More than two months after his death, the King of Pop and his memory are still being celebrated.

But Michael Jackson's life wasn't always music royalty, No. 1 hits and moon walks.
In 2003, MJ's career and life were at an all-time low. Court proceedings, allegations and accusations were more the norm. Seeing what Jackson had become in those Los Angeles courtrooms made the Michael Jackson hit machine of the early 1970s and 1980s a faded memory.

2003 was also the year University of North Carolina music student Vamsi Tadepalli decided to start a Michael Jackson tribute band called Who's Bad.
"We were there at his lowest level of popularity and in court," said the manager and saxophone player in the seven-piece band. "We were getting comments playing his music but that's just what we were about, the music."

Still based out of Chapel Hill, N.C., Who's Bad will make its Greater Lafayette debut at 10 p.m. Wednesday at Riverside Sports Bar & Music Center, 402 Brown St., WL.
While Who's Bad had challenges at its inception, the band gained steam with its tightness and skill of the band's two Michael Jacksons -- Joseph Bell and Taalib York. Both singers use Jackson's classic costumes and perform a set that stretches back to the Jackson Five to Jackson's later work from the 1990s and 2000s.
Then, after Jackson's passing, Who's Bad made the leap to an international act. Later this month, Who's Bad will play four shows in Mexico City and this winter it will perform in Japan, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

"One or our goals was to make it overseas and it is becoming a reality," said Tadepalli during a tour stop in Birmingham, Ala. "It's awesome. It shows you how much his music meant to people."

While Jackson's records sold millions, his live show also brought in millions of fans over the years. However, the last couple decades of Jackson's career found the controversial pop star performing stadiums, usually in other countries where Jackson's fans were not as familiar with the rumors of child molestation back in Los Angeles. Who's Bad plays mostly large clubs such as Riverside, House of Blues in Chicago, The Bluebird in Bloomington and The Vogue in Indianapolis. These clubs give Jackson's music an intimate environment that the Gloved One's music hadn't seen in 40 years.

Before and after MJ's death, Tadepalli has noticed strong crowd reactions on tour.

"The reaction is always pretty consistent. What I mean by that is we try to put out the most high energy show we can," Tadepalli said. "Get them dancing, get them remembering and get them smiling."

However, the make-up of Who's Bad crowds has changed in the last couple months.

"People are starting to come out of the woodwork," Tadepalli said. "We've got people in the crowd who are 60-years-old and then we have 4-year-olds wearing the 'Thriller' jackets. ... They're all excited to celebrate Michael's music."
Tadepalli admitted set lists can be a challenge due to Jackson's many hits.

"We try to mix it up," Tadepalli said, "but there's kind of a formula for the show. It crescendos to the end. The crowd is waiting for the songs they want to hear. But it's hit after hit. He's famous for about 40 songs, a whole library of hits. We try to change it up but you have to have 'Thriller,' 'Beat it,' 'Billie Jean,' 'Smooth Criminal.' "
Tadepalli was 4-years-old when Jackson's best-selling album, "Thriller," dropped.

"I remember my dad buying the 'Thriller' LP and giving it to me and me jumping on the bed to 'Beat It,' " he said.

The strength of those records made Tadepalli want to bring that music to the live stage.

"The sound he was able to create on album is phenomenal to me," he stated. "The levels of sophistication to Michael's music is unmatched today."