The day Bon Jovi Kidnapped Bubbles

Say what? Ok let’s go back to September 1987 when Bon Jovi came to Tokyo, Japan for their final leg of “Slippery When Wet World Tour”, in the same time as Michael Jackson’s BAD World Tour.

Both artists were staying in the same hotel, Bon Jovi on the 13th floor and Michael in the penthouse above. Having heard that Bon Jovi were in the same building, Michael invited them on September 24 and during their conversation, it is allegedly said that Michael agreed to join the band onstage for one song on September 30.

An hour before the band are due on-stage, word filtered through that Michael will not be making his promised appearance, much to Bon Jovi’s disappointment. The group were still aggrieved about this when they returned to the hotel following an after-party at the Lexington Queen nightclub, and a bit intoxicated, they planned to get a revenge on the King of Pop.

First, a call was placed to Michael Jackson’s personal trainer, who was also tasked with the care of Bubbles, saying that Jon Bon Jovi wished to pop upstairs to say ‘Hello’ to  Bubbles. As the personal trainer was a Bon Jovi fan who had attended one of the concerts while in Japan, he was only too happy to agree to the request. When he opened the door to the suite, however, he was informed that there has been a change of plan, and that Francis and drummer Tico Torres would be taking Bubbles down to the hotel bar to meet Bon Jovi instead. Despite the man’s protests, Bubbles leaves the room in Tico Torres’ arms.

“Tell Michael if he wants to see Bubbles again, he can come to the bar and get him,” Michael Francis says.

“In the bar, we place Bubbles in an armchair,” Francis writes. “He is a friendly little fellow, and a star in his own right. Clad in a red and grey-striped romper suit, he accepts bananas from us, which we order with our drinks. For two hours, we are expecting a visit from Jackson’s security staff, but nobody comes. Eventually, we come to the conclusion that Jackson’s personal trainer is too scared to let anyone know that Bubbles has been abducted. So we are stuck with him: or, to be more specific, I am stuck with him.”

For three further hours, Francis hangs out with Bubbles in his hotel room, before deciding to return him to his rightful owner, or rather the bodyguards stationed outside Michael Jackson’s penthouse suite.

“They shake their heads in disbelief as I walk towards them with Bubbles waddling at my side, his hand in mine,” Francis writes. “‘Don’t ask’, I say sleepily, patting my little friend on the head and walking quickly away, before any questions can be asked.”

Michael Jackson’s memories of Bubbles’ abduction were never made public.