Decades On, Michael Jackson’s Giant ‘HIStory’ Statues Still Stand in Parts of the World

More than 30 years since the release of Michael Jackson’s 1995 album ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I’, several massive statues created to promote it are still standing in scattered corners of the world.

At the time, around 10 statues were reportedly constructed to coincide with the album’s release, including one that famously floated along the River Thames in London. Artist Stephen Pyle, who was based in Hertfordshire, had been tasked with the ambitious project and enlisted sculptor Derek Howarth to create polystyrene sections of the figure. Pyle then used these to create fibreglass casts. The final pieces were assembled and painted to resemble stone in Chris and Liz Clark’s workshop at Elstree Studios.

Speaking to BBC News, Pyle recalled the intensity of the process, saying it had been a significant challenge to produce 10 giant statues within four months. However, he credited his team—including Derek, Chris, Liz, and others—for turning the operation into what he described as an efficient “factory for Michael Jackson monoliths”.

While several of the statues have since been removed, some still remain. One now stands in the abandoned courtyard of a nightclub in Austria. Its owner, Franz Josef Zika, had originally won it at a charity auction in 1998 that benefited the Red Cross. He has reportedly been trying to sell the statue in Vienna over the last two years, expressing hope that it might fetch around €25,000 (£21,000). Zika noted that there had been interest from countries like Sweden and Hungary, though securing a buyer had proven difficult due to financial constraints.

Another statue is still visible at a former theme park in Johannesburg, South Africa, while yet another remains in an amusement park in Italy. In 2019, the latter underwent a makeover, complete with a fresh coat of paint and a new pair of sunglasses.

However, not all of the installations have survived. Following the release of the 2019 documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’—which featured allegations of s*xual abuse by Wade Robson and James Safechuck—several statues were taken down. This included one that had overlooked a McDonald’s car park in the Dutch village of Best, and another that had appeared annually at a fairground in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Elsewhere, a separate statue of Jackson not tied to the ‘HIStory’ campaign was also removed. Commissioned by the late Fulham FC chairman Mohamed Al Fayed following Jackson’s death in 2009, the statue was originally installed outside Craven Cottage before later being relocated to the National Football Museum in Manchester. That too was taken down following the controversy surrounding the documentary.

Michael Jackson Biopic Delayed to 2027, May Be Split into Two Films

Meanwhile, the planned Michael Jackson biopic, titled ‘Michael’, has faced a delay. Originally anticipated to arrive earlier, the release has now been delayed to 2027. Reports indicate that the studio is contemplating dividing the project into two films. Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s real-life nephew, will take on the lead role.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/jay-z-makes-first-onstage-appearance-with-beyonc%C3%A9-in-seven-years-at-final-european-cowboy-carter-concert-9393839/

Also Read:https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/how-28-days-later-revived-the-zombie-genre-9380530