The Jacksons

Moffett's professional career initially started with the Jacksons. In 1979, through serendipity, he came across the Jacksons' musical director, James McField, who told him they were auditioning for a new drummer. Though the final auditions were that day, they extended it for him, knowing how eager he was to play for the group. According to an article by Robyn Flans in Drummer Magazine in September 1984, Moffett said:

He [McField] called that night and the audition was set for the next day. I was familiar with their songs [the Jacksons'] because I had grown up with their music, yet I didn't know everything about the music...After we finished a few songs, they pulled me aside and said they'd let me know something soon. That evening, I got the call and they said they wanted me to join the group. It was just a miracle.^[9]

His first major tour was the Destiny Tour (1979–1980).^[10] After his first show with the group, Michael Jackson was in awe by Moffett's ability to keep up with his dancing, always accenting his dance moves, which gave his dancing more power and prominence.^[11] He also used his "one-handed cymbal catch" frequently, in which Moffett explained to Zildjian:

With the Jacksons, I'll use it to accent certain moments before the vocal chorus. OR when Michael makes a move and stops real quick, I'll accent that with a catch. You've got to do it fast and drop back into the rhythm without breaking time.^[8]

He proceeded to perform on the Triumph Tour in 1981, which Rolling Stone later named as one of the best 25 tours of 1967 to 1987. Epic decided to have one of the shows from the tour recorded due to its immense popularity and success. Moffett also drummed around the United States and Canada for the record-breaking and famous Victory Tour (1984), where he met Madonna backstage who asked him to drum for her upcoming Virgin Tour (1985).^[12][13][14] The Victory Tour promoted Michael Jackson's albums Off the Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982) and was promoted by Don King. Moffett performed with Eddie Van Halen, who made a few special appearances on some of the shows playing "Beat It" on guitar. Prince complimented Moffett after many shows with the Jacksons (and did the same seeing him live with other artists). He'd nod his head, smile, and say, "That was bad, you're bad."^{[citation needed]}

When Moffett turned professional, he designed innovative futuristic drum kits for every tour to complement the stage design. His work with the Jacksons and unique drumming style led him to become one of the most in-demand pop music drummers and perform on 23 world tours.^[15]

Moffett was present during the infamous Pepsi commercial shoot in 1984 when Jackson suffered from second-degree burns from the blazing pyrotechnics. He noticed the flames on Jackson's hair at one point during the shoot and dropped his drum sticks and ran to help him just as some crew members did the same.^[16] He is credited for live drumming on The Jacksons Live! album (1981), which was RIAA-certified Gold.^[17] The double-disc album contains recordings of songs performed throughout the Triumph Tour. He also later recorded on the Jacksons' albums Victory (1984) and 2300 Jackson Street (1989).^[18]

Madonna

After their initial meet during the Jacksons' Victory Tour, Moffett finally agreed to tour with Madonna on her debut tour, the Virgin Tour alongside Victory Tour bandmate, Patrick Leonard (musical director/keyboardist). The tour took place only in the United States and Canada. He was featured in Madonna's 1985 "Dress You Up" music video which was basically concert footage of her performing the song during the Virgin Tour. With the success of the tour, which was also released as a video album, Madonna requested Moffett to tour with her on her second tour, the Who's That Girl Tour (1987). The tour took place on a global level and was a huge commercial success, superseding the previous tour, and he continued touring with her on her controversial yet groundbreaking Blond Ambition Tour (1990), which received accolades for its intricate choreography and stage production.^[19][20] The tour was followed by a 1991 motion picture film, Madonna: Truth or Dare, which Moffett was featured in.

