactly. It is not known whether this is the only black-and-white zippered jacket Jackson owned, or whether multiple copies of the custom-made jacket were created. This jacket has direct-lineage provenance to Jackson and matches the aforementioned photograph.

The jacket is custom-made in soft leather to fit Jackson’s small-stature frame. There are no manufacturer labels present. Jackson’s signature leather jackets, including both the red Thriller video jacket and the black-and-white zippered jacket, had a significant impact on pop culture at the time and unlicensed replicas were quickly manufactured and offered to consumers. One such jacket maker was “METAL”, which manufactured in Korea. These METAL-manufactured jackets have occasionally been seen in the collector’s market offered as originals worn by Jackson, however there are numerous physical differences between the METAL-made jackets and the jacket(s) seen worn by Jackson in photographs at this time. The jacket offered is the only custom-made black-and-white zippered jacket with direct provenance, as well as a photo-match to the period, that we are aware of in the collector’s market.

Included with this lot is a personalised hand-signed photo of Michael Jackson with the inscription “To Wendell, Christopher Columbus found America. I’m glad I found you all. Lots of Love, Michael Jackson,” an original Polaroid photo of Jackson with Thompson on the day that Thompson received the jacket, “The Making of Thriller” hardcover book, a “Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller” laserdisc, and commercially purchased photos of scenes from the Pepsi commercial. A modern printed copy of the photograph of Jackson wearing the jacket at the time it was gifted to the consignor is included (the original photograph was lost.)

This jacket was a personal favourite of Jackson’s from what many consider to be Jackson’s prime creative period. It is also one of Jackson’s most recognised wardrobe pieces from his career. This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to own a key piece of vintage wardrobe from the “King of Pop.”

Estimate: £200,000 – 400,000

Spike’s (Michael Jackson) costume from musical anthology Moonwalker. Directed by Academy Award®-winner Will Vinton, the “Speed Demon” segment of the film saw Jackson disguise himself as Spike the Claymation rabbit in an attempt to hide from a mob of fans and paparazzi.

The costume comprises a rabbit’s head, a biker jacket, a shirt, a pair of trousers, and two belts. The resin head is reinforced with linen mesh, with foam ears, large rabbit teeth and Michael Jackson’s signature black hair. The jacket features various decorative zips and buckles, which are oversized to appear cartoon-like. The buckles are finished in faux-silver and gold-coloured paint; however, most of the gold paint has been worn away over time, exposing the bright green undercoat. The yellow trousers feature matching decorative zips and buckles, with two brown belts worn over the top, also with oversized buckles and studs.

The jacket, shirt and trousers are painted to match the bold visual style of the segment’s stop-motion Spike rabbit. The costume shows significant cracking to the jacket, the rabbit’s ears and teeth as a result of age. Dimensions (rabbit head): 51 cm x 43 cm x 41 cm (20 1/4″ x 17″ x 16 1/4″)

Estimate: £20,000 – 40,000

Full details HERE