Note: If viewing Michael Jackson Ultimate Archive on archive.org (Wayback Machine), please view the latest snapshot of this page for the most up-to-date information and media.

“Hyperbaric Chamber” Story

Also http://valmaiowens.blogspot.com/2011/02/under-microscope.html

Michael Jackson, “National Enquirer” (1986), from Chris Cadman’s “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

In 1986 the National Enquirer, renowned for reporting crazy stories, got hold of a photograph of Michael trying out an Oxygen Tank. They quoted him as having said:

“I’ve taken several long naps in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and when I awoke I felt like a new person – I’ve never felt better. I definitely want one for my home so I can sleep in it at night. I plan to get one immediately. I want to live to see world peace, a world without hunger, a world where children and all mankind know no suffering. I believe if I treat my body properly I’ll live to be at least 150.”

Jonathan Margolis, journalist, “The Mail on Sunday” (March 2001) (mirror) (archived mirror)

The oxygen tent tale, Michael told me when we had Thanksgiving dinner at the Boteach home in New Jersey, stemmed from a joke he cracked to a photographer after he had crawled into one he bought for a children's hospital and emerged saying: 'Gee, if I had one of those, I could live to be 150.' The Sun took up the gauntlet and the 'Wacko Jacko' label, which he despises, was born.

"Smash Hits" magazine ("Bitz" column) (1989)

Blitz: Why isn't Michael still a part of The Jacksons on your new LP? (He makes a brief appearance on the title track.)

Tito: Well... (explains at length how Michael has been too busy touring) and it was time for the brothers to really do their thing and let the public know they have something special. I'd rather have my brothers than anybody else in the world have the record for the best selling record ever, but as he says all the time to us, 'If anybody breaks my record I want it to be somebody in my family.'

Bitz: How do you feel when you read things in the papers saying he's weird or mad?

Tito: He doesn't talk because he'll get misquoted.

Jackie: The minute he starts saying things he's going to open a big can of worms. Like, Michael went in this tank one time and people think he sleeps in it every day! He does *not* sleep in a tank. He likes animals because that's his love for life, like some people like cars, some people like golf... Michael likes to buy animals. Michael likes art too.

...Bitz: Do you see Michael a lot?

Tito: We hadn't seen him a lot in the last two years because of his tour, but since he's been off tour, we've seen him at least twice or three times a week. Sometimes we just take ride down to the music store or maybe we'll go to the pet shop and check out the exotic animals--crazy things like that--or sometimes we'll just drive in the neighborhood and just have fun.

Bitz: People don't really know what Michael's like. Is he normal?

Tito: Very much so. I feel bad for him at times because it's very hard--he'd love to go to Disneyland and walk about and get on the rides and sit next to a stranger, but he can't.

Quincy Jones, “Smash Hits” magazine (February 18, 1992)

Michael has a very curious mind, about a lot of strange things, beautiful things", says his old producer, Quincy Jones. "He is an avid student of everything. He has to go and see some children at a hospital and someone says: 'There is an oxygen tent to sustain life.' Knowing Michael, it's fascinating--and he wants to see it. He gets in it, says, 'I could live 15 years in this', and the story gets out. He's the most normal person in the world."

Jackie Jackson, “Smash Hits” magazine (February 18, 1992)

Michael went in this tank one day and people think he sleeps in it every day!", Jackie Jackson told "Smash Hits". "He does not sleep in a tank. He likes animals, because that's his love for life, like some people like cars, some people like golf... Michael buys animals."