Moffett also recorded on three Madonna albums with producer Patrick Leonard—True Blue (1986), Like a Prayer (1989), and I'm Breathless (1990).^[17] He recorded drums, percussion, and background vocals on all three albums.^[17] He performed with the pop star at Live Aid in 1985, performing songs such as "Holiday", "Into the Groove" and "Love Makes the World Go Round" with guest stars Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie, and the Thompson Twins.^[21]

Others

Elton John turned to Moffett for his comeback Reg Strikes Back Tour (1988–1989), with a total of 87 shows, and which he utilized to fight bad press. Elton again hired Moffett for his Sleeping with the Past Tour (1989–1990), with a total of 74 shows. Moffett drummed on John's Sleeping with the Past (1989) album, which was John's best selling album in Denmark, where the album was recorded. It was more successful than the tour. The album was also John's first platinum album since 1983 with many hit singles. Moffett was also credited on To Be Continued—a four-disc box set, recorded on various locations between 1965 and 1991, that chronicled John's songs from his days with Bluesology to the present day, including newly recorded songs. He was also credited for live drumming on John's Duets album (1993) for the song "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" which was recorded live with George Michael at Wembley Arena in 1991. He is also credited on Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1991) and was additionally featured in the 1991 TV movie Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin.^[22]

Michael called Moffett to tour with him on his Cover to Cover tour (1991). Totaling 30 shows, the tour took place in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan, Canada and the United States. Moffett also performed with Michael at the Rock in Rio festival, which is a recurring music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He toured with Janet Jackson during the first leg of her janet. World Tour (1993–1995). The tour took place throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Michael Jackson's solo career

Moffett continued to perform with Michael Jackson throughout the duration of his solo career on various shows and tours, such as his third and final tour, the HIStory World Tour (1996–1997).^[23] He also drummed for the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration shows at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on September 7 and 10, 2001, and the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert led by Jackson himself in Washington, D.C. among several others on October 21, 2001.^[24]

Moffett drummed for the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration shows, which took place on September 7 and 10, 2001. The concerts aired as a two-hour television special on CBS, honoring Jackson's thirtieth year as a solo artist. The television special included footage from both shows. Moffett drummed with the rest of the band on the balcony right above the performers. Some of the guests and performers included Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Macaulay Culkin, Slash, Liza Minnelli, Destiny's Child, Britney Spears, Gloria Estefan, Ray Charles, Chris Tucker, Usher and more. Jackson asked Moffett to collaborate on a song he wrote for Diana Ross titled "Muscles". Moffett played both drums and percussion on the track. The song was named after Jackson's pet snake and released in 1982. It was an instant hit and reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[25]

Moffett was supposed to perform on Jackson's This Is It concerts (2009–2010), rehearsing for months. The concerts were cancelled following Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, eighteen days before the first slated performance.^[26] He was featured in Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009) documentary motion picture film alongside many other concert films, shows, and documentaries. This Is It's worldwide gross revenue was $261 million, making it the highest-grossing concert film of all time. There are snippets of him drumming throughout the documentary as well as discussing the concert series that never came to be and his history with Jackson.^[27]

Though Moffett was known as "Sugarfoot" to the rest of the world, Jackson cut his stage name short and called him "Foot" instead. Moffett was Jackson's live drummer of choice from the beginning when he first started drumming with the Jacksons. Jackson always called him first for each tour and show, even when he was under contract with other artists.^[5] The two collaborated over the course of 30 years starting in 1979 to 2009 with a total of four tours together; This Is It would have been the fifth. Aside from working with Jackson, he was friends with him and hung out at the Jackson Estate (Hayvenhurst home) with the family (including Jackson family matriarch, Katherine Jackson, who he considers his "second mother") and one-on-one with Jackson at Neverland Ranch and his other homes.^[28] The two had drawing contests on the road when touring and Jackson sent him birthday and holiday cards when they were not together.^[29] Moffett was with Jackson the night before he died until 1 AM.^[30]

Moffett performed at the Staples Center during the Michael Jackson memorial service.^[31] Following Michael Jackson's passing, Moffett drummed around the world honoring the pop star with Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour (2011–2014).^[13] The tour is listed as one of the top-grossing tours of all time with a gross revenue of $360 million, totaling 501 shows at 157 venues in 28 countries worldwide.^[32] Moffett also performed at the Australian Music Show (AIMS) and hosted a drum clinic in which he performed ten Michael Jackson songs that were supposed to be performed during This Is It.^[33] Moffett was featured in Spike Lee's 2016 Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall documentary, which was Lee's second documentary on Michael Jackson since Bad 25 (2012). The documentary was released with the reissue of the Off the Wall (1979) album. Moffett spoke of his initial audition with the Jacksons and early days with Jackson and the group.

Albums

Songs