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Michael Jackson
The plan was to unveil a Detroit street named for the Jackson 5, while surviving members of the later-era Motown band are in town for Detroit Music Week, reports Free Press music writer Brian McCollum.
Alas, the city has an ordinance in place that "prohibits ceremonial street designations for organizations or groups." So, the compromise solution was to call a stretch of Randolph Street in Detroit's theater district Michael Jackson Avenue, presumably because most fans couldn't pick Tito, Jermaine or Marlon out of a lineup and let's face it, he was the biggest star in the family.
Now, to avoid embarrassing the rest of the band members who thought the entire group would be honored, the whole plan is off -- for now.
Stephen Grady, chief of staff for Detroit City Council president Brenda Jones, was apologetic: "The amendment (barring groups for having streets named for them) to the ordinance is fairly new, and we're trying to understand what we can do. We still plan to do something for the Jackson 5."
And just in case you think the whole idea is dumb because, who are these Jackson 4 guys, anyway, well, take a look. It was a lot more than baby brother, once upon a time.