Although remembered as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson maintained a constant relationship with rock and metal throughout his career. From his distinctive use of distorted guitars to duets with hard rock and heavy metal icons, the artist expanded sonic boundaries and engaged with diverse audiences. Thus, his work crossed genres and helped bring the mainstream closer to the heavier side of music.
This connection returns to the debate with the arrival of the biographical film Michael, which premieres on April 23rd in theaters. The Universal Pictures promises to revisit the creative behind-the-scenes of the singer, including emblematic moments from his collaborations with rock musicians.
In the 1980s, pop and rock competed for airplay on the radio and the newly launched MTV. However, Michael Jackson broke barriers by incorporating rock elements into his most popular albums. The album Thriller (1982), for example, featured striking guitars and aggressive solos, something uncommon for pop artists of the time.
On the other hand, Jackson was always a fan of classic rock and soul bands with a heavier edge. He understood the aesthetic power of guitars and the rock 'n' roll attitude – a fact that became explicit on the album BAD (1987). Therefore, he began inviting established musicians to participate in his recordings.
Check out some of the most iconic partnerships:
Eddie Van Halen in “Beat It”
The partnership came about in a curious way. Michael wanted a song with the raw energy of rock, something that could compete with the biggest hits of bands that were at their peak at the time, like Van Halen and AC/DC. With that in mind, producer Quincy Jones, who wanted a unique element related to the instrument to create an impactful solo, considered calling Pete Townshendof The Who. "Michael Jackson asked me to play guitar on the Thriller (album). I said I couldn't, but I recommended Eddie," Pete said in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Quincy then called Eddie Van Halen – at the time, guitarist for the band Van Halen – to create the song's epic solo. According to reports, the musician recorded the solo quickly and didn't even charge a fee. The guitarist said that when he received the first call, he thought it was a prank. After confirming that the offer was real, he still hesitated before accepting. “Certain people in the band didn't like me having side activities at that time. [David Lee] Roth was in the Amazon or something, Mike [Anthony] was at Disneyland, Al [Alex Van Halen] was in Canada, and I was at home, alone. I really thought nobody would find out,” Eddie told CNN.
The result was historic: the track became a bridge between pop and hard rock, helping to solidify Thriller as a global phenomenon.
Steve Stevens, in “Dirty Diana”
Known for his work with Billy Idol, Steve Stevens was responsible for the guitar solo on "Dirty Diana," a track from the album BAD. Michael and Quincy didn't want to repeat the invitation to Eddie Van Halen, so, on the recommendation of producer Ted Templeman, Quincy Jones called Steve Stevens. The collaboration almost didn't happen, as Steve thought Quincy Jones' invitation was a prank. "I thought someone was messing with me. I hung up on him and the phone rang again, then he said, 'don't hang up, this is real,'" Stevens recounted in later interviews [via Whiplash].
The original studio version of "Dirty Diana," performed by Steve Jackson, was over 7 minutes long, but the final edit for the album was cut down to just over 4 minutes. The song features a structure and energy reminiscent of 1980s hard rock. As a result, it became one of the heaviest tracks in Jackson's discography. Interestingly, the song almost didn't make it onto the album, but ended up becoming one of the highlights of the Live Bad World Tour1988
Slash, a lasting partnership
Back in the 1990s, Michael was looking for a more aggressive sound. That's why he invited Slash, then guitarist for Guns N' Roses, to collaborate on songs from the album Dangerous (1991), such as "Give In To Me" and just the intro to "Black or White" —which ended up becoming a lasting friendship that led to collaborations in the following years. "Initially, it was a phone call from my manager, where he said, 'Michael is trying to get in touch with you,' and I was like, 'Wow!' Then I called back and he wanted me to play on Dangerous," said Slash [viaRolling Stone].
Later, Michael Jackson and Slash worked together on the tracks “DS” from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995); “Morphine” from the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997); and “Privacy” from Invincible (2001). They have also shared the stage on several occasions, including some shows on the Dangerous World Tour in Tokyo, Japan, the MTV Video Music Awards , and the King of Pop's 30th-anniversary career celebration in 2001.
“I did my thing, he really liked it, and then he kept asking me if I’d like to do this or that. I did a few shows here and there, and it was fun because he was a professional and had incredible talent from above. That was the main thing: he was incredibly musically fluid. It’s a pleasure to be around him,” Slash recalled.
Carlos Santana, in “Whatever Happens”
Considered by many to be the best track on Invincible (2001), “Whatever Happens” is a lost gem in Michael's career. The track blends a danceable groove with a strong Latin influence and features the legendary guitarist Carlos Santana. The song was even planned as the album's lead single, complete with a music video, but Sony ended up suspending the entire promotional strategy.
In 2025, Santana released the album Sentient, featuring iconic collaborations, and included “Whatever Happens” and a previously unreleased live version of “Stranger in Moscow.” “Miles Davis isn’t here, and neither is Michael Jackson, but they’re in my heart, and that makes me very grateful. I learned so much from them. I am one of them,” the guitarist explained to Billboard.
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