The legendary Vincent Price, known for his iconic roles in horror films, found himself in an unexpected dispute over the residuals for his contribution to Michael Jackson's iconic album, Thriller. Price's involvement in the album was a result of his wife, Peggy Lipton, who brought him in as a voice actor for a brief but memorable part. However, the financial arrangement left Price feeling disgruntled.
According to John Landis, the director of the Thriller video, Price was furious about the lack of residuals. He recalled Price calling him a year later, expressing his disappointment, 'Look, the kid made the most successful record of all time and I made less than $1,000 dollars... Michael won’t take my calls... I’m very upset about it.' This incident sparked a public disagreement between Price and Jackson, with Price showing his frustration on British series Aspel & Company. He recounted receiving a framed picture of Michael Jackson, dressed and holding a platinum and gold record, with a message of gratitude, but no financial compensation.
Despite Price's apparent financial success, the story suggests that he signed the contract for Thriller with full knowledge of the flat fee arrangement. This leaves the question of whether Price's comments were a playful exaggeration of his trademark wry humor or a genuine expression of disappointment. The controversy surrounding Price's experience with Thriller continues to spark discussions about artist rights and the complexities of the music industry.
This intriguing tale highlights the challenges artists face in negotiating their compensation and the potential for creative collaborations to lead to unexpected outcomes. It also invites us to consider the impact of behind-the-scenes contributions on the success of a project, and the importance of fair compensation for all involved.
