STACK #259 May 2026

MUSIC FEATURE

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ACTION JACKSON W hen Michael Jackson died in Michael Jackson’s remarkable life story has made its way to the big screen.

CHART FACT

Michael Jackson has had six number one albums and four number one singles in Australia.

Ben – Michael’s first solo chart-topper was the title song of a 1972 movie about a pet rat. Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough – People still wonder what the lyric really is. Apparently, Michael is singing, “Keep on with the force, don’t stop.” Beat It – Featuring a solo by guitar god Eddie Van Halen. Thriller – The title track of

2009, 14 of his albums entered the Australian Top 100, with three – The Essential Michael Jackson , Number Ones, and Thriller – occupying the top three spots. Seventeen years later, the King of Pop’s life story has been turned into a movie, Michael , with the lead role taken by Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, the son of his older brother Jermaine. The movie focuses on Michael’s early career with the

Michael Jackson Human Nature – Written by Toto founding member Steve Porcaro. Working Day and Night – An album track from Michael’s solo breakthrough Off The Wall , his first to be produced by Quincy Jones. Bad – Michael originally wanted to do the title track of the Thriller follow-up with Prince, but he said no. Jeff Jenkins La Toya, but he decided to keep it for himself.

Michael’s biggest album, featuring a spoken-word piece by legendary horror actor Vincent Price. Billie Jean – A song inspired by a woman who sent Michael a letter claiming he was the father of one of her twins. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Thriller ’s opening track was originally written for Michael’s sister

Jaafar Jackson dreamed of becoming a professional golfer before focusing on dancing, acting, and singing. He has released two singles, 2019’s Got Me Singing and 2020’s Confused . FUN FACT

including four by the Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There, Never Can Say Goodbye, Who’s Loving You, and a live medley ( I Want You Back/ ABC/ The Love You Save ) – plus nine solo selections:

Jackson 5 through to the early days of his record-breaking solo career. The soundtrack features 13 songs,

Michael

is out now via Sony

ROCK GOD Yungblud is the new king of rock. And we just got more Idols .

He did a “shoey” during another show and talked about how much he loved Vegemite and Twisties. He also performed Black Sabbath’s Changes as a tribute to his dearly departed friend Ozzy Osbourne. “God bless Black Sabbath,” he declared. “God bless Ozzy Osbourne.” And most of all during his Australian tour, Yungblud showed that rock is not dead. “Rock ’n’ roll is love,” he told his audience. When Yungblud released his Idols album, he described it as a “love letter to self-reclamation, to rock music and to life, in all its f-cking madness”. He also said it was “a project without limitations”. True to his word, he has now expanded the album, adding six new songs, as well as doing the hit single Zombie with The Smashing Pumpkins. Jeff Jenkins

AWARDS ACTION Idols was nominated for ‘Best Rock Album’ at this year’s Grammy Awards. The trophy went to Turnstile’s Never Enough . Yungblud’s Zombie was also nominated for ‘Best Rock Song’ (the winner was Nine Inch Nails’ As Alive As You Need Me to Be ).

Y ungblud’s Australian tour earlier this year confirmed what many people already thought: the guy is a star. Venues were upgraded and the reviewers raved. “He is the future, ordained by the past,” declared Noise11 . “Yungblud’s newfound level of artistic maturity crystallised on stage as he embodied a rockstar conscious of the space he occupies, aware that leadership, vulnerability, and playfulness

CHART FACT

can coexist without cancelling each other out,” stated Rolling Stone . “I want to stay in Australia forever,” the 28-year-old star told the Perth crowd.

Yungblud

Yungblud was born Dominic Harrison. He was the youngest artist on his management’s roster, so they called him the “young blood”. He thought that was a cool name. THE NAME GAME

Yungblud has had three Top 10 albums in Australia, including two chart-toppers – 2022’s self-titled set and last year’s Idols .

Idols (Complete) by Yungblud is out May 15 via Universal

38 MAY 2026

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