Michael Jackson’s iconic track Beat It was initially much more metal-oriented before legendary producer Quincy Jones suggested changes that made it a pop radio hit, according to Steve Lukather, Jackson’s guitarist during the Thriller era.
In a recent interview with The Guardian to commemorate the passing of Quincy Jones, Lukather reflected on Jones’ influence over the song’s final version. Knowing that Eddie Van Halen was already slated to contribute a guitar solo, Lukather initially went all-in with his hard rock approach to the track.
“I played a bunch of really wild guitar parts because I knew Eddie’s solo was on it,” Lukather said. “I was doing real hard rock, a quadruple-track riff.”
However, Jones, who was overseeing the production of Billie Jean at the time, was not on-site during the recording of Beat It. He communicated with the team via phone and quickly noticed the track was leaning too heavily into the metal genre. He told Lukather to dial back the intensity to make it more radio-friendly for pop audiences.
“Quincy wasn’t even there; he was at Westlake doing overdubs on ‘Billie Jean’ while we were fixing ‘Beat It’,” Lukather explained. “So we’d be on the phone and he goes, ‘It’s too metal, you gotta calm down. I gotta get it on pop radio! Use the small amp, not so much distortion.’”
Lukather later praised Jones for his unmatched ability to shape sound, even without direct involvement in every musical element. “Quincy is the only guy that can do a solo album without playing or writing anything. Somehow, no matter what he did, there was a Quincy Jones sound, even if he didn’t play, sing, or write. He was a director.”
Beat It went on to become a massive success, topping the charts in five countries upon its release in 1983. It has been certified eight times Platinum in the U.S., and two times Platinum in the UK and Denmark.
Jones, who also produced Jackson’s groundbreaking albums Off The Wall and Bad, played a significant role in shaping the sound of pop music in the 1980s. He was also instrumental in producing the all-star charity single We Are The World in 1985, which raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia.
Quincy Jones passed away earlier this month at the age of 91. He was laid to rest in a private family funeral in Los Angeles, with a larger memorial planned for the public. His family shared that the intimate ceremony was attended by his seven children, his brother, two sisters, and other close family members.
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